The South Florida Sports Mt. Rushmore

[Dave Gray]

Let's say they're going to create a S. Florida sports monument, etching the faces of 4 sports figures into the side of a mountain (probably a mountain of garbage, since we don't have any real ones).  Which 4 people go on that monument.  They can be players in any sports, management, coaches, or ownership....even radio personalities...anyone associated with sports.

Pick 4.

[MikeO]

Shula, Marino, Wade, Beckett

[CF DolFan]

Other than Shula and Marino ... who could you possibly add? Plenty of Hurricane players who did great things later but does that make them worthy?  I just don't see any of the other sports making a big enough splash bigto consider their players at the same level as those two. Maybe Pat Riley? Possibly Wade later down the road but not now. 

If the Marlins actually retired some of their better players instead of sending them packing then that could be a possibility. It's kind of hard to be immortalized when you aren't even in that teams HOF.

[JVides]

Shula, Marino, Pat Riley, and... Bob Griese?

Wade gets consideration, and gets on with another ring, perhaps.  But Riley's the architect, Griese was the QB of 2 champion teams, Marino's arguably the best player we've ever had in this city (Wade and Shaq might disagree) but definitely the most iconic, and Shula put Miami on the map as a sports town.  I'd also strongly consider Howard Schnellenberger and Jimmy Johnson (both for UM).

[Fau Teixeira]

i think you gotta put zo in there .. maybe shula, marino, zo and conine

[Brian Fein]

I like Fau's choices.  But its tough to choose - Riley, Wade, Zo, Conine are all good choices.  I think Shula and Marino are musts.

[norad34]

I would put Shula, Marino, Chris Everett and Howard Schnellenberger.

College football was all but dead at UM until Howard came along. UM football was bad and they thought about pulling the program in the mid 70's. Howard built the foundation for a powerhouse.

Chris Everett made people want to watch tennis. Fine and good looking with power and speed never seen before until Martina from a female athlete. Every guy in my generation wanted to date Chris Everett.

Shula prove that sports in Miami could work and help make Miami a sports town. eventually we would have had other teams but Shula's winning sped up the process.

What more can be said about Dan Marino?

[Pappy13]

Jimmy Johnson, for his work at the U.  Pretty incredible run he had there.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

I am not sure if Shula belongs on it.  He never caught a pass, swung a bat, or made a tackle  (at least not in South Florida.)

If I was building one for Boston in would have Bird but not Auerbach, Brady but not Belichick.   

[Brian Fein]

Don Shula has the most coaching wins in NFL history.  Bill Belichick has to DOUBLE his current wins (plus 4 more) to catch him.  The man is an NFL legend.  He absolutely belongs on there. 

[Dave Gray]

I have Shula, Marino, Wade as definites.  Wade is as definite as Marino, especially after returning.

I love Riley and he's done wonders here, but he's also done wonders elsewhere.  I don't think he's synonymous with Florida sports.

What about Joe Robbie?

[Pappy13]

I am not sure if Shula belongs on it.  He never caught a pass, swung a bat, or made a tackle  (at least not in South Florida.)

I'm surprised you would say this.  He never caught a pass or made a tackle but he sure as heck helped a lot of players that did.

No Belicheck?  Really?  C'mon.  You're giving Tom WAY too much credit.  You really think that without Belicheck that Tom has the skins on the wall that he has today?  I think Tom even gives Bill more credit than you are.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

I'm surprised you would say this.  He never caught a pass or made a tackle but he sure as heck helped a lot of players that did.

No Belicheck?  Really?  C'mon.  You're giving Tom WAY too much credit.  You really think that without Belicheck that Tom has the skins on the wall that he has today?  I think Tom even gives Bill more credit than you are.

I don't dismiss anything BB has done.  And if ever came down to one of them had to go Young-Fisher style, I would be "bye bye Tom."

But I wouldn't put any owner or coach up there:  Tom Brady, Larry Bird, Ted Williams, Bobby Orr.

Although I could see removing one of them for Bill Russell. 

[Pappy13]

I don't dismiss anything BB has done.  And if ever came down to one of them had to go Young-Fisher style, I would be "bye bye Tom."

But I wouldn't put any owner or coach up there:  Tom Brady, Larry Bird, Ted Williams, Bobby Orr.

Although I could see removing one of them for Bill Russell. 

Owners I can agree with you, I really think they don't deserve that much credit, but coaches I disagree.  I think the coaches and players go hand in hand.  They help each other.

Damn that list is impressive though.  When you have to think hard of who to replace to put up Bill Russell, something is just wrong with that.

[JVides]

Although I could see removing one of them for Bill Russell. 

Bill Russell should absolutely be on the Boston Mt. Rushmore.  He should be its centerpiece.  Gottan be Larry, Russell, Orr, and...Brady I guess?

And the snow plow operator guy.  Let's not forget that jackass!