Aaron Rodgers and More Sports Icons Who Deserve Their Own Day

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Aaron Rodgers will get his own day of celebration, but he is not the only sports icon that deserves a full day of adoration. 

The sports world is filled with icons that are deserving of just a touch more applause than they have been given. These are the players, coaches and personalities that brought more joy than we thought possible to their various cities and locales. 

Without them, existence in those fanbases would be far more drab and intolerable. There is no crime in giving a little extra love out there when it's deserving. 

We have compiled a list of players that make being a sports fan so much better than if they took an alternate route in college. 

This is not as easy as you would think. It's not a matter of winning a bunch of games and calling it a day. No, this is about loyalty as much as anything. 

You won't see LeBron James on this list. He very well could have had his own day had he stayed in Cleveland, even without a title. 

It will also be decades before an athlete like Brett Favre gets labeled as a man that needs a day, because the wounds are still very much open. 

This is about loyalty, success and memories, and our ability to give thanks to the people that have brought us all a great deal of it all. 

6. Peyton Manning

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The man built Lucas Oil Stadium. Well, he at the very least helped fund the thing with his consistent, brilliant play. 

The Indianapolis Colts would be a far worse franchise if Manning was never under center in their uniform. 

We got this in just under the wire as things may get fairly awkward in the next few weeks for the Colts and their legendary quarterback. 

5. Aaron Rodgers

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Wisconsin will get their day to say thank you. 

Chris Chase of Yahoo Sports reports the Wisconsin state assembly voted and passed unanimously to celebrate Aaron Rodgers Day on December 12th. Yes, as Chase notes, the 12th day, in the 12th month in the year 2012. 

This is a no-brainer of a day, hence the unanimous decision. Things were supposed to be fairly grim when Brett Favre left Green Bay. 

There was no guarantee that Rodgers had an elite arm or that he could command a championship caliber team. 

He managed to prove that he was no less than the best quarterback in the game during his Super Bowl run. All the while, the fans that live their lives for the Packers were once again getting an amazing playoff party to enjoy, all because of Aaron Rodgers. 

4. Vin Scully

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The man is as comfortable calling football as he is a September clash between the Dodgers and Padres. I have a dream that Scully will call the World Series just one more time. It would be infinitely better than the tandem we have in place at the moment. 

For Dodgers fans, he is more than a face of a franchise; he is the voice of their history. From Brooklyn to Chavez Ravine, he is all that Dodgers fans know. 

He is that rare reason to tune into any broadcast no matter the season. 

3. Eli Manning

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Yup, you never saw this one coming. 

I never thought I would ever be in Eli Manning's court on anything. Yet, here I am saying he needs an Eli Manning day to celebrate all that is Eli, and it makes me a tad nauseous. 

I just don't see any way around it. 

If Rodgers is getting a day for his Super Bowl exploits for a franchise built on titles, than Manning has to get one for nabbing two rings and two Super Bowl MVP awards for a town that can go a little lean on the winning for a period of time. 

2. Mike Krzyzewski

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Coach K has lead the Duke Blue Devils to four national championships and 11 Final Fours. He is the very reason that me and every other sports fan not aligned with Duke hates to see the Blue Devils win. 

While I do not hold loyalties with Duke or their famed coach, I can't ignore that the program would not be nearly as special as it is without the brilliant mind of Coach K. 

1. Larry Bird and Magic Johnson

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This is a package deal. 

Both LA and Boston could use a day to celebrate two men that brought a decade of amazing basketball to both cities.

They also happened to save the sport of basketball, so there is that. In what seems like fate, both men personify the cities they played for; Bird a hard-working man that played blue-collar basketball and Magic, who was all glitz and glamor. 

 

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