Who Are the Top 25 Athletes in New York?

With the unforgiving fanbase, badgering media and never-ending pressure, New York is the city that never sleeps, and that does not exclude its sports. Athletes are examined under a microscope in New York both on and off the field.

While succeeding elsewhere, several athletes have come to New York only to fail. Roberto Alomar, Kevin Brown and Jason Bay are just a few players who have tested the Big Apple and have failed miserably. 

New York is a unique place to play and takes a special kind of person, not only succeeding on the field, but keeping himself out of trouble off the field as well. Based on the past, present and future, we break down who are the top 25 athletes in New York and even name the best athlete in the Empire State.

So we ask, who are the top 25 athletes in New York?

Best of the Rest

Just because these guys didn't make the cut doesn't mean they shouldn't get their due. There are more than 25 phenomenal athletes in New York.

Here are the athletes that deserve mention but just didn't make the cut:

Honorable mention: Bart Scott, Brandon Dubinsky, Santonio Holmes, Al Montoya, Plaxico Burress, Brook Lopez, Nick Mangold, Landry Fields, Michael Grabner, Kyle Okposo, Marc Staal, Antonio Cromartie, Nick Swisher, Osi Umenyiora, David Harris and Mark Sanchez.

25. Johan Santana

This is a "what have you done for me lately" kind of list. Johan Santana literally gave the Mets nothing in 2011. So who did he have to pay off to make the cut?

The truth is, although he didn't throw a single pitch for the Mets in 2011, what he has done in previous years for the Mets was just too much to ignore. The three years in which Santana was healthy, he was the rock in the Mets rotation. In three years, his worst ERA was 3.13.

The Mets have had their ups and downs the past few seasons, but Santana was one of the few who always seemed to be on the "up" side.

If it were not for a bum shoulder, Santana would certainly find himself in the top 15 of this list, possibly even top 10.

24. Ahmad Bradshaw

Despite a laundry list of injuries, Ahmad Bradshaw has been a consistent option out of the Giants backfield. Despite being undersized, he is the total package at running back as a solid runner, blocker and receiver.

He passed Brandon Jacobs as the primary back for the New York Giants last season en route to a 1,235-yard season and has not looked back since.

Bradshaw's kryptonite is health. He had issues with both of his ankles last season and seems like he has a new injury to try to play through every week. However, more often than not, he does, and if you didn't already know, it would be hard to tell that he is playing hurt.

23. Thierry Henry

How about that? A little bit of world football on the list.

Thierry Henry has had a large impact on the New York Red Bull's 2011 season. Henry tied for second in the league in goals with 15 and led the way for the Red Bull, as New York was able to clinch the final playoff spot in quest for the MLS Cup.

Henry has not only had a large impact on New York, but on Major League Soccer as a whole. MLS had to have a grin on their face when it was announced that Henry would be joining the Red Bull. Henry joined Landon Donovan and David Beckham as household names that were now joining their league.

22. Mark Streit

How much exactly does Mark Streit mean to the New York Islanders?

Streit was injured in the preseason of 2010 and missed the whole season with a shoulder injury. He missed out on the 19-game losing streak. He missed out on the infamous Islanders and Penguins brawl. He missed out on the young Islanders growing before our eyes.

His reward? The C on the jersey.

Despite missing all of 2010-11, Streit was named the captain for the 2011-12 season. Streit shows great leadership on the ice and, as evidenced by Switzerland's performance in the 2010 Olympics, he has the ability to make a good team great.

The Islanders have struggled early on offensively, but they will eventually get rolling, and when they do, you can bet that Streit will be in the middle of it.

21. David Wright

If this was fantasy baseball draft, David Wright would be rated much higher; however, it's not.

Despite a few rays of hope, it is safe to say Wright has been a disaster the past few seasons. He struggles with routine plays, he's among the league leaders in strikeouts and he continues to fail in clutch situations.

So how in the heck does he make the list? Well, there are still plenty of bright spots to Mr. Wright. He is a highlight reel waiting to happen in the field. While he struggles with the routine balls, he is above average on plays in which he needs to dive or charge in for. Analysts believe that it is because he thinks about the process less.

He is a good base runner and has plenty of power at the dish. He is capable of 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases any given year.

Wright has also experienced some bad luck due to injuries. Two years ago, he sustained a concusion, and last season, he hurt his back diving into third base to record an out.

The story with Wright is that something happened a few years ago. A lot of people blame the dimensions of Citi Field; others blame that concussion. He was on the way to becoming the premier third baseman of not only New York, but the entire league.

If David Wright can find his old form, he can propel himself as high as the top 10 of these rankings. However, if he continues down this path, he's heading now he may not only find himself out of the top 10, but out of New York all together.

20. Carmelo Anthony

This rating may cause more controversy more than any other player on this list.

Carmelo Anthony is a dynamic scorer. No doubt about that.

What else can he do? Does he rebound? Not really. Is he a good defender? How about as a passer? Not so much. At least he's a dynamic scorer.

Anthony has always been put in to the same class as Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. Probably because they were drafted the same year. James and Wade both average over six assists apiece.

In addition, Anthony runs most of his plays out of an isolation, taking his teammates out of the play. I just don't get the impression that Carmelo Anthony makes players around him better which, in this case, I feel makes the difference of a good player in New York as opposed to a great player in New York.

19. Brad Richards

Brad Richards was a large acquisiton for the Rangers in the summer of 2011 after he signed for $60 million

Richards won a Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning and scored 91 points for the Dallas Stars just two years ago. The Rangers hope he can provide leadership and an offensive scoring punch to compliment winger, Marian Gaborik.

Richards is off to a good start with the Rangers with six goals and seven assists in 16 games. The Rangers hope Richards is the missing piece that can propel the Rangers past the first round of the playoffs and into the Stanley Cup Finals.

Richards' ability probably warrants a higher ranking on this list, but I need to see that Richards makes the Rangers a better team before I can say he is worth of a higher ranking.

18. Justin Tuck

Justin Tuck is the face of the Giants defense. He is exactly what the Giants want in a defensive player. He is an elite pass rusher, but unlike with players like Osi Umeniora and Dwight Freeney, the Giants won't have to sacrifice stopping the run in order to pressure the quarterback.

Tuck has been a model of consistency for the Giants since 2007, averaging approximately 65 tackles per season and 10 sacks. The Giants have desperately needed his consistentcy with their share of injuries to Mathias Kiwanuka, Umeniora and the retirement of Michael Strahan.

Tuck has struggled in 2011 with his share of injuries, including a neck injury that kept him out for a few weeks. Expect Tuck to get healthy and get back on track soon for his quest to move up the rankings.

17. Ryan Callahan

The newest captain of the New York Rangers checks in at No. 17.

Callahan finished with career highs in goals (23), assists (25) and points (48) last season and was named to the U.S. Olympic Team in 2010.

16. John Tavares

Islanders prodigy John Tavares ranks at 17.

Tavares, the former first overall pick, is in his third year on the Islanders. He finished with 29 goals and 38 assists in 2010-11.

At just 21 years old, Tavares was drafted as the face of the franchise and projects to be an 80-point player and a first line center. Right now, he is only one of those things.

Tavares looks to build on last year's successful year en route to the Islanders' first playoff appearence since the 2006-07 season.

15. Marian Gaborik

Who is Marian Gaborik?

He is the phenom who scored 80 points during the 2009-10 season or is he the often-injured right winger of the New York Rangers. Health is the only factor that makes Gaborik so hard to rank, and in the end, is the only thing that holds him back from placing in the top five.

When healthy, there are not a lot of wingers that you would rather have on your team. The only problem is that that hasn't been often. Gaborik has missed at least one game on a staggering 31 separate occasions due to injury during his 11-year career.

On the flip side, when he is playing, he is practically a point-per-game player, and with that kind of talent, it is impossible to withhold him from the top 25.

14. Mark Teixeira

I bet you were wondering when the New York Yankees would make an appearence. Well, they finally have.

Mark Teixeira, the Yankees switch-hitting first baseman, is the first Yankee to find their way on this list. Teixeira boasts plus power to all fields and plays silky smooth defense at first base.

The only concern about Teixeira is that his hitting has tailed off as of late. Before 2010, only Teixeira's rookie year did he have a batting average under .281. He has hit .256 and .248 the past two seasons, respectively. 

Despite his low batting averages the past two seasons, he still boasts a solid on base percentage because he walks so much, and with 111 home runs in three seasons with the Yankees, he is always a threat to hit one into the bleachers.

13. Amare Stoudemire

Not quite sure if he is Batman or Robin at this point, but either way, Amare Stoudemire checks in at unlucky 13.

Stoudemire was part of the free agency class that saw Chris Bosh and LeBron James sign with the Miami Heat. 

Stoudemire signed a massive $100 million deal with the New York Knicks, and they hoped that other free agents would follow. Unfortunately, none did.

Instead, Stoudemire led a young roster of Knicks to contention. Stoudemire had his best season since the 2004-05 season, averaging 25.3 points per game for the Knickerbockers.

In Feburary of 2011, the Knicks scrapped their young roster in order to trade for Carmelo Anthony. Anthony and Stoudemire have not worked well thus far, and they were swept in the first round against the Boston Celtics of the playoffs. If the NBA can resolve the lockout, Stoudemire and the Knicks will hope they can build on the success of the 2010-11 season and have mores success in 2011-12.

12. Curtis Granderson

What is left to be said about Curtis Granderson in 2011? He is undoubtedly the Yankees MVP and may even win the AL MVP award.

The MVP might be more deserving to Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long. With a month left in the 2010 season, he altered Granderson's batting stance, and he hit .278 the final month of the season.

Granderson's success carried on into the 2011 season. He finished with career highs in home runs (41) and RBIs (141) in 2011 and was the anchor of the Yanks offense.

Along with elite offensive numbers, Granderson boasts speed in center field to go along with solid defense. Granderson showed off his defense with two great diving plays in Game 5 of the ALCS, but it wasn't enough to get past the Detroit Tigers.

Granderson's compact line drive swing is tailor made for Yankee Stadium, but as great as Granderson's 2011 season was, he'll need to show he can do it again before he can crack to the top 10.

11. Eli Manning

If Eli Manning defuses a bomb, helps delivers a healthy child while making a gourmet pizza and solves world hunger, would you then consider him an elite quarterback?

"You can't spell elite without Eli," said Giants teammate Justin Tuck.

Week in and week out, Manning continues to back up that statement.

There is not much left that Manning has to prove. Manning may be considered a MVP canidate in 2011 were it not for Aaron Rodgers. Manning is having a great 2011 season and has thrown for 15 touchdowns and just six interceptions while leading the Giants to a 6-2 record. 

Manning, who was traded for Phillip Rivers and several draft picks (Shawne Merriman, Nate Kaeding and Roman Oben), is starting to look like a great investment that is paying high dividends for the Giants.

Manning ranks second in the league with a 116.5 quarterback rating in the fourth quarter.

Manning will look to build on his successful season by trying to get the ball down the field to...

10. Hakeem Nicks

....Hakeem Nicks. See what I did there?

As Merrill Hodge of ESPN might say, "Hakeem Nicks is what we like to call around here, a game changer." Which is perfectly accurate. 

Nicks has the natural ability to make a catch on a crossing route and stretch what should have been a completion for five or 10 yards to a play in which the Giants are gaining 20-plus yards.

Nicks made the transition very smooth for the New York Giants with the departure of Plaxico Burress and is undoubtedly Manning's favorite target. The only downside to Nicks is that he has had injury issues in each of the three seasons he has played with the Giants.

9. Jose Reyes

This ranking may not last long considering Reyes is probably on his way out of New York. However, to this day, he is still a Met, and he has been a prolific player for that franchise.

Reyes has been one of the most dynamic players in the game during the past decade. He has speed on the basepaths and is a fabulous defender with plus range and arm at shortstop. He can change the game with his speed and can create runs with his legs.

The only downside of Reyes has been his chronic hamstring issues that have seen him land on the DL time and time again.

He set a career high in 2011, hitting .337 en route to the National League batting title.

Reyes will now look to punch a ticket out of New York, looking for a deal similar to the one Carl Crawford got in 2010 (seven years, $142 million.)

8. Alex Rodriguez

You can say what you'd like, but Alex Rodriguez is one of the premier players of Major League Baseball, let alone New York.

Despite the gambling, the affairs and the steroids, Alex Rodriguez has been one of the most consistent players in baseball and is good for 30 home runs and 100 RBIs on an annual basis.

Rodriguez had a down year in 2011, spending extended time on the DL because of a hip injury.

A-Rod, once considered a lock to break Barry Bonds' career home run record, can no longer be considered a  lock. The injury bug has bitten Rodriguez in a bad way with multiple surgeries and several DL trips during the past few seasons.

When healthy, Rodriguez remains one of the most feared hitters in the game; unfortunately, that hasn't been too often as of late.

7. Derek Jeter

Like I've already stated, this is a what have you done for me lately, and Jeter gives us a little bit of both.

Actually, he gives us a lot of both.

As a five-time World Series champion and 12-time All-Star, Jeter does not have a whole lot left to prove, but he did so anyway in 2011.

In 2011, Jeter became the 28th player to join the 3,000 hit club. When he struggled with just two extra base hits through the first month and half of the season, people began to wonder if the clock was running out on Jeter's historic career. He answered his critics by hitting .327 after the All-Star break while leading the Yankees to yet another division crown.

Hate him or love him, Jeter plays how the game is meant to be played. Jeter has been all about winning and team since day one. He plays hard day in and day out. He is mechanically sound in every aspect of the game. He truly is a special player.

6. Deron Williams

Somewhat of a risky pick here, but I really like Deron Williams in my top six. There should be plenty of controversy surrounding this pick. Williams has played just 12 games as a Net, and the Nets are not in Brooklyn yet.

However, I have a lot of confidence that when the owners and players end the lockout, Williams will back up this ranking. There is no way to deny it. Williams was not great in 2010-11 after a trade from Utah brought him to the East Coast.

This trade could end up being reminiscent to the deal that brought Jason Kidd to the Nets a decade ago. Williams is a top-tier point guard, a great scoring option and a leader. He can make his team better around him, as displayed by his 9.2 assist per game career average. Williams is also a winner. In five full seasons with the Jazz, Williams led the Jazz to the playoffs four times.

Williams shot 35 percent as a Net and averaged 15 points per game, two less than his career average.

Williams did not have a lot of time to learn New Jersey's offensive system. With already a few games under his belt, Williams should rebound and have a great year for the Nets

5. C.C. Sabathia

C.C. Sabathia continues to be the anchor of the New York Yankees pitching rotation, and we don't mean that because of his weight.

Sabathia has been a model of consistency for the Yanks. In three seasons with the Pinstripes, he hasn't had less than 19 wins or an earned run average of 3.37.

What you see is what you get with Sabathia, and that is one of baseball's best aces pitching with arguably the league's best offense behind him.

Considering he is coming off his best season as a Yankee, expect the consistency to continue without any regression any time soon.

4. Robinson Cano

The New York Yankee parade of top 10 athletes continues with Robinson Cano.

What is there to not like about Robinson Cano? He plays solid defense, and his smooth swing is reminiscent to Ken Griffey Jr.

He has been the most consistent hitter in the top lineup in baseball. The past three seasons, he has averaged 27 home runs, a .313 batting average and 104 RBIs.

3. Henrik Lundqvist

Hendrik Lundqvist has had an outstanding careeer thus far for the Blueshirts in New York.

His career worst goals against average is 2.43, and his worst save percentage is .912. Lundqvist is an annual contender for the Vezina trophy. Ironically, as good and consistent as he has been throughout his six-year career, he has never won.

King Henry has led the Rangers to numerous playoff appearences throughout his career, but the playoffs is where he has struggled. With the acquisition of Brad Richards, this is by far the best offense King Henry has had in front of him, and he and the Rangers are hoping this is the year that the Rangers can find themselves deep into the playoffs and possibly holding the hardware when it is all said and done.

2. Darrelle Revis

How good is Darrelle Revis really? He is the total package at cornerback. He can stop the run. He can play zone coverage. He can play man coverage.

Still not convinced? Listen to this run of wide receivers he shadowed in 2009 under 50 yards: Andre Johnson (4 rec., 35 yards), Randy Moss (4 catches, 24 yards), Marques Colston (2 catches, 33 yards), Terrell Owens (3 catches, 13 yards), Randy Moss (5 catches, 34 yards, 1 td), Steve Smith (1 rec, 5 yards). Then, in the playoffs, he kept Chad Ochocinco in check with two receptions for 28 yards.

Granted, it was 2009. However, that was the run that put Revis on the map and created the expression "Revis Island." I mean, which other player in New York had the island of Manhattan named after him for a day?

It's not all about what Revis does individually, though. It's the fact that Revis is so good at what he does that allows Rex Ryan to play a totally different style of defense than anyone in the NFL. It allows the Jets to put extra coverage on other weaker receiver of opponents since Revis can handle the best receivers on his own. It also allows the Jets to blitz linebackers, safeties and even other cornerbacks to compensate for their weak defensive line.

1. Mariano Rivera

The king has been crowned.

Mariano Rivera defies every law physically known to man. Rivera will turn 42 on Nov. 29, and he is still pitching as if he is 27 years old.

Rivera is not only the best athlete in New York, he is the most unique. More comparable to a fine wine than a baseball player, Rivera has not seen an era under two since 2007, and that blemish was his only ERA under two in the last nine seasons. He continues to get better with age and has shown no sign of regression.

The most remarkable thing about Rivera is that he does it with one pitch. After 17 years, MLB hitters still can't solve his cutter.

It is tough to put in words how great Rivera really is, as we will likely never see a closer this good for this long in our lifetimes.