Boston's Biggest Sports Icon Part I

That poll on the side of the screen has got me thinking. This poll, pending if it is still up, asks about the biggest sports icon in Beantown. And it got me thinking; how does one decide who it would be?

So, I figured I would break this down, team by team, and see if I could come up with the answer myself.

We'll begin with the obvious candidate: Tom Brady, your QB of the NEP. Yes, the Patriots success and their 3 Super Bowls were a team effort, a supporting cast that was effective in each aspect of football. But the man who changed the fortunes of this team was Tom Brady. For the Boston's sports icon question, TB is the rep of the Pats.

The men in green have a few obvious candidates. The "Big 3 and Rondo" have been the ultimate reason for this teams success. Rondo's the playmaker, Ray's the sharp shooter from down town, and KG is the force on the post. But at the end of the day, Paul Pierce has lived up to his nickname: The Truth. Through thick and thin, the good times and bad, Pierce has been a true Celtic. He will rep the C's

From the Local 9, their are several candidates. It's been a change of players in recent years. Nomar is long gone, ManRam has talked himself out of town, and Pedro's flame-throwing days are over. Papi's power numbers are on the decline, but he's still got something left. Youkilis has been injury-riddled over the past few years, and finds himself on the wrong side of 30 without having the tremendous season he's been hyped up to have. For me, this is Dustin Pedroia's Red Sox. The MVP in '08, Dustin is a scrappy player who gives 100% on each play, putting all he's got into each swing and hustling out every ground ball. I choose him for the Sox.

The Bruins are tough for me. Nathan Horton's addition has proven fantastic thus far, and Tim Thomas has been lights out between the pipes. Tyler Seguin has been the big story of the offseason, and has done well so far in his rookie campaign. But, and hardcore hockey fans can correct me if I'm mistaken, when I think Bruins these days, I'm thinking Zdeno Chara. Captain, tallest player ever in NHL. Soon it might be Seguin, but at this point I go with Chara (sorry DRob).

So Brady, Pierce, Pedroia, and Chara. How does one choose? Do you declare each as a Boston icon, pending the sport you're talking about?

I want to hear some opinions first. Am I wrong with the player representative? Whose the Icon? Is it Brady like the poll says? Let's hear it, UB Nation. Part II to come soon.