Bradley And Lind

Who is the best male athlete in Princeton history?

TigerBlog thinks a better question is who is the fourth-best male athlete in Princeton history?

The top three spots appear to be locked in among Hobey Baker, Bill Bradley and Dick Kazmier. TB would say that Baker and Bradley are the top two, followed by Kazmaier.

So who would be fourth?

There are so many possibilities. TB can think of about 20 off the top of his head, and there are probably twice that many that you could make a case for if you really wanted. That's what happens when your athletic program is 149 years old.

Actually, TB isn't sure who would get his endorsement for the No. 4 spot. He'll have to think about it.

The same logic behind the No. 4 male athlete in Princeton history basically applies to the question of who is the greatest female athlete in Princeton history.

Women's athletics at Princeton are not nearly as old as men's athletics, as they date back just over 40 years. Still, in that time, Princeton has built a model women's athletic program, one that has achieved across-the-board success that the pioneers in the early 1970s probably never dreamed possible.

Again, TB can come up with 20 names right off the top of his head.

Actually, this is one of the big problems that TB has always imagined for a Princeton Athletics Hall of Fame. Beyond the top three iconic male athletes, there would be 60-80 or even more equally deserving candidates.

And while we're on the subject, who are the most successful Princeton alums in non-Princeton athletic endeavors?

Again, TB would go with Bradley on the men's side.

Two NBA championships with the Knicks, for whom he was a starter. An Olympic gold medal  in 1964. A Sullivan Award.

And on the women's side?

How about rower Caroline Lind? The 2006 graduate, who was the stroke for the Tigers' NCAA championship first varsity 8 boat her senior year, has put together quite the post-Princeton resume.

Lind is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, winning in 2008 in Beijing and 2012 in London. She has also won four gold medals at the world championships.

Most recently, at the World Cup in Switzerland, Lind was part of the winning U.S. women's 8 that not only won but also set a world record, covering the 2,000-meter course in 5:54.16. Lind was joined in the boat by Heidi Robbins, who graduated last month and who like Lind was a von Kienbusch Award winner.

You can make a case for several others, TB is sure.

Lynn Jennings, for instance, was an Olympic bronze medalist in the 10,000 meters and a three-time world cross country champion. Diana Matheson has made more than 150 appearances for the Canadian women's national soccer team, with an Olympic bronze medal (on her goal) and multiple World Cups included.

TB is always afraid to start naming people, for fear of leaving out the obvious.

Still, Lind's post-Princeton career has been extraordinary.

As for who is No. 4 on the men's side or No. 1 among Princeton women all-time?

He's still thinking about it.