Connecticut's Mt. Rushmore of Sports

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ESPN reviewed the submissions and discussions on your state/region's conversation page. The four figures on Connecticut's Sports Rushmore are below:

Jim Calhoun (Connecticut Huskies) - The Hall of Famer has won two NCAA Men's Basketball titles.

Chris Drury (Trumbull/Fairfield Prep) - The multi-talented Drury pitched Trumbull to an upset win in the 1989 Little League World Series. As a hockey player he led Boston University to an NCAA title and went on to win a Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche.

Geno Auriemma (Connecticut Huskies) - Won five NCAA Women's Basketball titles and is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Walter Camp - Born in New Britain, he is considered "The Father of American Football."

Other standouts (even more nominees in conversation)

Jeff Bagwell (Killingworth/Xavier High School, Hartford Hawks, New Britain Red Sox) - 1991 NL ROY, 1994 NL MVP, career .297 BA and 449 HR in 15 MLB seasons

Chris Berman (Greenwich, ESPN) - Life-long CT resident has been with ESPN since its inception.

Sue Bird (Connecticut Huskies) - 2 NCAA Nat'l Champ. at UConn; one of six people to win Gold Medal, NCAA and WNBA Champ.

Ron Francis (Hartford Whalers) - 10 NHL seasons w/ HFD, almost 6 as team captain, 2nd in career Ast behind W. Gretzky

Dorothy Hamill (Greenwich) - Won 1976 Olympic Figure Skating gold medal; member of World Figure Skating HOF

Richard Hamilton (Connecticut Huskies) - Helped UConn win first Nat'l title in 1999 (Most Outstanding Player in Final Four)

Bruce Jenner (Newtown) - Olympic icon who won 1976 Decathlon breaking his own World Record in the process

Brian Leetch (Cheshire/Avon Old Farms) - 2-time Norris Trophy winner, '94 Conn Smythe winner with New York Rangers

Kristine Lilly (Wilton) - More Nat'l Team appearances than any soccer player in the world (male or female)

Rebecca Lobo (Connecticut Huskies) - 1995 Naismith POY, set Huskies' record for most career rebounds and blocks

Jen Rizzotti (New Fairfield, Connecticut Huskies, Hartford Hawks) - 1996 National POY, became youngest D-I women's basketball coach in the country at HART

Nykesha Sales (Bloomfield, Connecticut Huskies, Connecticut Sun) - UConn all-time leading scorer, played valuable role in UConn women's 1st Nat'l title

Diana Taurasi (Connecticut Huskies) - 3 straight Nat'l Champ. from '02-04, 4th woman to win back-to-back Naismith POY awards

Bobby Valentine (Stamford) - Only person named 3-time all-state HS football, former MLB manager

Steve Young (Greenwich) - Super Bowl XXIX MVP, member of Pro Football HOF, highest Passer rating in NFL history

Also deserving consideration: Bill Rodgers (Newington), Willie Pep (Hartford)

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