The Mt. Rushmore debate is always a battle, no doubt. But try picking just four athletes for a city, across *multiple* sports, and only counting their performances from the 2000 season onward? That's a whole new level of brutal, and it's already got folks fired up. This century-only rule completely changes the game. Forget everything before 2000, and only count what they did for that specific city. That's the challenge laid down, and it makes some of these choices absolutely wild.
Anaheim's Unicorns and Ducks Legends
First up, Anaheim. They've got some absolute titans, no argument there. Kicking it off is Mike Trout, a guy who's arguably the best all-around MLB player we've seen in the last 25 years. This dude has racked up an insane 90.5 WAR since his 2011 debut, not to mention three AL MVP awards and 11 All-Star selections. But here's the gut-punch: he's suffered through 11 straight losing seasons since his *one and only* playoff appearance back in the 2014 ALDS. You can't make this stuff up! Then there's Shohei Ohtani, who spent his first six unicorn seasons lighting up the Angels. He snagged the 2018 AL Rookie of the Year, then went on to win AL MVP in 2021 and 2023. His 2022 campaign? Forget about it. He crushed 34 home runs, rocked a 2.33 ERA, and struck out 219 batters in 166 innings. That's the greatest two-way season in baseball history, period. On the ice, the Ducks bring the heat with Ryan Getzlaf, who spent his entire 17-year career with the franchise. The guy retired as their all-time leading scorer with 1,019 points, won a Stanley Cup in just his second season, and anchored their top line as captain for over a decade. Talk about a foundational player! And don't forget Corey Perry, who bagged the 2010-11 Hart Trophy by logging career-highs with 50 goals and 98 points. He's second in franchise history in goals, just behind Teemu Selanne, whose prime mostly came *before* our 2000 cutoff.Atlanta's QB Masterclass and Braves Legacy
Moving to Atlanta, you've got a seriously stacked list. Matt Ryan was their franchise quarterback, picked third overall in 2008. Over 14 seasons, he threw for an incredible 59,735 yards and 367 touchdowns. He won MVP in 2016, leading the Falcons to their second-ever Super Bowl appearance, and put up ten seasons with at least 4,000 passing yards. The dude was a consistent force. Then there's Freddie Freeman, who debuted as a 20-year-old in 2010 and built a Hall of Fame career over 12 seasons. He took home the NL MVP in 2020 and a World Series ring in 2021 before moving on. In a Braves uniform, he piled up 1,704 hits, 271 home runs, and a solid 43.0 WAR. Julio Jones, at his peak, was arguably the best wide receiver in football. He led the NFL in receiving yards in 2015 with 1,871 and again in 2018 with 1,677. Over ten seasons, he snatched 848 receptions for 12,896 yards and 60 touchdowns as Ryan's top target. And talk about a tough choice: Chipper Jones gets the final spot! From 2000 through the end of his career, he hit .304/.404/.529 with 315 home runs and 1,099 RBI. Even though his 1999 NL MVP was pre-cutoff, that production was enough to put him over Ronald Acuña Jr. That's a bold call! The debate keeps rolling for these cities and every other one out there. Who did they miss? Who's making their case *right now* to join these legends? We'll be watching to see what other spicy takes drop next.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.