Statuesque: Plenty of Bay Area legends left to honor

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On August 13, Gaylord Perry became the fifth San Francisco Giant Hall of Famer to be honored with a statue outside AT&T joining Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Juan Marichal and Orlando Cepeda.

A few years ago, during the heyday of Jim Harbaugh, KNBR's Gary Radnich -- the sports-talk mashup of Jon Stewart, Jerry Seinfeld and Don Cornelius -- took up the sport statue debate on his show with a position that there should be a “Three-Statue Limit” for any team's building. For the Niners, he proposed Joe Montana, Bill Walsh and Eddie DeBartolo. What ensued was the perfect mix of sports-talk logic and lunacy. On-air colleagues, 49er Faithful and callers were in vehement disagreement with The Radnich Rule. They lobbied for Steve Young, Jerry Rice, Ronnie Lott, Roger Craig, Bob St. Clair, John Brodie, John Taylor and every other 49er in the Football Hall of Fame. One delusional caller suggested that Wendell Tyler would be a worthy model for his own likeness.

Let's fast-forward and take a look at who is currently cast in bronze in front of our local stadiums and arenas.

AT&T: Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Juan Marichal, Orlando Cepeda, Gaylord Perry -- Giants get gold for their bronzes.

Candlestick: None, but how about a bronze plaque with the lyrics of  "There Used to Be a Ballpark Here" as sung by Frank Sinatra and "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" by Tony Bennett

Oakland Coliseum: none

Oracle Arena: none

SAP Pavilion: none

Stanford Stadium: none

Avaya Stadium: none

Golden One Arena: none

Cal's Memorial Stadium: none

Stanford-Maples: Hank Luisetti

Cal-Haas Pavilion: Pete Newell

If Michelangelo, Rodin or Giacometti wanted to slap some clay around in the Bay Area sports world, whom would you want cast in larger-than-life bronze as you walk into your favorite venue?

I'm sure the local franchises would like to hear what you have to say. There is a new wave of recently opened sports emporiums and others in the planning or wishing for stage. We have Levi's, Avaya in the Siliconia. The Warriors' new Chase Center in Mission Bay and a new King's Castle in Sacramento. If you are a team owner, why not spend a few extra bucks for some heroic bronze icons to grace the team's new home?

This is my list:

As far as Levi's Stadium goes, I'm putting Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Ronnie Lott, Bill Walsh and Eddie DeBartolo at the entrances.

SAP Pavilion: Carcharodon Carcharias, which in English is "Great White Shark." Just think about the photo ops.

Oracle: The one and only Al Attles, who has been the symbol of class, professionalism and success for the Warriors franchise since 1969. I'd also start working on a Curry bronze for future use at their hoops palace in Mission Bay.

Oakland Coliseum Raiders: Al Davis

A's: Walter Haas and Charlie Finley, the yin and yang of world championship winning -- one with class, one with crass.

Special recognition to Bill Graham for the tunes of our lives and Days on the Green and the magic smoke that made everyone mellow.

No shortage of Amazing A's and Silver and Black Raiders for the list of player and coach nominees.

Cal and Stanford stadiums: Statues of a male and female student athlete.

Avaya Stadium: A giant Zip Drive in the shape of a soccer ball

Golden One Arena in Sacramento: Mayor Kevin Johnson, the ultimate point guard in keeping the team in town and building the new arena.

In an area that can celebrate sculptures of a crouching spider, a science-fiction rocket and a humongous bow and arrow, surely we can erect statues at our stadiums and arenas that pay homage to the legendary exploits of our sporting heroes.

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