Greatness

What is greatness? Greatness is a relative term. Webster's defines it as "exceptionally high quality." I would define greatness in sports as "consistent domination over worthy opponents, where limited luck is required." Break that down. Consistent = doing it over and over again. Dominate = no doubt who the better team is. Worthy opponent = are they in your league? (You can't be in college and dominate high schoolers.) Limited luck = there is always luck in sports, but could you dominate them so that luck did not come into the equation(at least the majority of the time).

Greatness is relative. You can be great in high school. Doesn't mean you will be great in college or the pro's. Greatness doesn't mean you're the best of all time. It's just greatness, it's relative. Who's better? Bill Russell or Lebron James? Bill has 11 rings in 13 seasons and two NCAA rings: That's greatness. Maybe he didn't play the same opponents, but he played the worthy opponents in his generation. Just like James is now. James is averaging insane numbers right now and making good or great players look insignificant. That's greatness. They can both be considered great for their generations. Who would win one-on-one? Or whose team would win? Well many would say James and Miami, cause they're just bigger, faster, stronger now days. And they're probably right. Science has improved. Players are full-time now more than ever. However, if Bill Russell was in this generation and had the same training and opportunities in today's world, would he still be great? Maybe not 11 titles, but he would be great. I will believe that.

Team sports is hard to compare generation to generation. Jim Brown. Would he dominate in the NFL today? Yes, I think so. What about track and field though? We have facts that say this generation is better than others. Right?

A great example of relativity: Sir Roger Bannister.
Would Roger be some insignificant distance runner that can barely break 4 minutes in the mile? Something that a lot of collegiate athletes can do now. Where were all these athletes 60 years ago that can break 4 minutes? Sports and athletes are where they are now because of people in the past. Yes, if Roger Bannister of 1954 ran today he would be 12th in the Bowerman mile at the Pre Classic. But what if Roger was in this generation? Would he still be barely breaking 4 minute mile? Maybe. Or maybe the greatness inside him keeps him up with the rest of the competition and maybe he's going for the world record of 3:43.13 by El Guerrouj.

Who knows? But it's all relative.


Greatest Sports' Team of All-Time to come...