SmashMouth

Who is the No. 1 Louisiana athlete of all time? Is it a local kid who went to high school or college here and climbed to the top of his or her profession -- someone like Shaquille O'Neal, Pete Maravich, Peyton Manning, Terry Bradshaw, or Willis Reed?

Or is it an import, an athlete who joined one of the state's pro teams and, in so doing, became a Louisianan? Players such as legendary Saints quarterbacks Drew Brees and Archie Manning.

We've looked at hundreds of top Louisiana athletes over the last century or so and come up with a comprehensive list. But before getting underway at lunch with No. 51, the extra point to our Top 51, we want you to weigh in on whom you think should be No. 1 on the list.

For a guideline, we used the Louisiana Hall of Fame's criteria for eligibility. Our candidates competed for at least two years at the varsity level in high school or college in Louisiana, or gained fame in Louisiana at the professional level.

So, for example, Bill Russell was born in Louisiana but moved when he was 8: not eligible. Drew Brees was born in Texas, played college football at Purdue, but gained fame in New Orleans. He counts.

This is a tough list to compile and because Louisiana apparently is America's sports capital, Hall of Famers, All Stars and legends did not make the cut. We're counting on you to tell us where we went right and wrong -- and whom you'd cut before you make an addition.

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Pretty interesting topic here. Many great names to list. What say you?

billyt81

Off the top of my head I'm gonna say Terry Bradshaw. To this day he still holds the Louisiana State record for the Javelin and it's quite possible it'll never be broken. He was the first player drafted when he entered the NFL and he was the starting QB for four Super Bowls. Plus he's damn funny on the Fox pregame show.

SapperSaint

I'd go with Bradshaw

ScottF

Did Bradshaw know about this list when he recently dissed Peyton?

Either are solid choices, but I am going with this guy:

Career highlights and awards
5× NBA All-Star (1973–1974, 1977–1979)
2× All-NBA First Team (1976–1977)
2× All-NBA Second Team (1973, 1978)
NBA All-Rookie First Team (1971)
NBA scoring champion (1977)
No. 7 retired by Utah Jazz
No. 7 retired by New Orleans Pelicans
NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team
2× College national player of the year (1969–1970)
3× Consensus first team All-American (1968–1970)
3x NCAA Division I scoring leader (1968-1970)
3× SEC Player of the Year (1968–1970)

Maravich double-dipped, playing at LSU & with the Jazz. He AVERAGED 44.2 in college, without a three-point line. He was player of the year twice, and couldn't play varsity as a frosh

dam1953

Tons of really good athletes came out of Louisiana, but great athletes win championships.

Bradshaw.

Danno

I gotta say Ingram or Harper.

exile

Bobby Boucher

SmashMouth