Fansided

Picking the Sports Mount Rushmore for all 50 states

By Dave Stevenson

PHOENIX, AZ - APRIL 02: Detail of baseballs during batting practice to the MLB opening day game between the San Francisco Giants and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on April 2, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - APRIL 02: Detail of baseballs during batting practice to the MLB opening day game between the San Francisco Giants and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on April 2, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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Kentucky

Kentucky has been blessed with some impressive sports figures. The late, great Muhammad Ali is from Louisville, and is the first face on his state’s Rushmore. Arguably the greatest boxer ever, Ali made sure that his legacy didn’t die inside the ring. He was one of the first mainstream athletes to take a stance on political issues and his larger than life personality helped make boxing extremely popular.

The legendary University of Kentucky basketball coach Adolph Rupp finished his tenure with an unheard of 876-190 record. He won four national titles (1948, 1949, 1951, 1958) and Rupp 27 SEC titles in 42 seasons. Rupp helped to pioneer the fast break with the Kentucky Wildcats. He is arguably the best SEC basketball coach of all time.

Rick Pitino has had success both at the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville. He has led both schools to an NCAA title and taken each school to three Final Fours. Pitino has 745 wins as a head coach and is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame. Pitino might be hated by Wildcat fans, but they can’t deny how good of a coach he is.

George Blanda was one of the AFL’s biggest stars. Serving as both a quarterback and a placekicker, Blanda won three AFL championships and was named the 1961 AFL MVP. He played professionally for 27 seasons and remains the lone placekicker in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Next: Maine