All right, you know our weekly piece where we ask local players and coaches their sports opinions?
One of the questions – and easily the stumper of the group – is the best player of all time in any sport.
Sports player, not athlete. I’m not talking about two-sport professional Bo Jackson, who broke two track records (triple and high jump), rushed for 1,175 yards, and hit 20 home runs as a high-school senior.
I’m talking about a participant in sport – individual or team – who mastered his or her game with abilities, accomplishments, and legacy to follow.
I know you’ve already thought of someone in your head, but hear me out.
Let’s start with the best in certain sports: Michael Jordan (basketball), Tom Brady (football), Wayne Gretzky (hockey), Babe Ruth (baseball), Michael Phelps (swimming), Tiger Woods (golf), Lionel Messi (soccer), Serena Williams (tennis), Floyd Mayweather (boxing).
We know my stance on Mayweather – that is – if you read my boxing column a few weeks back. Thanks for the angry emails, by the way.
Let’s start with him, actually. One could say Floyd is perfect. The now-retired (other than friendly, money-making exhibitions) boxer was 50-0, got hurt just five times in his career, and mastered the objective of his sport: hit and don’t be hit.
All that skill and money ($1.1 billion in and out of boxing) aside, I think he’s missing the element of story that guys like Brady and Jordan have.
You know what I mean? When I think of Floyd, I can’t pinpoint that legacy-defining moment. Granted, that could be because his defense and straight right take care of opponents rather easily, but still.
Next.
I’m also going to rule out Messi. If you’re the best of the best, you don’t have a rival, or someone the public compares you to. Do I think he’s better than Cristiano Ronaldo? Yes, but many don’t.
Jordan never had one rival because, well, the ’90s weren’t close. And after Brady won the Seattle and Atlanta Super Bowls late in his career, he didn’t have one, either.
Messi’s out.
I’m also going to rule out Serena, Woods, and Phelps. Legends, yes, but I’m looking for someone who can lead others, too. That’s just me, yours can be different.
And Babe, there’s just too many great baseball players to compare you with. My remaining three athletes are definitive number ones in their sport. Your sport is a full count of questions.
So, then there were three: Brady, Jordan, Gretzky.
No, this isn’t bias from the kid who once wore a Bobby Orr sweater in middle school, but Gretzky has a glaring weakness for me: lack of physicality.
I know, it’s not like he needed it, and the other five Oilers would take your head off if you touched him.
Is he the best? Yes. But could he have been even better if he could check and fight? Also, yes.
OK, Brady and Jordan. Give me a week to think about it.
Anyway…
I miss when sports movies were inspirational and uplifting. Do “Rocky IV” and “Miracle on Ice” ring a red, white, and blue bell?
Some athletes who are vocal about their mental health struggles: Demar Derozan (basketball), Simone Biles (gymnastics), Ryan Garcia (boxing). Good on you.
Former MLB No. 1 pick and Detroit Tigers slugger Spencer Torkelson has 29 RBI and six home runs this season at age 23. I had the pleasure of interviewing Spencer twice while reporting for the Cape Cod Baseball League. He’s as classy as he is talented.
Congratulations to Kayla Landry and Katie Amico for being named Peabody girls lacrosse captains. Big things ahead.
I experienced four hours of weather delays covering games this past week. I’m more due for a sunny day than the AL East last-place Red Sox are for a shortstop.
With no more Lynn schools in state tournament contention, that marks three athletic seasons I’ve covered the city. I’d say so far, so good, but it’s been a whole lot better than that.
Four aces in one day at Tedesco Country Club was perhaps the strangest story I’ve ever encountered in my, well, incredibly-long three-year career in journalism. Just about everyone I’ve talked to says it’s rigged.
