Who is on each state’s sports Mount Rushmore?
There is perhaps no United States landmark more famous than Mount Rushmore. It was built to honor four of the country’s greatest presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt.
Rushmore was designed to honor political greatness, but many people have created their own Rushmores focusing on different areas. There is a Rushmore of baseball, of football, of pretty much anything else you can think of. But if each state had a Rushmore of sports to show off its four most prominent and influential sports figures, what would they look like?
For some states, it’s easy. California, New York and Massachusetts have all had their fair share of stars. Maryland has a remarkably strong pool to choose from as well. For others, it’s harder. But that doesn’t diminish the achievements of the sports people who do qualify as their state’s very best, and each state has plenty of athletes to celebrate.
First, some ground rules: (1) unless an athlete has significant ties to more than one state, they can only be on one state’s Rushmore, (2) anyone who participated in a sport or played a significant role in the development of a sport is eligible and (3) anyone who spent more than a year in a state is eligible for that state. Candidates will be judged both on their achievements and how well known they are within their states.
Which state has the best Mount Rushmore? That’s an entirely different debate, perhaps one that can be had after each state’s Rushmore is created. So, without further ado, here is the Mount Rushmore of sports for each of the 50 states.
Florida
Florida’s Mount Rushmore starts with arguably the most polarizing athlete of all time: Tim Tebow. While Tebow has had minimal NFL success, he’s on Florida’s Rushmore because of what he did with the Florida Gators. Perhaps no college football player accomplished as much as Tebow, who is still a legend in the Sunshine state. Tebow led the Gators to two national titles and won the Heisman Trophy in 2007.
Dan Marino of the Miami Dolphins is one of the best quarterbacks of all time. He set most of the NFL’s passing records and was one of the NFL’s premier quarterbacks for at least a decade. Marino is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
No Florida athlete is as beloved as Dwyane Wade. Wade defined the Miami Heat and helped them win three NBA titles. He constantly took less money than he was entitled to to help the team and is probably the best player the Heat have ever had. Wade is the Heat’s career leader in points.
Don Shula is the most successful coach in NFL history. He led the Dolphins to their famous undefeated season. Shula, along with Marino, made the Dolphins one of the NFL’s most successful teams during the 1980’s and 1990’s.
Next: Maryland
Maryland
Cal Ripken Junior is the first name that comes to mind for most people when they think of the Baltimore Orioles. He pioneered the shortstop position and is the owner of a perhaps unbeatable record — 2,631 consecutive games played.
Michael Phelps is the most decorated Olympian of all time. Who would have thought that a crazy kid from Baltimore would wind up setting so many records and win 23 Olympic gold medals? Phelps has been dominant in the water since pretty much the moment he got in it. He initially used it as a way to burn off his energy, but he turned it into an obsession and a career.
Ray Lewis has unseated Johnny Unitas as the most important figure in Baltimore’s football history. Drafted by the Ravens in 1996, Lewis made an immediate impact. Lewis was a dominant force, winning two NFL Defensive Player of the Year Awards and two Super Bowls. He made it to 13 Pro Bowls and finished his career with 41.5 sacks and 37 interceptions.
Brooks Robinson is known simply as “Mr. Oriole.” Before Ripken led the Orioles, Robinson was the face of the organization. He won an unprecedented 16 Gold Gloves and retired with 2,848 hits and 268 home runs. He also helped the Orioles win two World Series.
Next: California
California
Two men have carried the Los Angeles Lakers and made them a must-see team even through the worst of times: Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson. Johnson was the star of the Lakers in the 1980’s, leading them to NBA titles in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988. He won three Finals MVPs and was named to the All-NBA First Team nine times. He is also a minority owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Bryant carried the Lakers through the late 1990’s and 2000’s, leading them to NBA titles in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009 and 2010. Kobe was the heart and soul of the Lakers during his time there, and perhaps no player is as loved by Lakers fans as the the Black Mamba. Bryant might not be Michael Jordan, but he’s about as close as it gets.
California’s Mount Rushmore is completed by another pair of teammates: Jerry Rice and Joe Montana. Sure, Sandy Koufax and Barry Bonds both have a very strong case to be here. So do Bill Walsh and John Madden. Pete Carroll, too. Heck, even Vin Scully (has ANYONE defined the Dodgers more over the past 50 years than Scully?).
But it’s impossible to think of the best quarterback ever without thinking of the best receiver ever. Montana and Rice were the original Jordan and Pippen. It’s rare to see an elite quarterback paired with an elite receiver, but Montana and Rice put up historically impressive numbers together. It would be so wrong to have either one on California’s Rushmore without the other.
Next: Alabama
Alabama
The Mount Rushmore of Alabama is surprisingly strong, despite the fact the state is home to zero professional sports teams. No Rushmore of Alabama would be complete without the late Crimson Tide head coach Paul “Bear” Bryant. Bryant’s influence on the University of Alabama and on football is felt to this day. Nick Saban has accomplished a lot in a very short period of time, but he still has a long way to go to pass Bryant.
Boxer Joe Louis was born in LaFayette, Alabama. Not only was he one of the greatest boxers of all time, he was the first African-American boxer who the press and boxing fans both accepted as their champion. That was likely due to his military service and his remarkably professional approach to boxing. Louis definitely gets a spot on this list, even if people rarely associate him with Alabama.
Bo Jackson is also a must for Alabama’s Rushmore. The beloved dual-sport superstar might have seen both his NFL and MLB careers end prematurely, but his impact on both games was extraordinary. Jackson helped put the University of Auburn on the map. His commitment to the state of Alabama makes him arguably the most beloved athlete from the state, even among Crimson Tide fans.
Hall of Fame outfielder Willie Mays hails from Westfield, Alabama. He is arguably the greatest baseball player ever. For many years, he patrolled the infamous center field of the Polo Grounds, which was no easy feat. A very strong argument could be had to put Mobile native Hank Aaron here as well, but we’re going with Mays.
Next: Colorado
Colorado
Colorado’s Mount Rushmore starts with the man responsible for each of the Denver Broncos’ three Super Bowl titles: John Elway. Elway won two Super Bowls as the Broncos’ quarterback and helped the Broncos win Super Bowl 50 as the leader of their front office. He was instrumental in recruiting Peyton Manning to come to Denver and even built a team capable of winning a playoff game with Tim Tebow as its starting quarterback. That’s pretty impressive.
Todd Helton deserves a spot as well. He is by a pretty significant margin the best Colorado Rockies player of all time. He is the franchise leader in most offensive categories. Helton finished his career with over 2,500 hits and 350 home runs. He is the only player in history with at least 35 doubles in 10 consecutive seasons.
Joe Sakic is directly responsible for making hockey cool in Colorado. He spent all of his 13 season-career with the Colorado Avalanche and led the team to two Stanley Cups. Though they couldn’t have won without Patrick Roy, Sakic was the leader. He is now in charge of the Avalanche’s front office.
The final spot on Colorado’s Mount Rushmore goes to Denver Broncos running back Terrell Davis. Davis was as important as Elway in the Broncos’ two Super Bowl wins in the 1990’s. His career was sadly short. But his influence is unquestioned.
Next: Louisiana
Louisiana
There literally might not be a bigger star from Louisiana than the incomparable Shaquille O’Neal, who easily could have made it on the Mount Rushmore for two other states. O’Neal was a huge star, both figuratively and literally, and holds various records. With LSU, he nearly made the 1992 Olympic Basketball team, except Christian Laettner was picked instead. O’Neal won four NBA titles and won a National Player of the Year award with LSU.
Pete Maravich is widely considered to be one of the best shooters of all time. Pistol Pete got his start at LSU, where he was twice named the Consensus National Player of the Year (1969 and 1970). To this day, he is still the NCAA career points leader. Perhaps no one will ever touch his 40 points per game average over three years at LSU. He later played for the New Orleans Jazz (now known as the Utah Jazz).
Drew Brees is the man who brought football back to New Orleans, choosing the Saints over a number of other teams. Brees immediately made the Saints a title contender and led the team to a Super Bowl win in 2009. He is the team’s career leader in passing yards and touchdowns. Brees is heavily involved in the community as well.
Les Miles has been the face of LSU football ever since he was hired. Whether you love him or hate him, he’s one of the guys who makes college football fun. He led LSU to a national title and has a career 112-32 record with the Tigers.
Next: Massachusetts
Massachusetts
David Ortiz has had an impressive career, but he is still not at the same level as Boston Red Sox outfielder Ted Williams. While Williams didn’t win any World Series with the Red Sox, he was the most dominant player in the league while playing for them for roughly a decade. It would have been even longer had he not served in World War II.
Bill Russell helped pioneer the center position in the NBA. He was the dominant, unstoppable force of the 1960’s Celtics. Russell helped the Celtics win an unheard of 11 NBA titles and was named the league MVP five times.
Tom Brady‘s legacy in Boston will always be a great one. Brady has been a winner since his second season in the NFL when he took over as quarterback from Drew Bledsoe. Since then, he has led the Patriots to four Super Bowl titles and three other Super Bowl appearances.
Bobby Orr forever changed how defensemen played the game of hockey. Orr led the league in points twice and won an unprecedented eight Norris Trophies. The Bruins defenseman is arguably the best hockey player of all time.
Next: Connecticut
Connecticut
The first spot on Connecticut’s Mount Rushmore goes to the state’s most important sports person, Geno Auriemma. Auriemma has coached the University of Connecticut to a remarkable 11 national titles in women’s basketball, with 10 of those coming since 2000. Auriemma has also coached the Huskies to an unheard of 21 conference championships and 22 regular season titles. He also coaches USA’s women’s basketball team.
Julie Chu is one of the most successful women’s hockey players of all time. She is the second most decorated female athlete in Winter Olympics history with four medals (three silver and one bronze). Chu is also the all-time leader in points and assists in NCAA women’s hockey. She has definitely earned a spot.
NHL Hall of Fame defenseman Brian Leetch is a native of Connecticut. As one of the best defensemen ever, he deserves a spot on Connecticut’s Mount Rushmore. He had 1,028 points in 1,205 regular season games, and added 97 points in 95 playoff games.
The closest thing that women’s basketball has to LeBron James is Maya Moore, who played for the Huskies. Among Huskies, Moore is first in career points, second in rebounds, and eighth in assists. Moore has won three WNBA titles and has also had a ton of success while playing overseas.
Next: Indiana
Indiana
Indiana has a very strong case for having the most impressive Mount Rushmore of all 50 states. Each of its four members are all-timers in their sports.
Quarterback Peyton Manning led the Indianapolis Colts out of obscurity and made them America’s darlings. He put up jaw dropping numbers in Indianapolis for well over a decade and led the Colts to their first Super Bowl win in Indy in 2006. Without Manning, the Colts might not even be in Indianapolis.
Bob Knight‘s coaching style was controversial, but you can’t argue with his success. One of the most successful men’s basketball coaches of the past 40 years, Knight led the University of Indiana Hoosiers to three national titles and 11 regular season championships. He also coached the 1984 men’s basketball team to a gold medal.
Larry Bird got his start in Indiana, starring for the Indiana State University Sycamores. He was the National Player of the Year in 1979 and led them to the NCAA Tournament finals in that same season. Later, he returned to Indiana as the Pacers head coach from 1997 to 2000 and he currently serves in their front office as the President of Basketball Operations. In between his stints in Indiana, he was a pretty good NBA player as well.
Tony Stewart has become one of NASCAR’s most popular drivers, winning three titles as a driver and two as an owner. In 604 races over 18 years in the Sprint Cup Series, Stewart has 48 wins and 308 top 10 finishes.
Next: Georgia
Georgia
The Atlanta Braves have dominated the Georgia sports scene for quite some time. Naturally, three of their best players headline the state’s Mount Rushmore. Chipper Jones dominated in the 1990’s and 2000’s, helping the Braves win 14 consecutive division titles. As a rookie, he helped them win the 1995 World Series. He is among their career leaders in games played, at bats, hits, runs scored, doubles, RBIs and home runs.
Hank Aaron is the “clean” MLB home run king and the Braves career leader in bWAR. Aaron is a Hall of Famer and is arguably the best baseball player of all time. Aaron spent nine of his 23 seasons with the Braves and had the best home run season of his career with the ball club in 1971, when he hit 47 long balls.
Greg Maddux was arguably the best pitcher in baseball for at least a decade. He might not have had the velocity of Roger Clemens or Randy Johnson, but he used pinpoint control to make batters look foolish. Maddux won four consecutive NL Cy Youngs, including three with the Braves.
Deion Sanders got his “Primetime” nickname from his time with the Atlanta Falcons. He helped put them on the map and also starred for the Atlanta Braves. Sanders is Alabama’s answer to Bo Jackson. If you want to imagine how great Jackson could have been at both football and baseball had he stayed healthy, Sanders is a pretty good place to start.
Next: Alaska
Alaska
Alaska’s Mount Rushmore is admittedly difficult to put together, but it’s very strong considering the small pool of eligible candidates. The most famous athlete for Alaska? Pitcher Curt Schilling, who won the World Series with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001 and with the Boston Red Sox in 2004 and 2007. Though he moved from Alaska before starting high school, Schilling is unquestionably Alaska’s most famous athlete.
Carlos Boozer has quietly had a pretty successful stint in the NBA, even if the highlights of his basketball career came during his days at Duke University. Born in Juneau, Boozer set Alaska high school basketball records as he led the Juneau-Douglas Crimson Bears to consecutive state titles.
Center Scott Gomez has had a successful NHL career, though it appears to be over after 1,079 games. Gomez was an integral part of the New Jersey Devils’ Stanley Cup victories in 2000 and 2003. He also played for the New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens, San Jose Sharks, Florida Panthers, St. Louis Blues and Ottawa Senators.
Susan Butcher is arguably the most popular dog musher of all time. She passed away in 2006, but not before becoming the second woman to win the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in 1986 and the first musher ever to win the dog race four times in five years.
Next: Nebraska
Nebraska
Tom Osborne is a step below a deity in Nebraska. Osborne led the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers to three national titles (1994, 1995, 1997). His Cornhuskers won 12 Big Eight titles and a Big 12 title, while Osborne received the Big Eight coach of the year award seven times. He had a 255-49-3 record with the Cornhuskers overall. Osborne also served as a member of the House of Representatives and as the Athletic Director at the University of Nebraska.
Andy Roddick is one of the most famous tennis players of all time. He has won over $20 million in career prizes and 32 career titles, including a US Open win in 2003. He has made it to the finals at Wimbledon on three occasions. Roddick was ranked the No. 1 player in the world back in 2003.
Ted DiBiase is one of the most popular WWE superstars of all time. He is most famous for his “Million Dollar Man” gimmick, perhaps the most famous gimmick ever, excluding The Undertaker. DiBiase helped make the WWE popular and despite being a heel for most of his career, is beloved by wrestling fans.
Bob Gibson, one of the best pitchers of all time, is from Omaha, Nebraska. Gibson starred in both basketball and baseball while at Omaha Technical High School, and even spent a year with the Harlem Globetrotters. He was a nine-time All-Star and nine-time Gold Glove winner in 17 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Next: Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is a small state with zero major professional sports teams and only one major college. But they still have a pretty impressive Mount Rushmore, and perhaps the most unique.
Duke Kahanamoku is probably the most famous athlete from Hawaii. Known by many as a pioneer in competitive surfing, Kahanamoku was also an extremely impressive swimmer. He competed in the Summer Olympics in 1912, 1920 and 1924, winning three gold medals and two silvers. He was also an actor.
Bryan Clay is one heck of an athlete, as he competed in the decathlon in two Olympics. He won the gold medal in Beijing in 2008 and the silver in Athens in 2004. Clay was born in Texas, but he was raised in Hawaii.
Shane Victornio has quietly had an impressive MLB career. From the city of Wailuku, Victorino bounced around the majors a bit before sticking with the Philadelphia Phillies. Victorino helped the Phillies win the 2008 World Series and helped the Boston Red Sox win the 2013 World Series. He also has four Gold Gloves.
Quarterback Timmy Chang attended the University of Hawaii and has the second most passing yards in NCAA Division I-A history. Chang played in the CFL for a brief period of time and is currently the offensive coordinator for Jackson State.
Next: Ohio
Ohio
LeBron James is Akron’s favorite son. His legacy in Ohio is unquestioned after he did the seemingly impossible and brought a professional sports championship to Cleveland. LeBron was born and raised in Ohio. He abandoned the Cleveland Cavaliers to join the Miami Heat, but eventually returned in 2014. He more than made up for his departure by delivering on his promise to bring home an NBA title.
Paul Brown coached both the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals. He won three NFL championships with the Browns. Brown also won four AAFC (All-American Football Conference) championships. He is regarded as one of the best football coaches of all time and pioneered several strategies still in use today.
Jesse Owens was the United States’ first track superstar. He famously won four gold medals in front of Adolph Hitler at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. His success did a lot to raise the profile of African-American athletes and he has become one of the most iconic sports figures of all time.
Johnny Bench is the greatest Cincinnati Reds player ever. A 14 time All-Star, Bench led the NL in home runs twice while leading his Reds to two World Series titles. Bench also won two NL MVP awards.
Next: Idaho
Idaho
The first spot on Idaho’s Mount Rushmore goes to one of the best female skiers of all time, Picabo Street. Street won the silver medal in women’s downhill alpine skiing during the 1994 Olympics and gold in the Super G in 1998. Street competed professionally but never finished higher than fifth overall in the World Cup standings. She did, however, finish first in the World Cup downhill event in both 1995 and 1996.
Gary Stevens deserves a spot on this Mount Rushmore as well. He is arguably the most successful jockey in recent history, as he has accumulated over 5,000 wins in North America. Stevens has won each of the Triple Crown races three times. He is the fourth youngest jockey to be inducted into the Horse Racing Hall of Fame as well.
Jerry Kramer, from Sandpoint, might be the best NFL player who is not currently in the Hall of Fame. Kramer helped the Green Bay Packers win the first two Super Bowls as a guard. A five-time All-Pro, Kramer was also named to the 50th anniversary team in 1969. His exclusion from Canton is baffling.
Dan O’Brien had a tragically short career in the decathlon, but he was extremely impressive when he was healthy, and won Olympic gold in 1996. Injuries kept him from competing in the Olympics in 2000 and 2004. O’Brien trained at the University of Idaho.
Next: Arizona
Arizona
Arizona has enjoyed a lot of success in sports. Shane Doan of the Arizona Coyotes was with the original Coyotes team that came from Winnipeg. Doan is a huge reason why the Coyotes have stayed in Arizona and currently serves as their captain entering the 2016-17 NHL season. He is the franchise leader in many categories.
NBA Hall of Fame forward Charles Barkley’s career took off in Phoenix. He helped make the Suns a relevant NBA Team, winning the 1992-93 NBA Most Valuable Player award. Barkley’s 23.4 points per game and 11.5 rebounds per game both rank second in franchise history. His 24.7 PER with the Suns is the highest of any Phoenix player.
Lute Olson won 589 games with the University of Arizona Wildcats and put them on the college basketball map. He led them to a national title in 1997. Sean Elliott has done a phenomenal job with the team, but Olson created the framework. Olson also took the Wildcats to four Final Fours.
Larry Fitzgerald has wrestled the last spot away from legends like Pat Tillman, Jake Plummer, Randy Johnson and Luis Gonzalez. Fitzgerald has helped make the Arizona Cardinals a force to be reckoned with in the eternally competitive NFC West. Sure, other players have helped. But none of them have had the influence of Fitzgerald.
Next: Illinois
Illinois
Illinois’ Mount Rushmore begins with the greatest basketball player of all-time: Michael Jordan. Jordan dominated the NBA from the moment he was in it. He led the Bulls to two separate three-peats for a total of six NBA titles. Jordan was also good enough at baseball to play in the minor leagues.
Frank Thomas was one of baseball’s biggest stars in the 1990’s and 2000’s with the Chicago White Sox. From 1994 to 2002, the only players better than him were Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds and Ken Griffey Junior. Pretty good company to be in. He helped the White Sox win the World Series in 2005, even though he didn’t play in the postseason. That’s enough to get him on a Mount Rushmore.
Whenever anyone thinks of the Chicago Bears, the first name that comes to mind is Mike Ditka. Granted, Saturday Night Live likely has something to do with that, but Ditka was an excellent player and coach for the Bears. He is a deity in Chicago.
Bobby Hull has a really good case to be the fourth member of this Mount Rushmore, as does Phil Jackson, but Mr. Cub Ernie Banks is the most deserving candidate. Banks won consecutive MVPs in 1958 and 1959. When he retired, many considered him the best shortstop of all time.
Next: Washington
Washington
Washington’s Mount Rushmore features three of the greatest baseball players of all time.
Ken Griffey Junior is the Mariners career leader in home runs and is among their leaders in virtually every other offensive category. Before Griffey, the Mariners were mostly irrelevant. He made them a powerhouse in the 1990’s. Griffey won the 1997 AL MVP award and led the American League in home runs four times. And he did it with a backwards hat and a childlike smile. Had he not faced injuries, he could perhaps have put the career home run record in jeopardy.
Gary Payton starred for the Seattle Supersonics. Ever since the Sonics left for Oklahoma City, Payton has been an advocate for the city of Seattle to get another NBA team. Payton made it to nine first team NBA All-Defensive squads, is among the team’s career leaders in steals and is their all-time leading scorer.
Randy Johnson, also known as “The Big Unit,” helped make the Mariners a dominant team in the 1990’s. Johnson’s fastball and slider were a deadly combo. Many left handed hitters conveniently took a day off whenever Johnson was on the mound. And who could blame them? He won a Cy Young, led the majors in strikeouts four times, and led the American League in ERA once with the Mariners.
Griffey and Alex Rodriguez passed Washington’s baseball torch onto Ichiro Suzuki. And Suzuki lived up to expectations. He is their career hits leader and also leads the team in career batting average (.322). Suzuki set the MLB’s single season hits record while with the Mariners.
Next: Nevada
Nevada
Andre Agassi is one of the most successful American tennis players of all time. He has four Australian Open titles, a French Open title, a Wimbledon title, two US Open titles and a gold medal in the 1996 Summer Olympics to his name. Agassi has won 60 career titles in singles and a doubles title as well. He resides in Las Vegas and now has a spot on his state’s Mount Rushmore.
Jerry Tarkanian coached the UNLV basketball team to a 1990 national championship. Well known for his antics, including towel-biting, he led the Rebels to four Final Fours. He had a 509-105 record with UNLV. Tarkanian constantly fought against the NCAA, but his motivational tactics make him one of the best basketball coaches ever.
Randall Cunningham is arguably the biggest star that UNLV football has ever had. He was both a quarterback and a punter. Though his best season was undermined due to the Rebels use of illegal players, Cunningham helped put UNLV football on the map. He played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings and Baltimore Ravens in the NFL.
Julia Mancuso is one of the most successful female Olympians ever. She made three Olympic appearances, winning a gold medal in 2006 in the Giant Slalom, two silver medals in 2010 (downhill and combined) and a bronze medal in 2014 (combined).
Next: Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a tiny state, but it has produced some very impressive athletes. Their Mount Rushmore is led by two quarterbacks. The first is Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco. He has led the Ravens to one Super Bowl title and is the franchise leader in passing yards, touchdowns and wins. Flacco also led the University of Delaware Blue Hens to a national title in 2007.
The second quarterback on Delaware’s Rushmore is Rich Gannon. Gannon, like Flacco, played for the Blue Hens, where he set numerous school records. He won the 2002 NFL MVP award and helped lead the Oakland Raiders to one Super Bowl appearance.
Sugar Ray Leonard, a native of Wilmington, is one of the best boxers ever. He earns a spot on Delaware’s Rushmore. Leonard ended his career with an impressive 36-3-1 record and he won a gold medal in the 1976 Olympics.
Defensive tackle Randy White helped the Dallas Cowboys win Super Bowl XII. He was born in Wilmington. White only has 111 “official” sacks according to Wikipedia, but let’s be real, he had way more than that. He’s a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Next: Kansas
Kansas
Kansas’ Mount Rushmore is led by center Wilt Chamberlain. Chamberlain was a pioneer for big men in basketball. He was a virtually unstoppable force while he starred for the Kansas Jayhawks. Chamberlain was a two-time first-team All-American and was named the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player despite his team losing in the finals. He is most famous for scoring 100 points in an NBA game. Chamberlain also starred on the track team at Kansas.
Phog Allen was a legendary head coach of the University of Kansas Jayhawks. Not only was he incredibly successful, he helped form the NABC (National Association of Basketball Coaches). He finished with 590 wins in 38 seasons with the Jayhawks.
Running back Gale Sayers is best known for his time with the Chicago Bears, but he played college football for the University of Kansas. Sayers was named a first-team All-American twice and finished his college career with 3,917 all purpose yards.
Bill Snyder brought Kansas State football back from the dead with an impressive turnaround. And he did it twice. After leaving the school following controversy in 2005, he returned in 2009 to once again helped Kansas State rise from the ashes. He has won 193 games with Kansas State.
Next: Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas, like Alaska and Alabama, has no professional sports teams. So to create its Mount Rushmore, a bit of creativity is required. Without a doubt, the best athlete from Arkansas is the late St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Dizzy Dean. A native of Lucas, Dean is a Hall of Famer and won the National League MVP award in 1934. He led baseball in wins twice. Off the field, he often participated in exhibition games with Negro League players and developed a close friendship with Satchel Paige.
John McDonell is the most impressive coach ever at the University of Arkansas. The legendary coach won a mind boggling 42 national championships while coaching the indoor and outdoor track and field teams, and the cross country team. Many coaches today use his techniques, but no one can quite match up with McDonell’s legacy.
Arkansas loves its football, so it’s natural that Frank Boyles, the winningest football coach in Razorbacks history, is on this Rushmore. He served over 30 years as the University of Arkansas’ athletic director. Boyles won the 1964 national title and won 144 games in 18 seasons with the Razorbacks.
While Arkansas isn’t typically known for basketball, NBA Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen is from the state and attended the University of Central Arkansas. Pippen was the Robin to Michael Jordan’s Batman and played the role more valiantly than anyone else could have. He played a huge role in each of the Chicago Bulls’ six NBA titles.
Next: Kentucky
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
Maine
Joan Benoit is a runner. She is most famous for being the first female runner to win a gold medal in the marathon at the Olympics. Benoit also dominated at the Boston Marathon. She still holds the fastest times at the Chicago marathon and the Olympic marathon. After retiring, she wrote several books about running and has been involved in multiple charities.
Born in Portland, Ian Crocker won five medals at the Summer Olympics as a swimmer. He was a part of the gold medal 4x100m medley in 2000, 2004, and 2008. Crocker also won a silver medal in the 100m butterfly in 2004 and a bronze in the 4x100m freestyle relay.
Paul Kariya spent his college years at the University of Maine. He was a phenom from day one, scoring 100 points in 39 games in his freshman year. Kariya became the first freshman to win the Hobey Baker Award, which goes to the best player in college hockey. He only spent one full season in Maine, but it was a glorious one.
Cindy Blodgett is a female basketball player. She is the first woman to lead Division I in scoring for four consecutive seasons. Blodgett went on to coach at the University of Maine and spent time in the WNBA as well.
Next: Wisconsin
Wisconsin
It should come as a surprise to no one that Wisconsin’s Mount Rushmore features three Green Bay Packers.
Brett Favre is one of the best quarterbacks of all time. He has set many records. His team records likely won’t get broken for a while if Aaron Rodgers doesn’t break them. Favre led the team to a Super Bowl win in Super Bowl 31. He won three consecutive Most Valuable Player awards from 1995 to 1997. Favre led the NFL in touchdown passes four times and threw 442 career touchdown passes.
Reggie White, known as the Minister of Defense, played an instrumental role in the Packers’ Super Bowl 31 victory. He won two Defensive Player of the Year awards, including one with the Packers in 1998. In six seasons with the Packers, White had 68.5 sacks. White forced 13 fumbles while with the Packers as well. He is a member of the Packers’ Hall of Fame.
Robin Yount is perhaps most famous for making the state of Wisconsin care about baseball. The Brewers needed a star to draw attention and Yount did that. He spent his entire career with the Brewers. Yount finished his career with 3,142 hits and 251 home runs. He won the American League MVP award twice. Yount is among the career leaders in many categories for the Brewers.
Vince Lombardi is the most iconic football figure in Packers’ history. His Packers won the first two Super Bowls. Lombardi won six NFL titles during his coaching career with the Packers. The Super Bowl Trophy bears his name.
Next: Minnesota
Minnesota
Kevin Garnett made everything possible for Minnesota Timberwolves fans. Garnett was the fifth overall pick of the 1995 NBA Draft. Few teenagers dominate in their first year, but Garnett did. He made the team relevant, and is the all-time leading scorer for the Timberwolves. After a Championship-winning stint in Boston and two seasons with the Nets, Garnett returned to the Timberwolves in 2015 to help develop their young forwards.
Kirby Puckett is one of the most popular players in baseball history. Puckett was a premier outfielder in his prime, receiving 10 All-Star game berths. He helped the Minnesota Twins win two World Series. His career was cut short at the age of 36 due to glaucoma, but Puckett’s influence on the Twins is unrivaled.
Harmon Killebrew was the Twins’ first great power hitter. With the Twins, Killebrew led the league in home runs five times. He had 573 home runs in his career and all but 98 of them came with the Minnesota Twins. 14 of them came with the Royals while 84 of them were hit with the Washington Senators.
Alan Page led the Purple People Eaters defense of the Minnesota Vikings in the 1970’s. Page won the NFL MVP award in 1971 as a defensive tackle. He was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year twice. Page is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He served as an associate justice for the Minnesota Supreme Court until 2015.
Next: Texas
Texas
Everything’s bigger in Texas, and while there is only room for four on its Mount Rushmore, it includes some of the biggest names in sports.
Tom Landry is perhaps best known these days as that guy with the fedora, but he was directly responsible for the fact the Dallas Cowboys are known as “America’s Team.” Landry is the winningest Cowboys coach of all time with 250 career victories. He won two Super Bowls and five NFC title games with Dallas and goes down as one of the greatest head coaches in NFL history.
Tim Duncan would probably hate having his image carved on this Mount Rushmore. Too bad, Timmy. The reserved superstar is one of the greatest NBA players of all time. In a league full of arrogant divas, Duncan was a quiet superstar — he won five NBA titles and reached the playoffs in every one of his 19 seasons. He was constantly overlooked as the likes of Shaquille O’Neal, Kevin Garnett and LeBron James took the spotlight. That was just the way Duncan liked it.
No player defines the Cowboys more than their career leader in rushing yards, Emmitt Smith. Smith led the Cowboys to three Super Bowls. He won two NFL MVP awards and led the NFL in rushing yards four times.
Nolan Ryan is the MLB career leader in strikeouts. He played for the Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers. Ryan led the National League in ERA twice while he was with the Astros.
Next: New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey’s Mount Rushmore is led by two Devils, literally.
Martin Brodeur is arguably the most famous goaltender of all time. He holds various records, including most regular season shutouts, most regular season wins, most playoff shutouts, most consecutive 35 win seasons and most career games. Brodeur won the Vezina Trophy four times and led the New Jersey Devils to three Stanley Cups.
Scott Stevens defined the Devils with his hard hits and his relentless pursuit of the puck. In 1,635 career games he had 908 points and an outlandish plus-minus rating of +393. He added 118 points in 233 playoff games. While he never won a Norris Trophy, he is respected as one of the best defensemen of all time.
Jason Kidd played for the New Jersey Nets and led them to the 2003 NBA Finals. He averaged 14.6 points per game and 9.1 assists per game as a member of the Nets. With New Jersey, he led the league in assists per game twice. Kidd is fifth in franchise history in points and first in assists.
Carl Lewis is arguably the greatest American track and field athlete of the past 50 years. He was born in Alabama, but attended high school in New Jersey, where he set numerous high school records. Lewis won a total of nine gold medals and 10 overall in the Olympics. He participated in the 100m dash, 200m dash, 4x100m relay, and long jump in the Olympics. Lewis could have been on a few states’ Mount Rushmore, but he’s perhaps most famous for his time in New Jersey.
Next: South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota has a fairly strong Mount Rushmore considering how small of a state it is.
Brock Lesnar is one of the most dominant WWE wrestlers and MMA fighters of all time. He once tried out for the Minnesota Vikings. Lesnar has a career 6-3 record in the UFC and is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion. He was also a national wrestling champion at the heavyweight division in college. In the WWE, Lesnar is a four-time Champion and remains one of the WWE’s biggest draws.
Manager Sparky Anderson won three World Series. He managed the “Big Red Machine” Reds from 1970 to 1978 and the Detroit Tigers from 1979 to 1995. Anderson was also named the American League Manager of the Year twice. He retired with a 2,194–1,834 record. His 2,194 wins are sixth all-time for a manager.
Billy Mills is famous for winning the 10,000m run at the 1964 Olympics. Mills became the second Native American runner to win an Olympic gold medal. He starred at the University of Kansas as a three-time All-American in cross country. Mills is the first American runner to win the 10,000m competition in the Olympics.
Frank Leahy won five national titles at the University of Notre Dame. He had an 87-11-9 record with the Fighting Irish.
Next: Michigan
Michigan
Michigan has a great Mount Rushmore that features four of the best athletes to ever play or coach their respective sports.
Ty Cobb is one of the best hitters of all time. The “Georgia Peach” finished his glorious MLB career with 4,191 hits. He accumulated 1,938 runs batted in and 892 stolen bases. Cobb won 12 batting titles during his career. His .367 career batting average is the highest of all time. Cobb may have been a loose cannon, and is still viewed by many as a bigot, but his on-field production was almost incomparable.
Barry Sanders is arguably the most dominant athlete that the city of Detroit has ever seen. With the Detroit Lions, Sanders was the most dynamic running back in the NFL. He led the league in rushing yards four times. Sanders retired during his prime, but was still a six-time first team All-Pro.
Gordie Howe is appropriately known as “Mr. Hockey.” He was the NHL’s first true star with a career that spanned over five decades. When he retired, he held a majority of the NHL’s records. Without Howe, the NHL might have had to fold.
Bo Schembechler coached the University of Michigan to 13 conference championships. He had a 194-48-5 record with the Wolverines. Six times he was named the Big Ten’s football coach of the year. He coached a lot of great players and helped the Ohio State – Michigan rivalry become what it is today.
Next: Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi’s Mount Rushmore features three football players and a very famous baseball player who never played in the major leagues.
Archie Manning is the patriarch of the legendary Manning family. Archie starred for Ole Miss and his son Eli went on to do the same. Even after Manning left for the NFL, he remained an influential figure in the state of Mississippi.
Cool Papa Bell was one of the Negro Baseball League’s greatest stars. A consistent draw no matter which team he played for, he was rumored to be the fastest baseball player ever. The stories of his speed are legendary. It is sad that he never got to play in the major leagues, because it sure would have been fun to watch him compete against some of the game’s more well-known legends.
Steve McNair was famous for playing for the Tennessee Titans, but many people forget that he got his start in Mississippi. McNair went to Alcorn State, where he was one of the best players in college football. He also grew up in Mississippi. McNair’s brother Fred is the head football coach at Alcorn State.
Walter Payton, like McNair, grew up in Mississippi and also went to college in Mississippi. He attended Jackson State University. Payton set numerous records at Jackson State. He might be best remembered for his time with the Chicago Bears, but don’t forget that he got his start in Mississippi.
Next: Missouri
Missouri
Missouri has a very impressive Mount Rushmore.
Stan Musial is the best player ever to wear a Cardinals uniform. Musial, known as “Stan The Man,” finished his career with three MVP awards. He helped the Cardinals win three World Series, made it to 24 All-Star games and also won seven batting titles. He fell 25 home runs short of getting at least 3,000 hits and 500 home runs.
Albert Pujols of the Los Angeles Angels spent his best years with the St. Louis Cardinals. He won three MVP awards (all with the Cardinals) and helped the Cardinals win two World Series. Pujols is a 10-time All-Star. Expect him to get a statue in St. Louis relatively soon.
The story of Derrick Thomas is a tragic one. He averaged more than 10 sacks per season in his career before he died in a car accident. But for an 11 year period, Thomas was by a significant margin the best player on the Chiefs and arguably one of the most dominant defensive players in football.
George Brett played for the Kansas City Royals. He is famous for being the only player ever to win a batting title in three different decades. Brett finished his career with 3,154 hits and a .305 batting average. He is one of the seven players to achieve 20 triples, 20 homers and 20 doubles in the same season.
Next: Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is well known for its wrestling. So, naturally, Iowa Hawkeyes head wrestling coach Dan Gable is the first member of Iowa’s Mount Rushmore. Gable had an impressive college career, only losing one match (his last). He went on to dominate in the 1972 Summer Olympics by winning a gold medal. Gable later coached the Hawkeyes to 15 national titles and coached a lot of great wrestlers.
Nile Kinnick played football at Iowa and won the 1939 Heisman Trophy. He was Iowa’s first true football star. Kinnick had opportunities to play professional football, but chose to pursue other endeavors. He later joined the United States Navy and died during World War II. The Hawkeyes football stadium is named after him.
Roger Craig played in the NFL from 1983 to 1993. He is best known for his time with the San Francisco 49ers. Craig was born and raised in Davenport, Iowa. He won three Super Bowls and was named the NFL MVP in 1989.
Kurt Warner calls Iowa his home, as he was born in Burlington Iowa and starred for Northern Iowa in college. He also served as a graduate assistant for Northern Iowa before joining the Arena Football League. His success there eventually led him to the NFL, where he had a storied career. Warner led the St. Louis Rams to one Super Bowl victory and another appearance. He also led the Arizona Cardinals to a Super Bowl appearance.
Next: Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma’s first love is football. Naturally, its Mount Rushmore includes two football coaches.
Barry Switzer coached the University of Oklahoma Sooners for 25 years. He also coached the Dallas Cowboys from 1994 to 1997. Switzer won three national titles with the Sooners and a Super Bowl with the Cowboys. His record with the Sooners is 157-29-4, including a conference record of 100-11-1. Switzer won 12 Big Eight titles in Oklahoma.
Bob Stoops is the current head coach of the Sooners football team. Since being hired in 1999, Stoops has put the Sooners back on the map. He won the 2000 national title with the Sooners and has won nine Big 12 titles with them as well. His 179 wins are a school record.
Russell Westbrook is a huge reason why Oklahoma City has fallen in love with basketball. Westbrook, along with Kevin Durant, made the Thunder one of the most exciting teams in the NBA. Unlike Durant, Westbrook will be sticking around after signing a three-year extension. The Thunder will try to contend by building their team around the point guard.
Mickey Mantle was born in Spavinaw, Oklahoma. Mantle led the New York Yankees to seven World Series titles and made it to 20 All-Star teams. Though he was more known for his time in the Big Apple, Mantle was born and raised in Oklahoma. He’s arguably the state’s best athlete and deserves to be on Oklahoma’s Mount Rushmore.
Next: Montana
Montana
Montana’s Mount Rushmore is perhaps the weirdest on this list. One of its members isn’t even an athlete and the other three participated in truly unique sports.
Evel Knievel is best known as a stunt man. He was a pioneer for extreme sports and paved the way for future extreme athletes. Knievel also did phenomenal things on a motorcycle, including jumping over multiple vehicles. He was, perhaps surprisingly, a vocal proponent of motorcycle safety.
Lones Wigger went to four Olympics as a shooter. In 1964, he won a gold medal in the 50m rifle three positions competition and a silver medal in the 50m rifle prone position competition. He won a gold medal in the 1972 Olympics in the 300m free rifle event. Wigger won over 50 national championships in a variety of events.
Dan Mortensen is one of the greatest rodeo champions of all time. Mortensen is a six-time World Champion rodeo cowboy in saddle bronc. He won the World All-Around Rodeo Championship in 1997 and is one of the highest earning cowboys of all-time.
Brent Musburger is a broadcaster for football. He has experience broadcasting NFL games and college football games. Musburger has also done broadcasting for the MLB, NBA, NASCAR and has done NCAA basketball as well. His is one of the most recognizable voices in broadcasting.
Next: New Hampshire
New Hampshire
Bode Miller won six Olympic medals as an alpine skier. Miller won two silver medals at the 2002 Olympics, a gold, a silver and a bronze at the 2010 Olympics, and a bronze at the 2014 Olympics. He is one of the most decorated skiers of all time.
Jenny Thompson is a swimmer who won 12 Olympic medals. She won two golds and a silver in the 1992 Olympics, three golds in the 1996 Olympics, three golds and a bronze at the 2000 Olympics and two silvers at the 2004 Olympics. Thompson also dominated during the World Championships.
Carlton Fisk is best known for his time with the Boston Red Sox, but he was born in New Hampshire. He is one of the best catchers the game has seen. Fisk hit 376 career home runs and made it to 11 All-Star teams. He also played for the Chicago White Sox for 12 seasons, but he is best known for his infamous home run for Boston in 1975, when he seemingly waved the ball fair to win Game 6 of the World Series. Fisk is definitely deserving of a Mount Rushmore spot.
Triple H has taken the WWE to a new level of popularity. Whether it is in the ring or in the office, Triple H has turned the WWE into a huge business. He is one of the most decorated champions in WWE history and remains an important figure on television. Triple H is also a huge supporter of bodybuilding. His Pedigree might be the most recognizable professional wrestling finisher of all-time. Triple H is deserving of his place on New Hampshire’s Mount Rushmore of sports.
Next: New York
New York
Babe Ruth began it all for the New York Yankees. He is arguably the biggest star the Bronx Bombers have ever had. Ruth has a darn good case for being the best player ever because he was extremely dominant as a hitter and a pitcher (though he didn’t pitch with the Yankees). When he retired, he held the home run record. Old Yankee Stadium was commonly referred to as “the house that Ruth built.”
If Old Yankee Stadium was the house that Ruth Built, the new Yankee Stadium is the house that Derek Jeter built. While Alex Rodriguez was a significantly better player than him, Jeter was always the Yankees captain. Jeter’s clutch play led the Yankees to five World Series titles. He got over 3,000 hits. Naturally, his 3,000th hit was a solo home run. It’s really hard to imagine the Yankees without Jeter.
Mark Messier led the New York Rangers to a Stanley Cup in 1994 after famously guaranteeing his team would win. He had 691 points in 698 games with the Rangers during the regular season. The Rangers captain led his team to that 1994 Stanley Cup victory with 12 goals and 18 assists for 30 points in 23 games.
Joe Namath is known as “Broadway Joe.” He was one of football’s brightest stars. Namath is best known for guaranteeing a victory over the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III — and backing up his talk.
Next: North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina’s Mount Rushmore includes two head coaches and arguably the best women’s soccer player of all time.
Dean Smith coached the University of North Carolina Tarheels for 36 years. He won two national titles, 13 ACC Tournament titles, and 17 regular season ACC titles. Smith coached a number of elite players, such as Michael Jordan and James Worthy. He also led the men’s basketball to a gold medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.
Mike Krzyzewski is the head coach for the Duke University Blue Devils. A close friend of Smith, Coach K has won five national titles while at Duke. He has made it to 12 Final Fours and has won 13 ACC tournaments. With Duke, Coach K has a 970-262 record. Krzyzewski has served as the head coach for the United States’ men’s basketball team since 2006.
Dale Earnhardt earns a spot on this Mount Rushmore because of how much he did to help NASCAR become one of the most popular sports in the United States. Earnhardt won six Winston Cup Series Championships and finished first in the Sprint Cup Series seven times. Over 27 years, he raced in 676 races. He won 76 of those and placed in the top 10 428 times. Earnhardt tragically died in a car crash at the Daytona 500 in 2001.
Mia Hamm led the United States to two World Cup titles and won two Olympic gold medals. She led the Tarheels to four consecutive national titles in women’s soccer. Abby Wambach eventually topped her 151 international goals, but Hamm paved the way for the United States to dominate women’s international soccer for years to come.
Next: North Dakota
North Dakota
God bless North Dakota. The state has produced very few elite athletes over the years, but it still gets its own Mount Rushmore.
North Dakota’s most famous resident? That would be former single season home run record holder Roger Maris. Most notably of the New York Yankees, Maris hit 61 home runs in 1961 to top Babe Ruth’s record. Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds have all beaten that since, but it was about the only time North Dakota could say it was the home of a record holder.
Darin Erstad had a successful MLB career. Ironically, he starred in three sports for Jamestown High School (in Jamestown, North Dakota), but not baseball. He originally went to the University of Nebraska as a football player, but he quickly caught onto baseball. Erstad won three Gold Gloves and a World Series with the Los Angeles Angels.
Brian Voss is one of the most successful bowlers of all time. He has won 25 titles over his professional career. The one-time resident of Bismarck, North Dakota graduated from Bismarck High School and is a member of Professional Bowling Hall of Fame.
Carson Wentz hasn’t played in an NFL game yet, but being the second overall pick in the draft already puts him up there with the best athletes from North Dakota. It’s not like he has to do much to pass fellow North Dakotan quarterback Brooks Bollinger.
Next: Oregon
Oregon
Oregon’s Mount Rushmore is stronger than most people think. It consists of two basketball players, a football coach and a runner.
Clyde Drexler starred for the Portland Trail Blazers from 1983 to 1995. He averaged 20.4 points per game, 5.6 assists per game and 6.1 rebounds per game with the team. Drexler is well known for his gravity-defying dunks and won an Olympic gold medal in 1992 with the original Dream Team. His No. 22 jersey was retired by the team.
Before Chip Kelly ruined the Philadelphia Eagles, he had a lot of success while coaching the University of Oregon Ducks. From 2009 to 2012, Kelly coached the Ducks to a Fiesta Bowl appearance and a Rose Bowl appearance. Kelly’s fast-paced offense revolutionized how people think about the game. It hasn’t worked for him in the NFL, but it was a lot of fun watching a college team use it. It’s telling that a lot of teams now employ Kelly’s methods in their own offenses. Kelly’s a very deserving member of Oregon’s Mount Rushmore.
Bill Walton led the Blazers to their lone NBA title in 1977. Walton was a dominant big man who won the 1978 NBA MVP award. Injuries eventually kept him from handling a starting role, but he was still a very valuable player off the bench.
Steve Prefontaine held every major American running record from 2,000m and 10,000m at one point. Perhaps America’s best long-distance runner ever, Prefontaine died in 1975. He set many American and collegiate records along the way.
Next: Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has a very impressive Mount Rushmore.
Mike Schmidt is arguably the best third baseman of all time and the greatest Phillies player ever. Schmidt led the Phillies to their first World Series title in 1980. He retired with over 500 home runs and led the NL in home runs eight times. Schmidt also won 10 Gold Gloves and three NL MVPs.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a number of candidates for this Mount Rushmore, but none of them are as lovable as Terry Bradshaw. As an analyst, Bradshaw remains a huge Steelers fan. He led the Steelers to four Super Bowl titles and was named the 1978 NFL Most Valuable Player. In his career, Bradshaw threw for 27,989 passing yards and 212 touchdowns.
Mario Lemieux could have been the greatest hockey player of all time had it not been for injuries. Despite those setbacks, Lemieux still led his Penguins to two Stanley Cups as a player and two more as an owner.
Ed Snider was not an athlete, but he was an extremely influential owner. Snider is best known for bringing the Flyers to Philadelphia as an expansion team. His aggressive approach to expansion helped the NHL to become a major sports league. Had it not been for Snider, who knows where the Flyers would be today?
Next: Rhode Island
Rhode Island
Rhode Island is a small state, but that doesn’t mean that their Mount Rushmore isn’t impressive.
Nap Lajoie was born in Rhode Island and was the youngest of eight kids. His parents did not want him to play baseball, but he did it anyway. He retired with over 3,000 hits and was one of baseball’s first major superstars. Lajoie won five batting titles during his career and was one of the first players to go from the National League to the American League.
Lou Lamoriello is currently the Toronto Maple Leafs general manager and he is most famous for his time with the New Jersey Devils. Famous for his aversion to information leaks, Lamoriello has also been a head coach. During his tenure, the Devils became a dynasty and one of the league’s most successful teams. He is an alum of the University of Providence.
Chris Terreri was the goaltender for the University of Providence. During his tenure, he led the team to two Frozen Four appearances. He also had a successful NHL career, where coincidentally, most of his time with the Devils was spent with Lamoriello in the front office. Terreri won two Stanley Cups in New Jersey. He is currently the Devils’ goaltending coach.
Dave Gavitt is famous for coaching the Providence men’s basketball team and also for being the first Big East Conference commissioner. He finished his coaching career with an overall record of 209-84 and was inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.
Next: South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina has four very influential characters on its Mount Rushmore.
William Perry is most famous for scoring a touchdown during the Chicago Bears Super Bowl win in 1985. He was a defensive lineman at the time. Perry only played in 138 NFL games, but he got 29.5 sacks and three offensive touchdowns in those games. He attended Clemson University.
Larry Doby broke the color barrier for the American League when the Cleveland Indians signed him. He is one of the few players to win both a World Series title (1948) and a Negro League title (1946). Doby led the American League in home runs twice and hit 253 home runs over his career. Negro League teammate Satchel Paige later joined him on the Indians.
Joe Frazier was one of the best boxers ever. He had a 32-4-1 record and is most famous for his battles with Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. His most famous fight was the “Thrilla in Manila.” Though he lost, Ali gained a lot of respect for Smokin’ Joe. The two remained excellent friends until Frazier’s death in 2011.
Shoeless Joe Jackson is the best player who is not in the Baseball Hall of Fame. He was banned for life for his alleged role in fixing the World Series in 1919. However, there was very little evidence Jackson was involved. In fact, his stats were excellent during the series.
Next: Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee has a very strong Mount Rushmore.
Pat Summitt is the most accomplished women’s basketball coach ever. From 1987 to 2012, she won eight national championships with the Tennessee Volunteers. Summitt also won 16 SEC tournaments and 16 regular season SEC championships. She coached the 1984 USA women’s basketball team to an Olympic gold medal. Summitt’s 1,098 wins are the most of any NCAA basketball coach.
Peyton Manning is the only athlete who is on the Mount Rushmore of two states. He’s a very deserving candidate. Manning played for the University of Tennessee Volunteers and remains very involved with the community. He holds many Volunteer records, including most passing yards and most passing touchdowns.
Terrell Owens put the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga on the map. He had 1,078 receptions for 15,934 receiving yards. T.O. was named to six Pro Bowls and five first-team All-Pro squads. Owens is the only player to score against all 32 NFL teams. Only Randy Moss and Jerry Rice have more receiving touchdowns (153) than Owens.
Oscar Robertson is a 12-time NBA All-Star. He led the league in assists six times. Robertson won the NBA title in 1971 and the NBA MVP in 1964. He is 12th on the all-time NBA scoring list and sixth on the all-time assists list. Robertson once averaged a triple double over a full season.
Next: Utah
Utah
It is impossible to think about John Stockton or Karl Malone without immediately thinking about the other. For the better part of two decades, Stockton and Malone dominated their competition. Stockton, the NBA’s career assists leader, was a perfect point guard. He ran flawless pick and rolls with power forward Malone. Both players are among the best players ever. The duo led the Jazz to two NBA Finals. They will likely both be in the Basketball Hall of Fame. It’s a darn shame that they won’t be able to go in together.
Steve Young is perhaps the most famous alum of Brigham Young University. The dual threat quarterback spent most of his early career backing up Joe Montana. He learned a lot from Joe Cool, helping the 49ers to three Super Bowls, and starting in one. Of course, Young benefitted from having Jerry Rice as one of his receivers as well. Young had some huge shoes to fill, but he filled them quite admirably.
Danny Ainge is another Brigham Young University alum. After a successful playing career, Ainge is now the leader of the Celtics front office, in which capacity he has led the team to an NBA title.
Next: New Mexico
New Mexico
Linebacker Brian Urlacher is perhaps the most famous athlete to come from New Mexico. Urlacher went to high school in the state and attended the University of New Mexico. After a stellar career in college football, Urlacher spent his entire career with the Chicago Bears. Urlacher went to eight Pro Bowls and was named the 2005 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He will likely be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Cathy Carr is a swimmer who won two gold medals in the 1972 Summer Olympics. She won a gold medal in the 100m breaststroke and the 4x100m medley relay. Carr attended the University of New Mexico and is currently a fourth grade teacher.
Kathy Whitworth won 98 tournaments as a professional golfer. Her 88 LPGA tournament victories are the most of all time. She belongs on New Mexico’s Mount Rushmore due to her run of dominance that stretched over 20 years. Whitworth won six majors during her career as she became one of golf’s first female superstars.
Tommy McDonald was born in Roy, New Mexico and dominated for the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1950’s and 1960’s. He also played for the Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Rams, Atlanta Falcons and Cleveland Browns. Of his six Pro Bowl appearances, five of them came with the Eagles.
Next: Vermont
Vermont
Vermont’s Mount Rushmore naturally revolves around winter sports.
Martin St. Louis might be the best undrafted hockey player to ever play in the NHL. He went to the University of Vermont and starred their for four seasons, racking up 267 points. St. Louis was overlooked by NHL teams largely due to his diminutive figure, but he used that criticism as motivation. With two Art Ross Trophies, a Hart Trophy and a Stanley Cup victory, St. Louis proved everyone wrong and paved the way for smaller players such as Johnny Gaudreau of the Calgary Flames. He might be Canadian, but he still gets a spot on Vermont’s Mount Rushmore.
Andrea Mead Lawrence competed in the 1952 Olympics. She became the first female skier to win two gold medals in the same Games. Lawrence won gold medals in both the slalom and the giant slalom. She also won two gold medals in the 1952 World Championships — in the slalom and giant slalom.
John LeClair spent 16 seasons in the NHL. He scored at least 50 goals in three consecutive seasons and at least 40 goals in five consecutive seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers. LeClair won a Stanley Cup with the Montreal Canadiens in 1993 and made five All-Star teams from 1996 to 2000.
Jake Burton is a snowboarder who started the company Burton Snowboards, one of the world’s largest snowboarding manufacturers. He’s not exactly a household name, but Burton is a very influential figure in the world of winter sports.
Next: Virginia
Virginia
Frank Beamer spent 28 seasons as the head coach for the Virginia Tech football team. During his tenure, the Hokies won three Big East titles and four ACC titles. He had a 238-121-2 record with the team. Beamer currently serves as a special assistant to the athletic director. He put Virginia Tech on the map in football.
Arthur Ashe is one of America’s greatest men’s tennis players ever. A native of Richmond, Ashe won 33 career titles, including the Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open. He was elected into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 1979. Ashe is one of only two African-American men to win a Grand Slam title.
Bruce Smith is a native of Norfolk and an alum of Virginia Tech. He spent four years of his career with the Washington Redskins. Smith is their career sacks leader with 200 sacks. His accolades include three Defensive Player of the Year awards, 11 Pro Bowls and nine first-team All-Pro appearances. On top of all that, he made it on to two different All-Decade teams.
Gabrielle Douglass has won three Olympic gold medals in gymnastics. She won the team and all-around competitions in London at the 2012 Olympics and the team competition in the 2016 Olympics. Douglass is a native of Newport News.
Next: West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia’s Mount Rushmore features three of the best athletes of all-time, and a very popular head coach.
Jerry West is an alum of West Virginia University. He is best known as being the silhouette in the NBA’s logo. With the Mountaineers, West was a three-time All American and was named the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player in 1959, despite losing in the Finals. West has won a combined eight NBA titles with the Lakers (one as a player and six as an executive). He currently serves as an executive board member for the Golden State Warriors.
Randy Moss got his start with Marshall. Moss was named a two-time All-American with the Thundering Herd and also ran for their track and field team. He is second only to Jerry Rice in career touchdowns. Moss forever changed how people viewed receivers. When Moss was at the top of his game, nobody could stop him. Or rather, the only person who could consistently stop Randy Moss was Randy Moss.
Hack Wilson set the MLB single season record for runs batted in with 191 in 1930. That is a record that stands to this day. He led the National League in home runs four times and in RBIs twice. The closest anyone has come to topping the 191 RBIs he got in 1960 was in 1999, when Manny Ramirez got 165.
Bob Huggins is the men’s basketball head coach for the West Virginia Mountaineers. He is from West Virginia and is an alum of WVU as well. Known as “Huggy Bear” because of his personality and his stature, Huggins has a 201-110 record with the Mountaineers.
Next: Wyoming
Wyoming
Rulon Gardner won the gold medal in men’s Greco-Roman wrestling in the 2000 Summer Olympics. He beat Aleksandr Karelin, who had won the three previous gold medals in the 130 kilogram weight class and was undefeated in 13 years going into the bout. Gardner also won the bronze medal in the 120 kilogram weight class at the 2004 Summer Olympics. An amputated toe forced him to retire, but his conquest of Karelin remains one of the most memorable moments in the history of the Olympics.
Kenny Sailors is most famous for popularizing the jump shot in basketball. He led the University of Wyoming to a national title in 1943 and was named the NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player for his efforts. Sailors was named a first-team All-American following the 1943 season and was a consensus second-team All-American following the 1946 season. He spent seven years in the NBA before retiring.
Theo Ratliff is an alum of the University of Wyoming. He was twice a part of the First Team All-Western Athletic Conference squad. Ratliff is the Cowboys’ career leader in blocks with 425, and has three of the four best blocking seasons in team history. Ratliff led the NBA in blocks three times and was an All-Star in 2001 while playing for the Philadelphia 76ers.
Joe Alexander is a member of the Professional Rodeo Hall of Fame. He won an unprecedented five straight world titles in bareback riding and two consecutive PRCA regular season championships in bareback riding.