Judgment Day!!

It's tied!! Our sports debate over the dakotas finds itself knotted up at two wins a piece. We need a deciding topic, a game five if you will. The debate has come to which state has the best athletes left, athletes that haven't already been mentioned in previous topics. Lets get to it!

As has become an ongoing occurrence, we start with North Dakota.

Boxing legend Virgil Hill of Williston ND gets our debate off and running as the first name on our list. Virgil won a silver medal at the 1984 Olympic games in Los Angeles. Virgil was a long time WBA light heaveyweight championwith his first belt coming in 1987. He would go on to defend his title a record 19 times before retiring in 1997 with a professional record of 56-6.
The next athlete we will dicuss is professional football player Pete Retzlaff of Ellendale ND. Pete was selected in the 1953 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions but was sold to the Philadelphia Eagles where he played running back, wide receiver, and tight end for eleven seasons. He led the NFL in receptions in 1958 and was selected to five pro bowls throughout his career. The Eagles have retired Retzlaff's number 44 jersey.

South Dakota

We start this list with Billy Mills of Pine Ridge SD. Mills won a gold medal in the 10,000 meter run at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games and is the only American to ever do so. His 64 victory is considered one of the greatest upsets in Olympic history. In 1976, Mills was inducted into the U.S. Track and Field Hall of Fame and to the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1984. There was later a movie put out about Mills and his accomplishments titled, "Running Brave," staring Robby Benson.
The next name on SD's list is Frank Leahy of Winner SD. Leahy played tackle for the University of Notre Dame on Knute Rockne's last three teams, graduating in 1931. After a few coaching stops at various univeristies, Leahy would end up back at his alma matter. He would coach at Notre Dame for eleven years and win five national championships while compiling six undefeated seasons.

It's been fun looking at these two states and recognizing the major names in sports that have come from each, but there can only be one winner, and that is South Dakota. Both North and South Dakota have a pretty good representation of athletes from there respected states. SI.com put out the 50 greatest athletes from each state a few years back and when looking at each states induvidual list to me South Dakota is the winner. It's been fun and Mike I apologize for the tardiness.