Emmitt Smith cut by ESPN
It was about as surprising as the Ravens' release of Chris McAlister, but ESPN has cut loose Emmitt Smith. Everyone seems to agree he's a prime example of how being a great player doesn't make you a good broadcaster.
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We can't exactly blame ESPN, because the finalists were determined by a fan vote, but Maryland didn't make the cut in the network's Mt. Rushmore of sports top five -- New York (Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, Jim Brown, Joe Namath), California (Tiger Woods, John Wooden, Magic Johnson, Jackie Robinson), Alabama (Hank Aaron, Bear Bryant, Bo Jackson, Willie Mays),
Pennsylvania (Joe Paterno, Mario Lemieux, Roberto Clemente, Wilt Chamberlain) and Illinois (Michael Jordan, Walter Payton, Ernie Banks, and Mike Ditka). Maryland's Michael Phelps, Cal Ripken Jr., Brooks Robinson and John Unitas should have beaten out at least one of those.
Comments
babe ruth could have been on md's mt. rushmore with illinois how does ditka beat out butkus, bobby hull or sayers?
Posted by: fkterp | February 21, 2009 4:51 PM
To me the weakest two, of the top five were Alabama and Pennsylvania. PA being my weakest... that's the only one i see MD competing with. Who would you say they should have beaten out?
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Ray replies: I say Maryland should have been ahead of Pennsylvania at the very least.
Posted by: Aaron | February 21, 2009 7:42 PM
What were the rules? If the player must be physically born in the state, we lose both Brooks and Unitas.
If, however, the player is based on where he made his mark, then we obviously lose the Babe..
Only if the rules allowed there to be no distinction made between these two situations should Maryland clearly have made the cut.
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Ray replies: The rules were very loose -- basically, any state could lay claim to any athlete with some connection there.
Posted by: Fang Guy | February 21, 2009 9:24 PM
You ask how Ditka can beat out Butkus?
Because it's Ditka. When you have that much concentrated awesome in you, of course you're leaping ahead of the pack.
Posted by: Matthew | February 22, 2009 8:10 AM
maryland had the wrong crew. try these guys. babe ruth,frank robinson, john unitas, michael phelps.
Posted by: Anonymous | February 22, 2009 11:37 AM
scratch phelps, instead insert ray lewis
Posted by: Anonymous | February 22, 2009 11:40 AM
It is pretty funny Babe Ruth helps make New York a finalist but somehow wasn't good enough to make Maryland's Mt. Rushmore.
This alone shows the whole process is noise without substance.
Then on top of that, Joe Namath? Sure, he was the face of Super Bowl III and the historical significance of that game but the truth is he himself contributed little to that game. Career-wise, I could go on and on how he shouldn't have even made the pro football Hall of Fame.
To think of all of the athletes that have had some connection to not just New York City but the entire state of New York and Namath is placed in the top four?
It must be February.
Posted by: waspman | February 22, 2009 1:56 PM
OMG, Maryland in competition with PA? You are nuts! Unitas, from Pittsburgh. Ditka, Pittsburgh. Butkus, Pittsburgh. Marino, Pittsburgh. Joe Montana, Pittsburgh. Jim Kelly, Pittsburgh. Joe Namath, Pittsburgh! We breed champions! Maryland continue to be losers and kiss our 6th ring! Go Steelers! You guys are LOSERS!
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Ray replies: Those are all fine examples of football players from Pennsylvania, except this wasn't about only football players, nor was the odd ESPN Mt. Rushmore construct limited to those native to a particular state. And Butkus was born and raised in Chicago.
Posted by: nico coleman | February 22, 2009 11:53 PM
Shouldn't Unitas, Ditka and Namath be counted as Pennsylvania? Plus what about Marino, Dorsett, Franco Harris, and Lenny Moore? No contest.
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Ray replies: The loose rules allowed for states to claim athletes who performed there but grew up elsewhere. For example, Roberto Clemente is on Pennsylvania's list.
Posted by: slurpeeman | February 23, 2009 9:34 AM