Awhile back we completed the Washington Mt. Rushmore of Sports, Ken Griffey Jr., Steve Largent, Gary Payton, and Don James made up the four sport icons of Washington. Here are some other athletes that did not make the cut, but still deserve some credit.
John Stockton- A Spokane-Native, and a Gonzaga alum, Stockton might be the best point guard of all-time. He holds the all-time records in assists and steals in the NBA. However, most of his impact came out of the state of Washington in a Utah Jazz uniform.
Edgar Martinez- Most people believe that Edgar should have made the Mt. Rushmore, and there arguments are hard to disagree with. Edgar spent his entire major league career in a Seattle Mariner uniform, he is the greatest designated hitter of all-time, and he was key to the Mariners' "Glory Years" including that magical 1995 season.
We went back and forth on whether to replace Don James or Gary Payton with Edgar, but in the end, Edgar just did not make the cut. He actually made it on the ESPN Washington Mt. Rushmore of sports, replacing Gary Payton.
Lenny Wilkens-An NBA icon, Lenny Wilkins has the most coaching wins of all-time. He is responsible for one of the only major sports championships in Seattle, helping lead the Sonics to an NBA title in the 1978-79 season. He has been inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame twice, once as a player, and once as a coach. He remains ingrained with Seattle's basketball culture, working now as an FSN analyst.
Mike Holmgren- Not a lot of people have brought up this name, but Mike Holmgren can be considered on of the most significant figures in Seahawks' history. From 2003 to 2007, Holmgren led the Seahawks to five straight playoff experiences. He led the Seahawks to the Super Bowl in 2005, heightening the expectations of future success of Seahawks football.
Shawn Kemp- "The Reign Man", Shawn Kemp was central to the Sonics' success in the 1990s. His rim-rattling and thunderous dunks made him one of the most exciting players in the NBA to watch. He was an NBA All-Star from 1993-1998. Kemp and Payton made up one of the deadliest combos in the NBA, and put Sonics basketball back on the map when they led the Sonics to the NBA finals in 1996.
Fred Couples- An O'Dea graduate and a Seattle-native, Couples mastered his golf abilities at a local golf course, Jefferson Park (Hey! I golf there too!). After graduating from O'Dea he attended the University of Houston and subsequently became a fixture on the pro-golf circuit. Couples has been named PGA-Tour player of the year two times, in 1991 and 1992.
Dave Niehaus- Now a hall-of-famer, Dave Niehaus has reached icon status in Seattle. His voice has become synonymous with the Seattle Mariners. It's awesome to have one of the best announcers in all of baseball to be the voice of your team. He makes every Mariners game on the television or the radio a worthwhile experience.
Ichiro- In Ichiro's own right, he'll be a hall of famer when he retires. There is no doubting that. His pure awesomeness can't really be reiterated enough.
Elgin Baylor- It's sometimes forgotten that this NBA legend played at Seattle University. He averaged 31.1 ppg in his college career and led Seattle U to the NCAA championship game in 1958. In the NBA he became an 11-time all-star.
Nate McMillan- "Mr.Sonic", Nate McMillan not only was an important contributor to the 1995 NBA finals team which also featured Kemp and Payton, but he also has turned into quite a successful coach. He is now leading a talented Portland Trailblazers to a playoff berth. Basketball runs in the family as his son plays for the ASU Sun Devils and his daughter is the starting PG for Seattle Prep, a local high school.
Randy Johnson- "The Big Unit" was crucial to the Mariners' success in the 1990s. He is by far one of the greatest pitchers of all-time. His slider was and still remains one of the best sliders in the majors. Along with his amazing pitching skills, he also had a mullet. Who doesn't love a mullet?
Sue Bird- Might be one of the most accomplished athletes on this list. She has won a WNBA championship with the Seattle Storm, she has won two gold medals with team USA , and she has won two NCAA championships with UConn. She is a winner. Period.
Original Story:
http://www.seatownsports.net/2009/03/...
John Stockton- A Spokane-Native, and a Gonzaga alum, Stockton might be the best point guard of all-time. He holds the all-time records in assists and steals in the NBA. However, most of his impact came out of the state of Washington in a Utah Jazz uniform.
Edgar Martinez- Most people believe that Edgar should have made the Mt. Rushmore, and there arguments are hard to disagree with. Edgar spent his entire major league career in a Seattle Mariner uniform, he is the greatest designated hitter of all-time, and he was key to the Mariners' "Glory Years" including that magical 1995 season.
We went back and forth on whether to replace Don James or Gary Payton with Edgar, but in the end, Edgar just did not make the cut. He actually made it on the ESPN Washington Mt. Rushmore of sports, replacing Gary Payton.
Lenny Wilkens-An NBA icon, Lenny Wilkins has the most coaching wins of all-time. He is responsible for one of the only major sports championships in Seattle, helping lead the Sonics to an NBA title in the 1978-79 season. He has been inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame twice, once as a player, and once as a coach. He remains ingrained with Seattle's basketball culture, working now as an FSN analyst.
Mike Holmgren- Not a lot of people have brought up this name, but Mike Holmgren can be considered on of the most significant figures in Seahawks' history. From 2003 to 2007, Holmgren led the Seahawks to five straight playoff experiences. He led the Seahawks to the Super Bowl in 2005, heightening the expectations of future success of Seahawks football.
Shawn Kemp- "The Reign Man", Shawn Kemp was central to the Sonics' success in the 1990s. His rim-rattling and thunderous dunks made him one of the most exciting players in the NBA to watch. He was an NBA All-Star from 1993-1998. Kemp and Payton made up one of the deadliest combos in the NBA, and put Sonics basketball back on the map when they led the Sonics to the NBA finals in 1996.
Fred Couples- An O'Dea graduate and a Seattle-native, Couples mastered his golf abilities at a local golf course, Jefferson Park (Hey! I golf there too!). After graduating from O'Dea he attended the University of Houston and subsequently became a fixture on the pro-golf circuit. Couples has been named PGA-Tour player of the year two times, in 1991 and 1992.
Dave Niehaus- Now a hall-of-famer, Dave Niehaus has reached icon status in Seattle. His voice has become synonymous with the Seattle Mariners. It's awesome to have one of the best announcers in all of baseball to be the voice of your team. He makes every Mariners game on the television or the radio a worthwhile experience.
Ichiro- In Ichiro's own right, he'll be a hall of famer when he retires. There is no doubting that. His pure awesomeness can't really be reiterated enough.
Elgin Baylor- It's sometimes forgotten that this NBA legend played at Seattle University. He averaged 31.1 ppg in his college career and led Seattle U to the NCAA championship game in 1958. In the NBA he became an 11-time all-star.
Nate McMillan- "Mr.Sonic", Nate McMillan not only was an important contributor to the 1995 NBA finals team which also featured Kemp and Payton, but he also has turned into quite a successful coach. He is now leading a talented Portland Trailblazers to a playoff berth. Basketball runs in the family as his son plays for the ASU Sun Devils and his daughter is the starting PG for Seattle Prep, a local high school.
Randy Johnson- "The Big Unit" was crucial to the Mariners' success in the 1990s. He is by far one of the greatest pitchers of all-time. His slider was and still remains one of the best sliders in the majors. Along with his amazing pitching skills, he also had a mullet. Who doesn't love a mullet?
Sue Bird- Might be one of the most accomplished athletes on this list. She has won a WNBA championship with the Seattle Storm, she has won two gold medals with team USA , and she has won two NCAA championships with UConn. She is a winner. Period.
Original Story:
http://www.seatownsports.net/2009/03/...
