Seeing as how I live in the suburban New York area as I said in my previous article, I was listening to ESPN Radio and the Michael K show and he was talking about Mark Messier seeing as how Thursday was the official retirement of Messier's No. 11 into the rafters of Madison Square Garden. While talking about Messier, Michael K got onto the topic of discussing who the greatest winners of all-time were.
Now, Michael K naturally dubbed Mark Messier the greatest on one sole consideration: that he won his six Stanley Cups with different teams. He wasn't taking anything away from other great champions like Bill Russell and Michael Jordan, but the thing that set Messier apart from these players is that he won a title after going to a new team, something that Michael Jordan was very far from once he didn't have Scottie Pippen anymore.
Thus, in response to Michael K's claim, I have decided to compile a list of who I think the greatest sports winners of all-time are. One quick note, it is going to be hard for a baseball player to make the list considering that is the sport where a player's impact is possibly felt less than all other sports.
1) Eusébio
To leave this player off of the list would be a crime. Even though he played his entire career on one team (how is that a detriment in this list?), it is hard to miss the fact that he managed to win the Portuguese League Championship 12 times from 1961-1974, and the Mexican and NASL Championships in 1976, while leading Benefica to four Portuguese Cup titles. Another fact that is hard to ignore is that he scored a whopping total of 727 goals in 715 matches with Benefica.
2) Bill Russell
You may be wondering after reading down the list further why Russell made it and I didn't include Wilt "The Big Dipper" Chamberlain. It may be that Wilt was a better player, but Bill Russell won NBA titles with the Celtics in '57, '59, '60, '61, '62, '63, '64, '65, '66, '68, '69, as well as winning a gold medal in the Olympics in '56, and two NCAA championships with San Francisco in '55 and '56. Simply put, the guy just won titles. If you count all of them he won fourteen titles in fifteen seasons at the levels in which he played, and if that doesn't constitute a winner, then I don't know what does.
3) Bryan Trottier
When you think of great winners, his name doesn't usually come up. Fact is, though, that he managed to win six Stanley Cups as well, four with the Islanders ('80, '81, '82, '83), and two with the Penguins ('91, '92). Add to that the Hart Memorial Trophy in 1979 and the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1980 and you've got yourself a winner of the same pedigree as Mark Messier. There was also a time when Trottier was an assistant in Colorado in 2002, when they managed to win a Cup for Ray Borque.
4) Mark Messier
It's hard to argue with Michael K here. The Captain scored almost 700 times while assisting on almost 1200 more goals en route to winning five Stanley Cups with Edmonton and one with the Rangers. He also took home the Hart Memorial Trophy twice in '90 and '92 and the Conn Smythe in Edmonton's '84 Cup season.
5) Ronaldo
O Fenômeno has managed to win the Dutch Cup in '96 with PSV Eindhoven, the Cup Winner's Cup with Barça in '97, the UEFA Cup with Inter Milan in '98, the Intercontinental Cup and European Super Cup with Réal Madrid in '02, and La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup with Réal in '03. Oh, yeah, and there are also the two World Cup titles with Brazil to go along with Copa América in '97 and '99. How could you not put him on this list?
6) Lilian Thuram
This French National managed to win titles with three different teams: the French Cup with Monaco in 1991, UEFA Cup, Italian Cup, and Italian SuperCup with Parma in 99, Serie A titles in 2002, 2003, and 2005 with the Italian SuperCup in '02 and '03 with Juventus to go along with a World Cup title in 1998 with the French national team. Considering the requirements, you can't leave Thuram off the list.
7) Michael Jordan
Say what you want about his only winning in Chicago and only winning with Scottie Pippen, but the fact is that he won the Finals MVP in every one of the six NBA titles that the Bulls won during his tenure in the Windy City. Aside from his endless multitude of personal records, there is also that whole 72-10 Bulls regular season record in 1995-1996, three wins better than number two, the Lakers of 1971-1972. The simple fact is, he knew how to win — he just didn't have the materials in all of his ventures.
8) Diego Maradona
Maradona won the Argentine League with Boca Juniors in 1981, the King's Cup and Cup Winner's Cup with Barça in 1982, and 1987's Italian League and Italian Cup, 1989's UEFA Cup, 1990's Italian League, and 1991's Italian Super Cup with SSC Napoli. This to go along with a World Youth Championship in 1979 and the World Cup in 1986, where he seemingly ran past defenders as they looked on in amazement against England.
9) Terry Bradshaw
I was tempted to put Tom Brady on this list because of his uncanny playoff record, but the fact is the Steelers of the '70s led by Bradshaw were just great. They won four Super Bowls in six seasons, with Bradshaw being voted the MVP twice. He also led the Steelers to the AFC Championship game two other times. Brady will move ahead of Bradshaw if the Patriots manage to rewrite history this season, but for now Bradshaw is ahead in terms of just being able to win.
10) Robert Horry
Say what you want about this pick, but you can't argue with six NBA titles on three different teams. Sure, he didn't average too many points but how can you tell me that you can't remember a Robert Horry shot to win a game in the NBA finals for his team. Even role players can be winners, but since he's a role player, that puts him at the bottom of this list.
Honorable Mentions
Jean Beliveau
Stanley Cup: '56, '57, '58, '59, '60, '65, '66, '68, '69, '71; Hart: '56, '64; Conn Smythe: '65
Tom Brady
Super Bowl: '01-'02, '03-'04, '04-'05; Super Bowl MVP: '01-'02, '03-'04; Career postseason record: 12-1, including college
Now I've noticed recently that people can be somewhat nasty (offensive comments are deleted) when it comes to commenting on the site, so instead of just bashing my top 10, supply a list of your own if you're going to comment as I'd love to see what other people think.
Notes
* Last Wednesday night, Duke yet again showed that they're a very good team and a very likely candidate for the national championship after a pasting of Maryland by 24. I loved it seeing as how I'm a huge Duke fan.
* The Packers are officially in rebuilding mode after hiring 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McCarthy. Maybe Brett Favre will take this sign and run with it into retirement.
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