There have been numerous dynamic duos in sports.

Football had the Joe Montana-Jerry Rice passing combo and the Steelers' receiving duo of Lynn Swann and John Stallworth, for example.

Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry West, Bill Russell and Bob Cousy, Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen weren't too bad in basketball.

And how about Babe Ruth and Lou Gerhrig, Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale, Willie Mays and Willie McCovey, Hank Aaron and Eddie Mathews for starters in baseball?

Hockey has had numerous combo deals as well: Phil Esposito-Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky-Mark Messier, Gretzky-Paul Coffey, Bryan Trottier-Mike Bossy to name a few.

The best sports combo of all time might be playing in our own backyard right now: Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

Yes, they have a long way to go to get there, but therein lies the point: Time is on their side.

Malkin is 23, Crosby is 22. Few will argue they are two of the top three players in the NHL, with Alex Ovechkin of Washington being the other. Both are virtual locks to score 100 points annually as long as they stay healthy.

Last year, Crosby and Malkin were two of the NHL's three 100-point scorers. There were only two 100-point scorers in the league in 2007-08. Malkin was one, Crosby was hurt.

Three years ago, Crosby was one of seven 100-point scorers. Malkin was a rookie adapting to the league.

This tandem is verging on sports history. They could play together for the next 15 years as two of the top three players in the NHL.

Here's how some of the other duos who arguably could be called two of the top three players in their respective leagues at the time:

• Ruth and Gehrig played together for 12 years. Gehrig took ill and Ruth wound up with the Boston Braves.

• Jordan and Pippen played together for eight years. Jordan retired and came back.

• As great as they were together, Russell and Cousy were teammates for only seven years, Chamberlain and West for six seasons.

• Gretzky and Messier retired as the top two scorers in NHL history. But they were teammates in Edmonton for only 10 years. Gretzky and Coffey played together for seven seasons.

• Trottier and Bossy were teammates with the Islanders for 10 years.

• Esposito and Orr both were traded from Boston and knee problems forced a premature end to Orr's career anyway.

Stuff happens.

Crosby and/or Malkin could suffer a career-altering injury, be traded as the result of a contract dispute or become a salary cap casualty somewhere along the way.

Or maybe not.

Pittsburgh sports fans can smile at the thought of these two guys teaming up on the power play, joining the same line when necessary, providing thrills during overtime shootouts for years to come.

Their longevity together will ultimately determine their place among the deadliest duos in sports annals.

We know one thing now: They're off to a good start.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle.