Who would be on Boston's Mount Rushmore of sports?

[GroverTheClover]

No love for Curt Schilling?  He would be my Red Sox choice.

Above Ted Williams?

He's got more rings...

and led us to the greatest comeback in the history of the sport (over the Yanks none the less) on the heels of an unprecidented surgery that basicly ended his carreer.  Just sayin..

That's a fair point, but when you think Curt Schilling, what team do you associate him with more? AZ? BOS? PHI? If I'm placing a statue of athlete/memorial, I'd like them to have a longer history or association with the Boston area.

My four would be Russell, Orr, Brady, Ortiz.

[vegas scott]

How would Red get the nod ova Bill Russell?  That's baffling.

[Neurotic Guy]

Interesting question, but some history on Mt. Rushmore and the purpose of the carvings would help us to provide the truest analogy for Boston's Mt. Rushmore of sportr.

A few Mt Rushmore facts:
1. Mt. Rushmore construction began in 1927 and was completed in 1941.
2. President Coolidge who presided when the decision to erect the sculpture was made insisted that in addition to Washington, that 2 republicans and 1 democrat be selected.
3. The presidents were ultimately selected by the sculptor who used the criteria of commemorating America's 1st 150 years by honoring presidents with key roles in preserving the Republic and expanding its territory.  Thus, Washington (obvious), Jefferson (Lousiana Purchase; founder role), T. Roosevelt (Conservationist; Panama canal construction that reduced freight route fm San Fran to New York by 8,000 miles), and Lincoln (of course, for preserving the union through the civil war).

Therefore, the Boston sports analogy would be to select those who preserved or expanded sports (or their particular sport) in Boston:  

My choices;
Red Auerbach (constructed the greatest sports dynasty ever; built 3 generations of champions); Orr (single-handedly changed his entire sport, and put the Bruins on the Boston map in the 70's); Bill Belichick (changed the face of the NE Patriots); Cy Young (pitched baseball into local and national prominence)  

Difficult omissions: Robert Kraft, Bill Russell, Larry Bird

[Hoyo de Monterrey]

Red Brady Williams Orr

[Toine43]

No love for Curt Schilling?  He would be my Red Sox choice.

Above Ted Williams?

He's got more rings...

and led us to the greatest comeback in the history of the sport (over the Yanks none the less) on the heels of an unprecidented surgery that basicly ended his carreer.  Just sayin..

That's a fair point, but when you think Curt Schilling, what team do you associate him with more? AZ? BOS? PHI? If I'm placing a statue of athlete/memorial, I'd like them to have a longer history or association with the Boston area.

My four would be Russell, Orr, Brady, Ortiz.

By the way, neither of them are close to deserving a spot on Mount Rushmore, but I would pick Pedro over Schilling without even thinking twice about it.

[Roy Hobbs]

How would Red get the nod ova Bill Russell?  That's baffling.

Red presided over 16 championships, either as coach, GM, or Team President.  He's the one who maneuvered to get Russell and Bird, as well as just about every star on the team prior to Pierce.  As much respect as I have for Russell, the man who made the biggest impact on the franchise was Red.

[Celtic]

Gerald Green, Marcus Banks, Mark Blount, and Ryan Gomes.

[Jon]

No love for Curt Schilling?  He would be my Red Sox choice.

Above Ted Williams?

He's got more rings...

and led us to the greatest comeback in the history of the sport (over the Yanks none the less) on the heels of an unprecidented surgery that basicly ended his carreer.  Just sayin..

I'd maybe buy that argument, but I'd put David Ortiz over Schilling.  Papi's the one who truly broke the Yankees' backs.  Still, tough pick over Williams, but Teddy Ballgame never won a title and certainly didn't change the culture of the Red Sox like Ortiz did. 

As for the Celtic member, I have to go with Russell.  Auerbach is outstanding, but other coaches have touched his records.  No one will ever touch Russell's success with his 11 NBA titles, 2 college titles, and Olympic gold medal.  While I love Larry too, it's conceivable that Paul Pierce could retire with as many rings as Larry, and no one's talking about Paul up there.  To me, it's gotta be Russ. 

[ma11l]

I think to be fair you'd have to take one from each of the 4 teams.  Each has their own place in the town's history.

For the Celtics I'd have to put Red on there.  Simply because he was there through all of the dynasties instead of just being a part of each.  Bird and Russell were great but I'd just take Red's longevity.

For the Bruins it has to be Orr.  I don't know much about hockey at all but I know it has to be him.  Maybe if Bourque won a Cup here it would be a debate, but not now.

For the Pats I'd go with Brady.  He was the leader through the best years of the team.  I think this is just as easy as Orr.

For me the Sox is the hardest one.  They have the longest history of the four.  I'm gonna go outside of the box on this one and say David Ortiz.  What he did in 04 was magical.  The whole story is the Red Sox history is the drought and the Curse.  He was the man that was most influential in bring both to an end

I think the votes had the same as me except Williams over Ortiz.  So far ESPN has shown two of the top 5, California and New York.  Both are going to be hard to beat.  I think it'll come down to those two and us.

[Truck Lewis]

Red, Ted Williams, Tom Brady, and Bill Russell.

thats mine too,,,with apologies to Orr since i am not a hockey guy,,,and larry, but its hard to put him over bills rings and red's all-around genius and importance

[Truck Lewis]

but if i do one per sport,,,i agree

Brady = no brainer
Orr = no brainer
Williams = whenever you have a title such as greatest hitter that ever lived, its hard to ignore...only competition i'd give him is Papi.
Red = tough to slight Larry and Russell, but if you have just one, might as well go with the man that made it all happen

[Truck Lewis]

Gerald Green, Marcus Banks, Mark Blount, and Ryan Gomes.

how can you put pour Ryan with that ragtag group?   I dont know who I feel worse for, Gomesie for being etched in stone with that group of misfits or Bassy for clearly being forgotten and ignored, while he rightfully deserves his spot with that crew

[KCattheStripe]

I think if we were to do this like the real Mt. Rushmore it has to have a kind of "one of these things is not quite like the others" feel to it that the actual one does. While I think Teddy Roosevelt was an above average president, He doesn't quite have the Credentials that Lincoln (Civil War, Gettysberg Address) Washington (Revolutionary War, First president, establish 2 term standard) and Jefferson (Declaration of independance, Louisiana Purchase [A swindle of Auerbachian proportions]). So in that spirit, I believe that it should be:

Russell, Williams, Orr and...

Vince Wilfork.

[Celtic]

Gerald Green, Marcus Banks, Mark Blount, and Ryan Gomes.

how can you put pour Ryan with that ragtag group?   I dont know who I feel worse for, Gomesie for being etched in stone with that group of misfits or Bassy for clearly being forgotten and ignored, while he rightfully deserves his spot with that crew

I meant to use the four key players it took to get us KG, but just realized that Al was part of that deal not Blount. Too many trades with Minny, they all blend together.

In reality I would say Larry, Ted Williams, Orr, and Brady.

[SShorefan 4.0]

Red, Ted, Orr, Johnny Kelly

#1.
Red made the Celtics (all others fall under him)
#2.
Ted is the greatest hitter to ever live
#3
Orr inspired tens of thousands to head to the ponds (I hate hockey but I understand impact)
#4.  Who to pick next?  A patriot? Brady is still playing and there is no other.  An owner?  Kraft is a candidate, but really if we all remember it was Orthwein who signed Parcells and got the ball rolling.  A college athlete?  Flutie or Agganis tough choice.  Someone else who is uniquely tied to Boston....the Boston Marathon?  Mr. Boston Marathon himself, Johnny Kelly spanned 5 decades of Boston sports.  He's my 4th.