Mount Rushmore of Sports: Buffalo

ESPN has been recently running the Mount Rushmore of Sports, for each state.

When it came to the state of NY, it was made up of all Knicks and Yankees.

In the NFL, the Bills are the only team that actually plays in New York. And as far as the Sabres, we all know they recently have been the best NY hockey team.

Forget what everyone else is saying, forget ESPN. It is only fair to complete a Mount Rushmore of Sports: Buffalo.

Jim Kelly

Jim Kelly's got to be one of the first sports figures one thinks of in regards to Buffalo sports. He was the hard-nosed leader of the Bills era in the early '90s that saw the Bills winning the AFC crown four consecutive years.

Hall of Famer, no doubt, and although he wasn't the quickest or most athletic quarterback of his time, thanks to Marino and Elway, he may have been the best leader of his time.

The fact that he fought through many injuries, and he spent his entire career in the Queen City, puts him in this first spot.

Marv Levy

Levy, the head coach during the AFC Dominance in the Kelly Era, really encompassed the city of Buffalo in many ways. His consistent leadership and hard work were unmatched during his time.

Levy in this spot signifies all the other Bills' players that could have made this list like Andre Reed, Bruce Smith, or Thurman Thomas. But Levy was the mastermind behind it all, landing him on Buffalo's Mountain.

Rick Jeanneret

Maybe one of the only cities that has an announcer on their mountain, Jeanneret has been synonymous with the Buffalo Sabres since their second season in 1971. From his "May Day" call to his "top shelf where momma hides the cookies," Jeanneret has been along for the entire ride.

Some may hate him, but if you're a Buffalo fan you love his enthusiasm during every game and especially after every Sabres goal. He brings a lot to every game he calls, and he has been one of the best in the game, for a long time.

Dominik Hasek

Although Hasek played for the Chicago Blackhawks and most recently the Detroit Red Wings, he was the man during his 7-year stint as a Buffalo Sabre. He accumulated 6 Vezina Trophies as the NHL's best net-minder, and "The Dominator" became the first goalie to win the Hart Trophy as the league's MVP twice. His 1.87 GAA in '98-'99 lead the Sabres to their first Stanley Cup since 1975. In his prime, Hasek was one of the best the NHL has ever seen.

Honorable Mention: Pat LaFontaine

The man behind the RJ's "Lalalalalalafontaine call". His six-year stay in Buffalo saw a lot of scoring, and a lot of excitement.

In 92-93 he totaled 148 points and during those playoffs, after battling a damaged knee, he stayed in the game and set up the "May Day" goal that ended the Boston Bruins' series.

Wore the C with a lot of pride and sportsmanship, as he was awarded the Bill Masterton Trophy in the '94-95 season .

Honorable Mention: Van Miller

The Voice of the Buffalo Bills. Upon his retirement in 2003, his 37-years behind the microphone for the Bills made him the longest tenured announcer in pro-football history. Famous calls include "Fandemonium" and "I don't believe what I just saw". Was with the Bills from their birth, and was the voice behind the dominant '90s teams. The Bills wouldn't have been the same without Van Miller.

Honorable Mention:Tim Russert

Though he may be more well known for his expertise on "Meet the Press", Tim Russert made sure everyone knew where he was from. With his signature closing of "Go Bills", Russert help keep Buffalo in everyone's minds. This past season, Russert was honored by his beloved franchise, as he was placed on the Bills' Wall of Fame.

Honorable Mention: Ralph Wilson Jr.

One of the pioneers, and founding fathers of the AFL, Mr. Wilson began the Buffalo Bills franchise. He guided the teams to the City of Buffalo's only championships in '64 and '65. That says something. Really mastered how to be successful in a small market. Much criticism has come over Ralph recently, but when the team was winning the early 1990's, no one was complaining. Not only a pioneer for the Buffalo Bills, but for all of football.

Honorable Mention: Gilbert Perreault

The man played his entire 17-year career with the Sabres. That's a pretty good start. He scored a goal in his very first game as a Sabre. He was the center-piece to the famous French Connection. His number hangs in the rafters of HSBC Arena. Perreault lead the Buffalo Sabres to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1975. A Sabres' record holder for most goals and points. Pure scorer.