I am a big fan of sports, namely baseball, basketball, and football. I have watched countless hours of each. I am only 31 and I've only been watching sports since around the turn of the millennium, so these athletes will had to have played then or later. I got inspired to do this post by the recent and sudden passing of one of them, as you'll see later down this list. I make many reference to a GOAT, which isn't a farm animal, but the Greatest Of All Time in their respective sport. So I discuss the possibility of these players being the GOAT in their respective sports league. I did my best to include a variety of players, not just between my three favorite sports, but in regards to positions, offense and defense, hitting and pitching.
First though, I have to include some honorable mentions:
MLB: Randy Johnson, Roy Halladay, Albert Pujols
NBA: Dirk Nowitzki, Shaquille O'Neal, Kevin Garnett, Steve Nash
NFL: Tony Gonzalez, Ed Reed, Adrian Peterson, Brian Urlacher
10. Pedro Martinez, Starting Pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers, Montreal Expos, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies
Boy this was a tough one. I wanted to include a pitcher on this list, and there are so many good ones. I went with Pedro, just because of how dominant he was for a stretch. He had an ERA under 2.50 for FIVE straight years. That's hard to do in one year. That stretches out to seven years if you include an ERA under 3.00. He was the most dominant pitcher around the turn of the millennium, which is why I included him. When I first got into baseball, he was the best there was.
9. Ray Lewis, Linebacker, Baltimore Ravens
Ray was an incredible force at the linebacker position. He helped anchor one of the greatest defenses of all time in the 2000 Ravens. He also got the Ravens back to the big game in 2012 in his final season and won another Super Bowl. He was just the most ferocious and tenacious linebacker, maybe even defensive player, I ever watched. The Ravens almost always had a top ten defense while he was with them. He also made the cover of Madden, not easy to do for a defensive player.
8. Mike Trout, Outfielder, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
He's barely into his career and he's already on this list? Yup. He has got off to such an insane start to his career, that if he were to double it or better, he would have the greatest hitting stat line in the history of baseball. I've been able to see him excel at the game of baseball in all its facets, because he plays in the same division as my Seattle Mariners. He's the epitome of the five tool player; it's like he was designed in a lab to be the best all-around baseball player ever seen. His only downfall is his inability to do well in the playoffs, both with his team and individually. He'll need a World Series ring to really enter the discussion as being one of the GOATs.
7. Tim Duncan, Forward, San Antonio Spurs
Timmay! Tim Duncan defined class and gracefulness for a big man in his time in the NBA. He won five NBA championships, the first and last separated by fifteen years. His pull up shot was pretty as a picture, and his defense was always top-notch. The San Antonio Spurs franchise would be nowhere without him. I'd argue he was the best mid-range shooter among big men (6'10" or taller) in NBA history.
6. Drew Brees, Quarterback, New Orleans Saints
I think Drew is the most underrated quarterback maybe ever. When people talk about the greatest quarterback of all time, they mention Brady, Manning, Montana, but hardly ever Brees. Drew is going to end up holding most of the all-time passing records when his career is over. Therefore, I had to include him on this list. He was the first quarterback to really prove you don't have to be around 6'4" to be an all-time great quarterback. He's had some great Saints teams recently, but unfortunately for them, each of the last three seasons has ended in heartbreak.
5. Derek Jeter, Shortstop, New York Yankees
He just got elected to the Hall of Fame, falling one vote shy of a unanimous decision. He's one of the greatest all-around shortstops of all time. He popularized a style of throw to first. He became perhaps the greatest clutch hitter of his time. The moment never seemed too big for one Derek Sanderson Jeter. And he played in an era where his counterparts and rivals changed teams (Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols), but he didn't.
4. LeBron James, Forward, Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Los Angeles Lakers
I think he's the most physically gifted basketball player of all time. No one has had his physicality, quickness, explosiveness, and size all in one package. He definitely could have played football if he had decided to. But I think he chose correctly. Currently, Michael Jordan is the greatest of all time, but if LeBron wins another ring or two, it'll be a fierce debate between the two as to who then is the G.O.A.T.
3. Peyton Manning, Quarterback, Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos
Peyton is one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game. I don't know if there's ever been anyone better at adjustments at the line of scrimmage. And to top it off, he had a great arm. He's not only one of the smartest quarterbacks ever, but he's one of the smartest football players ever. He is probably the one former player I'd most love to talk to about the X's and O's of football.
2. Kobe Bryant, Guard/Forward, Los Angeles Lakers
I am still stunned by his sudden passing. He was younger than Tom Brady, who is still playing. I only saw the tail end of MJ's career, and I lost interest in basketball after the Sonics left, so I only saw a few years of LeBron's career. But I saw most of Kobe's, and he was special. I don't think I've ever seen a prettier or more effective jump shot or fade-away shot. And to win championships with and without Shaq proves that he didn't have to have him to win a championship. To me, he's the GOAT basketball player.
1. Tom Brady, Quarterback, New England Patriots
He's the GOAT. Period. In the age of salary caps and quarterbacks being paid exuberant amounts, Tom has done the impossible and won six Super Bowls. Unless there's a change in the NFL to the salary cap, I don't think this will ever happen again. Tom has not only won, but he's won convincingly at times. He had a period of ten years where he at least made it to the AFC Championship game. That is insane. He is the greatest athlete I have ever had the pleasure of watching.
Those are my Top 10 Athletes I Have Ever Seen. If you didn't notice, I did not include any Seattle athletes, mainly because I am saving them for another list. So look out for that soon.
No comments:
Post a Comment