bighorn_zilla Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 I recently read an article on how Larry Bird, during the National Anthem, would look at Bobby Orr’s banner and think how great Orr was and what Orr meant to Boston. Which got me thinking of Boston’s Mount Rushmore of the Four Major Sports – Baseball, Basketball, Football and Hockey. So it could be argued that the following are Boston’s Mount Rushmore: Baseball – Ted Williams Basketball – Bill Russell Football – Tom Brady Hockey – Bobby Orr But who would be Buffalo’s representatives? Baseball – Connie Mack? Basketball – Bob Lanier? / Christian Laettner? Football – Jim Kelly? Hockey – Dominic Hasek? Thoughts? 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwight in philly Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 Baseball-Luke Easter, Basketball-Bob McAdoo, Football-Jim Kelly, Hockey-Gil Perreault. nothing earth shattering about my picks.. be interested in hearing others as well.. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motorin' Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 Baseball - Warren Spahn, South Park HS graduate https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_Spahn Winningest Left Handed pitcher of all-time, also took three years off in his prime to fight WWII. Basketball - Bob McAdoo Hockey - Gilbert Perrault Football - soon to be Josh Allen 7 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleeding Bills Blue Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 (edited) Probably give the basketball nod to McAdoo - the Braves weren't around very long and he's the only player of note worth mentioning. For baseball - Warren Spahn? I know he never played in Buffalo, but he was from here. Fine with Kelly... for now. I think Allen will take the spot someday. Hockey - Hasek Edited July 8, 2021 by dneveu 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
machine gun kelly Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 We don’t have an MLB or NBA team and history. We had the Braves, but Laettner nor Lanier didn’t play for that team. This doesn’t make any sense. I guess only you’re trying to link where these guys grew up. So if you’re linking where they grew up ok, I understand, then consider these points. Ted Williams home, CA Bill Russell home, Louisiana Tom Brady home, CA Bobby Orr home, Canada I honestly don’t know the correlation. We have two major sports and you know Hasik and MGK (the real one) is PA. Im not trying to give you a hard time, but there is no real correlation between the cities. We’re a small market area that if you want to only count playing here ok, then it would be Kelly, Gilbert, and Bob Macadue. We’ve never had MLB so irrelevant. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frat-Train Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 I would trade out Hasek for a bottle of Labatt’s… But then again, I like to party. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
machine gun kelly Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 Just now, Motorin' said: Baseball - Warren Spahn, South Park HS graduate https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_Spahn Winningest Left Handed pitcher of all-time, also took three years off in his prime to fight WWII. Basketball - Bob McAdoo Hockey - Gilbert Perrault Football - soon to be Josh Allen I like the Allen prediction. We’ll dun Motorin! I hope in 10 years we all say that one and maybe he considers living here post career even if 50% of the time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
First Round Bust Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 great topic - thanks - you had me do a look-up on Connie Mack thanks to this...his Buffalo link is that he purchased shares in the players league and lost it all when the league folded...one and done with Buffalo... Baseball - Warren Spahn - best left-handed pitcher in MLB history, served in WWII - Battle of the Bulge....then Joe McCarthy - Yankees manager during the early glory years Basketball - Bob Lanier - the best baller the area has ever produced - followed by either by Bob Mcadoo - the best Brave ever - or Randy Smith - second best Football - Ralph Wilson - I know, I know... but he brought the NFL to our fair city (who else would have ?) and more importantly kept it here when he could have easily sold-out; and his passing allowed the Pegulas to do the same for years and decades to come hopefully..then OJ (then he ducks). Hockey - its a hockey town - so I am going with four for hockey.. (Gil is my boyhood idol) - lets go with the Knox family (see Wilson, Ralph above), the French Connection, the Dominator, and RJ or Ted Darling.... now excuse me whilst I step out for a cigarette (and I dont smoke). 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. WEO Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 Can't count players who didn't play for a Buffalo team (there's another thread for that) Braves: Marvin "Bad News" Barnes! Bills: Kelly Sabres: Hasek Bisons: Pud Galvin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg S Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 Bills - I will pick 2. Best player on offense and defense...... OJ, and Bruce. Sabres - Hasek 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffaloaggie Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 If it's that someone played Professionally in Buffalo, I'd go with: Football - Bruce Smith Hockey - Dominik Hasek Basketball - Bob McAdoo Baseball - Johnny Bench Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Hooks Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 (edited) Baseball: Roy Hobbs (much of the natural was shot in Buffalo) Basketball: Bob McAdoo Football: Jim Kelly Hockey: Dominik Hasek Edited July 8, 2021 by Bobby Hooks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jethro_tull Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 Baseball: "Pud" Galvin Basketball: Bob Lanier Football: Orenthal James Simpson Hockey: Gilbert Perreault 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chongli Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 (edited) No mention of OJ Simpson (2,000 yard in only 14 games) or Bruce Smith (NFL's all-time sack leader) yet for football. They should at least be in the conversation. EDIT: @jethro_tullbeat me to it! Edited July 8, 2021 by chongli Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwight in philly Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 1 hour ago, Motorin' said: Baseball - Warren Spahn, South Park HS graduate https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_Spahn Winningest Left Handed pitcher of all-time, also took three years off in his prime to fight WWII. Basketball - Bob McAdoo Hockey - Gilbert Perrault Football - soon to be Josh Allen Nailed it with Spahn! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billsfan1959 Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 Football - Jim Kelly Hockey - Gilbert Perreault (slightly over Dominik Hasek) Basketball - Bob McAdoo Baseball - No professional team. Not relevant to this discussion. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chongli Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 (edited) 28 minutes ago, billsfan1959 said: Baseball - No professional team. Not relevant to this discussion. Well, technically speaking, all minor league teams are considered professional, so the Bisons should count; but I understand your point. If we are talking about all pro teams from WNY and not just Buffalo, for baseball, the Rochester Red Wings, the Syracuse Mets, the former Jamestown Jammers, and Batavia Muckdogs when they were Minor League Baseball (MiLB) should be considered. Am I forgetting any baseball team? Edited July 8, 2021 by chongli 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Murray Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 For football its hard to argue against Jim Kelly for a number of reasons, but the best bills player of all-time at their position is undoubtedly Bruce Smith. Remains (in debatable order) top two or three defensive ends of all time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haslett_Stomp Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 Agree with most here regarding Kelly and Perrault. Don't follow baseball so can't really venture a guess there. McAdoo or Adrian Dantley for basketball. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chongli Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 4 minutes ago, Haslett_Stomp said: Agree with most here regarding Kelly and Perrault. Don't follow baseball so can't really venture a guess there. McAdoo or Adrian Dantley for basketball. I'd have to say McAdoo is a good choice. Dantley was here only for his rookie year in 1976-77; otherwise he would clearly win over McAdoo. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Turk Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 2 hours ago, bighorn_zilla said: I recently read an article on how Larry Bird, during the National Anthem, would look at Bobby Orr’s banner and think how great Orr was and what Orr meant to Boston. Which got me thinking of Boston’s Mount Rushmore of the Four Major Sports – Baseball, Basketball, Football and Hockey. So it could be argued that the following are Boston’s Mount Rushmore: Baseball – Ted Williams Basketball – Bill Russell Football – Tom Brady Hockey – Bobby Orr But who would be Buffalo’s representatives? Baseball – Connie Mack? Basketball – Bob Lanier? / Christian Laettner? Football – Jim Kelly? Hockey – Dominic Hasek? Thoughts? Warren Spahn for Baseball Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalo716 Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 (edited) 2 hours ago, First Round Bust said: great topic - thanks - you had me do a look-up on Connie Mack thanks to this...his Buffalo link is that he purchased shares in the players league and lost it all when the league folded...one and done with Buffalo... Baseball - Warren Spahn - best left-handed pitcher in MLB history, served in WWII - Battle of the Bulge....then Joe McCarthy - Yankees manager during the early glory years Basketball - Bob Lanier - the best baller the area has ever produced - followed by either by Bob Mcadoo - the best Brave ever - or Randy Smith - second best Football - Ralph Wilson - I know, I know... but he brought the NFL to our fair city (who else would have ?) and more importantly kept it here when he could have easily sold-out; and his passing allowed the Pegulas to do the same for years and decades to come hopefully..then OJ (then he ducks). Hockey - its a hockey town - so I am going with four for hockey.. (Gil is my boyhood idol) - lets go with the Knox family (see Wilson, Ralph above), the French Connection, the Dominator, and RJ or Ted Darling.... now excuse me whilst I step out for a cigarette (and I dont smoke). Sure it's a hockey town.. but they're still more fans of the Buffalo Bills than the Buffalo sabers It's just as much of a football town if not more.. doesn't have to be just one or the other But if you asked 200,000 people in Buffalo(actual city).. you'll get a lot more people who are interested in the bills than the sabres.. The sabers have a hardcore following since 1970. The bills since 1960.. and there are more Buffalo Bills fans Edited July 8, 2021 by Buffalo716 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoyBatty is alive Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 2 hours ago, First Round Bust said: great topic - thanks - you had me do a look-up on Connie Mack thanks to this...his Buffalo link is that he purchased shares in the players league and lost it all when the league folded...one and done with Buffalo... Baseball - Warren Spahn - best left-handed pitcher in MLB history, served in WWII - Battle of the Bulge....then Joe McCarthy - Yankees manager during the early glory years Basketball - Bob Lanier - the best baller the area has ever produced - followed by either by Bob Mcadoo - the best Brave ever - or Randy Smith - second best Football - Ralph Wilson - I know, I know... but he brought the NFL to our fair city (who else would have ?) and more importantly kept it here when he could have easily sold-out; and his passing allowed the Pegulas to do the same for years and decades to come hopefully..then OJ (then he ducks). Hockey - its a hockey town - so I am going with four for hockey.. (Gil is my boyhood idol) - lets go with the Knox family (see Wilson, Ralph above), the French Connection, the Dominator, and RJ or Ted Darling.... now excuse me whilst I step out for a cigarette (and I dont smoke). Great call on Bob Lanier. I guess you could even throw in Calvin Murphy, For a couple years Buffalo was the epi-center for College Basketball,. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Hooks Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 49 minutes ago, billsfan1959 said: Football - Jim Kelly Hockey - Gilbert Perreault (slightly over Dominik Hasek) Basketball - Bob McAdoo Baseball - No professional team. Not relevant to this discussion. I mean, I guess you can start your own thread minus baseball. But the creator of the thread added baseball so it’s 100% relevant to the discussion. Because, you know, the OP made it relevant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
First Round Bust Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 (edited) 34 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said: Sure it's a hockey town.. but they're still more fans of the Buffalo Bills than the Buffalo sabers It's just as much of a football town if not more.. doesn't have to be just one or the other But if you asked 200,000 people in Buffalo(actual city).. you'll get a lot more people who are interested in the bills than the sabres.. The sabers have a hardcore following since 1970. The bills since 1960.. and there are more Buffalo Bills fans depends on your perspective - the true fan goes to games wouldnt you say ? .but there are over 80 hockey games per year compared to 17 football games - so the math based on 100% capacity is 800k versus 560k for sellouts in favor of Sabres...you have to include Ontario as well for hockey which makes up approx 15-20 percent of the Sabres STH base, not sure the Bills match this but there are some no doubt..the fans of the 1960s are dieing off sad to say and I know and remember quite a few including STH...the loyalty, passion and money-spending ebbs and flows with the cycles of winning and loosing...I think the best numbers would be counted during respective championship victory parades in the city of Buffalo...as an ex-pat always on mind for planning purposes...hope to see you there Edited July 8, 2021 by First Round Bust Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buftex Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 (edited) 44 minutes ago, chongli said: I'd have to say McAdoo is a good choice. Dantley was here only for his rookie year in 1976-77; otherwise he would clearly win over McAdoo. Clearly win? Both guys had very good careers. Dantley is somewhere around #30 all-time in scoring. Both HOF'ers. Both were NBA rookie of the year....but McAdoo led the league in scoring 3 times...league MVP once, and a major contributor on 2 NBA championship teams. Whatever slight edge Dantley had on McAdoo offensively, McAdoo was a defensive presence (shot blocker and rebounder) that Dantley never was. BM was the last player in NBA history to average 30 pts/15 rebounds for an entire NBA season. I realize they played different positions (AD was a small forward, Mac was a power forward/center), but you may be underestimating how good McAdoo was a little. McAdoo was the Edited July 8, 2021 by Buftex 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billsbackto81 Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 2 hours ago, buffaloaggie said: If it's that someone played Professionally in Buffalo, I'd go with: Football - Bruce Smith Hockey - Dominik Hasek Basketball - Bob McAdoo Baseball - Johnny Bench Agree with the first 3 but don't see the Johnny Bench connection? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalo716 Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 (edited) 59 minutes ago, First Round Bust said: depends on your perspective - the true fan goes to games wouldnt you say ? .but there are over 80 hockey games per year compared to 17 football games - so the math based on 100% capacity is 800k versus 560k for sellouts in favor of Sabres...you have to include Ontario as well for hockey which makes up approx 15-20 percent of the Sabres STH base, not sure the Bills match this but there are some no doubt..the fans of the 1960s are dieing off sad to say and I know and remember quite a few including STH...the loyalty, passion and money-spending ebbs and flows with the cycles of winning and loosing...I think the best numbers would be counted during respective championship victory parades in the city of Buffalo...as an ex-pat always on mind for planning purposes...hope to see you there No you don't have to include Ontario. Because Ontario's not a part of Buffalo And I don't think you could use the 80 games as an example because hockey just plays more games If you went to Buffalo today. The actual City not the suburbs.. and asked everybody you met who they like more the bills or sabers.. you would get more bills by far Don't get me wrong the sabers have a big following. But I've lived in the city my entire life I know way more people who don't follow the sabers than who don't follow the bills Yeah more people play hockey in Western New York at a high level. But Buffalo is not all of Western New York.. and inside Buffalo the bills are absolutely King I'm talking the actual City of Buffalo.. not from Dunkirk to North Tonawanda Edited July 8, 2021 by Buffalo716 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PromoTheRobot Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 For Buffalo natives: Baseball: Warren Spann Hockey: Pat Kane Basketball: Randy Smith Football: Gronk 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Frankish Reich Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 1 minute ago, PromoTheRobot said: For Buffalo natives: Baseball: Warren Spann Hockey: Pat Kane Basketball: Randy Smith Football: Gronk What a beautiful list, 1-3 that is ... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ticketssince61 Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 1 hour ago, chongli said: Well, technically speaking, all minor league teams are considered professional, so the Bisons should count; but I understand your point. If we are talking about all pro teams from WNY and not just Buffalo, for baseball, the Rochester Red Wings, the Syracuse Mets, the former Jamestown Jammers, and Batavia Muckdogs when they were Minor League Baseball (MiLB) should be considered. Am I forgetting any baseball team? Niagara Falls Pirates and later Niagara Falls Rapids 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoyBatty is alive Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 19 minutes ago, billsbackto81 said: Agree with the first 3 but don't see the Johnny Bench connection? Johnny Bench played for the Buffalo Bisons for two years. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ticketssince61 Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 if you don't factor in the # of games/minutes played with a Buffalo team, you could add the following HOF'ers to the discussion of best Brave ever Nate Archibald - 0 games / 0 minutes / 0 points Moses Malone - 2 games / 3 minutes / 0 points Had we not made trades based on $, we would have had possibly the best starting front line in NBA history with 3 HOF'ers: Dantley / McAdoo / Malone 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billsbackto81 Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 3 minutes ago, RoyBatty is alive said: Johnny Bench played for the Buffalo Bisons for two years. Thanks👍 I know it's slim pickings for baseball but I wouldn't but a player with a stint in the minors on Buffalo's Mount Rushmore of sports. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffaloBillies Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 Baseball: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solomon Grundy Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 18 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said: For Buffalo natives: Baseball: Warren Spann Hockey: Pat Kane Basketball: Randy Smith Football: Gronk I’d have to disqualify Randy Smith as a Buffalo native in terms of birth. He did spend his collegiate and professional days here though. I’d insert Bob Lanier. I’d also would replace Gronk with Jaws, Ron Jaworski. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoyBatty is alive Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 5 minutes ago, BuffaloBillies said: Baseball: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Buffalo Blue Jays! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T&C Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 Football- Jack Kemp, 2 championships. Kelly had none. Basketball- Bob McAdoo Hockey- The French Connection, maybe the best front line of all time. Baseball- Have to go with Bench. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridgewaycynic2013 Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 No love for Fred 'The Mad Bomber' Hilton?! 😁 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chongli Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 1 hour ago, Buftex said: Clearly win? Both guys had very good careers. Dantley is somewhere around #30 all-time in scoring. Both HOF'ers. Both were NBA rookie of the year....but McAdoo led the league in scoring 3 times...league MVP once, and a major contributor on 2 NBA championship teams. Whatever slight edge Dantley had on McAdoo offensively, McAdoo was a defensive presence (shot blocker and rebounder) that Dantley never was. BM was the last player in NBA history to average 30 pts/15 rebounds for an entire NBA season. I realize they played different positions (AD was a small forward, Mac was a power forward/center), but you may be underestimating how good McAdoo was a little. McAdoo was the You are correct. Thanks for the quick education. I guess it's called recency bias on my part (if you consider Dantley "recent", lol). McAdoo was on the downside of his career when I started watching the NBA. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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