Rickey Henderson, Ronnie Lott and Marcus Allen.

For as long as I can remember, these have been my three favorite athletes of all time. There is zero debate on my top three. The order maybe, but not the top three. These posters and jersey are hanging up in my new office. The Rickey poster is new, but there is plenty of Rickey memorabilia under it with 30-40 years of age on it. I’ve had that Ronnie poster since high school, what was, ahem, 30 years ago. And the Marcus jersey was a gift I received a year or two after college, which was somehow more than 20 years ago now. That math still does not compute in my head.

Here is my dilema. I have that open spot there in between Ronnie and Marcus. I put the Marcus jersey all the way over so it would be next to my USC banner hanging over the window. I’m now debating what I should put in the gap, which of course led me to debating who my fourth favorite athlete is. Again, the top three are clear and will likely never change.

I have several candidates for a fourth, but no clear cut favorite. So, this post is somewhat of a thought exercise for myself. Below, I am going to list the contenders, trying to think as little as possible. I figure top of mind is probably a clue.

• Vince Carter
• Tim Hardway
• David Robsinson
• Carney Lansford
• Jerry Stackhouse
• Tim Brown
• Todd Marinovich (Just kidding, checking to see if you are paying attention. I did have his jersey though)
• Tyler Hansbrough
• Mohamed Salah
• Dean Smith, if I want to go a different route.

Okay, that took maybe 60 seconds. I’m trying not to overthink this.

None are jumping out at me as a clear cut favorite still. What will likely happen is I search for posters for all of them and pick the coolest looking. I’m not liking Carney Lansford’s chances there.

So, who is your Mt. Rushmore of favorite athletes? Not best, but favorite.