Welcome to a list I’ve been ruminating on for a while. This has been sitting in my drafts for a bit as I’ve been waiting for the time to actually properly write it and also settle on who made the cut. The only ground rule here is that we will have one per team in the city, and no the Nets don’t count. What we’re measuring on the list is this individual or individuals’ impact on an era of New York sports and or how they propelled our city’s teams to greater heights. So without further ado, let’s dive in!

Knicks: Jalen Brunson

This may be slightly controversial given the Knicks vast history of big-name players and coaches that they employed. But in my humble opinion Jalen Brunson is the most important man to don the orange and blue on the hardwood. Brunson brought the Knicks out of the dark and into the light, and while Leon Rose and Tom Thibodeau deserve their credit for making that happen, Brunson transformed everything about this franchise on the floor.

For years the Knicks couldn’t get stars to sign here, but Brunson was one the first players to choose Broadway and since then many more have followed. Since his arrival in 2023 the Knicks are 60+ games over .500, made the playoffs in four straight seasons, and their first conference final since 2000. While the franchise’s first title since 1973 has eluded Brunson and his running mates so far, his efforts have helped revive New York as a basketball town and with him leading the way, the Knicks will continue to have their best shot at that long-awaited title!

Yankees: George Steinbrenner

Could it really be anyone else for the Yanks? George Michael Steinbrenner purchased the New York Yankees from CBS Television for the net cost of 8.8 million dollars in 1973. Since the purchase, the Yanks have gone 4,823-3,695 (an MLB best .766 win %), won 12 pennants, seven World Series, 16 division titles, and have had a winning record every year since 1993. George and his families amazing run as owners does of course come with some dubious stats, like the Boss’ three-year suspension from the league, one lawsuit with Dave Winfield, and 24 managers hired, five of which are Billy Martin.

It was always interesting, sometimes to a fault, but that is part of the soap opera that is the Yankees. Under the boss the Yanks became a first-rate baseball operation, with a renovated and then brand-new ballpark, and a network that changed how the sport was broadcast locally everywhere. Steinbrenner wasn’t always one of nature’s noble men himself either, but for the negatives one could point to, no one did more good for the health of the franchise than George Steinbrenner and his family.

Giants: George Young

While George Steinbrenner was an obvious choice, our next one might be less obvious to fans. Many would suggest Eli Manning, Phil Simms, Lawrence Taylor, Bill Parcells, or even the Mara family in this spot. While they’re all fine suggestions, to me the most important figure in Giants history is general manager George Young. Young came aboard in 1979, hoping to help revive the Giants after a miserable decade, and he did exactly that.

Young was an expert scout who placed an emphasis on the draft, where he selected Phil Simms, LT, Joe Morris, Carl Banks, Mark Bavaro, Michael Strahan, Amani Toomer, and Tiki Barber. Big blue went 155-139-2 during his tenure, made the playoffs eight times and won a pair of Super Bowls as Young and Parcells (who he hired as coach) led the organization to its familiar great heights. The winning culture that carried the Coughlin years started with Young running the show.

Jets: Joe Namath

From one football team to another, let’s talk about Gang Green’s most important figure. While Young was maybe not the clearest choice for the Giants, we couldn’t go with anyone other than Joe Namath for the Jets. Broadway Joe put this franchise on the map…to all our chagrin. But his time in the league was instrumental to the sports overall growth in this country. Very few athletes have been bigger than this town, but Namath was larger than life with fur coats and talk shows aplenty.

People will knock his place in the Hall of Fame because of his interception total, but that is without the context of his declining health ruining his final years in the league. All this aside, his guaranteed victory over the Colts in Super Bowl three, led to the merger and the modern NFL…how’s that for Hall of Fame credentials?!

Mets: Tom Seaver

The Mets, contrary to the negativity around them, have had many great players. But none hold as significant a place in the team’s history as Tom Seaver. The man is literally called “the franchise” after all, and with good reason, since he helped the Mets put down their roots in Flushing! Number 41 won 311 games while pitching to a 2.86 career ERA, won three Cy Young awards, a World Series crown in 1969 and entered the Hall of Fame in 1992.

On top of that he was the epitome of class, representing the team and the city well seemingly all the time. He went on to become a fine broadcaster and an ambassador to the fan base at marquee events like the closing of Shea Stadium. Simply put the Mets aren’t the Mets without Seaver.

Rangers: Mark Messier

Rod Gilbert is Mr. Ranger, Brian Leetch is their best ever player, and Henrik Lundqvist is the king…but there is only one Captain. Mark Messier has to be our pick here because without him the 1940 chant would likely still be ringing out. Number 11 arrived from Edmonton in 1992 and helped turn an emerging Ranger team into a real Cup contender. His intensity and leadership was exactly what they needed, something Neil Smith correctly identified as he made the massive trade.

I could give you chapter and verse about his impeccable stats and championship pedigree, but the only number that matters here is really three. Thats the number of goals he scored in game six (the guarantee game) in New Jersey in 1994, erasing a third period deficit against the Devils to force a seventh game at MSG. One the Rangers would win on route to winning it all. While there have been many awesome moments in this town, the Rangers cup win in 94 is probably the peak of New York sports titles, thanks in no small part to Mark Messier.

Islanders: Al Arbour

Out on the Island there are plenty of legends that donned the orange and blue, but only one man defined himself as their fearless leader. Al Arbour is my pick as he was the architect and leader of a dynasty in the 80’s with the Isles. He won four straight Cups as head coach, an astounding feat by any standard. 740 of his 782 career coaching victories came in New York, where he posted a .566 win percentage as the bench boss.

He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1996 as a builder of the game. When you take an expansion franchise and have this much success, you have fully earned that honor. Even if I can’t stand the Islanders as a Ranger fan…I certainly respect Arbours work.

Media: Mike & The Mad Dog

You didn’t think I could end a post like this without talking about Mike and Dog did you? Come on you know me better than that! Sure many people helped form the New York sports media ecosystem, both in print and over the airwaves. But “the sports pope” and his “canine” partner helped shape sports talk from Uniondale to the Jersey Shore, and all points in between.

From their arrival in 1989, to their eventual breakup in 2008, no on air tandem brought this town to life more than Mike and the Mad Dog. They along with WFAN as a whole changed sports radio in this country and became New Yorkers sports pulpit around the clock. They were an institution after a big playoff game, player acquisition or firing/hiring. Whether you loved them or hated them, their impact is undeniable.

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