Fight ends in player arrest
February 19, 2014
Nicholls’ Verdin heading to Tigers in SID position
February 19, 2014
This past week, Miami Heat forward LeBron James made national media headlines when he proclaimed that he will be a member of the NBA’s “Mount Rushmore” – an expression that he used to indicate that he plans to retire as one of the top four basketball players of all-time.
The statement was met with a little bit of controversy, but I think James’ words hold merit. He is arguably the most complete and versatile player the sport has ever seen.
With another half-decade of good, solid prime years left, it’s certainly feasible to believe that James will retire among the greats to ever play the game.
But either way, James’ comments got me to thinking more local, and it is that brainstorming that got my mind grinding in this week’s Casey’s Corner column.
If there were Mount Rushmore for Louisiana sports history, who would be on it and why? Asking the question in more literal form – who are the four most important figures in the history of sports in our state?
This is a topic I’ve thought about and pondered at length. I looked through Google and history websites, while also consulting with friends and colleagues to gather a list of athletes that I believe should be considered for this great honor.
But after deliberation, it was time to make some choices, so here’s the fruit of my labors.
Behold, my top four sports figures in the history of this prestigious and sports-rich state.
My selections were made after pondering talent, impact, historical relevance and popularity. It should be noted that my selections don’t necessarily have to be born in the state, but are instead athletes who had impacts on the area’s history.
The Gisclair Mount Rushmore for Louisiana Sports History
Spot 1: Drew Brees – To me, this was the easiest choice – an absolute no-brainer for the list. When I was a child in the 1990s, the New Orleans Saints were an afterthought. The team was so mired in their struggles that the team struggled to sell out a lot of its home games. The fans that did go turned their fandom into a satire, wearing paper bags over their heads to show their shame at cheering for the state’s notorious loser. But as the 2000s rolled around, hope landed in the state via Brees – a gun-slinging quarterback who came to the Saints after being brutally injured in his final game as a San Diego Charger. He also landed with the team the season after Hurricane Katrina – a year that took the team away from New Orleans and its people when they needed leisure most. So Brees lands on the list because of both his performance and loyalty to the city. This guy is the unquestioned face of the New Orleans Saints’ entire franchise – the guy that everyone will be trying to replicate for the rest of history. He is a hero to our youth, a savior to the state’s football franchise and an unquestioned Mount Rushmore recipient.
Spot 2: Nick Saban – I will now beg LSU fans to refrain from driving to my workplace and assaulting me as I go forward with this discussion and mention that Nick Saban should be honored by Louisiana sporting fans. I beg you, please, just hear me out. In the past two decades, LSU football has soared. It has reached levels of dominance that no one thought were possible. The Tigers have shifted from a mediocre SEC program to a legitimate national powerhouse that is a contender to win the BCS National Championship in every, single season. And the reason for that shift is Saban. He took over a struggling program 15 years ago and gave it new life. He went to Louisiana’s high schools and convinced players that going out of state wasn’t the only way that they could win championships and then get to the NFL. Les Miles has taken the baton and has carried it beautifully, but it all started with Saban. He took the LSU football program, gave it CPR and pumped fresh air into its lungs. He deserves a spot on the mountain – even if you don’t like that he’s the coach at Alabama today.
Spot 3: Pete Maravich – I put Saban on the list in the No. 2 spot, but I don’t think he’s the No. 2 pick for the mountain. I put him No. 2 just so I could position him next to Brees. Because, of course, it was Saban’s Miami Dolphins who red-flagged the quarterback’s medical physical – a decision that allowed Brees to land in New Orleans after he originally chose to play in South Beach. But for the No. 2 most influential athlete in Louisiana history, I’m going with Maravich – a basketball player that was more ahead of his time than anyone else in history. This guy shot long jumpers before there was a 3-point line. He made flashy passes and crossover dribbles before that type of thing was glorified. He was also (and still is) the face of LSU basketball and the most famous pro player that our state has ever had. Maravich’s NBA career didn’t pan out to be the success that many thought that it would be, but he still was a very, very good pro. But he’s on the list because of his impact. Every 50-something-year-old man in Louisiana has a Pistol Pete story. They are love to talk about them over a beer at a pub. No other athlete in this state is universally popular like Pistol Pete. He will be remembered for years to come, and he deserves a spot on the mountain.
Spot 4: Bill Russell – Pistol Pete will go on the state’s Mount Rushmore because of the way that he changed basketball. But Bill Russell will land on the wall because of the enormous success that he had within the game. A Monroe native, Russell won a ridiculous 11 NBA Championships as a player – all with the Boston Celtics. He also has cemented himself as one of the best defensive players in the history of basketball. But in addition to being the greatest winner that basketball has ever seen, Russell also broke down barriers to change the sport into a more diverse game. The former Celtics’ great was the first-ever black coach in NBA history. Today, basketball has evolved into an international game filled with players and coaches from around the world – easily the pro sports leader among minority head coaches. But it all started with Russell, who was born and raised in Louisiana. Anytime someone can bring 11 championship rings to the table, they warrant some attention.
So there’s my list – I’m sure that many of you will think that I left some folks out.
Off the top of my head, I can make an argument for Terry Bradshaw, Billy Cannon, Skip Bertman, Tom Benson, and many others.
But discussion and argument is why Al Gore invented social media, so drop me a Facebook message or a Tweet with your list.
And yes, I know Al Gore didn’t invent social media.
He did, however, invent the Internet, so it’s all a wash.
The Casey’s Corner Mount Rushmore for Louisiana athletics features some obvious choices and a few names that might raise eyebrows. From left, Saints quarterback Drew Brees, Alabama and former LSU coach Nick Saban, Boston Celtics great Bill Russell and Utah Jazz and former LSU legend Pete Maravich are among his four Louisiana royalty.
