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...
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Bill Russell: "My first memory of life is that my mother and father loved me"
Ever like a celebrity and you're not really sure why? Or maybe you don't know much about him/her, but you just say they are amazing. Well, for me I grew up admiring Bill Russell.
I'm not sure why. Maybe I heard my dad say good things about him. Maybe I just liked that he had 11 championships in his 13 NBA seasons. Maybe I liked that he was known for block shots (even though it wasn't even a stat in his day). Growing up, I would always say Bill Russell is the greatest basketball player of all time. I never watched him play. I didn't have the eyeball test. I trusted what I read and heard. I was and still am a stat guy(team and individual stats) and he has a lot of stats in his favor. I think the stat that always stands out to me is that he won the NCAA championship two straight seasons before going to the NBA. So he won the ultimate team championship in his respective league 13 out of 15 years. So it wasn't just a Celtic thing, he started in college!
I can say the same about Pele. Never watched him play a full game, but I've seen the highlights and heard the stories and 3 out of 4 World Cups in his generation to Brazil, can't lie. Also, 1282 goals in 1366 games, need I say more!
They are legends of their game and what is even better about them is what they do now for their sport. Bill is always working with young centers in the offseason on blocking shots. Pele is bringing a World Cup back to Brazil. They are always helping grow their sport and do it with a smile on their face. They are great role models for the younger generations in their sport.
Why do I bring this up? Well there was a really good interview with Bill Russell and Chris Webber before the All-star game. Watching the interview, you can quickly see the great sense of humor that Bill Russell has and he mixes that with well spoken profound thoughts on so many different topics. You can see that he was competitive enough to get aggressive and dig down to win games, yet he always understood not to take the game and life too seriously. Russell just seems to enjoy life which is even better than those 11 NBA rings he has.
When asked the question: what gave you confidence to believe in yourself?
He replied: "I had the best pair of parents....My first memory of life is that my mother and father loved me"
Even though I didn't know much about him growing up, as I slowly learn more about him, I am really glad I have Bill Russell to look up to in my childhood and now my adulthood. He is truly a great man. If you haven't heard him laugh, it is truly genuine and contagious and it's worth a youtube search.
I hope to find the interview with Chris Webber and post it here soon!
I'm not sure why. Maybe I heard my dad say good things about him. Maybe I just liked that he had 11 championships in his 13 NBA seasons. Maybe I liked that he was known for block shots (even though it wasn't even a stat in his day). Growing up, I would always say Bill Russell is the greatest basketball player of all time. I never watched him play. I didn't have the eyeball test. I trusted what I read and heard. I was and still am a stat guy(team and individual stats) and he has a lot of stats in his favor. I think the stat that always stands out to me is that he won the NCAA championship two straight seasons before going to the NBA. So he won the ultimate team championship in his respective league 13 out of 15 years. So it wasn't just a Celtic thing, he started in college!
I can say the same about Pele. Never watched him play a full game, but I've seen the highlights and heard the stories and 3 out of 4 World Cups in his generation to Brazil, can't lie. Also, 1282 goals in 1366 games, need I say more!
They are legends of their game and what is even better about them is what they do now for their sport. Bill is always working with young centers in the offseason on blocking shots. Pele is bringing a World Cup back to Brazil. They are always helping grow their sport and do it with a smile on their face. They are great role models for the younger generations in their sport.
Why do I bring this up? Well there was a really good interview with Bill Russell and Chris Webber before the All-star game. Watching the interview, you can quickly see the great sense of humor that Bill Russell has and he mixes that with well spoken profound thoughts on so many different topics. You can see that he was competitive enough to get aggressive and dig down to win games, yet he always understood not to take the game and life too seriously. Russell just seems to enjoy life which is even better than those 11 NBA rings he has.
When asked the question: what gave you confidence to believe in yourself?
He replied: "I had the best pair of parents....My first memory of life is that my mother and father loved me"
Even though I didn't know much about him growing up, as I slowly learn more about him, I am really glad I have Bill Russell to look up to in my childhood and now my adulthood. He is truly a great man. If you haven't heard him laugh, it is truly genuine and contagious and it's worth a youtube search.
I hope to find the interview with Chris Webber and post it here soon!
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Wrestling a True Olympic Sport
How can you take wrestling out of the Olympics?
Wrestling is like running: A basic form of human sport that has and will be here for generations to come. Isn't that why the Olympics were started? To see who is "faster, higher, stronger"? Wrestling has and still fits under those categories, particularly stronger. Who is the strongest? Who can flip someone over and pin them to the ground? Parents tell their kids to stop "wrestling" around. No one told them how to wrestle or gave them any rules. They did it by themselves. They just started and its like an innate ability that humans have to settle something or determine who is stronger.
It's basic!
Why do we need to add fancy things to make it more entertaining? The further we get from the basics the less we are rewarding the best and create more of a likelihood of an upset. Adding fancy or entertaining things usually makes things even out the competition and it adds luck to the equation as well.
Is it about ratings? I could only assume that is one of the reasons. I would have thought ratings and popularity would never come into the equation for what makes an Olympic sport, but I guess it does now. The Olympics, I thought, we all about sport and creating champions in the ultimate tests of human ability. However, I guess the Olympics is just like any other business and needs to make money. I don't see another reason why you would take out a sport that has been in the Olympics since its inception in 1896.
Sad moment for all fans of the True Olympics!
Wrestling is like running: A basic form of human sport that has and will be here for generations to come. Isn't that why the Olympics were started? To see who is "faster, higher, stronger"? Wrestling has and still fits under those categories, particularly stronger. Who is the strongest? Who can flip someone over and pin them to the ground? Parents tell their kids to stop "wrestling" around. No one told them how to wrestle or gave them any rules. They did it by themselves. They just started and its like an innate ability that humans have to settle something or determine who is stronger.
It's basic!
Why do we need to add fancy things to make it more entertaining? The further we get from the basics the less we are rewarding the best and create more of a likelihood of an upset. Adding fancy or entertaining things usually makes things even out the competition and it adds luck to the equation as well.
Is it about ratings? I could only assume that is one of the reasons. I would have thought ratings and popularity would never come into the equation for what makes an Olympic sport, but I guess it does now. The Olympics, I thought, we all about sport and creating champions in the ultimate tests of human ability. However, I guess the Olympics is just like any other business and needs to make money. I don't see another reason why you would take out a sport that has been in the Olympics since its inception in 1896.
Sad moment for all fans of the True Olympics!
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Sport Idols: Peyton Manning
"Playoffs!?!"
"We've thrown 4 interceptions for touchdowns this year that might be an NFL record."
A lot of people know the famous tirade by Jim Mora, but many don't seem to mention the quarterback that he is talking about. That quarterback is Peyton Manning.
Yes. The Peyton Manning. One of the best of all time.
So, let's talk about "PLAYOFFS?!" Peyton Manning has only missed one postseason since that season and that was because he missed the entire year to neck surgery.
"I just hope we can win a game."
Win games? Peyton Manning has. 10 straight 10 win seasons including 8(7 straight)seasons of 12+ wins. In fact Peyton has only been under 10 wins twice, his rookie year and the year of "playoffs!?" which was his 4th year.
That's consistent. Consistency leads to greatness. Peyton averages 95.7 quarterback rating for his career and he's had a 95 or higher in 8 of the last 9 seasons!
Peyton Manning gets called the greatest REGULAR season quarterback of all time, as if its a bad thing. Yes, people might wonder why Peyton only has one superbowl victory through all this success. I don't think it has anything to do with him not being good "under pressure." What I love about Peyton is how much work and preparation he puts into every game he plays. Regular or post season, doesn't matter. He wants to win and he puts all his energy into that. He puts so much "pressure" on himself every game that he doesn't feel the difference from regular or post season, its still a game that he wants to win badly.
Sometimes things just happen. The NFL and the playoff system is a very cruel world. It gives you excitement and entertainment, but I feel it doesn't always go to the best team. The ball can bounce in funny ways and that totally changes the game. i.e. how many times does David Tyree make that catch on his helmet. It was a great play and one for the history books, but if that doesn't happen New England wins the superbowl and they finish their perfect 19-0 season. What are the odds the Saints recover the onside kick to start the second half and totally change the momentum of the game? Gutsy, but it paid of for them and not for the Colts. Stuff happens and they just didn't seem to fall Peyton's way a lot of times in the playoffs.
Another example is Tom Brady. He won his Superbowl rings when he was young. However, he has played much better the last 8 years, and hasn't won one, than he did during the years he actually won 3 out of 4 superbowls. Maybe he doesn't have the defense he once had or maybe its just the playoffs and things like David Tyree's catch get in the way.
But that's why we watch. The unpredictable and the incomprehensible, the upsets happen. That's what makes it fun and that's why we watch. But it doesn't take away from Peyton's greatness.
All I know is that if all things are equal: same defense, same special teams, same coach, same offense and I had to choose one quarterback in history to win a game(regular season, postseason, or Superbowl) I am choosing Peyton Manning in a heartbeat.
"We've thrown 4 interceptions for touchdowns this year that might be an NFL record."
A lot of people know the famous tirade by Jim Mora, but many don't seem to mention the quarterback that he is talking about. That quarterback is Peyton Manning.
Yes. The Peyton Manning. One of the best of all time.
So, let's talk about "PLAYOFFS?!" Peyton Manning has only missed one postseason since that season and that was because he missed the entire year to neck surgery.
"I just hope we can win a game."
Win games? Peyton Manning has. 10 straight 10 win seasons including 8(7 straight)seasons of 12+ wins. In fact Peyton has only been under 10 wins twice, his rookie year and the year of "playoffs!?" which was his 4th year.
That's consistent. Consistency leads to greatness. Peyton averages 95.7 quarterback rating for his career and he's had a 95 or higher in 8 of the last 9 seasons!
Peyton Manning gets called the greatest REGULAR season quarterback of all time, as if its a bad thing. Yes, people might wonder why Peyton only has one superbowl victory through all this success. I don't think it has anything to do with him not being good "under pressure." What I love about Peyton is how much work and preparation he puts into every game he plays. Regular or post season, doesn't matter. He wants to win and he puts all his energy into that. He puts so much "pressure" on himself every game that he doesn't feel the difference from regular or post season, its still a game that he wants to win badly.
Sometimes things just happen. The NFL and the playoff system is a very cruel world. It gives you excitement and entertainment, but I feel it doesn't always go to the best team. The ball can bounce in funny ways and that totally changes the game. i.e. how many times does David Tyree make that catch on his helmet. It was a great play and one for the history books, but if that doesn't happen New England wins the superbowl and they finish their perfect 19-0 season. What are the odds the Saints recover the onside kick to start the second half and totally change the momentum of the game? Gutsy, but it paid of for them and not for the Colts. Stuff happens and they just didn't seem to fall Peyton's way a lot of times in the playoffs.
Another example is Tom Brady. He won his Superbowl rings when he was young. However, he has played much better the last 8 years, and hasn't won one, than he did during the years he actually won 3 out of 4 superbowls. Maybe he doesn't have the defense he once had or maybe its just the playoffs and things like David Tyree's catch get in the way.
But that's why we watch. The unpredictable and the incomprehensible, the upsets happen. That's what makes it fun and that's why we watch. But it doesn't take away from Peyton's greatness.
All I know is that if all things are equal: same defense, same special teams, same coach, same offense and I had to choose one quarterback in history to win a game(regular season, postseason, or Superbowl) I am choosing Peyton Manning in a heartbeat.
Roman Numerals
So today I started thinking about Superbowl 50. Superbowl L. I just thought that would look really weird with just one letter there after the superbowl. So that led me to think about other cool superbowl roman numerals. Does anyone know what 90 would be? Superbowl Cross Country! That's right, XC! Looks like with all the safety changes the league will make in the next 43 years, we will have a bunch of cross country runners out there playing for the superbowl. Maybe Bernard Pollard is right and the NFL won't exist in 30 years. Or maybe it will be taken over as a non-contact sport of cross country runners?
Another note, DCLXVI=666. Coincidence? I think not. Maybe thats where the evil number came from. Must do research.
Another note, DCLXVI=666. Coincidence? I think not. Maybe thats where the evil number came from. Must do research.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Sport Idols: THE Ronaldo
I'm sitting on the floor with a sheet wrapped around my shoulders. It's June 30th 2002 and I'm at my grandma's assisted living home in St. Petersburg, FL. I'm awake at 5 am to watch the greatest game in the world on the biggest stage. The World Cup Final in Yokohoma, Japan. The Final matches up the two biggest powers in World Football. Brazil vs. Germany. Going into the Final, the two countries combined for 7 World Cup victories and 12 final appearances in the previous 16 World Cups. However, not only had they never met in a final, they had never played each other in any World Cup game. Until the Final of 2002.
It was the classic matchup. Strength against speed. Organized vs free flowing. Defensive vs offensive. Europe vs South America. And finally Oliver Kahn(leading goalkeeper) vs Ronaldo(leading goal scorer). The stage was set to decide who had ultimate supremacy in the world of football.
I sat there on the floor pretending to have a nation's flag wrapped around me, that was actually just a white sheet. Even though I like both countries, there was no doubt in my mind whose nation's flag I was pretending to have. It was Brazil's. And one of the biggest reasons why was because of Ronaldo. The first professional sports jersey I ever had was Ronaldo's Brazilian #9.
The game in my mind lived up to the hype(even the refereeing was superb).
"He's tied Pele!"
"Redemption for Ronaldo"
Those words from Jack Edwards, as Ronaldo scored his second goal of the game to lead Brazil to a 2-0 victory, will forever be in my head.
It truly was redemption for Ronaldo. Back in the 1998 Final, Brazil lost to France 3-0. The night before that Final Ronaldo had suffered a seizure. He played well below his abilities and looked extremely fatigued during the match. In international football opportunities and chances don't come around much. He had to live with that for 4 years. During those 4 years he had two knee surgeries and people didn't even know if he would be back. Let alone back to his ability level.
Ronaldo went on to score 8 goals in the 7 games he played in the 2002 World Cup. He did tie Pele with that second goal in the final to match his 12 total World Cup goals with Pele's. He went on to score 3 more in the 2006 World Cup to pass Gerd Muller for the all-time leader in World Cup goals at 15.
Ronaldo suffered from injuries throughout his career and weight problems from hypothyroidism towards the end, but somehow he always found a way to be at his best when he put his Brazil jersey on for the World Cup. In my mind, he will always be one of the best finishers in World Cup history.
THE One and Only Ronaldo!
Check out all 15 World Cup goals here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEKyl2yakOE
It was the classic matchup. Strength against speed. Organized vs free flowing. Defensive vs offensive. Europe vs South America. And finally Oliver Kahn(leading goalkeeper) vs Ronaldo(leading goal scorer). The stage was set to decide who had ultimate supremacy in the world of football.
I sat there on the floor pretending to have a nation's flag wrapped around me, that was actually just a white sheet. Even though I like both countries, there was no doubt in my mind whose nation's flag I was pretending to have. It was Brazil's. And one of the biggest reasons why was because of Ronaldo. The first professional sports jersey I ever had was Ronaldo's Brazilian #9.
The game in my mind lived up to the hype(even the refereeing was superb).
"He's tied Pele!"
"Redemption for Ronaldo"
Those words from Jack Edwards, as Ronaldo scored his second goal of the game to lead Brazil to a 2-0 victory, will forever be in my head.
It truly was redemption for Ronaldo. Back in the 1998 Final, Brazil lost to France 3-0. The night before that Final Ronaldo had suffered a seizure. He played well below his abilities and looked extremely fatigued during the match. In international football opportunities and chances don't come around much. He had to live with that for 4 years. During those 4 years he had two knee surgeries and people didn't even know if he would be back. Let alone back to his ability level.
Ronaldo went on to score 8 goals in the 7 games he played in the 2002 World Cup. He did tie Pele with that second goal in the final to match his 12 total World Cup goals with Pele's. He went on to score 3 more in the 2006 World Cup to pass Gerd Muller for the all-time leader in World Cup goals at 15.
Ronaldo suffered from injuries throughout his career and weight problems from hypothyroidism towards the end, but somehow he always found a way to be at his best when he put his Brazil jersey on for the World Cup. In my mind, he will always be one of the best finishers in World Cup history.
THE One and Only Ronaldo!
Check out all 15 World Cup goals here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEKyl2yakOE
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Sport Idols: Mr. Clutch
Basketball is a game that is known for its clutch shot making. Sure there are walk-off homers, and last second FGs, or the final TD throws and catches to win games, maybe even the rare goal in stoppage time, but those situations are a lot rarer and you have to be lucky enough to even have a chance to come through in the clutch. To which Adam Vinatieri is very lucky to be in all the situations he was in, but he was still clutch enough to come through. However, looking at basketball we see last second shots that decide the game every night, regular season or postseason. They are a lot more common. Kids across America are always doing the countdown. 3, they pick up their dribble. 2, give a pump fake. 1, jump up and release. Buzzer. The jubilation comes as they pretend they won the championship. Every kid dreaming of playing in the NBA has dreamt of making that shot.
Every generation has one of those players that you trust more than ever with the game on the line. The ice in his veins. Not going to blink or second guess him. To me, that player is Reggie Miller.
Reggie Miller:
Hard to believe that any NBA player could be overshadowed in athletic achievement by their sister growing up, but Reggie Miller was. Scoring 39 points in a high school game, he came home to find out his sister(Cheryl Miller) scored 105 that same night.
Reggie Miller is a real life Forrest Gump story. He had braces on his legs until he was 4 and doctors said he would never be very athletic. Once the braces came off and his legs got stronger he started playing his older sister all the time. She was always bigger and taller than him growing up and he couldn't drive to the hole without being rejected. So Reggie developed a high arcing shot to get it over her tall frame. This would be a blessing as he practice this shot over and over which helped him become one of the greatest three point shooters of all-time.
Reggie Miller played all of his 18 seasons in the NBA with the Indiana Pacers, something that I greatly admire. Unfortunately, he was never able to win a NBA championship, but that didn't stop him from putting on some great shows and performances. He had a lot of classic matchups with the New York Knicks in the 1990's. No greater moment though when he scored 8 points in 8.9 seconds, making two 3's in about three seconds. After stealing the inbounds pass(from his first 3) down three, he turned and ran to the three point line and turned back to throw it up and tie the game. That was an incredible moment that is hard to duplicate, but Reggie made big three after big three in his career. If you're down one and need to drive to the hoop, Reggie is not your guy. But if you're down two and want the win or down three and need to tie, Reggie is your man!
If I need a three at the end of the game, there is no one I want more than Reggie Miller!
It's Miller Time!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSWE_Wbu80o
Every generation has one of those players that you trust more than ever with the game on the line. The ice in his veins. Not going to blink or second guess him. To me, that player is Reggie Miller.
Reggie Miller:
Hard to believe that any NBA player could be overshadowed in athletic achievement by their sister growing up, but Reggie Miller was. Scoring 39 points in a high school game, he came home to find out his sister(Cheryl Miller) scored 105 that same night.
Reggie Miller is a real life Forrest Gump story. He had braces on his legs until he was 4 and doctors said he would never be very athletic. Once the braces came off and his legs got stronger he started playing his older sister all the time. She was always bigger and taller than him growing up and he couldn't drive to the hole without being rejected. So Reggie developed a high arcing shot to get it over her tall frame. This would be a blessing as he practice this shot over and over which helped him become one of the greatest three point shooters of all-time.
Reggie Miller played all of his 18 seasons in the NBA with the Indiana Pacers, something that I greatly admire. Unfortunately, he was never able to win a NBA championship, but that didn't stop him from putting on some great shows and performances. He had a lot of classic matchups with the New York Knicks in the 1990's. No greater moment though when he scored 8 points in 8.9 seconds, making two 3's in about three seconds. After stealing the inbounds pass(from his first 3) down three, he turned and ran to the three point line and turned back to throw it up and tie the game. That was an incredible moment that is hard to duplicate, but Reggie made big three after big three in his career. If you're down one and need to drive to the hoop, Reggie is not your guy. But if you're down two and want the win or down three and need to tie, Reggie is your man!
If I need a three at the end of the game, there is no one I want more than Reggie Miller!
It's Miller Time!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSWE_Wbu80o
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