Welcome to 94WIP's G.O.A.T. of Broad Street, where we will finally determine who the greatest athlete in Philadelphia sports history is. Remember, in order to qualify, the athlete must have played in Philadelphia in the last 50 years (1970). Please cast your vote here to help us decide!
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"I made a big mistake."
That was my thought after I submitted my original column on the top five Philly sports G.O.A.T.'S over the last 50 years. The thought was evening stronger after I gave my No. 1 on Tuesday's WIP Morning Show.
Something just didn't feel right.
Like many of you, I started with the greats that need to be on the top 20 list. Reggie White was my No. 1. I debated over Allen Iverson and Brian Dawkins and the most beloved athletes this city has seen in a half century.
Then I felt ridiculous.
Fifty years. Six championships.
That kept coming back into my head.
The last 50 years of Philly sports has featured incredible athletes, including some of the best to ever play in their respective sports. But very few actually won a championship here. The best of the best deserve to be recognized (including the best defensive end of all time), but how could a list of the best start with ringless stars? It's the whole point of sports, and the reason why these teams work as hard as they do.
So naturally my top five athletes in Philly sports over the last 50 years need to be led off by representing each of Philadelphia's championship teams in the time frame.
Here it is.
5. Chase Utley, Phillies: The best player and most important player on the 2008 Phillies. A future Hall of Famer (trust me on this one). We may never see a second baseman as good in this city ever again. He belonged in the top 20, and had to be the 2008 Phillies representative here.
4. Julius Erving, Sixers: MVP. Champion. Voted one of the 40 most influential athletes of all time by Sports Illustrated. One of the best wings of all time, and the engine that drove a Sixers run that ended with a title in 1983.
3. Bobby Clarke, Flyers: Captain, champion, Hall of Famer and one of the best players in the history of the NHL. When you factor in a post-playing career in the front office, no one person has had more to do with championship-level play of this franchise since its inception. Clarke is the Flyers.
2. Mike Schmidt, Phillies: There's no way to logically explain the disconnect this city seemed to have with a truly all-time great player. Maybe it was personality driven. Maybe it was just the times. But we're talking about the best third baseman to ever play the game, a defensive star and three-time NL MVP. The Phillies may never have a player this good again.
1. Nick Foles, Eagles: I had to. Foles isn't just a good quarterback; he's the most important athlete this city has had in the last 50 years. Everything about Philadelphia sports prior to 2017 was centered upon the quest to win a Super Bowl. Foles didn't just play a role in that happening; he was the MVP of the biggest game the most important franchise in this city has ever played. Foles isn't the best athlete to play in Philadelphia. In fact, he's not even close to this. But he's the GOAT.
