Monday, March 9, 2009

Carolinas Mount Rushmore: Pro basketball

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 pro basketball in the Carolinas.

Carl Scheer, Carolina Cougars, Charlotte Hornets: Back in a time when the general manager did everything (business and basketball decisions), Scheer was an innovator, creating the slam-dunk contest in the ABA. He was long-gone from Charlotte when the Hornets’ relationship with the city deteriorated. Now he’s back in town, a Bobcats season-ticket holder.



Larry Johnson, Charlotte Hornets: The Hornets’ first All-Star, Johnson (above) was an iconic player struck down by a back injury. We say that bust on top of the mountain has to picture him as “Grandmama’’ of sneaker-selling fame (left).






Muggsy Bogues, Charlotte Hornets: The shortest player in NBA history at 5-3, Bogues (above) attacked the game with a frenetic energy anyone could appreciate. Former Hornets coach Allan Bristow put it best: There’d be another Larry Bird before there’s another Muggsy Bogues.

Larry Brown, Cougars player and coach, Bobcats coach: Brown’s Hall of Fame coaching career started in the Carolinas and will likely end here, too. In-between, Brown (above) became the only coach to win a title in the NCAA (Kansas, 1988) and NBA (Detroit Pistons, 2004).

-- Rick Bonnell

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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.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Alonzo Mourning would be a better choice in the fourth spot.

Anonymous said...

Kobe Bryant- for about an hour.

Anonymous said...

Muggsy was always amazing to watch, but I would have to pick Zo over him. Zo was a warrior every night. Although he never had the national attention that LJ or Zo did, I would have to say Dell Curry was loved locally as much as any Hornet to ever don the teal.

Anonymous said...

I'm still furious as Zo for taking a preverbial dump on Charlotte years ago! Matt Geiger would be more deserving of a spot than Zo! Or perhaps Hugo and/or Super-Hugo!!!

Anonymous said...

Wow...Larry Brown has been involved with Carolinas NBA ball for 6 months and now he's on their Rushmore? Slim pickings.

Anonymous said...

Dell Curry

Anonymous said...

I was managing a fast food place in Concord when the Cougars we playing. We ran a contest where the first prize was tickets to a game, 2d prize was a Cougars jacket, 3d prize was a Big Mac. Most 1st and 2d prize winners wanted the Big Mac. Sure put Larry Brown up there.

Anonymous said...

I can't say Carl Scheer, although he did have some involvement early with the Hornets, and the Hornets were always a fan-friendly organization.

Muggsy ... yes

Alonzo ... yes

Larry Johnson ... yes

No current player on the Bobcats can make this list, but Okafor, Felton, Wallace, Diaw, Bell and Augustin are all very likable and talented. It is shaping up as a team with possibilities.

Who is responsible for that?

Larry Brown. He makes it.

Anonymous said...

George Shinn. No Shinn, no list.

Anonymous said...

Screw George Shinn.....

Anonymous said...

Wow...Larry Brown has been involved with Carolinas NBA ball for 6 months and now he's on their Rushmore? Slim pickings.
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Sounds like a dumb yankee that knows nothing about Carolina basketball. Try actually reading the title: Larry Brown, Cougars player and coach, Bobcats coach