Top 10 Significant Sports Figures

By Tim Kawakami
San Jose Mercury
We had Barry Bonds gobbling up Bay Area attention for 15 years, with a lot of frantic 49ers and ridiculous Raiders characters in between. We had Baron Davis for a bit, Randy Moss for a blip, the original Terrell Owens madness, and still (probably) have Alex Smith to kick around some more. But in the post-Bonds Bay Area sports scene, something feels very different, doesn't it? So the mandate: Figure out the top 10 most significant Bay Area sports figures. Basically, who are the athletes, coaches or executives whose actions cause the most excitement, frustration, celebration and potential controversy?
Here's my list . . .
1. Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum
He's young, quirky, devastatingly talented, already has a Cy Young Award for a franchise that desperately needed a new face, and so far has refrained from amassing an entourage. For as long as Lincecum can stay healthy, and as long as the 49ers don't produce a new superstar quarterback, this is Lincecum's town. And all the questions about his career durability, at his size and with his violent delivery, only make each Lincecum start more compelling.
2. 49ers Coach Mike Singletary.
He has initiated some signs of life in a bleak franchise. Now Singletary has to win. Finding a quarterback would help. He's the exact opposite of Bill Walsh — Singletary has zero subtleness. It's all out there. Rise or fall, and either one could happen instantly.
3. Raiders owner Al Davis.
Owner of the Decades. Though his Raiders have stunk for six consecutive years, nobody dazzles the crowd like AD, even when he's not making much sense.
4. Warriors guard Monta Ellis.
He's like an NBA version of Lincecum (small, charismatic), except he's already hurt, he's angry with the team and he has a $66 million contract. Ellis' health and future is the biggest mystery in Bay Area sports.
5. Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell.
Incredibly talented, incredibly rich . . . but will the Raiders' miseries drag him down? Will he let the Raiders down on his own? Will he emerge as a franchise quarterback? Heading into his third NFL season, Russell is the second-biggest mystery in Bay Area sports.
6. Warriors Coach Don Nelson.
He outmaneuvered Chris Mullin, tricked Chris Cohan, drives fans crazy and is hoping to dump much of the current roster, but, thanks to his recent contract extension, Nelson is almost impossible to fire. More than anybody else on this list, Nelson's singular talent is to get himself onto a list like this. Even when he's 21-42.
7. Sharks center Joe Thornton.
Stanley Cup finals or bust? No athlete in the Bay Area since Steve Young has had this kind of pressure to carry his team through the postseason. That's actually a good thing — Thornton is a great player on a very talented team in a region that deserves to see major progress.
8. A's General Manager Billy Beane/Assistant G.M. David Forst.
Could the hand-off to Forst happen after this season? The farm system is rebuilt. Matt Holliday, Orlando Cabrera, Jason Giambi and Nomar Garciaparra are on hand to try to win this season. Beane is the A's Mr. Everything. The expected transition to Forst should be fascinating to watch.
9. Cal football coach Jeff Tedford.
In a pro town, Tedford's great successes, his longevity in a tough job and, more pointedly, his rare non-successes (no Rose Bowls) nudge him into this conversation. Barely.
10. Giants pitcher Barry Zito.