Top local athletes of the 2000s
Yes, just what you have been waiting for: A chance to evaluate the D.C. careers of Olie Kolzig, Christian Gomez and Kristi Tolliver against each other. Go to it.
You can rank those three plus all the big names on the jump -- and if you feel especially passionate about one athlete, state your case in the comments or email us. We'll publish the best reader takes as separate Bog posts as long as you include your full name and city and state in the comment/email.
By
Jon DeNunzio
|
December 9, 2009; 3:05 AM ET
Categories:
Decade's Best
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Previous: D.C.'s biggest busts of the decade
Next: Top local sports stories of the 2000s
Posted by: fushezzi | December 9, 2009 8:14 AM | Report abuse
Toliver over Coleman and/or Langhorne? Ok, but I would have gone with one of the other two.
Posted by: EricS2 | December 9, 2009 9:29 AM | Report abuse
If you want to go real local then you should include Alan Webb, Eddie Royal, Vernon Davis, Kevin Durant,Derrick Williams, etc.
Posted by: goose33 | December 9, 2009 9:57 AM | Report abuse
No Tony Skin?
Posted by: jhorstma | December 9, 2009 10:11 AM | Report abuse
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.
Posted by: JMSinCHeights | December 9, 2009 10:16 AM | Report abuse
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.
Posted by: DrinkingPartner | December 9, 2009 10:44 AM | Report abuse
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.
Posted by: granadoskerry | December 9, 2009 11:12 AM | Report abuse
no Mia Hamm? Glaring omission there.
Posted by: marybindc | December 9, 2009 11:14 AM | Report abuse
Ovechkin has won two MVPs. That says it all right there.
Posted by: poguesmahone | December 9, 2009 11:27 AM | Report abuse
Wow - not a lot of Wizards fans voting. Jamison and Arenas are locks in the top ten.
Posted by: Kev29 | December 9, 2009 11:28 AM | Report abuse
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.
Posted by: DCUMD | December 9, 2009 11:29 AM | Report abuse
Come on people. Taylor #2? If that punk was still alive, he probably wouldn't even crack the top 15 on this list.
Posted by: butcherbaker | December 9, 2009 11:30 AM | Report abuse
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
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.
Posted by: StabbeDabbe | December 9, 2009 11:59 AM | Report abuse
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.
Posted by: BrokenClipboard | December 9, 2009 12:34 PM | Report abuse
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!
Posted by: jayrockers | December 9, 2009 12:35 PM | Report abuse
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.
Posted by: futbolclif | December 9, 2009 1:06 PM | Report abuse
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.
Posted by: rgelfand | December 9, 2009 1:13 PM | Report abuse
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
Posted by: MondoTE11 | December 9, 2009 1:18 PM | Report abuse
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?
Posted by: 7900rmc | December 9, 2009 1:50 PM | Report abuse
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.
Posted by: RapmasterAC | December 9, 2009 2:47 PM | Report abuse
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.
Posted by: Chest_Rockwell | December 9, 2009 4:48 PM | Report abuse
Oh, and Gomez also won a title. Dan was quite generous to us United fans.
Posted by: Chest_Rockwell | December 9, 2009 4:50 PM | Report abuse
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 | December 9, 2009 6:58 PM | Report abuse
Etcheverry deserved a mention.
Posted by: beergorila | December 9, 2009 8:24 PM | Report abuse
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).
Posted by: alecw81 | December 10, 2009 12:04 AM | Report abuse
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
Posted by: manwithpig | December 10, 2009 10:19 AM | Report abuse
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.
Posted by: conman440 | December 10, 2009 12:30 PM | Report abuse
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!
Posted by: jayrockers | December 10, 2009 1:32 PM | Report abuse
Why is Lavar Arrington ommited?
Posted by: al_kohaulic | December 10, 2009 2:10 PM | Report abuse
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.
Posted by: Gambrills4 | December 11, 2009 1:02 PM | Report abuse
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.
Posted by: follybeach | December 12, 2009 9:35 AM | Report abuse
I'd have voted for LaVar Arrington if he'd been on the list.
Posted by: Hendo1 | December 14, 2009 5:35 PM | Report abuse
OMG, this voting interface is horrendous.
Posted by: petebondra12 | December 16, 2009 11:21 AM | Report abuse
The comments to this entry are closed.
Switch Olsen and Jamison and I'm fine with 1 thru 12