As we've recently been reminded, the Valley hasn't had much luck when it comes to winning world championships.
Yes, the Phoenix Mercury and Arizona Rattlers have won multiple titles in recent years, and their accomplishments should not go unheralded. But when it comes to Arizona's "Big 4" teams -- the Diamondbacks, Suns, Cardinals and Coyotes -- our championship cupboard is noticeably bare.
That's a shame -- not just for fans starving for success, but for the players who have represented our state with distinction for years, both as athletes and as role models.
But that got us thinking: Which four Valley athletes should appear on a hypothetical "Mount Rushmore" of those most deserving of a world title?
This list is highly subjective... but here's our best shot at it in a new weekly feature on ABC15.com called Rushmore Four.
First, let's start with some honorable mentions.
Paul Goldschmidt
The quiet, soft-spoken Goldschmidt is a breath of fresh air in an era of trash-talking stars. All the D-backs first baseman does is have MVP-caliber seasons every single year, and he leaves it to us media types to make a big deal out of it. Goldschmidt's charity, Goldy's Fund 4 Kids, benefits Phoenix Children's Hospital.
Brad Ziegler
The 36-year-old reliever stepped up in a big way as the D-backs’ closer last season after Addison Reed faltered early in the season. Ziegler is also an important advocate for veterans and their families, making sure spouses and children of deployed military members are cared for.
Martin Hanzal
To quote Twitter user @marblekyle: Hanzal was drafted by the Coyotes in 2005 and "has been doing the dirty work in front of the net ever since." No doubt. The forward has been one of the Coyotes' most valuable players for nearly a decade.
Zbynek Michalek
The defenseman is in his third stint with the Coyotes, and all he does every night is sacrifice his body to block incoming shots. The undrafted 33-year-old Michalek led the league in the blocked shots category in 2008-09.
Mikkel Boedker
Boedker is only 26 but has been a Coyote for his entire NHL career, which dates back to 2008. He’s come up with a number of clutch goals, including back-to-back overtime game-winners against the Blackhawks in the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Boeds is also very active with Coyotes Charities.
And now, our Rushmore Four, in no particular order:
Larry Fitzgerald
What’s left to say about this guy? By now, you probably know about the beautiful Ode to Arizona Fitzgerald penned before the Cardinals’ NFC Championship game, in which he praised Valley fans for their support and expressed his desire to win a Super Bowl on their behalf.
But did you know Fitz actually apologized on social media after the Cards lost to the Panthers last weekend? Few athletes have handled themselves with more grace and class than Fitz has, and by that measure alone, the man deserves a ring.
Shane Doan
The Coyotes captain has been fiercely loyal to a franchise that has not deserved it. The team has been on the verge of moving out of the Grand Canyon State for the better part of six years, and overall results on the ice have been lacking, to say the least.
But Doan has continued to embrace the franchise that drafted him way back when it was called the Winnipeg Jets in 1995. He and his family love the Valley – Doan’s oldest daughter is just a couple years younger than a pair of his teammates – and it’s only fitting that Larry Fitzgerald is his favorite Cardinal.
Daniel Hudson
When Hudson’s MLB career is over, he’ll have the option to make a living as a motivational speaker. Huddy was one of the D-backs’ top starting pitchers during the team’s 2011 playoff run – but after back-to-back Tommy John surgeries, it looked like his career was as good as over.
Not so fast. Toward the end of Arizona’s 2014 campaign, Hudson made his return to the MLB (after a 799-day layoff) as a relief pitcher. He became a fixture in the D-backs’ bullpen last season and figures to retain that role heading into 2016. Along with his ability to overcome injuries, Hudson’s community involvement and interaction with fans on social media have made him a fan favorite.
Calais Campbell
Fitzgerald and Lyle Sendlein are the only active Cardinals who have been with the team longer than Campbell has. The 6-foot-8, 300-pounder is that classic football player who’s a monster on the field but the nicest guy you'll ever meet away from it.
In December, Campbell hosted his sixth annual “Christmas with Calais” event, in which he and his teammates took underprivileged Valley kids on a $200 shopping spree. Campbell also helped raise money for former Bengals defensive tackle Devon Still, whose daughter had been battling cancer.
Campbell has represented Arizona with nothing but class since he arrived in 2008, and it would be awesome to see him lift the Lombardi Trophy (preferably in a Cards uniform) before his career comes to a close.
