OT(ish): The Mount Rushmore of Sports...

[XXtwindad]

The passing of the great John Havlicek got me thinking about the seminal and transformative figures in different sports. My criteria is that the athletes had to bring their sport to greater heights in popularity or transform it. Four presidents on Rushmore, so four athletes.

The only sports I feel qualified to comment on:

Basketball:

1) Russell
2) Wilt
3) Magic
4) Jordan

apologies to: West, Baylor, Mikan, Bird, James, Curry

Baseball:

1) Ruth
2) Robinson
3) Mays
4) Eckersley

Apologies to: Cobb, Aaron, Williams, Brock, Koufax, Ripken, Henderson, Barry Bonds.

Cycling:

1) Coppi
2) Anquetil
3) Merckx
4) Armstrong

Apologies to: Bartoli, Hinault, LeMond.

Others?