O.T.: Denver sports Mount Rushmore

by jcd823 on Mar 5, 2008 10:26 PM MST Comment 14 comments

Watching the return of Peter Forseberg last night, one of the Altitude broadcasters said that Peter Forsberg would be on the Denver sports Mount Rushmore. I'm not so sure that I agree with that. I figured this would be a good place to get some other opions, assuming that a lot of the Rockies fans here are also fans of the other Denver sports teams.

If there was a Denver sports Mount Rushmore, we would have to assume there were two rules:

One represenative from each of the Major Sports teams.
John Elway is the Broncos represenative. Not having him there would just be stupid.

After Elway, though, there is much room for debate. With the Rockies cases could be made for Todd Helton, Larry Walker, and maybe even Dante Bichette or Andres Gallarraga.

The Avalanche player is even harder to pick. Forsberg seems like a decent choice, but Joe Sakic is Mr. Avalanche and has played far more games in Denver than Forsberg. You can't count out Patrick Roy either. He was one of the best goalies ever, and I'm not sure either of those Stanley Cups happen without him. He also holds the record for most wins by a goalie, by almost a hundred if I am not mistaken.

The Nuggets player seems to be the hardest to pick. Some might say Mutumbo. Some might say Carmelo Anthony, but you think he should win a playoff series before he could even be considered. I think the front runner would be Alex English. He is the Nuggets scoring and assist leader, plus he has his number retired and is in the Basketball Hall of Fame. He was the NBA's leading scorer in the 1980s and the first player in NBA history to score 2,000 points in eight straight seasons.

So here is my list

John Elway
Todd Helton
Patrick Roy
Alex English

Please let me know if I missed anyone and what your list would be.

Eat. Drink. Be Merry. But the above FanPost does not necessarily reflect the attitudes, opinions, or views of Purple Row's staff (unless, of course, it's written by the staff [and even then, it still might not]).

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i would put sakic ahead of roy

im sorry sakic is the captain of this team, and has been since forever. he is the classiest of em all.

i like Elway and english. English for now Melo might earn the right to take it over but for now English.

Also Todd i agree. Big cat and dante right behind with a case for EY. but def todd. Walker was a great player but he was a clubhouse scumbag. he didnt do anything for the Rockies, no special moments anything. Look at the classic rockies games on FSN now, how many of em include Walker? how many were created by walker? NONE! sure he played in some of those games but so did jerry dipoto(there is a blast from the past.)

At least the broncos dont totally suck

by roxfan4life on Mar 5, 2008 11:02 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

While I agree that Helton should be the Rockies

representative on the Denver sports Mt. Rushmore, I completely disagree about your comments on Larry Walker. How can you say he didn't do anything for the Rockies - um how about a 1997 MVP award....4-time All-Star....5-time Gold Glove winner....2 Silver Slugger awards....3 batting titles....1 homerun title. He is in the Rockies career leader in batting average and slugging percentage. He is #2 in Rockies history in games played, runs, hits, extra base hits, total bases, doubles, triples, homeruns, RBIs, walks, intentional walks, and stolen bases. And he is #3 in at-bats and singles. He was the Rockies highest-paid player in 8 of his 10 seasons. So obviously he was pretty good!

Sure he was hurt a lot but think of what he could have done if he was healthy more often. He's had a lot of special moments. He's helped the Rockies win so many games with his bat, glove, arm, and instincts on the bases.

The Classic games aren't all of the best games in Rockies history - just some of them and I wouldn't even put that 8-run comeback against the Tigers in '04 as one of them. The Classic Rockies games doesn't include the tie-breaker game, the 1995 Coors Field Opener, Jason Jennings' big-league debut, VanderWal's game-winner vs. the Cardinals in '96, Hampton-Kile dual on Opening Day 2001, Walker's 3-HR game at Olympic Stadium in '97 or Big Cat's 3-HR game in Florida in '95.

Of the Classic games that are being shown on FSN, 2 of them include Walker. He played a prominant role in the 1995 Wild Card Clincher. They would not have won that game without Walker. He also played in the 2004 8-run comeback game. He had the day off but came in as a pinch-hitter and was intentionally walked. (He started the game before and after). He didn't play in the 1993 game as a member of the Expos (also played the game before and after). He was hurt and out for the remainder of the season in 1996 with the broken clavicle after running into the outfield wall against the Braves chasing a flyball. And in the Mayne Event game in 2000, he was on the DL and out for the remainder of the season. So there you have it - of the 5 games that he was a member of one of the 2 teams that played, he played in 2, didn't play in 1, and was on the DL in 2. And just an FYI, I know you were just using him as an example but Dipoto was only a member of the Rockies (or the opposing team) for 1 of those games and that was the Mayne Event. He was on the DL at the time so he didn't even play - just for clarification.

Now don't we have a rule or something against someone bashing one of the players like you just did???

Yes I am a Larry Walker fan. He is my favorite Rockie of all-time and I will defend him.

Rocktober is the best month!

by rockin randy on Mar 6, 2008 2:40 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not a huge Walker fan

but he did provide me with one of my favorite moments. I can't remember the specific day, and I think we were playing the Giants (I was young at the time). All I remember is that we were down by 2, in the bottom of the 8th. Leadoff man was walked and stole 2nd. Next batter hit a single to right-center, and we had runners on the corners. A flyout gave us one out. Hope seemed to be running a bit thin, and then Alan Roach came over the PA and announced, "Larrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry WALK-errrrr!" And instead of the usual Crazy Train entry music, the speakers blared out the Star Wars theme. And after taking a few pitches, Larry delivered with a DEEP 3-run homer. We held on to win the game by 1 run.

That being said, Helton deserves to be the Rockies representative on the Mt. Evansmore. Walker is a close 2nd, but Helton has grown up with this team, been there through the ups and downs. If we were to assign a captain, he'd get it without debate. I'd argue that Walker deserves to have his Rockies number retired, but even if he doesn't get that, I'd be more than happy to see Helton get the first one. Todd wholeheartedly deserves to have his number retired when his Rockies tenure is over.

by oo_nrb on Mar 7, 2008 3:06 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Denver Mt. Rushmore

You're looking for the most important people in Denver sports history, right? Well, you gotta start with Bob Howsam. Without him - no Mile High Stadium, no Broncos, no minor league baseball, no Rockies. That's one.

John Elway is the most important athlete in Denver sports history, even though I hate him and think he's overrated (Top 5 QB of all time? Sheeeee-it, no). He's two.

Joe Sakic won two titles, played here his whole career (he'll never leave, either), and conducted himself with grace and class. He's three.

And you've got to go with another Denver lifer, somebody who's been a class act his entire career. Todd Helton fits. He's four.

So, with apologies to so many (Roy, English, Skywalker, Larry, Kroenke)... it's Howsam, Elway, Sakic and Helton.

mvn.com/mlb-rockies - Staying on the sunny side of Blake Street since 1993.

by Franchise26 on Mar 5, 2008 11:40 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

my take

Elway is a given. The next closest Bronco would be Floyd Little in my mind, but he doesn't amount up to Elway.

I love Sakic. Seemingly a great person and a heck of a forward. I was ecstatic when we got the old Nordiques because I had followed them because of my new found interest in Hockey and the Lindros situation/Trade.

But what really put the Avalanche over the dge and into contention year in and year out was Roy. Without Roy, you're not looking at two Stanley Cups in my mind, especially in 1996. While Sakic is the heart and soul of the team, Sakic does not equal Elway in that BT (Before Terrel) Elway took the Broncos to three Super Bowls, but Sakic did not lead the Nords to any Cup wins. I know, different game, not totally comparable, but Roy is the Ava guy.

I have never been a huge basketball guy, and Denver in my mind is not a great basketball city. I am familiar with and watched the Nuggets of the 80's though, who were competitive in the Western Conference, English, Natt, Dunn, Fat Lever, Vandeweghe, etc. But in my mind, and I didn't watch these games as I was a little kid, the highlight of the team still is those first few years, and David Thompson. His highlights show how amazing he was.

For the Rockies, I think I'd have to pick Galarraga over Helton. I've never warmed up to Helton, who is a great player, but just kinda leave me cold. Galarraga in my mind was the GLUE for the franchise in those early, fun filled years. A stable presence at first base and the hitter that the franchise initially rested it's hat on. Without him, I don't know if they would have been as popular as they were. I came home from college one summer and saw him in LoDo. Guy was frickin huge. Or I'm frickin small. Either way.

Elway
Roy
Thompson
Galarraga

by comedian on Mar 6, 2008 9:09 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Interesting.

How long do you think it will be before Tulo enters the discussion for the Rockies representative? Right now, I'd have to go with the consensus on Helton, but like you, I don't know if he's "the GUY" that really goes there. I think Tulo already has that swagger, and with his extension will certainly be with the team long enough to make an even bigger mark. He's even already hocking cars like Elway.

Anyway, I'm pretty sure already that Troy becomes the Rox face here, it's just a matter of when. As for the Av's, I'm kind of torn, Sakic, Roy and Forsberg are like a holy trinity that I don't want to break up by picking one.

I actually think Doug Moe should be the Nuggets face for now, which would admittedly make my Colorado Sports Mt. Rushmore a bit less serious, and of course, Elway for the Broncos.

by Rox Girl on Mar 6, 2008 9:37 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Thats funny

When I was writing this last night, I thought the exact same thing about Tulo. The guy has already got his own chant. Hopefully his career just keeps getting better.

It's amazing how much free time I have during the off-season.

by jcd823 on Mar 6, 2008 9:59 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Troy won't take long to supplant

Galarraga in my book. Couple years maybe. He easily becomes The Franchise.

Troy seems to have the make up of a leader and great ability. Last year at this time I was lamenting (whining really) about where the Rockies young stars were...well, I guess I got my answer. Or rather I'm happy I got an answer, because I loved watching Tulo last year, and have bought into him hook, line, and sinker. Hard to believe he's just a kid.

Interesting point about Doug Moe. I think you may have nailed it there because he was easily as popular as any of the players, and was pretty much universally loved (as I recall), which is hard to do for a coach who doesn't win a championship. Or any coach for that matter.

by comedian on Mar 6, 2008 1:22 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Hmmm

I'm with you on Doug Moe. I was thinking that before I saw your post. He was really the focal point for those Nuggets teams of yore, and he's still involved with the team.

And I'm similarly torn between Sakic, Roy, and Forsberg. I'd probably have to narrow it down to Sakic and Roy, simply because Roy is probably one of the best goalies ever, and because Sakic is been with the Avs since the start and probably will be until he retires. He really is Mr. Avalanche.

For the Rockies, I, too, would have to go with Helton for now. I have a soft spot for guys like Gallaraga, but Helton is really the first homegrown superstar, and was part of the magical 2007 season. He could definitely be surpassed, though, by Tulo at some point.

by holly96 on Mar 6, 2008 4:36 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

English vs Thompson

I agree it has to be David Thompson or Alex English. I would also take Dan Issel over English.

All Alex English really did was score--he did it well, but he was pretty one dimensional and benefitted from playing that insane Doug Moe style of play. He played on teams that were good, but not great and wasn't much of a rebounder or passer or defensive player. Not only that, despite being a scorer, his game wasn't very compelling--he barely even dunked.

David Thompson was one of the biggest stars of his time in many senses of the word, a tremendous athlete and played on some very good teams. Dan Issel actually outscored English if you include the ABA and was a good defender and rebounder.

by DenverBears on Mar 7, 2008 7:51 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I feel like an idiot

for forgetting Thompson, but I really don't think I could include Issel. He completely screwed up the franchise when he was G.M., and that completely takes him out of consideration in my mind.

It's amazing how much free time I have during the off-season.

by jcd823 on Mar 7, 2008 7:55 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm a little surprised

no one has mentioned Carmelo Anthony for the Nuggets. He's their current push one star from the Nuggets for the NBA marketing machine. He's a very familiar/recognizable face.

It is cause he's not won anything? or because he hasn't been here long enough to be the Nuggets rep?

Avs: I'll go with Joe Sakic (longer tenure then Roy or Foresburg)
Rockies: Helton (by default mostly)
Broncos: Elway (that's a given)

Colorado Crush: Damien Harrell or John Dutton or Coach Daily?

yeah, I got the 1-0 Crush into this conversation!

Printing "Jeff Baker for Second" bumper stickers

by Redhawk on Mar 8, 2008 7:14 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Melo...

It's because from all accounts I've seen, he's a bit of a prick. Showing up in that "Don't Snitch" video a few years back couldn't possibly help either. I just couldn't put him on there...

To early to start a Jeff Baker fan club?

by MattTheRock on Mar 12, 2008 1:33 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs