Sunday, June 19, 2011

GOAT - Brian

Everyone wants to see the GOAT. Trust me. I watch for the GOAT in every sport I follow. I'm sure you do too. It's what we do as sports fans.

I'm talking, of course, about the greatest of all time.

We all want to say we lived through the prime of the greatest player in their respective sport. That's why everyone was so captivated by Rory McIlroy at the US Open this weekend, even if you don't really follow golf (like myself).

It's why we are so quick to anoint the LeBron James' and the Dwayne Wades of the world as "the next Jordan."

It's why we are so quick to claim that Peyton Manning and Tom Brady are perhaps the greatest QB's of all time, brushing aside Dan Marino, Joe Montana, and John Elway among others.

I don't really remember Jordan's prime, wasn't old enough for Bird and Magic, wasn't born for Wilt and Russell. I wasn't around to watch Jack Nicklaus win 80 majors. I can't claim to remember Elway, Marino, or Montana. I wasn't there for Willie Mays, Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth and the like.

That's why I root so hard for LeBron James. Do I care that he screwed over Cleveland? No. I want to say that I was in my prime during the prime of the GOAT in basketball. How great is it for all of the Jordan fans to say they watched every game of his? To remember "The Flu Game," "The Shrug Game," and "The Shot?"

I have the "48 Special" for LeBron so far. I want more. I want to watch the greatest players of all time. If not LeBron, then the next guy. Maybe Derrick Rose. Maybe Kevin Durant. Either way, I'll be rooting for both.

McIlroy is already being compared to Tiger and Nicklaus. You can bet that I am hoping he passes them both.

I want Pujols to keep putting up these monster numbers.

I want Manning to win a few more rings.

I want to see the GOAT.

2 comments:

  1. Urvery body wanna git tha goat naw meen?

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  2. I don't really want to see the G.O.A.T. at least not in the present day. I like watching people try to take down records but never reach them. It wouldn't be interesting if a new greatest player came along every 10 years.

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