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Sorry JT, you and the Mouseketeers weren't enough to get Florida into the Great State Debate.

For high school kids, summer means days at the pool and summer jobs. For us at ESPNRISE.com, it means we don't have many sports to cover. Since we spent the fall and winter debating which states had the best football and basketball teams, we're at it again. This time, we're setting up the Great State Debate for high school sports in the pop culture realm.

We're out to find what states are the coolest and most relevant when it comes to the on-screen playing field. ESPN RISE took a look at athletes on TV, in music and in the movies, and decided on four states that fit the bill: New Mexico, North Carolina, Texas and California.

Because it was such a tough project to narrow 50 states into our four finalists, here is our list of the states that came close to making the debate:

New York: New York is almost untouchable because of the breadth of its pop culture relevance. New York City has produced some legendary ballers (fictional and non-fictional), and even a legendary baller movie ("He Got Game"), but recently hoopsters have been replaced by Upper East Side hipsters. "Gossip Girl" and "NYC Prep" are shedding light on Manhattan's young, rich and desperate-for-fame high school scene, and since Chuck Bass' version of high school basketball isn't the same as Brooklyn's real-life superstar Lance Stephenson's interpretation, we had to say "XOXO" to New York for our list.

 

The Great State Debate of Pop Culture is out to settle the score once and for all. Which state is the coolest and most pop-culturally relevant? You decide. Here are the finalists:

• No. 1 seed California
• No. 2 seed Texas
• No. 3 seed North Carolina
• No. 4 seed New Mexico

Agree? Disagree? Join the debate.

Blog about what makes your state cool.

Florida: The state finished strong in the football version of the debate, but what has it done to influence the pop culture landscape? Other than producing some up-and-coming hip-hop stars, there is not much. A long time ago, the "Mickey Mouse Club" was churning out stars like the state's football programs have been recently, but even some of the former Mouseketeers have hit tough times in their careers. Thank goodness, Justin Timberlake can still hold his head high.

Pennsylvania: The Steelers, Phillies and Penguins all won titles in this calendar year and Penn State went to the Rose Bowl, but that doesn't mean anything when it comes to pop culture. Things may seem bleak in the Keystone State right now because of the dreadful year the Pirates are having and the pressure the injury-plagued Phillies are under to repeat their World Series run, but football will be here soon.

Washington: "Twilight!" I hope no one reading this screamed too loud or fainted at the mere mention of the name. Judging by the enormous popularity of the books, movie and its dreamy cast, the Washington-based sensation should have cracked the list. Sorry, ESPN RISE couldn't do it. This franchise and its loyal army of "Tweens" will have to show some staying power to make this list.