Last week’s Challenge wasn’t much of a challenge at all as local legend Harry Agganis blew out former Sox owner Tom Yawkey (17-2) to move up The Ladder from #67 to #61. This week’s Challenger is former Celtics player and coach K.C. Jones, currently at #58. K.C. will be taking on Hall of Fame jockey, and Boston native, Chris McCarron, who currently ranks #54 on The Ladder. A look at this week’s contestants…
MCCARRON: Professional jockey for 28 years (1974-2002). Amassed 7,141 wins in 34,239 mounts (21%). Retired as thoroughbred racing’s all-time leader in purse earnings with over $264 million in winnings. Rode 6 winners in U.S. Triple Crown Races (two each in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes). Won first two legs of the Triple Crown aboard Alysheba in 1987. Won 9 Breeders’ Cup races, included 5 Breeders’ Cup Classics. Led U.S. Champion Jockeys in wins 3 times (1974, 1975, 1980) and earnings 4 times (1980, 1981, 1984, 1991). Elected to U.S. Racing Hall of Fame in 1989.
JONES: Played entire 9-year career with Celtics (1958-67). Won 8 NBA Championships as a player (1959-66). Has 3rd most NBA titles as a player in history. Was defensive specialist. Averaged 7.4 points, 4.3 assists and 3.5 rebounds for his career (steals were not kept track of when he played). 8th in franchise history in assists. Celtics head coach for 5 seasons (1983-88) amassing a 308-102 record (.751 winning %). As coach won 5 division titles, 4 Eastern Conference titles and 2 NBA Championships (1984, 1986). His #25 is retired by Celtics. Elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1989.
VERDICT: As impressive as McCarron’s resume is, and it certainly is impressive, Jones’ 10 championship rings in Boston are too tough to ignore. His stats as a player are not overwhelming by any means, but you don’t get inducted into the Hall of Fame without being pretty darn good. His coaching success is just the icing on the cake, and help earn K.C. Jones my vote this week.
Posts
6 comments:
K.C. Jones full name......
K.C. Jones.
Jones gets my vote hands down. 10 RINGS!!! And you didnt mention that he's an olympic gold medalist from the 56' games. And not that it matters for this site but for what its worth he also won 3 division titles and a coference title with the Bullets from 73-76.
I don't think he gets credit for the Olympic medals here. He is not from Boston and won them before coming to Boston. Olympic medals (and the like) only could on the resumes of Boston natives as far as this is concerned.
However if you use it to help cast your vote that is of course legit since there are no real rules as to what to base ones vote on here.
McCarron is easily one of the top 10 American jockeys of all time and perhaps top 10 in the world all-time. Is KC Jones even a top 10 Celtic?
Easy vote for me is McCarron.
My step father in law is a huge horse racing guy and I asked about McCarron and he said he is a total asshole. However, he also did say that jockeys like animals much more than people - so that could be the case. I'll ask him where he thinks he stands all time and then vote
i just dont care about horse racing and so i voted for kc. i dont care about running either so bill rogers should go soon too.
being a jockey is weird because i cant figure out what they do that makes them good. seems like it is just being lucky enough to be on the right horse but im sure there is more to it than that. i guess i just never cared enough to find out
Post a Comment