Comparing athlete’s across sports is tough, but I gave it a shot. Here’s my list of the ten best athletes in DC.
#1. Alex Ovechkin
3 Hart Memorial trophies (MVP), 6 Rocket Richard’s (leading goal scorer). He’s been named to the NHL first or second all-star team in 10 out of his 11 years in the league. Alex Ovechkin is a goal scoring phenom and the best athlete in DC. The only thing he hasn’t done? Win a championship.
#2. Bryce Harper
Bryce Harper is on a mission to make baseball fun again. What’s fun? Try a slash line of .330/.460/.649. Those are the numbers Harper reached last year when he became the youngest player ever to be a unanimous MVP. An OPS of 1.109 also happens to be the best since Barry Bonds in 2004.
#3. Max Scherzer
In Scherzer’s first season as a National last year, he became one of six pitchers in MLB history to throw two no-hitters in a single season. This season he tied the single game strikeout record with 20 K’s on May 11 against the Tigers. He’s a Cy Young award winner and a true ace.
#4. Braden Holtby
Last year’s Vezina trophy winner as the best goalie in hockey, Holtby tied the goalie record for wins (48) in 12 less games played. Granted, wins are easier to come by when you’ve got the aforementioned Alex Ovechkin on your team. But Holt-beast, as Caps fans are fond of calling him, is a rising star in his own right.
#5. John Wall
John Wall’s numbers across the board last season—19.9 ppg, 10.2 apg, 4.9 rpg, 1.9 spg, 0.8bpg—have never been done before in NBA history. The lone Wizard on this list, Wall has led the franchise from being an Eastern Conference doormat to a perennial playoff team. The only reason he’s not higher on the list? He plays in a league with Steph Curry, Russell Westbrook, and Chris Paul. The point guard position in the NBA is so talented right now that it deflates Wall’s value a bit.
#6. Stephen Strasburg
Strasburg set what was (before Scherzer) a franchise record with 14 strikeouts in his Nationals debut. He’s since struck out 1,019 more batters, undergone Tommy John surgery, and made two all-star games. There have been rocky years (rocky may be an overstatement – his worst ERA ever was 3.46) but Strasburg continues to be one of the most exciting pitchers in baseball. His record this year is 12-0.
# 7. Josh Norman
Notable opposing wide receivers against Norman last year:
Allen Robinson – 0-3, 0 yards, 0 TD
Deandre Hopkins – 2-7,24 yards, 0 TD
Dez Bryant – 1-5, 6 yards, 0 TD
Randall Cobb – 0-1, 0 yards, 0 TD
Desean Jackson – 2-3, 9 yards, 0 TD
TY Hilton – 1-3, 15 yards, 0 TD
He shut down Julio Jones in one of their two matchups, and while he didn’t exactly lock up Odell Beckham Jr, he did frustrate him to the point of provoking a late hit and one game suspension.
Maybe that’s why he got the biggest contract for a cornerback in NFL history.
#8. Trent Williams
The Redskins have had just about every single problem a team can have these last few years. The one beacon of stability has been at left tackle, where Trent Williams has made the pro-bowl for four consecutive seasons.
Redskins’ runners in 2015 averaged 4.2 YPA when running to the left side, as opposed to 3.8 YPA running right and 3.1 YPA up the middle. Williams was the last starting left tackle in the NFL to allow a sack last season (he finished the year allowing 2.5). Kirk Cousins’ blind side is in good hands.
#9. Nicklas Backstrom
Ovechkin’s running mate, Backstrom has been almost as crucial for the Caps continued success as the great eight. Backstrom has been a facilitator and orchestrator for the Capitals offense ever since he recorded 55 assists in his rookie season. Now the Caps all-time leader in assists, Backstrom continues to make everyone around him better.
#10. Ryan Kerrigan
Kerrigan ranks No. 8 in tackles, No.10 in sacks, and No.2 in forced fumbles since he entered the league in 2011. A menace off the edge, Kerrigan has been the Redskins most consistent force on defense this decade.