Who makes your personal sports Mt Rushmore? It doesn't matter the sport, how good they actually were, or your reasons for picking them.

Barry Larkin - favorite player growing up, went to Cooperstown for his induction
Joey Votto - favorite player of the last decade, love his weird personality almost as much as his playing ability
Nick Mangold - always liked him at OSU even though I wasn't a fan of the team, glad the Jets drafted him and he had a hell of a career
Ken Griffey Jr - always loved him as a kid, named our Jack Russell Terrier after him growing up. I was extremely excited when the Reds traded for him, even though it really didn't work out well in the end.

Mickey Mantle, Johnny Unitas, Jerry West & Woody Hayes...yeah, I'm old

Gretzky, Howe, Orr, Lemieux. Nearly without question the best four in the history of their sport.

NFL-Steve Everitt (Browns)- Basically told Art Modell "f#ck you" when the Browns moved to Baltimore by wearing a Browns bandanna while on the Ravens sideline.

Lloyd "World B." Free (Cavs)- had the sweetest rainbow jump shot around. Awkward shooting style with an arch that would bring down rain.

Albert "Joey" Belle (Tribe)- total psychopath. Loved his intensity and his attention to detail in studying pitchers.

NFL- Brian Sipe (Browns-QB)- Did a lot with limited abilities. Was actually on the Browns "taxi squad."

My top 3 are pretty easy:

• Tiger
• Federer
• LeBron

Then probably Lofton or Lindor. I don’t think I’ve loved a Tribe player as much as Frankie, and they are my favorite sports team, but only 3 years makes it tough to put him ahead of Lofton. 

Honorable Mention to Messi, Sabathia, Kluber, Vizquel and Oladipo. A few Browns will potentially be on here, but none have had the success or longevity with the team since I’ve been alive. 

Jordan, Tiger, Maddux, Brady

Growing up

Gwynn, Larkin, Alomar, Griffey Jr

Rice, Sanders, Elway, Woodson

Magic, Kareem, Jordan, Olajuwon 

Current active

Lebron, Westbrook, Giannis, Kyrie

Trout, Betts, Altuve, Arenado

Gonna go with the guys that I watched as a kid that are the reason why I root for the teams that I do:

Frank Thomas - Chicago White Sox

Jeremy Roenick - Chicago Blackhawks

Eric Metcalf - Cleveland Browns

Mark Price - Cleveland Cavaliers

This was harder than I thought it would be. Would be interesting to see answers for each sport.  My list: 

Michael Jordan, Mario Lemieux, Tiger Woods, Andre Agassi. 

First 2 are locks for me. The other 2 are close and I have some other guys I could replace either with but they were guys I enjoyed watching so much growing up and really got me into Golf/Tennis. 

LeBron: you win a ship in Cleveland, youre on the list. 

Kyrie: hit the biggest shot in NBA history, also won a ship. Yep

Joe Thomas: EZ

Top 3 are easy no brainers. After that it gets tough. I love klubot, pronk, Andra Davis, cliff lee, Otto Graham, Jim Donovan, Albert Belle, Omar, etc...

I love Russell Westbrook, how he's an asshole probably my favorite NBA player to watch. 

However give me Tony Hawk. Loved that damn video game as a kid. 

Jordan, Tiger, Kobe, Junior 

Justincredible - Golf

Classy - Figure skating

Dynasty - Basketball

like_that - Wrestling

posted by ernest_t_bass

Justincredible - Golf

Classy - Figure skating

Dynasty - Basketball

like_that - Wrestling

lol--reps for these two alone

I cannot narrow down to four.  There are just too many. 

A couple of comments from the previous posts:

BR mentions Brian Sipe and being on the "taxi squad". I wonder if the younger posters know the history of that moniker?

CoA mentions Jim Donovan.  The sportscaster?  And Otto Graham....Interesting that a young guy mentions him, having never seen him play. Hell, even I never saw him play!

posted by ernest_t_bass

Justincredible - Golf

Classy - Figure skating

Dynasty - Basketball

like_that - Wrestling

Would have been better if you put FairWoodKing for figure skating. 

posted by Iliketurtles

Would have been better if you put FairWoodKing for figure skating. 

 

You make your own list!

Jim Brown

Arnold Palmer

Roberto Clemente

Mario Lemieux

LeBron James

Personal would represent my favorite teams/icons, I guess.

BBall - MJ

FBall - Marino

Baseball - Larkin or Eric Davis

Buckeyes - Probably Eddie George

posted by ernest_t_bass

Justincredible - Golf

Classy - Figure skating

Dynasty - Basketball

like_that - Wrestling

I am truly honored. 

Personal: Mel Hall, Lance Nance's socks, Guy LaFleur, Hanford Dixon

Actual should be: Jim Thorpe, Jesse Owens, Jackie Robinson, Rube Waddell

I will stick to athletes I was only able to watch. These can change in about 5 years but:

LBJ - As COA said, he brought the ship to Cleveland.  He dramatics and his passive aggressive personality might be obnoxious, but I think most cavs fans will reflect after his career and feel fortunate he gave Cleveland 12 amazing seasons. 

Joe Thomas - GOAT.  I wish he could be part of this current roster.

Jordan Burroughs - US Wrestler still competing.  5X world champ (one olympic gold), 2X world bronze, and 2X NCAA champ.  He has done amazing things to promote the sport.

Albert Belle - He was my favorite player when I first started becoming a fan of baseball.   I will never forget him flexing his muscles toward the Boston bench during the ALDS.  He was the most feared batter for a good 2-3 year span.  The fact Mo Vaughn won MVP over him is the biggest fucking joke in baseball history the last 25 years. Look at their stats lined up next to each other for that season and please tell me how Mo Vaughn deserved MVP over Belle.  I hate the BBWA.  Trash.

The fourth is tough, because there are numerous guys I would mention from those 90's Tribe teams.  Also, I am not the biggest golf fan, but I have always loved watching the majors when Tiger was in contention.  

posted by Verbal Kint

Personal: Mel Hall, Lance Nance's socks, Guy LaFleur, Hanford Dixon

Actual should be: Jim Thorpe, Jesse Owens, Jackie Robinson, Rube Waddell

Met LaFleur at a Christmas party back in the day when he was nearing the end of his career and was with the Rangers.  Last player to not wear a helmet.

posted by BRF

 

BR mentions Brian Sipe and being on the "taxi squad". I wonder if the younger posters know the history of that moniker?

 

Over/Under on NO F'IN WAY?

posted by like_that

I am truly honored. 

You're amongst some greats! And also Justin!

He  only had 30 more extra base hitsposted by like_that

I will stick to athletes I was only able to watch. These can change in about 5 years but:

LBJ - As COA said, he brought the ship to Cleveland.  He dramatics and his passive aggressive personality might be obnoxious, but I think most cavs fans will reflect after his career and feel fortunate he gave Cleveland 12 amazing seasons. 

Joe Thomas - GOAT.  I wish he could be part of this current roster.

Jordan Burroughs - US Wrestler still competing.  5X world champ (one olympic gold), 2X world bronze, and 2X NCAA champ.  He has done amazing things to promote the sport.

Albert Belle - He was my favorite player when I first started becoming a fan of baseball.   I will never forget him flexing his muscles toward the Boston bench during the ALDS.  He was the most feared batter for a good 2-3 year span.  The fact Mo Vaughn won MVP over him is the biggest fucking joke in baseball history the last 25 years. Look at their stats lined up next to each other for that season and please tell me how Mo Vaughn deserved MVP over Belle.  I hate the BBWA.  Trash.

The fourth is tough, because there are numerous guys I would mention from those 90's Tribe teams.  Also, I am not the biggest golf fan, but I have always loved watching the majors when Tiger was in contention.  

He only had 30 more extra base hits

Randy Johnson That year went 18-2 with 294 K

Mo Vaughn was like David Ortiz and Belle was basically Barry Bonds like...with a pissier edge. Belle should’ve won running away

posted by BRF

 

BR mentions Brian Sipe and being on the "taxi squad". I wonder if the younger posters know the history of that moniker?

 

I didn't know what it was until the last year but pretty cool. When I was a kid and saw "taxi squad" on the back of my football cards I was like "wtf?"