What City has the best All Time athletes in all 4 Major Sports?

[ABQCOWBOY]

I was listening to ESPN this morning and they were discussing this. Which City, down through their respective histories, has the best Quartet of players in each of the 4 major sports? They were saying that they thought it might be Boston but I was curious to see what the board thought about this?


Thoughts?

 

[joseephuss]

Chicago had Walter Payton and Michael Jordan. Those two alone may be able to propel them to the best with just average guys from baseball and hockey.

Los Angeles probably is the winner. Football is actually the weakest representative, but there have been some great players that played for the Rams and Raiders when they were briefly there. Take you pick from numerous Lakers in basketball and the same for the Dodgers in baseball. Then you have Wayne Gretsky for hockey.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Chicago had Walter Payton and Michael Jordan. Those two alone may be able to propel them to the best with just average guys from baseball and hockey.

Los Angeles probably is the winner. Football is actually the weakest representative, but there have been some great players that played for the Rams and Raiders when they were briefly there. Take you pick from numerous Lakers in basketball and the same for the Dodgers in baseball. Then you have Wayne Gretsky for hockey.

I think it might be L.A. as well. I think Decon Jones is a really strong candidate for L.A. on the Football Side. They are weakest in Baseball IMO. They have had some great players over the years but arguably, the best player in the History of the Dodgers organization is Jackie Robinson, who would be a very, very strong candidate but he really played in Brooklyn (Dodgers didn't move to L.A. until 1957 and Robinson retired in 56) so I don't think you can use him. I think it would have to be Sandy Koufax, Gil Hodges or Duke Snyder, all HOF players in their own rights.

So I guess I would go:

NFL - Decon Jones
NBA - Kareem Adbul Jabbar
MLB - Gil Hodges
NHL - Wayne Gretsky

As an aside, if Kershaw continues to pitch like he's pitched this year, for a few more seasons it could be game over.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Chicago is interesting.

They Michael, Payton or Butkus and Bobby Hull. In Baseball they have Ernie Banks? He's great for sure but I don't know if he ranks highly enough. They also have Shoeless Joe Jackson if you want to say Chicago and not just the Cubbies. That would be a pretty strong group.

On the other hand, if you do that, then you can also say that L.A. had Nolan Ryan and that, IMO, would be a lock for L.A.

 

[joseephuss]

Chicago is interesting.

They Michael, Payton or Butkus and Bobby Hull. In Baseball they have Ernie Banks? He's great for sure but I don't know if he ranks highly enough. They also have Shoeless Joe Jackson if you want to say Chicago and not just the Cubbies. That would be a pretty strong group.

On the other hand, if you do that, then you can also say that L.A. had Nolan Ryan and that, IMO, would be a lock for L.A.

Frank Thomas, Andre Dawson, Ryne Sandberg and even Gregg Maddux could be considered for the MLB rep for Chicago.

 

[DFWJC]

Boston is awfully good

NBA: Bill Russell
MLB: Ted Williams
NHL: Bobby Orr
NFL: Tom Brady

 

[bounce]

Boston is awfully good

NBA: Bill Russell
MLB: Ted Williams
NHL: Bobby Orr
NFL: Tom Brady

Hard to argue with that. Larry Bird could also be where Russell is, depending on how much you separate old-school basketball.

 

[RastaRocket]

I think it might be L.A. as well. I think Decon Jones is a really strong candidate for L.A. on the Football Side. They are weakest in Baseball IMO. They have had some great players over the years but arguably, the best player in the History of the Dodgers organization is Jackie Robinson, who would be a very, very strong candidate but he really played in Brooklyn (Dodgers didn't move to L.A. until 1957 and Robinson retired in 56) so I don't think you can use him. I think it would have to be Sandy Koufax, Gil Hodges or Duke Snyder, all HOF players in their own rights.

So I guess I would go:

NFL - Decon Jones
NBA - Kareem Adbul Jabbar
MLB - Gil Hodges
NHL - Wayne Gretsky

As an aside, if Kershaw continues to pitch like he's pitched this year, for a few more seasons it could be game over.

Gretzkey was not an LA athlete. He may have played there but that is not who claims him.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I heard that conversation this morning also and agree with their logic about Boston being #1. Maybe that is the reason I always root against all their teams no matter what.

 

[maxdallasfan]

Seattle

MLB. Griffey Jr.
NBA. Shawn Kemp
NFL. The Boz
NHL. Darnit, stupid hockey.

 

[joseephuss]

Gretzkey was not an LA athlete. He may have played there but that is not who claims him.

Sure but Edmonton doesn't have a MLB, NFL or NBA team and LA does.

 

[RastaRocket]

Sure but Edmonton doesn't have a MLB, NFL or NBA team and LA does.

Then give em Doughty or something lol. I guess he played their long enough but he's really an Oiler.

 

[jterrell]

I'd think Chicago and NY have best cases.
No way LA makes it imho.

If you are talking about modern players the discussion changes quite a lot.

Boston is interesting but they really don't have football. They'd have to claim NE which is probably close enough.

LA had Gretsky for a few years but he was at Edmonton from 19. Only LA radio would claim him and suggest they can claim the best talent.

 

[Nova]

Man you would think New York would be better represented, since they literally have two of every sport (recently the nets)

But surprisingly weak in the areas other than baseball...

 

[jterrell]

NY:
Babe Ruth
Walt Frazier
Lawrence Taylor
Denis Potvin

CHI:
Jordan
Maddux
Payton/Singletary
Bobby Hull

 

[joseephuss]

I'd think Chicago and NY have best cases.
No way LA makes it imho.

If you are talking about modern players the discussion changes quite a lot.

Boston is interesting but they really don't have football. They'd have to claim NE which is probably close enough.

LA had Gretsky for a few years but he was at Edmonton from 19. Only LA radio would claim him and suggest they can claim the best talent.

CHI:
Jordan
Maddux
Payton/Singletary
Bobby Hull

Gretzky played in LA for 8 years and Edmonton for 9 years. Maddux played in Chicago for 10 years and Atlanta for 11 years and his best years were in Atlanta. If LA can't claim Gretzky then Chicago can't claim Maddux. I think both cities can rightly claim these guys.

 

[Tabascocat]

Only If Houston had the NHL:
MLB - Nolan
NFL - Earl
NBA - Olajuwon

That is a pretty stout list.......

 

[Kevinicus]

Boston can have Babe Ruth too.

 

[joseephuss]

Detroit
MLB-Ty Cobb
NFL-Barry Sanders
NBA-I don't know. I guess Isaiah Thomas
NHL-I have no idea since I don't follow hockey, but the Red Wings have a rich history. They probably had a great player or two.

 

[joseephuss]

Boston is interesting but they really don't have football. They'd have to claim NE which is probably close enough.

.

It probably is close enough. It is 29 miles between Foxborough and Boston. Compare that to the 21 miles between Arlington and Dallas.