Here's a topic that we probably won't see on ESPN, but it still deserves to be told. Currently, Arizona sports are not exactly the most talked in the world of Sports.
The Arizona Cardinals have been to, but have never won a Super Bowl. The Suns have been to, but have never won an NBA Championship series. The Diamondbacks do have a Championship even though they are barely legal to drink (team age, not players). And the Arizona Coyotes have been a part of Arizona sports for 22 years, have been to the playoffs eight times, and have only made it past the first round once.......but have not won a title.
But it hasn't all been bad in the sports world in Arizona. The Arena Football League has seen the Arizona Rattlers go to the ArenaBowl 10 times, while winning six titles. And the Phoenix Mercury have three titles in four appearances in the Championship series. So, as the magnifying glass is so rarely on the valley of the sun of late, it's time to take a look at some of the greatest Arizona sports athletes of all-time.
First, let me give out some "honorable mentions. Let's start with Nick Davila. As exciting as watching an Arena Football League game with the fans here in Phoenix, let's be honest. The AFL is just enough football to get us through to when college football and the pro game chatter starts up again. But even with that being said, Davila was the best quarterback in the Rattlers young history. He led the team to multiple AFL titles, threw for over 32k yards and more than 760 touchdowns and only 91 interceptions.
Next "honorable mention" goes to Steve Nash. That's right, it's blasphemy that Steve Nash doesn't make the list! But here's why.....
Yes, Nash is a two-time MVP. And yes, he's the team's all-time leader in assists with 6,997. But he only gets the honorable mention because I'm looking at both sides of the ball, and there was one point guard that may be named later for the Suns that had a better all-around game.
The final honorable mention goes to a gentleman that yes, was a big part of the Cardinals history, but it wasn't the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals history brings them from Chicago, to St. Louis, to Arizona. But they were all part of this team's history. And this guy played a big part. From 1966-1983 the Cardinals had a quarterback by the name of Jim Hart. And all he became was the all-time leader in franchise history in passing yards with over 34k, but he also has almost twice as many touchdown passes as any other quarterback in team history.
Now on to the list, counting down from 10-1.
10. Sue Bird; Phoenix Mercury- Bird is currently 8th all-time on the WNBA career scoring list with over 6,150 points. Bird is 4th in steals all-time with more than 650, and she is first in career assists with 2,831.
9. Paul Goldschmidt; Arizona Diamondbacks- "Goldy" makes the list for Arizona athletes because of what he did when he was here. Currently, in team rankings, Goldy is ranked 2nd in hits, 2nd in home runs, 2nd in RBI's, first in walks, and 2nd in steals.
8. Kevin Johnson; Phoenix Suns- "KJ" makes the list ahead of Steve Nash because of his overall game. Yes, he was 2nd in team assists, but he was 4th in steals (twice as much as Nash), and he was 3rd in points where Nash was 7th.
7. Walter Davis; Phoenix Suns- Davis is the Phoenix Suns all-time leading scorer. He's also 4th all-time in team assists, and 3rd all-time in steals.
6. Diana Taurasi; Phoenix Mercury- Diana Taurasi is the WNBA's career leader in points by more than 1,000!! She is 4th all-time in assists and also has played all 14 years of her career with the Mercury. During this time (as she's still playing), Taurasi has led the Mercury to three WNBA titles.
5. Luis Gonzalez; Arizona Diamondbacks- Gonzalez is the franchises all-time leader in games played, at-bats, runs scored, hits, doubles, home runs, and RBI's.
4. Alvan Adams; Phoenix Suns- Alvan Adams is the Phoenix Suns leader in rebounds and steals. He's 3rd in assists, and 2nd in points. He's also 4th in blocks, and first overall in fouls....by A LOT!! Hey, they give you them to USE!!
3. Randy Johnson; Arizona Diamondbacks- The "Big Unit" is ranked first overall in ERA, strikeouts (by over 1,000), games started, complete games, and shutouts. Oh, and he also scared the hell out of John Kruk during the All-Star game when he threw a fastball over his head. But he did manage to hit a pigeon with a fastball. True story.
2. Larry Fitzgerald; Arizona Cardinals- Larry should make this list just because of how nice of a guy he is. Plus, for as long as this team has been around, Fitz is the all-time leader in receiving yards by more than 8,000 yards! He's ranked 2nd all-time in NFL history. He's also 3rd all-time in receptions with more than 1,300. Fitzgerald is also tied for sixth all-time in career touchdowns.
1. Shane Doan; Arizona Coyotes- How does Doan pass Fitz? Because most people don't realize how great and how long of a career he had here in Phoenix. Doan wins the close race between him and Fitz on who is the most likable guy in the valley. During his 20-year career, Doan is now ranked first in franchise history in games played, first in goals, first in assists, first in points, first in power-play goals, and first in game-winners! But he is ranked second in penalty minutes.......so....yeah. He's still, to me, the greatest Arizona athlete of ALL-TIME!
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