How much is winning really valued? In recent years the topic of championship rings seems to be synonymous with greatness. What about the players who put their blood sweat and tears into their respective sport, but fell short of a title? Ae they any less great if they didn’t make it to the mountain top and plant their flag? Despite having their foot prints all over that damn mountain? This is a piece showing love to the greats who still have a place in history. Those with their name in the record book that many don’t acknowledge.
[HOF= Hall of Fame]
Karl Malone
(HOF) 2nd All-Time in points (36,928) 2nd all-time Field Goals made (13,528)
14x All-Star 14x All NBA 2x MVP
Reggie Miller
(HOF) 5x All-Star 3x All NBA 2nd in 3-Pointers (2,560)
9th all time minutes played (47,619)
Barry Sanders
(HOF) 1997 NFL MVP 1994 & ’97 NFL Player of the Year
10x Pro Bowler 3rd All-Time Rushing Yards (15,269)
9th All-Time Rushing TD’s (99)
Patrick Ewing
(HOF) 11x All-Star 7x All NBA 3x All Defense
Warren Moon
(HOF) 1990 NFL MVP 9x Pro Bowler Ranked 7th All-Time in passes completed (3,988)
9th All-Time Passing TD‘s (2,91) 7th All-Time in Passing yards (49,325)
Bruce Smith
(HOF) 11x Pro Bowler 1990 & ’96 NFL Defensive Player of the Year
8x All-Pro All-Time Leader in sacks (200)
Dan Marino
(HOF) 9x Pro Bowler 1984 NFL MVP 4th All-Time Passing Yards (61,361) 5th All-Time Passing TD‘s (420) 4th All-Time Passes Completed (4,967)
Allen Iverson
(HOF) 11x All-Star 2000-01 NBA MVP 7x All-NBA First Team
Tim Brown
(HOF) 9x Pro Bowler 5th All-Time Receptions (1,094)
6th All-Time Receiving Yards (14,934) 9th All-Time Receiving Yards (100)
Ken Griffey
(HOF) 13x All-Star 1997 MLB Player of the Year 1997 MLB MVP 9x Gold Glove Winner 6th All-time Home Runs (630) 15th All-Time RBI’s (1836)
7x Silver Slugger award recipient
Tony Gwynn
(HOF) 8 NL Batting Titles 5x Gold Glove Winner 15x All-Star 7x Silver Slugger Award recipient
Charles Barkley
(HOF) 11x All-Star 1992-93 NBA MVP 6th All-Time Offensive Rebounds (4,260)
John Stockton
(HOF) 10x All-Star NBA All-Time Leader in Assist (15,806)
NBA All-Time Leader in Steals (3,265)
11x All-NBA 5x All-Defense
Thanx Dave! 
That’s because winning is all what white collar fans can equate with money. America is obsessed with winning or being #1 and giving 2 shits about being #2. I would love to live Jim Kelly’s life. Of course the goal is to win a championship but only a handful of people will ever get there. Also for football, it sucks when the defense is playing well and the offense chokes or vice versa, to cost you a Superbowl or hell even a missed kick
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Exactly right. I should have listed Jim Kelly! Rings are just another way for people to live through others vicariously. Good thing we don’t wear blinders
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Just look at all the hard work people put in. I can’t say that guys like Terrell Owens nor Chris Paul are failures. Look at all the accomplishments between those elite players. Coaching, situations, health, and yes even luck plays a huge role in not just winning a championship, but just getting to the championship.
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Exactly! I may have to make a part 2, revolving around recently retired and players still playing
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Great post Dave! Rings are great, but there are obviously some great athletes who don’t have them.
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Thanks bro. You’re exactly right. Many of them!
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great list! dang, i have not heard about Karl Marlone in a while. He was deadly in the paint. Long live The Mailman!
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Long Live the Mailman for real bruh! Underrated as ever. I’m juiced about this upcoming hoop season
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Me too, man! Who is your favorite team?
I live right outside of Boston so I would love to catch a Celtics game!
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I grew up in Oakland, Ca. So all my life I only supported Oakland teams (Raiders, Warriors, A’s) and now all three teams may be leaving. Crazy time for Oakland right now. As of two months ago I live in Detroit. Pretty cool place. What’s Boston like? Cool place?
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Wow, I did not know the teams may be leaving. Why?
Boston is okay, I suppose. I have never been anywhere else so I lack a frame of reference to even compare it to. It is very expensive, though.
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Cost of living is why we left the Bay. Gentrification is real. $4,000 rent isn’t cool. The teams are leaving because rich owners are chasing free money. The Warriors want the corporate dollar and the bright lights of San Francisco, The Raiders are promised free land and are trying to fleece the Las Vegas citizens out of damn near a Billion Dollars. The A’s might stay. But they were chasing that Silicon Valley money for ears. It’s all greed dude. ‘Merica!
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Wow, thanks for cluing me in! I will have to research this a bit! Gentrification is definitely real – it is all over the place. When white folks start coming through with their croc shoes and bicycles … its a done deal.
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Right. Wearing their Toms, walking dogs. Once you see the coffee shops pop up it’s a wrap.
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True story. Coffee shops and bike paths = pack your stuff
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