The most important position in sports is...

[Suburban Rhythm]

This has probably been argued at FOFC (multiple times) before. But, this article brings up the debate again.

Eye for an Eye: Most important position in sports - CBSSports.com (http://eye-on-sports.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/29763034/31540257)

Too bad the 4 debating it are awful. The basketball writer creates a position. The hockey writer refers to the league "allowing ties in the regular season".

So I ask you, FOFC, which position is the most important?

[Lathum]

I went with an NHL goalie. The basketball one is out and a guy who pitches once every 5 days also can't be considered in my book. A QB was tempting, but you still need a solid defense to play half the game. NHL goalie is on the ice the entire game.

[stevew]

Cavs win 65 games
Talents taken to souff beech
Cavs win 19 games

[JPhillips]

The only team that can't win without the above listed player is an NBA team, but it's a copout to list positions in the other three sports and then say star player for the NBA.

[BillJasper]

Cavs win 65 games
Talents taken to souff beech
Cavs win 19 games

I'd be interested in how many games the Colts would actually win if Peyton Manning were to miss the entire season.

I'll go with NFL QB. He not only has to know what each of the players on his side of the ball are doing, he also has to know what the eleven defenders are doing as well.

[stevew]

You aren't going to win an NBA title with a Trent Dilfer type player tho.

[bhlloy]

I think I would go for NHL goaltender with a caveat that it's not necessarily the most talented goaltender but a guy who just happens to be hot for the playoff run. You can't win the Stanley Cup without a goalie that gets hot for a couple of series.

[tarcone]

I chose goaltender. You get a stud or one that gets hot and the championship is all but yours.

[Lathum]

You aren't going to win an NBA title with a Trent Dilfer type player tho.

Pistons

[stevew]

They had 4 All Stars on that team. They faced a Lakers team that imploded.

[SackAttack]

I think I would go for NHL goaltender with a caveat that it's not necessarily the most talented goaltender but a guy who just happens to be hot for the playoff run. You can't win the Stanley Cup without a goalie that gets hot for a couple of series.

The problem with that argument is Chris Osgood, who has as many Stanley Cups as Martin Brodeur.

Anybody have a serious argument for why Osgood should be considered as good a goalie as Brodeur?

Put another way, the NFL has its Trent Dilfers every once in a while, sure, but you don't see your Dilfer-type quarterbacks joining Montana and Brady with a fistful of bling.

[Matthean]

NBA player due to playing as much as anybody and playing both ways.

[britrock88]

NHL goalie... he's on ice for 60 minutes, he's in a position of ultimate responsibility, and his performance is held to a higher standard than any of the other nominees (90%+ save pct v. completing 60% of passes, preventing 70% of batters from reaching base, or shooting 50% from the floor).

[DougW]

General Manager.

[SteveMax58]

The only team that can't win without the above listed player is an NBA team, but it's a copout to list positions in the other three sports and then say star player for the NBA.

+1

To me, the NBA equivalent is "Stud C" or "PG that score 20+ PPG" or something like that. There is always going to be a bigger impact for somebody that plays 1 of 5 positions as opposed to the other sports...but its skewed even more when you don't even get specific.

[Julio Riddols]

I'd like to say QB, but NHL Goalie actually does make a bigger difference overall, IMO. A guy like Aaron Rodgers or Peyton Manning can play lights out all year, but the defense plays a major role in whether their efforts are ultimately fruitful. The defense of a hockey team also does this, but to a far lesser extent.

If the question was "toughest/most demanding position to play" then QB wins by a landslide.

[Suburban Rhythm]

I immediately dismiss the the NBA choice because, while creative, it's not a single position. The position that it probably would be in a center/post player, but that guy doesn't really exist anymore.

Starting pitching I could argue is the most important piece, but not a single starting pitcher. Even if he's lights out every start, and wins 20+, I don't know that he can win a series on his own, let alone a title. Therefore it's 3rd

QB is 2nd. He has more opportunity to help his team than a pitcher, as he's starting every game towards a title. And, while it's true he is only on the field for the offense, he can actually effect his own defense too- an efficient QB who allows his team to posses the ball, keeps his D fresh, and if he provides them a lead, makes the opposing offense somewhat more predictable. The Trent Dilfer arguement though, I don't buy. A mediocre QB can't get his team to a title alone. The proverbial "caretaker" QB needs a strong running game and great D. A star QB can get his team a title with an average/weak running game and good to very good defense.

Goalie, I think is the hardest to explain. As mentioned already, a hot goalie is probably better than a great goalie (see Niemi, Leighton and Halak from 2010). And your chances are really good when you've got a great goalie who gets hot (see Thomas, 2011). A hot goalie can win you a series, and, though a stretch, possibly a title.

What settles it for me might be that, because of the format, a goalie has more of an opportunity to effect the outcome in a 7 game series than a QB in a 1 game matchup. (Though I recognize the opposite can be said that because of the format, the QB must be on every game).