#4 NBA-Point Guard
Unless you are Kobe Bryant and can score 81 points every game, the NBA is a team oriented game where one person cannot win every game for a team. Although the point guard controls the play and the team, that position needs all others to make their shots and rebound to be successful.
#3 NFL-Quarterback
This is a controversial selection. Many would think the quarterback would be higher ranked than this but hear me out. A quarterback is most successful when 1. the running game is working 2. the offensive line is doing their job 3. receivers running the proper routes and catching the ball. Although the quarterback is the one who sees the play, decides what to do, many factors needs to be in sync for the quarterback to succeed.
Here is another example why I think quarterbacks are overrated in the importance factor. The recent example of the Baltimore Ravens SuperBowl XXXV victory. They won solely on the backs of Ray Lewis and the Baltimore defence. Who was the Quarterback? Trent Dilfer thats who.
#2 MLB-Pitcher
Although pitchers only start once every five games, pitching in general is incredibly important to a team's success. World Series cannot be won without proper pitching. Roger Clemens, Andy Pettite, Pedro Martinez have all been dominant playoff pitchers. Look at 2001. Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling literally pitched the team to victory by starting and also relieving. With a crapy Point Guard or Quarterback, the team can still pull out a win, but without proper pitching, a team stands no chance.
#1 NHL-Goaltender
Roberto Luongo, Martin Brodeur, Patrick Roy - these elite goaltenders can put a team on their backs and carry them to victory. This is one position that can dictate a game and win a Stanley Cup. No Stanley Cup winner has ever had questionable goaltending. When looking around the league, most if not all the teams that are contenders have solid goaltending. When a goalie sucks, the team sucks - when the goalie rises, the team rises. Look at Roberto Luongo and his recent streak of 3 shutouts. When the other team can't score, they can't win. Simple as that.
