Third of a series.
ESPN is naming its "Mount Rushmore" for sports in each of the 50 states. We liked the idea, so we're taking a smaller slice. Today, the Mount Rushmore of Charlotte athletics.
Cedric Maxwell, basketball: Maxwell (above) is perhaps the most famous face of Charlotte 49ers athletics. He was a star forward for the 49ers on their 1977 team which reached the NCAA Final Four. Maxwell ranks sixth all-time in points scored and has had his jersey retired after his storied career with Charlotte. He was the 12th overall pick in the 1977 NBA draft. He was drafted by the Boston Celtics, where he played for eight of his 11 NBA seasons.
Jeff Mullins, basketball: Mullins (above) , a native of Lexington, Ky., is a former basketball star at Duke and with the NBA's Golden State Warriors who was hired as the school's men's basketball program in 1985. He is credited with resurrecting the program, earning an NCAA
berth in 1988 - the first since the school had been in the Final Four. His actions helped shape the development of the program as it moved to from the Sun Belt Conference to the Metro Conference and eventually Conference USA.Chris Haney, baseball: Haney (right) was an All-Sun Belt selection in both 1989 and 1990 as a pitcher for the 49ers and remains the program's leader with 20 complete games. In 1990, he was chosen 40th overall in the Major League Baseball draft by the Montreal Expos and reached the majors the next year at age 22. He pitched for six teams during an 11-year MLB career.
Judy Rose, administration: Rose (above) has been part of the Charlotte 49ers athletic programs since 1975 when she was hired as women's basketball coach and tennis coach. In 1990, Rose was promoted to AD. She was the first woman on NCAA Men's Basketball Committee. She is leading a fundraising drive to start a football program.-- Jim Utter
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Disagree? Think we left someone out? Tell us in the comments below who you'd add, and which of our picks yours should replace.
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28 comments:
Judy Rose has the same ideas about athletics that she does her hair style.....stuck in the past!
As long as this lady is the AD the program will be second rate. This school needs an aggressive AD that will ACTIVELY look to move the teams from the A-10.
And Sedrick Maxwell has no contact with the school and never speaks highly of his time there. He basically does not claim the school. But then again if you listen to him talk it makes you wonder if he ecer attended class.
I think Lutz deserved some mention. But like artist they are not truly appreciated until after their gone.
To be honest they could of put Chancellor Dubois for getting football approved, a landmark decision for the university.
Lutz' picture is scribbled in a stall in one of the bathrooms by the visitors center.
I'd take Haney off and add Lutz or John Maine. Others are accurate.
Rose has upgraded and built over 50million in new facilities at a university where Alums are not connected, the media ignores the school and the community is obsessed with ACC schools 2 hrs away.
Henry over Haney. Henry Williams was a great player and great and inspirational guy. The MJ of Italy, former bobcats announcer and minister.
Look at Maxwell....mabye 6 inches off the floor. For him that would be considered "skying".
Tough list when you think about it. Others that could have been mentioned include Mets pitcher John Maine, Jamie Green, the Niner golf coach that recently led the Niners to 2 NCAA Top 5 finishes (one 3rd and one 5th), the men's soccer coach from the early 90s that took the Niners to the Final 4, or one of about 20 other basketball players that played professionally in the NBA or Europe.
I thought Lee Rose should belong on the list but then realized you would almost have to include Bill Foster if Lee Rose was on the list. Foster recruited most of those players on the Final 4 team.
LEEMIRE GOLDWIRE!
Tommy Knotts has to be one of the four. just think of how many kids have gone on to the next level-both directly and indirectly-because of the man. Regardless of what else you think you know about the guy,
Maxwell - don't want him on the list, but I understand why he is.
Mullins - good call Jim.
Haney - didn't follow baseball then, but his numbers support inclusion on this list. Plus, baseball deserves to be represented here.
Judy - well, she has been there a long time and seen a lot of change. But, in my opinion, she could have acted even quicker on things such as football. Football should have started when we were new in C-USA.
one last comment Jim. Thanks for excluding Bobby Lutz. Class guy, but the team has regressed during his tenure. Yes, I know the conference change was a huge impact, but he has been too slow to embrace the move to the A-10. If he didn't like moving to A-10, he should've left for somewhere else.
You guys forgot the Charlotte Football Initiative. Without them, Charlotte would not have a future...
No love for Henry Williams?
Replace Judy with Henry and you have a decent list.
Charlotte Football Initiative?
How much of the corporate dollars needed for football have you raised? FSLs are good and needed. I have my own. But corporate dollars are needed to really make this work.
Don't get me wrong. CFI did something worthwhile. But without the money raised by Minter, Rucker, Johnny Harris, Mac Everett, football will be a joke at Charlotte.
Cedric Maxwell
Henry Williams
Jeff Mullins
John Maine
Honorable Mention:
Chris Haney
Bobby Lutz
Melvin Watkins
Lee Rose
Bill Foster
Jarvis Lang
Jamie Green
Tough but good list, would probably change in a few years with football.
Go Niners!!!
"And Sedrick Maxwell has no contact with the school and never speaks highly of his time there. He basically does not claim the school. But then again if you listen to him talk it makes you wonder if he ecer attended class."
Please. I was at UNCC with Cedric, we were both in a Philosophy class taught by Dr. Fishman. Yes, he attended class....he also was an articulate participant in the discussions on all the far-ranging topics one might expect in such a class.
Your insult is out of line.
What about JOHN SADRI?????
Hello????!??!?!?!
Sadri is a Charlottean who played regularly at at local Charlotte tennis club and eventually climbed the ranks to number 13 in the world. He made it to the finals of the Australian open and had one of the most memorable collegiate tennis matches against John MaCenroe! Don't believe me? Look it up, he's even in the Tennis Hall of Fame!
John Sadri without a doubt should be on Charlotte's Mt. Rushmore!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
John Sadri and Tom Knotts???? This isn't a list for the city of Charlotte. It's a Mount Rushmore for the University of Charlotte.
What year did Sadri and Knotts graduate from UNCC? I didn't even know they were alumni. Good list Jim, you do a great job covering 49er athletics.
John Sadri?
Tom Knotts?
so typical in Charlotte. Too many people do nothing but subscribe to whatever crap is force fed to them by the Observer.
A lot of great sports people associated with the city of Charlotte. But there also some great sports people connected to the Charlotte 49ers.
I want to know why the Charlotte Observer continues to thumb their nose at the 49ers. The issue is a lot greater than a poor Niners hoops team this current season.
I would like to learn more about the 49ers. Too bad the observer doesn't cover them.
Substitute either Jon Busch or Lee Rose for Judy Rose. If there's a fund-raising Mt. Rushmore, put her on it. She was DEAD-SET against football and made sure we would not explore while Woodward was Chancellor. I promise this is TRUE!
"I promise this is true."
Yes, we'll take your word for it Mr. Anonymous. LOL LOL
John Maine
Ric Flair!
Humpy Wheeler!
Jerry Richardson!
How about the face of a crying infant baby to represent all 40 WHINER fans of Whiner Nation?!
Sadri went to State
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