Friday, March 6, 2009

Carolinas Mount Rushmore: Duke

Ninth 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 Duke athletics.

Eddie Cameron, men’s basketball/football: Coached Duke to three Southern Conference titles in basketball and three more in football when Wallace Wade was serving in the military during World War II. In 1940, Cameron (above) coached the first game in the basketball arena that bears his name.

Christian Laettner, basketball: All-time leading scorer in NCAA tournament history, Laettner (above) played in four Final Fours and led Duke to NCAA titles in 1991 and 1992.

Mike Krzyzewski, basketball: Coach (above) has won three NCAA titles in 10 Final Four appearances and has more than 750 wins in 29 seasons at Duke.

Wallace Wade, football: After leaving Alabama to coach at Duke in 1931, Wade (above) coached the Blue Devils to two Rose Bowl appearances with a 110—36-7 record in 16 seasons, establishing the Blue Devils as a regional power.

--Ken Tysiac

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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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Vote in our Poll! Which school has the more impressive O List "Mount Rushmore," Duke or North Carolina?

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

What no Greg Paulus?

Anonymous said...

I knew all these men personally. My father was Wallace Wade's first quarter back at Duke. Coach Wade arrived my father's sophmore year. He also attended my father's funeral here in Charlotte and died about 3 years later. Anyway there are alot of great athletes that attended Duke, but these do stand out. Mr. Cameron was such a nice man and Duke still uses the building named for him. It is not big enough, but it is a beautiful building inside and out. Also, I can think of Ace Parker, Sonny Jorgensen and Dick Groat that could be added to your list.

Anonymous said...

It's hard to argue with that list, but I'd like to propose Grant Hill, who was nearly Laettner's equal as a player, and miles ahead of him in the character department.

Anonymous said...

After 9 of the 10 lists, I have to make this comment. The Mt. Rushmore should have been doubled/separated into players on one list and coaches/administrators on another. Players only have 4 years (3 before 1975) to make any mark on the school. Coaches have 20-40 years to have an impact. Every school so far has had at least 2 non-player members. For a school like Duke with its history to only list one player is testament to the dichotomy.

Anonymous said...

Ace Parker needs to go on here over Cameron. Parker was a 3-time All-American, won the 1940 NFL MVP and is a Pro Football Hall of Famer.

He even served in the war mid-career AND played Major League Baseball for 2 years, homering in his first MLB plate appearance.

Anonymous said...

Bobby Hurley -BAWHAHAHAHHA!

Anonymous said...

I'm really surprised no one from UNC-CH or Duke suggested Jesus Christ or GOD

Anonymous said...

You forgot the Duke LaCrosse team... they actually put Duke on the map.

Anonymous said...

You know your list sucks if you have pull guys from the 40s. Check UNC for a real Mt. Rushmore. Jordan alone destroyed anything you guys can come up with. An icon vs a rat, a chest stomping hoops player, and two old geezers no one under 60 knows.

Anonymous said...

Erik Meek

Anonymous said...

nick horvath

Anonymous said...

Wouldn't the only iconic image needed for a mountain be Thomas Hill crying when his boyfriend hit Laettner hit the shot?

Anonymous said...

Duke Mt. Rushmore, Part II

1. Ace Parker
2. Shane Battier
3. Dan Brooks
4. Johnny Dawkins

Anonymous said...

Duke Mt. Rushmore, Part III

1. Jason Williams
2. Dick Groat
3. Grant Hill
4. Steve Spurrier

Anonymous said...

Apologies to Clarkston Hines, J.J. Redick, Bobby Hurley, Alana Beard, Matt Danowski, Art Heyman, Sonny Jurgensen, Danny Ferry, John Rennie, Mike Gminski..............

Jeffrey said...

Sean Dockery

Literally the best player of all time

For all other ACC schools

Anonymous said...

Dean Smith>Coach K

Smith got aa arena named after him. Not just a stupid court.Even though Im a UNC fan, Grant Hill was a better player than Laettner and aleast we don't have a court case said the were the worst team in CFB

Anonymous said...

Coach K: 3
Dean: 2

Anonymous said...

...HA!!...Chrusty Letnr??..........give me a break.Dook SUX and UNC doesn't.nuff said. THIS COMMENT IS ABUSIVE AND I AM REMOVING MYSELF.

Tom Lowe said...

Annonymous said..."Every school so far has had at least 2 non-player members. For a school like Duke with its history to only list one player is testament to the dichotomy."

Say what??? Mia Hamm, Choo-Choo Justice, and MJ are THREE superb PLAYERS. Most likely, you and most DOOK fans have no idea that of those three players, Mia Hamm waw relatively more influential in her sport (women's soccer) than the other two players.

For DOOK to list only one player is a tribute to the dichotomy is laughable. Three coaches and one thug player does not make a dichotomy (di means split or two). Having only one player for DOOK indicates that the majority of DOOK's players were and are mediocre at best.

It is obvious why this person goes by annonymous. You may also want to try a paper bag over your head when you go outside.

Anonymous said...

Tarholes have a girl on their mountain!! lol