Top local athletes of the 2000s

Switch Olsen and Jamison and I'm fine with 1 thru 12

Toliver over Coleman and/or Langhorne? Ok, but I would have gone with one of the other two.

If you want to go real local then you should include Alan Webb, Eddie Royal, Vernon Davis, Kevin Durant,Derrick Williams, etc.

No Tony Skin?

I had to put Juan Dixon at #3, and Lonny Baxter in the top 10 as well. Those 2000-2001 and 2001-2002 seasons were the best thing that happened this decade around here. Plus, Juan played professionally for the Wiz, so he gets a place in my rankings.

Also, ST gets my #1 vote. If he were still alive, he'd be by far the best player at his position, and probably a top 3 Defensive player in the entire league.

I was sad, too, when Sean Taylor died, but #2, behind AO and above Gilbert, for example, is way too high. He didn't have much of a career; though, I have no doubt he would have had a good to great one. I had Cooley at #2, though, honestly, should have voted Kolzig higher, given he eclipsed 300 Wins. In fact, he should probably be #1, with all due respect to Ovechkin, due to his accomplishments and his longevity as a Capital.

Mia Hamm is not on this list? #1 player in the history of women's soccer, who played here in DC and led her team to a championship?? There's a good case for her to top the list.

no Mia Hamm? Glaring omission there.

Ovechkin has won two MVPs. That says it all right there.

Wow - not a lot of Wizards fans voting. Jamison and Arenas are locks in the top ten.

Jaime Moreno is the #1 goal scorer in MLS history, and most of those goals came in the 2000s. He should be in the top 5, definitely above Cooley.

Come on people. Taylor #2? If that punk was still alive, he probably wouldn't even crack the top 15 on this list.

I would like to see Pops Mensah-Bonsu on this list. You think anyone else is gonna bring GW Basketball into the top 5 rankings?

E.J. Henderson won the Butkus Award, meaning he was the best at his position in ALL of college football. I'm shocked he's not higher up on this list.

I would like to see Pops Mensah-Bonsu on this list. You think anyone else is gonna bring GW Basketball into the top 5 rankings?

Posted by: rgelfand | December 9, 2009 11:40 AM | Report abuse

Rankings don't matter! NCAA Basketball is solved on the court, not in some poll of coaches who aren't paying attention enough to really vote.

I was going to put EJ Henderson on the bottom because I have no idea who he is. Then I saw Michael Jordan. Talk about someone who did F-all as an athlete in DC...

Thx,

Jay!

How is Zimm not higher? Sure his team sucks, but he got a gold glove AND a silver slugger. He also only missed rookie of the year by one vote.

Pops brought GW basketball to a level its never seen. Foggy Bottom went crazy while he was there, sold out all its games. your just biased. But no, lets put MJ on this list when he drafted Kwame.

for this area you have to put juan dixon #1. the terps in the early part of the decade were the ultimate winners overall in terms of stories, atleast positive ones. then ovie #2, ST #3, and who cares about the rest. Maybe gil #4

Seriously, folks? Sean Taylor #2? What'd he ever do that was so great besides being shot and becoming the poster-child for over-the-top grief?

Sean Taylor was pretty much the heart of the Redskins defense. He made clutch plays in big games. 'nuff said.

Ovechkin gets #1 because is a superstar in his sport. Zimmerman should be #3 with Arenas #4, and then throw in a soccer player for #5.

I'm pleasantly surprised to see how well United's representatives are doing (at time of comment, they're 7th and 8th). I'm really shocked to see Juan Dixon as low as 9th.

Food for thought: The only players on this list to win a championship with a local team are Moreno, Olsen, Dixon, Baxter, and Tolliver. Obviously that doesn't overcome everything (Skins domination of local attention, Ovechkin being the best player in his given sport, etc), but I would hope it gets some level of recognition.

Oh, and Gomez also won a title. Dan was quite generous to us United fans.

No El Diablo? What is wrong with this picture? For those that might not know, his name is Marco Antonio Etcheverry! Gooooool!! DeeeeeCeeeeeeeeUUUUUUniiiiiited.

Etcheverry deserved a mention.

What has Portis done? Same goes for Zimmerman, Jamison, Arenas, Jordan... basically anyone who hasn't won ANY hardware in the last 10+ years...

This list should be very short: Ben Olsen, Jaime Moreno, Alex Ovechkin, Juan Dixon, Steve Blake (just as responsible for that National Title).

how is dixon not #1? he was the best player on a national championship team. outside of the united players (who also should be higher), who else on the list can say that. the wizards on this list can't get out of the first round of the playoffs and the redskins on this list are overpaid and can't even make the playoffs. Juan needs more love

You can't put Juan Dixon and Lonny Baxter on this list and not also include STEVE BLAKE. He ran that national champion Terps team and he played great off the bench for the Wizards for a few years.

No El Diablo? What is wrong with this picture? For those that might not know, his name is Marco Antonio Etcheverry! Gooooool!! DeeeeeCeeeeeeeeUUUUUUniiiiiited.
Posted by: zizou1972

Etcheverry deserved a mention.
Posted by: beergorila

Etch was the anchor that dragged DC United down THIS DECADE. The team did squat from 2000-2003 with him.

Thx,

Jay!

Why is Lavar Arrington ommited?

Ovechkin is the obvious number one. No other athlete is even remotely close. The others positions can be argued but I would start with Jaime Moreno at number two.

samuels at 13 is tough. all he did was anchor the most important o-line position for the entire decade and go to more pro bowls than any redskin lineman in history.

I'd have voted for LaVar Arrington if he'd been on the list.

OMG, this voting interface is horrendous.