All-Star Athletes: 10 Best Players Born in Colorado

Today we continue our look at each state's 10 best players. Last time we had one of the biggest states in the US, and there were a lot of players to talk about. This time we have a state that doesn't have quite as many players as California, but Colorado still boasts some solid athletes.

Let's take a look at the top 10 players born in Colorado.

Honorable Mentions

Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images

LONDON - FEBRUARY 10: Robert Malcolm Sapp also known as Bob The Beast Sapp eyes off a potential challenger during the Cage Rage Championship 20 Born to fight event at Wembley Arena on February 10, 2007 in London, England. Cage Fighting also known as MMA,

Here are the guys who just missed the cut:

Bob Sapp

LenDale White

10) Vincent Jackson

Scott Halleran/Getty Images

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - JANUARY 31: Vincent Jackson #83 of the AFC's San Diego Chargers jogs on the field during the 2010 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl game at Sun Life Stadium on January 31, 2010 in Miami Gardens, Florida. The AFC defeated the NFC 41-34. (Photo by Scott

Born: Colorado Springs

Sport: Football

Position: Wide Receiver

Notable Stats: 2009 Pro-Bowl selection, 25 career TDs

Jackson is mostly on this list because I think he has the potential to be a pretty good wide receiver. He's currently having some troubles off the field, but when he gets back I fully expect him to continue to put up solid numbers.

9) Matt Hasselbeck

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 31: Matt Hasselbeck #8 of the Seattle Seahawks drops back to pass against the Oakland Raiders at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on October 31, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Born: Boulder

Sport: Football

Position: Quarterback

Notable Stats: 3 time Pro Bowl selection, 2005 All-Pro selection

Hasselbeck has always been a very reliable and consistent quarterback. He's not going to go out and dominate the NFL, but he will put up good numbers and give his team a chance to win.

8) Eddie Eagan

Born: Denver

Sport: Boxing/Bobsledding

Notable Stats: Two Gold medals

Eagan is one of a kind because he's won a gold medal at both the Winter and Summer Olympics. In 1920 he took home the gold in boxing and then won another gold medal twelve years later as a part of  four-man bobsledding team.

7) Amy Van Dyken

Al Bello/Getty Images

15 Aug 2000: Amy Van Dyken gets ready to compete in the Women's 50 meter Freestyle Finals during the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials at the Indianapolis University Natatorium in Indianapolis, Indiana.Mandatory Credit: Al Bello /Allsport

Born: Englewood

Sport: Swimming

Notable Stats: Six Gold medals

Van Dyken was a stud at two separate Olympics. She won four gold medals at the 1996 games and then won two more at the 2000 games. She's one of the best woman swimmers ever and is very deserving of a spot on this list.

6) Chauncey Billups

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

DENVER - APRIL 28: Chauncey Billups #1 of the Denver Nuggets brings the ball up court against the Utah Jazz in Game Five of the Western Conference Quarterfinals of the 2010 NBA Playoffs at the Pepsi Center on April 28, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. The Nugge

Born: Denver

Sport: Basketball

Position: Point Guard

Notable Stats: Five time All-Star, Three time All-NBA selection, 2004 NBA champion

Billups is a leader, plain and simple. He gets his teammates to perform to their best and led a team without any superstars to a championship over a team of superstars. He's continued that role as point guard for the Nuggets and has helped Carmelo Anthony grow as a player.

5) Dutch Clark

Born: Fowler

Sport: Football

Position: Quarterback

Notable Stats: Six time All-Pro selection, Three time league-leading scorer

Dutch Clark might be the best player besides Barry Sanders to ever play for the Detroit Lions. From the quarterback position, he set a Lions season rushing record that stood for 36 years. In 1963 he was a charter member of the NFL Hall of Fame.

4) Byron White

Born: Fort Collins

Sport: Football

Position: Running Back

Notable Stats: Three time All-Pro selection, 1938 and 1940 league leading rusher.

White only played three years in the NFL before going to the war and then becoming a Supreme Court Justice, but in those three years he established himself as one of the best at the time. In his three years he led the league in rushing twice, and it's not crazy to think that he would've continued his dominance had the war not come calling. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1954.

3) Goose Gossage

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

NEW YORK - JULY 17: Rich 'Goose' Gossage looks on during the New York Yankees 64th Old-Timer's Day before the MLB game against the Tampa Bay Rays on July 17, 2010 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Image

Born: Colorado Springs

Sport: Baseball

Position: Pitcher

Notable Stats: Nine time All-Star selection, 1978 World Series champion

Goose Gossage was one of the first players to be what we now think of as the modern dominating closer. He has 310 career saves that came from his nasty fastball. He was inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame in 2008.

2) Roy Halladay

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

SAN FRANCISCO - OCTOBER 21: Roy Halladay #34 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches in the first inning against the San Francisco Giants in Game Five of the NLCS during the 2010 MLB Playoffs at AT&T Park on October 21, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (

Born: Denver

Sport: Baseball

Position: Pitcher

Notable Stats: 2003 Cy Young, Seven time All-Star selection

Doc Halladay has always been a great pitcher, but it was this season that he probably put up his most memorable performance. In Game 1 of the NLDS he pitched a no-hitter, this coming after the perfect game he posted earlier in the season. If 2010 is any indication, Halladay will continue to dominate the league and put up even more great numbers.

1) Jack Dempsey

Born: Manassa

Sport: Boxing

Notable Stats: 66-6-11 career record, held World Heavyweight Championship from 1919-1926.

Dempsey is one of the hardest punchers ever to enter the boxing ring. His fights drew huge crowds, and he was the first man to draw a $1,000,000 gate. Not only did he bring in huge crowds, but he also gave them a show with 51 career knock outs. The man was simply one of the best boxers ever to live.

That concludes Colorado's top ten list. Tell me about any players I've missed because I'm sure I've missed somebody. Check the next page for links to the last five stats.

Links

California: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/505685-all-star-athletes-10-best-players-born-in-california

Arkansas: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/505316-all-star-athletes-10-best-players-born-in-arkansas

Arizona: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/504611-all-star-athletes-10-best-athletes-born-in-arizona

Alaska: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/498004-all-time-athletes-alaska-edition

Alabama: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/497046-all-time-athletes-alabama-edition