If you haven't heard by now, former New England Patriots tight end and Bristol, CT's own, Aaron Hernandez will face charges for the first degree murder of friend and semi-pro linebacker Odin Lloyd. As a resident of small and overlooked state, it means a lot when a fellow Nutmegger makes it in professional sports, let alone establishes himself as a top-tier player.
Aaron Hernandez did this, winning a BCS Championship at the University of Florida, before becoming a devastating wild-card in New England's offense. Then, in the opinion of the Bristol County, MA District Attorney, he shot a man to death and left him in an industrial park.
Hernandez' football career ends with many what-if's. Human tragedies aside, he had a real chance to take his place amongst the greats of Constitution State sports.
His odds of going down as Connecticut's greatest football player were slim. The incumbent is former Greenwich High School quarterback Steve Young.
However, playing for the hometown team would have given him a leg up in making a run at the number two spot. Regardless, here is how the Pantheon of Connecticut Sports stands now:
Greatest Connecticut Athletes
Football:
1. Steve Young, QB, Greenwich
Don't try to label him as a Utah guy because of his birth certificate. The man endorses a line of dress shirts. He wears black leather driving gloves when covering cold weather games. When the Jets lost to the Texans on Monday Night Football this year, he described it as, "a cute little effort."
No doubt where you prepped, old sport.
2. Dwight Freeney, DE, Hartford
For many years, he was the lynchpin of an otherwise bad defensive team in Indianapolis. Regardless of how well he plays for San Diego, Freeney will go down as a mold-breaking pass rusher whose speed, technique, and leverage turned his lack of size into an advantage. His spin move alone is worthy of Hall of Fame consideration.
3. Andy Robustelli, DE, Stamford
A Hall of Fame defensive end for the Los Angeles Rams and the New York Giants. Like many DE's who played before the sack became an official statistic, he is not as well remembered as he deserves. Nonetheless, he was a 7-time First Team All-Pro selection and 2-time NFL Champion, who like Freeney, played bigger than his size.
4. Floyd Little, RB, New Haven
Another Hall of Famer from early days of televised football. His number don't seem impressive today, but when he retired after the 1975 season he was the 7th leading rusher in league history. Denver fans have a special attachment to him, as he was the first great player in Broncos history.
5. Eugene Robinson, FS, Hartford
His 57 interceptions made him one of the top ball hawks of the 1990's, the decade in which he made three Pro-Bowl and two All-Pro teams. He was a strong playoff performer during Green Bay's back-to-back Super Bowl appearances in 1997 and 1998. However, his career was tarnished during Super Bowl weekend 1999 as an Atlanta Falcon. Just hours after receiving the Bart Starr Award for 'high moral character,' he was arrested for soliciting prostitution. Though released from jail, the lack of sleep led to a miserable performance, including getting burned for an 80-yard touchdown by Rod Smith.
Baseball:
1. 'Orator' Jim O'Rourke, LF, Bridgeport
One of the great players of the 19th Century. A Yale graduate who moonlighted as a lawyer early in his career, O'Rourke's eloquence and erudition brought mainstream credibility to a game then viewed as a pastime for rough immigrants and seedy gamblers. He was known as a superior outfielder, and had a lifetime batting average of .311 in an era when the spitball and monkey testosterone were still legal.
2. Jeff Bagwell, 1B, Killingworth
An excellent all-around player, who cut his teeth playing Double A ball in New Britain. As a member of the Houston Astros, he won the 1994 NL MVP, and Bill James rates him as one the top first basemen of all time. Unusual for a power hitter of his era, there is no tangible evidence, or even serious rumor, that he used performance-enhancing drugs. A probable Hall of Famer whose support has grown on the last two ballots.
3. Roger Connor, 1B, Waterbury
Another Hall of Famer from the pre-(Spanish-American) War period. A .317 hitter who played most of his career with the New York Giants. His real claim to fame is as one of baseball's first great power hitters. Despite playing most of his home games at the cavernous Polo Grounds, he finished his career in 1897 with 138 home runs, a total no one would come close to until Babe Ruth. He is also fifth all-time in triples with 233, remarkable for a 6'3'' 200 lb first baseman. The kid could rake.
4. Mo Vaughn, 1B, Norwalk
The 1995 AL MVP, best known for his decade-long tenure as the face of the Boston Red Sox. He was an excellent hitter and a fan favorite during his career. However, strong evidence of steriod use precludes him from going higher on the list.
5. Matt Harvey, SP, New London
The coming man of Connecticut baseball, and the best hope to fill the void left by Aaron Hernandez. He is a hard-throwing right-hander for the Mets who has come on in 2013 as one of the National League's best starters. At 24, he still has room to improve, especially with his off-speed pitches. If he stays healthy and doesn't kill anyone, expect him to climb the Pantheon over the next decade.
Basketball:
1. Calvin Murphy, PG, Norwalk
At 5'9'', he hold the distinction of being the shortest player in the Basketball Hall of Fame. He played for the San Diego/Houston Rockets in the 1970's, and prior to Hakeem Olajuwon, was that franchise's leading scorer. He remains one of the best free-throw shooters ever.
2. Marcus Camby, C, Hartford
A dominant college player with UMass, Camby was selected 2nd overall in 1996 NBA draft. He went on to become one of the best defensive players of the last 15 years, making 4 All-Defensive Teams, leading the league in shot blocks 4 times, and winning the 2007 Defensive Player of the Year Award.
3. Rick Mahorn, PF, Hartford
Considered the Baddest of the Bad Boy Pistons, Mahorn's impact went beyond his box score. If enforcers received Hall of Fame consideration, he would be first ballot. His 1989 championship ring is probably consolation enough.
4. Andre Drummond, C, Hartford
By the time his career is over, he may be Number 1 on this list. He's an extremely talented center whose underwhelming season at UConn caused him to slide to Detroit at the 9th overall pick of the 2012 draft. Coming off the bench as a rookie, averaged 7.9 points on 60% shooting while providing steady rebounding and strong rim protection. Despite a free throw percentage even Shaq would laugh at (37%), he is coming on as one of the league's best young centers.
5. Vin Baker, PF, Old Saybrook
The best non-UConn college player in the state's history. After a standout run with the University of Hartford, he was drafted 8th overall by Milwaukee in 1993. In his prime, he was a 20-and-10, All-Star player. Unfortunately, he's mostly remembered for his late career stint with the Celtics, when he came to be known as 'the guy who showed up fat and drunk.'
Hockey:
1. Brian Leetch, Defenseman, Chesire
He is a Hall of Famer, and one of the best defenseman ever. He is also counted among the greatest Americans in the history of professional hockey. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy while leading the New York Rangers to a Stanley Cup in 1994. Mark Messier called him, "the greatest Ranger of all-time."
2. Jonathan Quick, Goaltender, Milford
He is one of the league's top current goaltenders. He anchored the Los Angeles Kings to the Stanley Cup in 2012, winning the Conn Smythe in the process. At age 27, the legend is only building for the aptly named goaltender.
3. Chris Drury, Center, Trumbull
Though never an All-Star, Chris Drury's leadership and strong play in big games made him a fan favorite throughout his 12-year career. He was a key player in the Colorado Avalanche's 2001 run to the Stanley Cup, and played for the US Olympic Team in 2006 and 2010 before retiring as Captain of the New York Rangers in 2011.
4. Craig Janney, Center, Hartford
Janney played 12 seasons in the NHL, and was a member of the 1988 US Olympic Team. He was known as an excellent passing center, and finished his career nearly averaging a point per game. While playing for St. Louis in 1994, it was discovered that teammate Brendan Shanahan was sleeping with his wife. The fallout ruined locker room chemistry, leading to the highlight of Janney's career, when the team decided he was more valuable than a future Hall of Famer. St. Louis kept him and traded Shanahan to the Hartford Whalers.
5. Max Pacioretty, Left Wing, New Canaan
Pacioretty is the rising star of Connecticut hockey, and currently plays for Montreal. Thus far, his career has been defined by his Masterson Trophy-winning comeback from a vertebra-fracturing hit suffered in 2011. Time will tell whether he can climb the list.
Miscellaneous:
1. Gene Sarazen, Golf, Brookfield
Though born in Harrison, New York, the Squire moved to Bridgeport at age 15, and lived most of his life in Brookfield. From his blue-collar, high school dropout background, he rose to become the finest tournament player from America's golfingest state. His resume includes the first modern grand slam (the Masters, US Open, British Open, and PGA Championship), as well as a novel process whereby he added solder to the bottom of a high-lofted club to create the first sand wedge. After his playing career, he became American golf's first great broadcaster as the host of Shell's Wonderful World of Golf.
2. Dorothy Hamill, Figure Skating, Greenwhich
A gold-medal winning figure skater and stagflation-era pop icon, Hamill is arguably Connecticut's most beloved athlete. Her '76 Olympic gold medal win over East Germany's Christine Errath was a shot in the arm to American national morale and the beginning of the end for communism. She pioneered a move called Hamill's Camel. I don't what it is, but I assume it's similar to the Iron Lotus. Her bobbed hair-style was trend setting, though the young Liz Lemon's of the time thought they were copying Pete Rose.
3. Bruce Jenner, Track and Field, Newtown
It seems strange to say this now, but Bruce Jenner used to be known for winning the decathlon at the 1972 Olympics, ending a run of Soviet dominance in the event. He broke new ground by cashing in on his fame through acting and product endorsement at a time when the IOCC's stance on amateurism discouraged most athletes from doing so. Bruce Jenner was a success on the field and off, before -like Aaron Hernandez- he fell in with a bad crowd...
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