The Phoenix Rushmore includes two Valley of the Sun legends Larry Fitzgerald and Diana Taurasi who have spent their entire careers playing in front of fans in Arizona, and two Hall of Famers Randy Johnson and Steve Nash who established themselves elsewhere but were just brilliant during their years in town.And yet, the Phoenix Rushmore needs an asterisk. Because any conversation about profe sional sports in Phoenix that doesnt include longtime hockey icon no single person has ever done more for the icy sport in the desert Shane Doan.MORE: Hes probably the most beloved athlete in the community, to be honest, longtime Phoenix sportswriter Paola Boivin said. In all the years they were bad, he had opportunities to leave and he never did. There is a great appreciation for the fact that he stuck with the club. Hes such a nice human being. Everyone who meets him comes away and says something good about Doan and their encounter with him. Ive never seen anything like it.And if this was a Rushmore of beloved players, the two-time All-Star who is 17th all-time in NHL games played would be on this list. But only four can reside on Rushmore, and who are you going to boot? The guy who won four consecutive Cy Young awards and helped the city celebrate its first championship? The back-to-back NBA Brevin Jordan Jersey MVP? The second-leading receiver in NFL history? Arguably the greatest player in WNBA history?You see the dilemma. Johnson, Nash, Fitzgerald and Taurasi stay, and Doan gets his mention right here. If not for Barry Sanders, Larry Fitzgerald just might be the best No. 3 overall pick in NFL Draft history. He was a superstar receiver at the University of Pittsburgh and made an instant impact on a woebegone NFL franchise that needed an instant impact.Maybe more important, though, he made a lasting impact on that franchise. He played all 17 of his seasons in Whitney Mercilus Jersey the NFL wearing a Cardinals uniform.Phoenix, because we are a city of transplants, really values when somebody stays with one franchise, Boivin said. That in pro sports is such a rarity these days. The fact that he wanted to stay here really meant so much to fans.Fitzgerald had 780 yards receiving and eight touchdowns as a rookie, then led the NFL with 103 receptions in 2005. Of those 103 catches, 68 went for first downs and 10 were touchdowns. He mi sed a couple games in 2006 but was incredible as Kurt Warner took over QB1 duties in 2007-08. In those two years, Fitzgerald had 22 touchdown receptions, 196 catches and 2,840 yards receiving.And he was at his best on footballs biggest stage: the postseason.The Cardinals, who were 9-7 in 2008 and claimed a wild-card spot, followed Fitzgerald on a wild ride through the playoffs. In the wild-card round, he had 101 yards receiving and a touchdown it was fitting he scored the first TD of the game and in the divisional round, 166 yards and a touchdown. In the NFC Championship, with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line the franchise hadnt played for a title since 1948, when it called Chicago home Fitzgerald scored three first-half touchdowns and finished with 152 yards against Philadelphia.And then, the Super Bowl. Oh, that Super Bowl. The heavy underdog Cardinals trailed the Steelers, 20-7, entering the fourth quarter. A 1-yard touchdown pa s from Warner to Fitzgerald on a fade pattern with 7:33 left gave the Cardinals life, and a 64-yard touchdown pa s Fitzgerald caught a short pa s from Warner acro s the middle, found the seam and outraced three Pittsburgh defenders gave Arizona the 23-20 lead with 2:33 left. If not for Santonio Holmes incredible catch with 35 seconds left, Fitzgeralds run-and-catch would have gone down as one of the Vince Wilfork Jersey best TDs in Super Bowl history.Speaking of history, the Cardinals record book reads like an ode to Fitzgerald. He had more than twice as many receptions as any other player in franchise history, more than twice as many yards receiving and 55 more receiving touchdowns. Not that hed tell you, though.He comes acro s very sort of quiet and sweet, and in an era where athletes and celebrities can be all Look at me! that was never who he was at all, Boivin said. I remember early in my coverage of the Cardinals, I would have to chase him down in a parking lot after games because he didnt want to do interviews. Once you got him, he couldnt be any more polite. He J J Watt T Shirts was thoughtful, had really good things to say, but was always trying to deflect attention off himself, for sure.Fitzgerald made his first Pro Bowl at 22, his 11th and final at 34. He led the NFL in receptions for the first time at 22 and for the second time at 33. He had at least 90 receptions eight times and at least 1,000 yards receiving nine times. Hes the best player in Arizona Cardinals history the best in Cardinals franchise history, period and the easiest choice for the Phoenix Rushmore.Fitzgerald By The NumbersSeasons in Phoenix17Pro Bowls11Receptions1,432*Receiving yards17,492*TD receptions121***Second all-time **13th all-timeTSN ARCHIVES: Randy Johnsons spot among Phoenixs elite is unique with our Rushmore honorees.For starters, the menacing lefty with an overpowering fastball and unfair slider didnt even throw his first pitch for the Diamondbacks until he was 35 years old. Most athletes are contemplating retirement as 40 looms, but the Big Unit was just getting ready to establish a baseball legacy with an expansion franchise.And, boy, did he ever. The Diamondbacks played their first season in 1998, winning just 65 games, and went about a roster remake that offseason. Signing Johnson who already had 2,329 career strikeouts, one Cy Young award and three other top-three finishes under his belt was the top priority, but the D-backs also brought in Steve Finley, Armando Reynoso, Erubiel Durazo, Tony Womack and others before Opening Day 1999.That 1999 team won 100 games, and Johnson won the NL Cy Young award. He won the award again in 2000. And again in 2001. And again in 2002. And heres the thing: None of the votes was particularly close. In his first four seasons with the Diamondbacks his Age 35-38 seasons Johnson claimed 84 of the po sible 128 first-place Cy Young votes.I Tavierre Thomas Jersey think a lot of novice fans thought, Oh, this is what baseball looks like,' Boivin said.And think about this: From 1980 to present day, no pitcher other than Johnson has recorded more than 326 strikeouts in a season, but from 1999-2002, Johnson averaged 354 strikeouts per year, with a single-season career best of 372 in 2001 thats the third-highest total since 1900. And speaking of that 2001 season In the regular season, Johnson led the NL with his 2.49 ERA and 372 strikeouts, and then he took things up a notch in October. In three starts leading to the World Series, Johnson posted a 1.88