Why can't we as a culture, who are so quick to label things, come up with creative names for sports plays? I bring this up because each year, sporting fanatics witness some heroic feats on the field of play. Yet we can't come to a consensus on a name that will allow these moments to be simply recalled by a short phrase. There were some simple yet lasting nicknames of sporting events (especially in the 1980s) that make you hearken back to the event the instant you say their names:
1. The Miracle on Ice - Al Michaels threw out the line "Do you believe in miracles? YES!!" as the most monumental event in sports history concluded - the fresh-faced amateur U.S. college hockey team defeated the professional Soviet team in the 1980 Winter Olympics. The back and forth contest had many pulse-pounding moments, including the goal that Mark Johnson scored just before the end of the first period on a breakway. This led to the benching of world class goalie, Vladislav Tretiak, for the remainder of the game. But, the coup de grace was a goal by captain Mike Eruzione with exactly ten minutes left to give Team USA a 4-3 lead that stood up. The Soviets played panicked hockey for the remainder of the game, not knowing how to mount a comeback when facing a deficit. American goaltender Jim Craig made 36 saves to preserve the unbelievable victory.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRALJyv86eY
2. The Catch - Joe Montana's backpedaling pass over Ed "Too Tall" Jones to Dwight Clark running across the back of the endzone put an end to the Dallas Cowboys' reign in the NFC and marked the emergence of the 49ers dynasty. Many thought that Montana was trying to throw the ball away and save a 4th down opportunity. But, Clark snagged the ball with his fingertips at the top of his jump to enter NFL lore. The touchdown pass gave the 49ers a 28-27 lead in the NFC Championship game with 51 seconds remaining, one they would not relinquish. That year, the 49ers went on to win the first of four Super Bowls with Joe Montana at the helm. I tried to track down where the roots of the phrase "The Catch" began, but I found nothing more definitive than sports columnists and fans calling it by that name.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-LmPFHgE3k
3. The Drive - John Elway broke the hearts of Cleveland Browns' fans with a 98-yard drive at old Cleveland Municipal Stadium in the 1986 AFC Championship Game. With 5:32 remaining, the Denver Broncos took over on their own 2-yard line. They methodically moved down the field 98 yards over the next five minutes to score the game-tying touchdown. Cleveland forced three third downs on the drive, but each time Denver converted, including a 20-yard completion on 3rd and 18. With 32 seconds, Elway hit Mark Jackson on a low slant pass in the endzone. Rich Karlis kicked the game-winning field goal in overtime to advance to the Super Bowl.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pR_CYdodPwY
4. The Fumble - Earnest Byner had the opportunity to return the favor against the Broncos in the 1987 AFC Championship game. Byner looked as though he would score a game-tying touchdown at Mile High Stadium with a mere 72 seconds remaining in the game to possibly force overtime. He took the handoff from Bernie Kosar at the 8-yard line, but was stripped by Jeremiah Castille at the 2. The Broncos held on, and once again advanced to the Super Bowl. Castille later said that he had to go for the ball because Byner had been running over their defense for the entire game. The Browns still haven't reached the Super Bowl in the modern era.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DPeiUOakis
5. The Shot - In the deciding game of the 1989 first round series between the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers, the Cavs led 100-99 with three seconds remaining thanks to a Craig Ehlo driving score. Everyone knew that Jordan would be the guy to get the ball, so he was double-teamed by Larry Nance and Craig Ehlo. Jordan easily broke free from Nance, but Ehlo stuck with Jordan closely. Brad Sellers inbounded the ball to Jordan, who dribbled inside the top of the key near the foul line and buried a tough off-balance jumper over Ehlo at the buzzer. The devastation was palpable from Ehlo (who slunk to the floor) as well as the home Cavalier crowd at Richfield Coliseum. Meanwhile Jordan jumped, pumped his arms, and celebrated euphorically. Bulls coach Doug Collins took a page from Jim Valvano as he ran around the court in exuberant celebration. Yet another heartbreak for Cleveland fans.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5WUOnTxwPw
6. No Goal - In Game 6 of the 1999 Stanley Cup Finals, the Dallas Stars led 3 games to 2 over the Buffalo Sabres. The future Hall of Fame goaltenders (Ed Belfour of the Stars and Dominik Hasek of the Sabres) were turning aside all scoring chances. They had played nearly the equivalent of two full games when Brett Hull found a loose puck in front of the net, shot, was turned aside by a sprawling Hasek before batting in the rebound over the Sabres goalie. Hull got his skate blade on the puck outside of the crease before taking the initial shot. On the rebound attempt, his skate is clearly in the crease when scoring the Cup-winning goal. The controversy surrounding this goal was caused by the NHL rule stating that a player's skate could not be in the crease if the puck was not. Earlier in the season, the NHL attempted to clarify the ruling by allowing goals when a scorer "establishes possession of the puck prior to entering the crease." This is why NHL officials ruled that this goal should be allowed, and the Stanley Cup was awarded to the Dallas Stars. Buffalo's ardent supporters stated that similar instances were not ruled goals throughout the year, hence the "No Goal" moniker.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VWAtMxXVCs
7. The Music City Miracle - Although it was only a 1999 Wild Card playoff game, this play certainly was miraculous. The Buffalo Bills looked as if they were going to advance to the divisional round when Steve Christie kicked a 41-yard field goal with 16 seconds left to take a 16-15 lead over the Tennessee Titans. As the kickoff went to Lorenzo Neal, the scripted play unfolded to the delight of the home crowd. Neal handed off to tight end, Frank Wycheck, who "faked" running right before launching a 20-yard sideways pass to his left (barely a lateral) to Kevin Dyson, who sprinted 75 yards up the sideline with a perfectly formed wall to allow him to return the kickoff all the way for the game-winning touchdown with three seconds on the clock. The phrase "Music City Miracle" took a day or two to take hold. The Titans play-by-play radio announcer, Mike Keith repeatedly called the play a miracle. The "Music City" part was added within the next day or two...the name stuck.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPhONc6xC48
8. The Flip Play - In the 2001 ALDS, the New York Yankees were facing the underdog Oakland Athletics, who led 2 games to 0. In Game 3, A's outfielder Terrence Long doubled into the right field corner with Jeremy Giambi on first base. Yankees outfielder Shane Spencer retrieved the ball and attempted to throw towards home plate, but he was well off-target for both cut-off man Tino Martinez and catcher Jorge Posada. Derek Jeter saw this, sprinted from his shortstop position, and located the ball that was slowly coming down the first base line. In one fluid motion, Jeter picked up the ball and flipped it to Posada, who was able to apply the tag to Giambi's leg as he lumbered towards home without sliding. The Yankees recorded the out, won the game, and came back to win the series.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VC73LP037o
That was just a handful of plays to give you a flavor of the indellible images that are conjured in your mind when thinking of memorable sporting events. I'm sure that you can think of many others. Having said all of that, I think we need to come together when something historic unfolds so that we can quickly recall the event by a simple name. Here are a few events that should have nicknames, but too much time has passed for that to occur. I have some suggestions, though...see what you think. Maybe we can be a little more creative going forward.
1. Dave Roberts' steal off Mariano Rivera in the 2004 ALCS that started the most improbable comeback in sports history. The Boston Red Sox were down 3 games to 0 in the 2004 ALCS and facing elimination against the best closer of all-time, Mariano Rivera down 4-3 in the ninth inning. Game over, series over, right? Well...after Kevin Millar walked, Dave Roberts was sent in to pinch run by manager, Terry Francona. Rivera knew why Roberts was there, so he threw over to first base three times, the last of which he was nearly picked off. With Rivera's next delivery to home, Roberts bolted for second base and barely beat Jorge Posada's throw on a "bang bang" play. This was the first steal ever off Rivera in postseason play. The pessimistic Fenway crowd had a gleam of hope. Bill Mueller singled in Roberts, the speedster. The Sox went on to win the game and astonishingly, the series. The Red Sox followed up the unprecedented comeback against the Yankees with a four-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals, thus ending the fabled "Curse of the Bambino." I would recommend that this stolen base be named The Curse Breaker for it being the sparkplug that turned the tide for the 2004 team and changed Red Sox history forever.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNnqbf2Vpv0
2. David Tyree's catch against his helmet in the Super Bowl XLII. In the battle of David and Goliath, the New England Patriots were 18-0 and heavily favored against the New York Giants. The Giants held the lead until New England scored with 2:42 to go, taking a 14-10 lead. New York had moved the ball near midfield with a 3rd down and 5 looming with 75 seconds left. The offensive line did their best turnstiles impersonation, allowing three Pats defensive linemen in on Eli Manning. Manning had his jersey grabbed by Richard Seymour, but he squirted free, faded backwards, and launched an ill-advised pass nearly 40 yards downfield. Tyree fell to the ground as he was catching the ball with (notoriously dirty) defender, Rodney Harrison swiping at the ball and Tyree's hands. The only position Tyree could hold the ball without letting it hit the turf was against his helmet with his extended hands. The electricity in the stadium was intense. A few plays later, Manning found Plaxico Burress in the front corner of the endzone and the perfect season for the Pats vanished. I've heard this play referred to as The Helmet Catch...I don't know why this hasn't been widely accepted as the term for this event. What else could you call it? The Helmet Catch would immediately put Tyree's image front and center.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d8067d05e/SB-XLII-Can-t-Miss-Play-Eli-miracle
3. Santonio Holmes' touchdown reception to give the Steelers their sixth Lombardi Trophy at Super Bowl XLIII. The Arizona Cardinals overcame a 20-7 deficit to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 4th quarter with two Kurt Warner to Larry Fitzgerald TD passes and one safety due to a holding call on Steelers center, Justin Hartwig, in the endzone. The Steelers offense faced a 23-20 deficit with 2:37 to go. The drive started with an offensive holding penalty. But, the Pittsburgh passing game awoke, gashing the Cardinals secondary with passes to Holmes and Nate Washington, moving the Steelers down to the 6-yard line. On first down, Ben Roethlisberger floated a pass to the left corner of the endzone that Holmes probably should have caught, as it went through his hands. It appeared that he was focused on getting his feet in bounds, as opposed to first catching the ball. On second down, Roethlisberger arced a throw over three Arizona defenders to the right corner of the endzone. Holmes tapped his toes as he made a much more difficult outstretched reception than the previous attempt to give Pittsburgh the lead. The booth review confirmed the catch. Jeff Reed kicked the extra point to give Pittsburgh a 27-23 lead. This catch was regionally called "Ben to 10," referencing Holmes' jersey number (#10). I think that's a bit too obscure. I know that there have been many catches where a receiver taps his toes inbounds, but never one that occurred on such a big stage. So, I would propose The Toe Tap for this amazing reception. I also considered Tone Taps Toes ('Tone is Santonio's nickname), but I don't think it's as direct and to the point despite the Tic Tac Toe-like alliteration.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOfouSAAkZY
4. Tracy Porter's interception of Peyton Manning to deter Indy's comeback attempt versus New Orleans in Super Bowl XLIV. Indianapolis was the favorite going into the game, more so because of everyone's love affair with Peyton Manning. The Colts and Saints played a very evenly-matched game. Sean Payton, the Saints coach, was audacious enough to call for an onside kick to open the second half. The Saints recovered, scored to take a 13-10 lead, and put Indy on their heels momentarily. Manning answered with a scoring drive of his own to go up 17-13. New Orleans notched another field goal and touchdown (with two-point conversion) to retake the lead 24-17 with nearly six minutes to go. Everyone expected the Colts to come down and score to set up a dazzling finish. Well, the Colts certainly moved the ball. On a third down play in Saints territory, Manning threw toward Reggie Wayne on a short in route, but Tracy Porter jumped the pattern, picked the pass cleanly, and ran it back all the way for a touchdown that left most people dumbfounded. Were the mighty Colts really going to lose? Yes, they were. The Saints scored a 31-17 upset victory over the Colts and the city of New Orleans went bananas. The only turnover in the game was the undoing of Indianapolis. I am recommending that this turning point be called Porter's Pick of Peyton. Yes, it's a little corny (a la Peter Piper), but it's certainly memorable.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBlvjtfpPAg
5. The Canada / USA Gold Medal hockey game in 2010. Team USA entered the 2010 Olympics Ice Hockey tournament as a major underdog to powerhouses Canada, Russia, Finland, and Sweden. With a plodding, role-playing roster bereft of superstars, the Americans entered the gold medal game with a 5-0 record including a shocking victory over Team Canada. Canada staggered through some early round games to make the medal round, but began hitting their stride at the right time. The atmosphere was fanatical. The partisan Vancouver crowd was nervous that a team of lesser talent could possibly beat the Canadians at "their game" on their ice. The contest was probably the best played hockey match I've seen. It looked as though USA goaltender Ryan Miller's stellar performance in the Olympics was going to be wasted as Team USA was losing 2-1 with less than a minute to play in regulation. The American coach, Ron Wilson, pulled the goalie in favor of an extra attacker. Zach Parise managed to sneak a puck past Roberto Luongo with 24.4 seconds remaining in regulation. The Canadian crowd was aghast. The contest was going to overtime where the next goal would win. Both teams had chances, but hockey overtime games end abruptly. Canadian forward Jarome Iginla was being defended along the boards when American defenseman Brian Rafalski snoozed a bit, letting Sidney Crosby move closer to the goal line. Iginla passed to a suddenly open Crosby. His shot from well below the left circle passed between Miller's legs. All of Canada exhaled a sigh of relief and joy, all of America cursed at that very moment. The phenomenal game ended with the prodigy scoring one of the biggest goals in Canadian history to bring home the gold medal. I'd suggest The GOLDen Goal. A "golden goal" is a goal in hockey, soccer, and other sports that immediately ends play when a tie is broken in extra time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSYzTHMwLIc
6. Patrick Kane's OT goal against the Flyers to give the Chicago Blackhawks the 2010 Stanley Cup. The Blackhawks were leading three games to two, and up 3-2 in the 3rd period at Philadelphia. That's when Philly decided to start throwing everything, including the kitchen sink, at them. The Flyers utterly dominated play, but were not breaking through until scrappy forward Scott Hartnell poked a loose puck in front of the net past Chicago netminder, Antti Niemi, with under four minutes left in regulation. It was bedlam inside the Wells Fargo Center. Many expected that the momentum the Flyers carried all period would be enough to force a Game 7. But, Patrick Kane had other ideas. Just over four minutes into the first overtime period, Kane fired a sharply angled shot from near the goal line that scooted underneath Michael Leighton for the Cup-clincher. Initially, many players continued playing as if no goal was scored because the puck quickly escaped from the net. The goal lamp was not lit. Kane knew right away, as did some of his teammates. The American announcers certainly didn't realize that the NHL season had just ended. Leighton had expected a centering pass to one of the Hawks' players and the puck simply went under him. This 4-3 overtime victory gave Chicago its first Stanley Cup since 1961. I think the play should be called Windy City Cup Winner.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yy4UZbtxxkY
7. The Eagles' amazing comeback victory over the Giants last weekend in a regular season matchup between archrivals. We saw the New York Giants blow a 21-point fourth quarter lead to the Philadelphia Eagles. New York had a series of breakdowns that allowed Philadelphia to come back. #1 - Allowing Brent Celek to start the rally with a catch and run for a 67-yard TD is inexcusable. He's a tight end, your secondary is faster than him, and he's not that adept at breaking tackles. This big play left a considerable amount of time on the clock. #2 - The special teams unit was ill-prepared for an onside kick when leading by 14 points with five minutes left is a fireable offense in my opinion. #3 - The punt that didn't go out of bounds with poor lane assignments on the final play of the game allowing DeSean Jackson to go unscathed into the endzone was just the icing on the cake. So, I wouldn't call it a miracle...a collapse of epic proportions is more appropriate, especially if the Giants do not qualify for the playoffs. The best label that stuck was the Miracle at the Meadowlands II. Was it miraculous? Yes, but if the Giants had done one or two things right down the stretch, the comeback would never have happened. So, I think that a more appropriate name for this event would be the Meadowlands Meltdown.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xpEJr8Yjzg
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
Mike Krzyzewski - Best Coach in the Land
Mike Krzyzewski has been at the helm of the Duke men's basketball program for 30 years now. He has experienced the highest of the highs, but rarely has he seen any valleys. In 30 seasons, there have been three sub .500 finishes, two of which were in 1981-82 and 1982-83, while the other one occurred as Coach K was sidelined for the majority of the 1994-95 season due to back surgery (herniated disc). So, in the past 27 years, the Duke hoops team has qualified for the NCAA Field of 64 on every occasion but one! So, winning isn't foreign to Krzyzewski, but it's how he goes about coaching that is most impressive.
Coach K has been the best coach in the country for how he gets the absolute most out of his players. If you look back on the dynasty that has been Duke basketball, you would think that it would be chuck full of NBA superstars. You would be wrong. In my estimation, the best NBA players to play home games at hallowed Cameron Indoor Stadium are Grant Hill, Carlos Boozer, Luol Deng, Shane Battier, and Elton Brand. All of them have experienced moderate successes at the professional level. However, they're not superstars, let alone household names. The list of overachieving college players at Duke is much more extensive: Johnny Dawkins, Tommy Amaker, Danny Ferry, Bobby Hurley, Christian Laettner, Chris Carrawell, Mike Dunleavy, Jr., Chris Duhon, Jason Williams, J.J. Redick, Shelden Williams, and Jon Scheyer. One could argue that Coach K doesn't do enough with these talented individuals to prepare them for the next level (NBA). I would contend that Krzyzewski has more than that singular objective in mind when coaching his team.
One is to find the right 'note' for his team. Duke basketball always has an identity. Some years, it is about feisty, tenacious defense - as it was in the late 1990s when Steve Wojciechowski was the heart and soul of the team, pounding the floor to implore his team to intensify their suffocating man-to-man defense. Other years, it has been about precise offensive execution like last year's National Championship team with the trio of sharpshooter and ball-handler Jon Scheyer, playmaker Nolan Smith, and Kyle Singler with his nearly indefensible inside / outside game. Coach K has always been able to establish his team's identity by finding out what pieces fit together to be successful. One might think that Coach K gets the cream of the crop when it comes to recruiting. It's true that he is no slouch on attracting top recruits to Durham, NC, with his school's excellent track record. But, no matter how successful his recruiting efforts are in a given year, Krzyzewski still must still polish the product that goes onto the court.
But, Mike Krzyzewski's ultimate goal is to ensure that these young men are better equipped to graduate into something more important than the NBA - life. They find themselves ready to go forward with their post-college lives after benefiting from Coach K's West Point background. Krzyzewski's college basketball coach was none other than Bobby Knight at Army. From Knight, he learned how to be demanding, yet nurturing. I can distinctly remember a 1993 second round March Madness matchup where upstart California (led by Jason Kidd) upset the overwhelming favorite (and two-time defending champion) Duke Blue Devils. Coach K was absolutely distraught, shedding tears at the postgame press conference...not because the loss bothered him, but because he was so sorry that his senior kids ended their collegiate careers in this manner. He felt as though he had let down his players because they deserved to have accomplished more. It's impressive to have a teacher, coach, or mentor that "has your back" as much as Coach K does.
Ah...the good old days - Mike Krzyzewski alongside coach Bobby Knight
Krzyzewski has thought enough of some of his past players that they are assistants on his coaching staff today, including Chris Collins and Steve Wojciechowski. Many former players under Coach K have gone on to fine coaching careers themselves like Mike Brey, Jeff Capel, Tommy Amaker, Johnny Dawkins, and Quin Snyder.
Coach K, flanked by assistant Chris Collins and Steve Wojciechowski, giving a subtle reminder to the guys on the floor
Just look at the team and individual accomplishments since Krzyzewski took charge in 1980:
26 NCAA tournament appearances
19 Sweet Sixteen appearances
12 Elite Eight appearances
11 Final Four appearances
8 NCAA Championship appearances
4 NCAA Championship titles
12 ACC Tournament championships
12 ACC Regular Season championships
9 Naismith College Player of the Year honors
9 Defensive Player of the Year honors
9 Duke jersey numbers retired
805 wins
A very familiar sight to Blue Devil fans - Coach K cutting down the nets in postseason play
Other college programs get more skilled athletes, but Duke continues to crank out results. Mike Krzyzewski has amassed 878 wins (including 73 from his five seasons at Army), which puts him only 24 shy of the all-time mark for wins in men's college basketball set by his mentor and lifelong friend, Bobby Knight. Barring a catastrophe, Coach K will surpass Knight by early next season. Duke is off to a 10-0 start in the young season and ranked #1, but Krzyzewski is reluctant to talk about repeating as champs yet. He is more interested in watching the team build and grow as the season progresses. Coach K has seen it all before, knowing that an overachieving team in December could be irrelevant by March. The perennially tough ACC conference schedule will be a bit softer than usual in 2010-11. However, the upcoming battles against archrival North Carolina always bring out emotion like no other contest in college basketball.
Can you imagine how packed the tent village known as Krzyzewskiville will be with college kids waiting to watch Coach K achieve the all-time wins mark?
Krzyzewski has had many lucrative opportunities to coach in the NBA. I think that he has respectfully declined these for a number of reasons. He enjoys working at Duke University. The college team game befits his coaching expertise better than the professional one-on-one game does. His voice in the huddle could be lost in the NBA due to the inflated egos that are rampant in professional sports. Coach K can still mold and shape college-aged young men, while some professional athletes may think that they know everything.
I get goose bumps even looking at this picture that I took of an empty Cameron Indoor Stadium
I've had the good fortune to be able to step onto the hardwood of an empty Cameron Indoor Stadium. You can feel the electricity of the old-style building, even without the Cameron Crazies, without another soul in the arena. This history has been forged by the epic reign of one of college basketball's masters, Coach Mike Krzyzewski. He may have a difficult last name to spell and an odd-sounding voice, but there certainly is no living coaching comparison to him. Only John Wooden could possibly rank superior to him. But, both men did it the same way - teaching...and caring.
Monday, December 13, 2010
San Antonio Spurs: Off to a Fast Start
With all of the other teams making big splashes entering the 2010 season, the San Antonio Spurs have stayed the course and gotten off to a league-best 19-3 record at the quarter-season mark. Of course, the Miami Heat jumped in with both feet by re-signing Dwyane Wade while adding LeBron James and Chris Bosh via free agency. The Los Angeles Lakers aren't exactly sleeping giants. After all, they are the two-time defending champions with its nucleus of Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, and Derek Fisher still in place. The best of the rest include the Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic. Prior to the season, would anyone have had the Spurs in the top 5 of NBA teams, let alone #1? I certainly didn't...but I should have.
Popovich can still teach the Spurs stars, Parker and Ginobili, a few things
San Antonio is led by head coach Gregg Popovich. He has helped guide the Spurs to four titles during his tenure on the bench (1996-present). The team's best player has been Tim Duncan since entering the league in 1997 as the #1 overall selection in the draft. The power forward / center has been an elite all-around player and the absolute epitome of consistency until this year (more than 18 points and 10 rebounds per game from 1997-2009). In the early days, he and David Robinson posed a formidable inside presence - two players that could score, rebound, block shots, and play very unselfishly, which alleviated any potential ego problems. After Robinson retired in 2003, Duncan carried the team as the go-to guy. While Duncan was still an exceptional player, the NBA is a league where you almost need two superstars on your team because defenses can take away one option much more easily than defending two gifted players. Duncan couldn't do it alone.
Maybe the quietest superstar of the past decade, Tim Duncan's play on the court speaks volumes.
Enter Tony Parker. He fits the Spurs perfectly with his knack of driving the lane, creating his own shots while running an offense that still relies on Duncan to get the tough baskets. Parker quickly matured from being a promising young player in his first few seasons (2001-2003) to becoming the catalyst of the Spurs methodical offense. Parker has averaged better than 15 points and 5 assists each year since his sophomore campaign (2002-2003). But, Parker isn't what you would call a superstar. He's more of a building block. Parker, a Frenchman wasn't the only late draft choice where the Spurs found something special from an international player.
Those that expected Tony Parker to stumble this year on the court due to the impending divorce from his wife, Eva Longoria, were incorrect.
Next was Manu Ginobili from Argentina. When Ginobili entered the league (2002), his game was most certainly geared for international play. No one played the game quite like he did. His drive towards the basket was unorthodox yet effective. In the beginning, Popovich commented that Ginobili would do something each game that would leave you scratching your head...sometimes amazing, other times frustrating. Through the years, Ginobili still brings the hard-charging play, yet it is somehow more refined now. His play fits the offensive scheme better, or perhaps the scheme just allows for more creativity on his part. Whatever the case may be, Ginobili is now a more complete player, and has overaken Duncan as the leading scorer for the first time this season.
Typical Ginobili shot: off balance, well-defended, but likely two points
San Antonio has always plugged in role players effectively, and this year is no exception. The years of Bruce Bowen's harassing defense may be gone, as are Robert Horry's and Roger Mason's three-point making abilities. But, Richard Jefferson has gelled nicely on this team as playmaker and willing shot-taker. DeJuan Blair is extending Duncan's career by providing strong minutes as an interior player, taking more of the low post body blows against bigger opponents. This has allowed Duncan a bit more rest than in years past. George Hill is a sparkplug at the backup point guard position, averaging double digit points and keeping the team moving when Parker takes a breather.
It's rare that a coach can fit players into his system and make it work, but Popovich does it extraordinarily well (Jerry Sloan in Utah and Phil Jackson in L.A. also come to mind). Night in and night out, the Spurs do what it takes to win games. That explains their stellar 19-3 record. I think that they will maintain a high winning percentage throughout the season and finish with 60-63 wins, perhaps gaining the #1 or #2 seed in the West. Their approach to the game is one of fundamentals - teamwork, rebounding, solid defense, and timely scoring.
There may no longer be a superstar on this team, but it's refreshing to watch a team not fully rely on a one-on-one strategy to win games as nearly every other franchise does. However, that's the cunundrum - the NBA is so geared towards superstars that I don't foresee the Spurs having the ultimate team success this year. The NBA Championship will likely go to a team with a superstar that can take over a game - Kobe or LeBron come to mind.
It's rare that a coach can fit players into his system and make it work, but Popovich does it extraordinarily well (Jerry Sloan in Utah and Phil Jackson in L.A. also come to mind). Night in and night out, the Spurs do what it takes to win games. That explains their stellar 19-3 record. I think that they will maintain a high winning percentage throughout the season and finish with 60-63 wins, perhaps gaining the #1 or #2 seed in the West. Their approach to the game is one of fundamentals - teamwork, rebounding, solid defense, and timely scoring.
There may no longer be a superstar on this team, but it's refreshing to watch a team not fully rely on a one-on-one strategy to win games as nearly every other franchise does. However, that's the cunundrum - the NBA is so geared towards superstars that I don't foresee the Spurs having the ultimate team success this year. The NBA Championship will likely go to a team with a superstar that can take over a game - Kobe or LeBron come to mind.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Top 25 Impact Athletes of the Last 25 Years (part 2)
Here are the top 10 impact athletes of the past quarter-century. This is a continuation of last week's entry. Enjoy...and feel free to debate!
10. Alexander Ovechkin (2005 – present), Washington Capitals – Ovechkin has brought something to the rink that was lacking for at least a decade - a bonafide, aggressive scoring machine. He has scored 45+ goals in each of the first five seasons in the NHL. When Ovie gets the puck, the opponents are almost always in retreat mode. He creates space each time his skates touch the ice for himself and teammates with his speed, attitude, and physicality. Ovechkin's style of play is by no means a precise one. He uses his severely curved stick to rip blazing shots at goaltenders from any and all angles. Ovie hasn't met a shot that he didn't like. He's not the two-way player that Sidney Crosby is. But, he dominates play nearly every time he comes over the boards. It is a rare occasion that a defender is able to take Ovechkin out of "his game." Unlike many other scoring forwards, Ovie is willing to throw his weight around. This has led to a number of questionable hits. He hasn't experienced the ultimate team success yet in the playoffs. His Capitals team is perennially in the running for the Presidents Trophy. They haven't been able to put together a true team effort in the postseason to win the Cup, but they will always be a threat. If the Caps goalies can shine in May and June, look for Ovie to be a Cup champion sooner rather than later. The way that he can take over a game is unparalleled.
9. Roger Federer (1998 – present), Men’s Tennis – Federer has carried the torch of men's tennis after the departure of such iconic figures as Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi. There has never been a more complete player ever to hit the tennis courts. His baseline play is superb, including a devastating forehand and a unique one-handed backhand. Federer's serve is not specifically designed to regularly deliver aces, but it is challenging for opponents to get a jump on it due to the very mechanical consistency of his toss. Although Roger does not approach the net often during his matches, his volley is among the game's best. His record supports the assessment as an all-time great - an astounding 16 career Grand Slam singles titles (six Wimbledon, five US Open, four Australian Open, and one French Open title), and he's only 29 years old. He held the #1 ranking for a record 237 consecutive weeks from 2004-2008. Federer certainly has a few great years left before he will no longer be able to maintain his era of excellence. It took Roger a few years on the pro tour to develop his overall game before he was an elite player. He became a professional in 1998, but didn't win his first major until defeating Mark Philippousis at Wimbledon in 2003. Over the past eight years, Federer has averaged two Grand Slams (out of four) each year. His championship run has occurred while having a share of worthy adversaries trying to dethrone him. Currently, Federer is entrenched in a great rivalry with Rafael Nadal. The two have had some epic matches in their careers, none greater than the 2008 Wimbledon Final, which Nadal won at dusk after nearly five hours. That match ended Roger's run of five consecutive Wimbledon championships. Federer has increased the level of the overall game by challenging his opponents to match him. Nadal is next in line and may someday overtake Federer as the game's best, but it’s still Roger’s crown.
8. LeBron James (2003 – present), Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat – King James is currently the world's most dominating basketball player. He was the coveted prize of the 2003 NBA Draft Lottery, one that happened to present his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers the opportunitiy to draft him with the #1 overall selection. James was a man amongst boys in high school. Every player who was drafted directly from high school before James experienced some growing pains before "making it" as a pro, even Kobe Bryant or Kevin Garnett. LeBron was the exception. He immediately sparked a downtrodden Cavaliers franchise into one of the most rabid fanbases in all of sports. Everyone wanted to see what the kid could do. What he could do was simply spectacular. As a physical specimen, James is part acrobat, but primarily a freight train. When LeBron James gets a head of steam driving to the basket, he is unstoppable. He has made the NBA even more of a one-on-one game with his attacking style, leaving officials no other option but to call a slew of fouls. While LeBron has become a significantly better perimeter shooter than early in his career, he is still more skilled at taking defenders off the dribble. He is especially indefensible on the fast break because of his ability to both finish and dish to teammates. I think it is a fair comparison to draw between him and Alexander Ovechkin - both aggressive, strong-willed, offensively oriented players with great regular season success but no postseason victories on the resume. James was supposed to be the next Michael Jordan, but Jordan never abruptly left his team via free agency via a one-hour television special. Jordan won early in his career, LeBron hasn't (yet). Now that James has bolted for South Beach, he has a sidekick or two in Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. The problem is that Wade isn't a sidekick...he's an alpha male just like LeBron. Jordan's sidekicks were Scottie Pippen and (to a lesser extent) Dennis Rodman. They knew their place in the pecking order. As a result of poor team chemistry and coaching, the 2010 Miami Heat have begun the season slowly with a 10-8 record. No one can question James' superb talent. Everyone may question whether he will ever obtain the team accolades he desires...or will the one-on-one NBA game that James furthered ultimately be his undoing. After all, it's difficult to have two superstars vying to be #1.
7. Michael Phelps (2001 – present), United States swimmer – This is the most phenomenal athlete I've ever seen, period. His wingspan is 6'7", which allows his arms to act as paddles while having size 14 feet acting as flippers - a unique body structure for an elite swimmer, let alone an average guy. I personally think he has gills. He has set a whopping 39 world records (29 individual, 10 relay) throughout his swimming career. In one of the more glamorized sports of the Olympics, Michael Phelps holds the distinction of being the most medaled athlete of all-time (14 gold, 2 bronze medals). The previous record was nine medals. All the world's eyes were on Phelps in the 2008 Beijing Olympics as he attempted to surpass Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals in a single Olympics. One of the heart-stopping moments occurred in the 4 x 100 meter freestyle relay as the French team opened a wide lead on the Americans. Phelps began to rein in the French lead with his leg before Jason Lezak swam the anchor to surpass Frenchman Alain Bernard by 0.08 seconds for the most exciting relay in swimming history. Earlier, Bernard said, "The Americans? We're going to smash them. That's what we came here for," Look who's smashed now. The closest call of Phelps' Olympics wasn't even the relay. It came in the 100 meter butterfly when Milorad Čavić of Serbia got off to a half-body length lead that Phelps gradually closed over the past 25 meters. As Čavić glided into the wall with an apparent victory, Phelps employed a (usually ill-advised) quick half-stroke that propelled him to the wall just ahead of Čavić. The underwater photos were analyzed to determine that Phelps won by a mere 0.01 second. The other six gold medals proved "easier" for Phelps, so he was able to achieve his goal of eight golds. What an amazing series of performances in one week in August 2008! He forever changed the sport of swimming and the Olympic Games. Michael Phelps is the bar to which all other Olympian greats will be compared. Oh, and he's not done. Phelps will compete in the 2012 London Olympics before possibly retiring. He could reach 20 gold medals?!
6. Barry Bonds (1986 – 2007), Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants – Bonds entered the league with the Pittsburgh Pirates as a prodigy - son of former baseball great, Bobby Bonds. He quickly established himself as a fantastic all-around "five tool" player - solid hitter for average and power, could steal bases with his great speed, tremendous outfield arm, and fielded his position of left field extremely well. Early in his career, Bonds' outstanding everyday play yielded success for the Pirates, earning three consecutive trips to the postseason and two MVP awards. Free agency came calling in 1992 and Bonds broke the hearts of Pittsburghers by signing with the San Francisco Giants. His two MVPs with the Pirates would pale in comparison to what he achieved in the City by the Bay. His game "transformed" after several successful seasons between 1993-2000 (averaging 40 HR, 106 RBI per season). Bonds became the single season Home Run King in 2001 with 73 home runs. I'll boldly state that this number will never be duplicated as the last three individuals who exceeded 60 HRs in a season are shrouded in performance-enhancing drug controversies (Bonds, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa). Bonds never hit 50 home runs in any other season, but he managed 73 dingers in only 476 at bats. So, the historical numbers are suspicious. Then there's Bonds' evident physical growth. Barry went through such a massive body change that he bulged from 185 pounds at the outset of his career to 228 pounds by the end. His hat size is rumored to have increased by 5/8 of a size and his feet grew 2 1/2 sizes, too - that doesn't normally happen with grown adults, does it? It's also interesting that his stolen bases tapered off drastically with the added weight. Let's get back to baseball - Barry was the most feared hitter for over a decade, by far. He was pitched around more often than any other batter, enduring 688 intentional walks and 2558 career walks (both all-time records). Bonds' longevity allowed him to break Hank Aaron's career homer mark of 755 in 2007 by notching 762 shortly before leaving the game. He officially retired in 2009 after no Major League team was interested in his services. Bonds has repeatedly denied steroid use, so it will be interesting to see what Hall of Fame voters do in 2012 with arguably the greatest player of his generation (and one of the top 3-4 players of all-time). McGwire has been left out in the cold, but will Bonds? The merit of skill is certainly deserving - 14 All-Star selections, 8 Gold Gloves, and 7 MVPs. The debate will soon begin.
5. Peyton Manning (1998 – present), Indianapolis Colts – No other player prepares for football quite like Manning does. His ability to read defenses, process information, set up blocking schemes, and change plays is simply the best...and that's all pre-snap. After he gets the ball from center Jeff Saturday, he uses his eyes to throw off defenses and moves around just enough in the pocket to create the best throwing lane for himself. Then, to top it off, he is physically gifted enough to make passes into very tight spots to receivers who sometimes aren't even open - this can be at the line of scrimmage, 40-50 yards downfield, or anywhere in between. Manning's exhaustive film study allows him to assimilate details of a team's defensive schemes, so he is rarely surprised when on the field - he's seen it all before...on film. Manning is the reason we hear commentators utter words like "cerebral." The NFL has become more of a passing league because people want to see the touchdown passes. After all, that's why defensive backs have been handicapped with how limited their contact on receivers are allowed to be, based on rule changes implemented several years ago. The one knock on his career is his postseason record - he has only enjoyed one Super Bowl victory along with a number of disappointments in trying to represent the AFC. Barring injury, Manning someday will own all of the prominent passing records in the NFL. He has been an elite quarterback since he entered the league, and there's no sign of him slowing down any time soon.
4. Shaquille O'Neal (1992 – present), Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Boston Celtics - There hasn't been a dominant center like Shaq since Wilt Chamberlain. He entered the league as an unrefined yet athletic center. No one could handle him then, and for the better part of his career, he was still impossible to defend. At 7'1" and roughly 325 pounds, O'Neal has been an intimidating force that no single defender could handle. The individual who had the most success guarding O'Neal was Vlade Divac, who Shaq claimed cheated and flopped. But, Divac never really stopped O'Neal, he only slowed him down a little bit. He quickly developed an arsenal of post moves - he could drop step, pivot, take a quick dribble towards the basket, or lower his shoulder to make enough space to release his half hook shot. With O'Neal's game rounding into form, teams began to employ the "Hack a Shaq" strategy. This required the opponent's big men to use their fouls to put O'Neal on the free throw line due to Shaq's ineptitude as a foul shooter (usually hovering around the 50% mark). The most successful days in Shaq's career were spent with the Los Angeles Lakers. He relished the spotlight and won three NBA championships from 2000 - 2002 alongside Kobe Bryant under the guidance of Phil Jackson. After the years of success, everyone's egos seemed to inflate. The court wasn't big enough for both Shaq and Kobe. In 2004, Shaq's dedication to the sport was being questioned, as he showed up overweight and out of shape. So, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak pulled off a blockbuster trade to deal O'Neal to the Miami Heat for Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, Brian Grant, and a first round draft pick. Surprisingly, this trade ended up being beneficial to both teams. O'Neal and Dwyane Wade experienced the immediate success of an NBA Championship in 2006 with the Miami Heat while the Lakers won titles in 2009 and 2010 with Kobe being the primary weapon along with Odom and Pau Gasol being adequate role players. Shaq's skills have diminished since his days in Miami and he has bounced around from team to team, searching for championship success. He is currently the oldest player in the league with the Boston Celtics filling the need of a solid rebounder and post presence. O'Neal has made 15 All-Star teams, won two scoring titles, one MVP award, and is in the top ten for points scored, field goals, and blocks. The mountain of a man will wind up his career among the all-time greats, but his physical presence on the basketball court may never be equaled.
3. Lance Armstrong (1992 – 2005, 2009 – 2011), United States cyclist – Lance Armstrong received status of "legend" when he returned from his battle with testicular cancer and won the Tour de France in 1999...then he finished the next six consecutive Tours wearing the maillot jaune (yellow jersey) as well. What title do you give that - epic, immortal? How about "the best." Armstrong started his career as a highly regarded cyclist in 1992. He won a World Cycling Champion title and his first Tour de France stage victory in 1993. But, he hadn't put it all together for an entire Tour. In 1996, he was forced to bow out of the Tour de France due to illness during the seventh stage. Later that year, he had disappointing finishes in the time trial and road race at the Atlanta Olympics. Two short months after the Olympics, Armstrong was diagnosed with stage three testicular cancer. A tumor had also metastasized to his lungs and brain. The outlook was bleak - his doctor gave Armstrong a 40% chance of survival. Forget cycling, this guy's life could be over. Lance endured two months of chemotherapy, as well as testicular and brain surgery. To the amazement of nearly everyone, the cancer went into remission within a year's time and Armstrong was chomping at bit to get back on the bike. So, he began training in January 1998, placing fourth in the Vuelta a España. A year later, his unbelievable streak of seven Tour de France wins (exceeding the previous record of five, most recently achieved by Spaniard Miguel Indurain) began. Armstrong was lethal in time trials and outstanding on the steep Alpine slopes. He and Jan Ullrich enjoyed a friendly, but competitive rivalry that always ended with Armstrong on top of the podium. In 2005, it appeared that Armstrong was riding off into the sunset when he retired following the Tour. He "took time off" to train for marathons, running both the New York City and Boston events in impressive sub 3-hour times. Lance called it "without a doubt the hardest physical thing I have ever done." But, as many elite athletes do, Lance returned to the sport of cycling in 2009 and 2010. It is obvious that time has caught up with Armstrong as he finished third in 2009 and was forgettable in 2010 Tours. He intends to retire from international racing following next year's Tour Down Under in Australia. Due to Armstrong's recovery from cancer treatment, many riders have cast doubt upon Armstrong's achievements. They wonder how he could be so strong after a bout with a debilitating disease. Former teammeate Floyd Landis claims that Armstrong tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) in 2002, and that there was a cover-up in place between team and race officials. As the doping and PED suspicion swirls, Lance has defended himself by saying that he is "the most tested athlete in the world," pointing to the frequent blood tests that he has taken. Following his cancer remission, Armstrong established the Lance Armstrong Foundation in 1997. To date, the foundation has raised over $325 million for cancer research with proceeds coming from corporate sponsorships, yellow Livestrong bracelets, and footwear. Armstrong has been an inspiration to cancer patients everywhere by what he has achieved on the bike. Off the bike, he continues to give patients hope with the Livestrong foundation today.
2. Mia Hamm (1991 – 2004), United States soccer – In a sport that rarely got national recognition, but is considered the "world's game," Mia Hamm made Americans aware of her sport during her reign as the world's best soccer player. All told, she played 275 games on the United States team, scoring 158 goals. That mark is an international record for any individual player, male or female. She was chosen by Pelé as one of FIFA's 125 best living players - only two women earned that distinction: Hamm and fellow American, Michelle Akers. When she was enrolled at the University of North Carolina, the womens' soccer team won the National Championship each year, only losing once in the 95 matches that she played. She averaged better than one goal per game as a Tar Heel. At age 19, Mia was the youngest member on America's first World Cup winner in 1991. The country, though, still had not embraced soccer. However, in 1999, Mia Hamm had become much more of a household name. The United States hosted the World Cup tournament and provided the host country a thrilling, shootout victory over China before a packed Rose Bowl crowd. This was the highest attendance for a women's sporting event ever. The sport of soccer has exploded at many levels in the U.S., but the predominant faction was youngsters - both girls and boys. In the past decade, kids flocked to the sport because of the success achieved by the United States team, thanks in large part to the efforts of Mia Hamm. She also led the way for Olympic gold medal-winning teams in 1996 and 2004, with a silver in 2000. As the 2004 Olympics closed, Hamm was selected by her fellow American Olympians of being Team USA's Closing Ceremony flagbearer. This may have had something to do with her announcing her retirement from the sport following the Games. So, she had a very appropriate sendoff to her career - carrying the flag at one last event...when, in reality, she carried it for her sport for thirteen years.
1. Tiger Woods (1996 – present), Men’s Golf – I don't know of any other athlete who has singularly created interest in his sport like Tiger Woods has. Woods was groomed to be a golfer since infancy. Most people have seen clips of him as a 2-year old pummeling a golf ball on the Mike Douglas show. Tiger broke 80 on a full 18 holes of golf at age 8. Tiger's father had a vision for him - and that was to become the world's greatest golfer. Well, he has achieved that. Woods has the most complete shot repertoire of anyone that the game has ever seen. He can drive the ball a mile, plus his shot-making inventiveness is second to none. Before Tiger hit the tour, who would think to use a fairway wood with a full swing to produce a flop shot of less than 15 yards from deep rough? None that I can recall. He is streaky when it comes to his short game, but the way he reads greens is exceptional. But, it's the bigger than life persona of Tiger Woods that puts him atop this list. He has changed golf from a middle-aged white man's game to being a sport for everyone - old, young, men, women, any race, you get the picture. The viewership of PGA events has grown exponentially since Woods became a professional. Networks pray that Woods plays in tournaments that they televise because people tune in just to see Tiger. The number of people who hit the links has increased as well due to the "Tiger effect." Heck, even golf movies have made a resurgence in popularity. Nothing can touch "Caddyshack," but "Tin Cup," "Happy Gilmore," and "The Legend of Bagger Vance" were all creatively done, successful movies in the Tiger Woods era. Woods' career has suffered setbacks in the past few years - the ACL tear he suffered at the 2008 US Open (that he won), as well as his scandalous personal life being unveiled to the world after Tiger's one-car crash last November. All of his mistresses then came forward with details of his affairs, effectively ending his marriage...and changing the way he played golf in 2010. Now single, Woods claims to have returned to his core values. Will we see the focus and intimidation that he brought to golf courses as recently as two years ago? Tiger has not yet overtaken Jack Nicklaus as the all-time winningest Major champion (Woods has 14, Nicklaus has 18), but he has half a career to win five more majors. I wouldn't count him out.
Here are the best of the rest that I couldn't pass up at least giving a status of 'honorable mention.' These men and women would round out the Top 100 impact athletes who debuted in the past quarter-century:
1986: Greg Maddux, Andre Agassi, Brett Hull
1987: Rod Woodson, Cris Carter, Randy Johnson, Reggie Miller, Scottie Pippen, Aleksandr Karelin
1988: Pete Sampras, Joe Sakic, Thurman Thomas, Romario
1989: Ken Griffey, Jr., Derrick Thomas, David Robinson
1990: Emmitt Smith, Jaromir Jagr, Shannon Sharpe, Dominik Hasek
1991: Nicklas Lidstrom, Michael Johnson, Bjorn Daehlie
1992: Annika Sorenstam, Teemu Selanne, Oscar De La Hoya, Phil Mickelson
1993: Manny Ramirez, Will Shields, Michael Strahan
1994: Marshall Faulk, Venus Williams, Larry Allen, Jason Kidd, Kevin Mawae
1995: Derek Jeter, Serena Williams, Warren Sapp, Kevin Garnett
1996: Steve Nash, Jonathan Ogden, Terrell Owens, Allen Iverson
1997: Tim Duncan, Marion Jones, Lisa Leslie
1998: Dirk Nowitzki, Roy Halladay, Charles Woodson
2000: Tom Brady
2001: LaDainian Tomlinson, Rafael Nadal, Drew Brees, Michael Vick
2002: Apolo Anton Ohno
2003: Troy Polamalu, Carmelo Anthony, Antonio Gates, Dwyane Wade
2004: Usain Bolt, Dwight Howard, Larry Fitzgerald, Diana Tauarasi
2005: Chris Paul, Aaron Rodgers
2006: Shaun White, Nick Mangold
2007: Adrian Peterson, Darrelle Revis, Calvin Johnson
2008: Steven Stamkos, Chris Johnson, Derrick Rose
2009: Clay Matthews, Jr.
2010: Blake Griffin
10. Alexander Ovechkin (2005 – present), Washington Capitals – Ovechkin has brought something to the rink that was lacking for at least a decade - a bonafide, aggressive scoring machine. He has scored 45+ goals in each of the first five seasons in the NHL. When Ovie gets the puck, the opponents are almost always in retreat mode. He creates space each time his skates touch the ice for himself and teammates with his speed, attitude, and physicality. Ovechkin's style of play is by no means a precise one. He uses his severely curved stick to rip blazing shots at goaltenders from any and all angles. Ovie hasn't met a shot that he didn't like. He's not the two-way player that Sidney Crosby is. But, he dominates play nearly every time he comes over the boards. It is a rare occasion that a defender is able to take Ovechkin out of "his game." Unlike many other scoring forwards, Ovie is willing to throw his weight around. This has led to a number of questionable hits. He hasn't experienced the ultimate team success yet in the playoffs. His Capitals team is perennially in the running for the Presidents Trophy. They haven't been able to put together a true team effort in the postseason to win the Cup, but they will always be a threat. If the Caps goalies can shine in May and June, look for Ovie to be a Cup champion sooner rather than later. The way that he can take over a game is unparalleled.
9. Roger Federer (1998 – present), Men’s Tennis – Federer has carried the torch of men's tennis after the departure of such iconic figures as Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi. There has never been a more complete player ever to hit the tennis courts. His baseline play is superb, including a devastating forehand and a unique one-handed backhand. Federer's serve is not specifically designed to regularly deliver aces, but it is challenging for opponents to get a jump on it due to the very mechanical consistency of his toss. Although Roger does not approach the net often during his matches, his volley is among the game's best. His record supports the assessment as an all-time great - an astounding 16 career Grand Slam singles titles (six Wimbledon, five US Open, four Australian Open, and one French Open title), and he's only 29 years old. He held the #1 ranking for a record 237 consecutive weeks from 2004-2008. Federer certainly has a few great years left before he will no longer be able to maintain his era of excellence. It took Roger a few years on the pro tour to develop his overall game before he was an elite player. He became a professional in 1998, but didn't win his first major until defeating Mark Philippousis at Wimbledon in 2003. Over the past eight years, Federer has averaged two Grand Slams (out of four) each year. His championship run has occurred while having a share of worthy adversaries trying to dethrone him. Currently, Federer is entrenched in a great rivalry with Rafael Nadal. The two have had some epic matches in their careers, none greater than the 2008 Wimbledon Final, which Nadal won at dusk after nearly five hours. That match ended Roger's run of five consecutive Wimbledon championships. Federer has increased the level of the overall game by challenging his opponents to match him. Nadal is next in line and may someday overtake Federer as the game's best, but it’s still Roger’s crown.
Federer delivering a serve
7. Michael Phelps (2001 – present), United States swimmer – This is the most phenomenal athlete I've ever seen, period. His wingspan is 6'7", which allows his arms to act as paddles while having size 14 feet acting as flippers - a unique body structure for an elite swimmer, let alone an average guy. I personally think he has gills. He has set a whopping 39 world records (29 individual, 10 relay) throughout his swimming career. In one of the more glamorized sports of the Olympics, Michael Phelps holds the distinction of being the most medaled athlete of all-time (14 gold, 2 bronze medals). The previous record was nine medals. All the world's eyes were on Phelps in the 2008 Beijing Olympics as he attempted to surpass Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals in a single Olympics. One of the heart-stopping moments occurred in the 4 x 100 meter freestyle relay as the French team opened a wide lead on the Americans. Phelps began to rein in the French lead with his leg before Jason Lezak swam the anchor to surpass Frenchman Alain Bernard by 0.08 seconds for the most exciting relay in swimming history. Earlier, Bernard said, "The Americans? We're going to smash them. That's what we came here for," Look who's smashed now. The closest call of Phelps' Olympics wasn't even the relay. It came in the 100 meter butterfly when Milorad Čavić of Serbia got off to a half-body length lead that Phelps gradually closed over the past 25 meters. As Čavić glided into the wall with an apparent victory, Phelps employed a (usually ill-advised) quick half-stroke that propelled him to the wall just ahead of Čavić. The underwater photos were analyzed to determine that Phelps won by a mere 0.01 second. The other six gold medals proved "easier" for Phelps, so he was able to achieve his goal of eight golds. What an amazing series of performances in one week in August 2008! He forever changed the sport of swimming and the Olympic Games. Michael Phelps is the bar to which all other Olympian greats will be compared. Oh, and he's not done. Phelps will compete in the 2012 London Olympics before possibly retiring. He could reach 20 gold medals?!
Phelps swimming for gold in Beijing (Getty Images)
6. Barry Bonds (1986 – 2007), Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants – Bonds entered the league with the Pittsburgh Pirates as a prodigy - son of former baseball great, Bobby Bonds. He quickly established himself as a fantastic all-around "five tool" player - solid hitter for average and power, could steal bases with his great speed, tremendous outfield arm, and fielded his position of left field extremely well. Early in his career, Bonds' outstanding everyday play yielded success for the Pirates, earning three consecutive trips to the postseason and two MVP awards. Free agency came calling in 1992 and Bonds broke the hearts of Pittsburghers by signing with the San Francisco Giants. His two MVPs with the Pirates would pale in comparison to what he achieved in the City by the Bay. His game "transformed" after several successful seasons between 1993-2000 (averaging 40 HR, 106 RBI per season). Bonds became the single season Home Run King in 2001 with 73 home runs. I'll boldly state that this number will never be duplicated as the last three individuals who exceeded 60 HRs in a season are shrouded in performance-enhancing drug controversies (Bonds, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa). Bonds never hit 50 home runs in any other season, but he managed 73 dingers in only 476 at bats. So, the historical numbers are suspicious. Then there's Bonds' evident physical growth. Barry went through such a massive body change that he bulged from 185 pounds at the outset of his career to 228 pounds by the end. His hat size is rumored to have increased by 5/8 of a size and his feet grew 2 1/2 sizes, too - that doesn't normally happen with grown adults, does it? It's also interesting that his stolen bases tapered off drastically with the added weight. Let's get back to baseball - Barry was the most feared hitter for over a decade, by far. He was pitched around more often than any other batter, enduring 688 intentional walks and 2558 career walks (both all-time records). Bonds' longevity allowed him to break Hank Aaron's career homer mark of 755 in 2007 by notching 762 shortly before leaving the game. He officially retired in 2009 after no Major League team was interested in his services. Bonds has repeatedly denied steroid use, so it will be interesting to see what Hall of Fame voters do in 2012 with arguably the greatest player of his generation (and one of the top 3-4 players of all-time). McGwire has been left out in the cold, but will Bonds? The merit of skill is certainly deserving - 14 All-Star selections, 8 Gold Gloves, and 7 MVPs. The debate will soon begin.
It's really frightening to see the size difference after 20 years of baseball...among other things
5. Peyton Manning (1998 – present), Indianapolis Colts – No other player prepares for football quite like Manning does. His ability to read defenses, process information, set up blocking schemes, and change plays is simply the best...and that's all pre-snap. After he gets the ball from center Jeff Saturday, he uses his eyes to throw off defenses and moves around just enough in the pocket to create the best throwing lane for himself. Then, to top it off, he is physically gifted enough to make passes into very tight spots to receivers who sometimes aren't even open - this can be at the line of scrimmage, 40-50 yards downfield, or anywhere in between. Manning's exhaustive film study allows him to assimilate details of a team's defensive schemes, so he is rarely surprised when on the field - he's seen it all before...on film. Manning is the reason we hear commentators utter words like "cerebral." The NFL has become more of a passing league because people want to see the touchdown passes. After all, that's why defensive backs have been handicapped with how limited their contact on receivers are allowed to be, based on rule changes implemented several years ago. The one knock on his career is his postseason record - he has only enjoyed one Super Bowl victory along with a number of disappointments in trying to represent the AFC. Barring injury, Manning someday will own all of the prominent passing records in the NFL. He has been an elite quarterback since he entered the league, and there's no sign of him slowing down any time soon.
4. Shaquille O'Neal (1992 – present), Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Boston Celtics - There hasn't been a dominant center like Shaq since Wilt Chamberlain. He entered the league as an unrefined yet athletic center. No one could handle him then, and for the better part of his career, he was still impossible to defend. At 7'1" and roughly 325 pounds, O'Neal has been an intimidating force that no single defender could handle. The individual who had the most success guarding O'Neal was Vlade Divac, who Shaq claimed cheated and flopped. But, Divac never really stopped O'Neal, he only slowed him down a little bit. He quickly developed an arsenal of post moves - he could drop step, pivot, take a quick dribble towards the basket, or lower his shoulder to make enough space to release his half hook shot. With O'Neal's game rounding into form, teams began to employ the "Hack a Shaq" strategy. This required the opponent's big men to use their fouls to put O'Neal on the free throw line due to Shaq's ineptitude as a foul shooter (usually hovering around the 50% mark). The most successful days in Shaq's career were spent with the Los Angeles Lakers. He relished the spotlight and won three NBA championships from 2000 - 2002 alongside Kobe Bryant under the guidance of Phil Jackson. After the years of success, everyone's egos seemed to inflate. The court wasn't big enough for both Shaq and Kobe. In 2004, Shaq's dedication to the sport was being questioned, as he showed up overweight and out of shape. So, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak pulled off a blockbuster trade to deal O'Neal to the Miami Heat for Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, Brian Grant, and a first round draft pick. Surprisingly, this trade ended up being beneficial to both teams. O'Neal and Dwyane Wade experienced the immediate success of an NBA Championship in 2006 with the Miami Heat while the Lakers won titles in 2009 and 2010 with Kobe being the primary weapon along with Odom and Pau Gasol being adequate role players. Shaq's skills have diminished since his days in Miami and he has bounced around from team to team, searching for championship success. He is currently the oldest player in the league with the Boston Celtics filling the need of a solid rebounder and post presence. O'Neal has made 15 All-Star teams, won two scoring titles, one MVP award, and is in the top ten for points scored, field goals, and blocks. The mountain of a man will wind up his career among the all-time greats, but his physical presence on the basketball court may never be equaled.
Earl Boykins wonders if the weather really is different for Shaquille O'Neal.
2. Mia Hamm (1991 – 2004), United States soccer – In a sport that rarely got national recognition, but is considered the "world's game," Mia Hamm made Americans aware of her sport during her reign as the world's best soccer player. All told, she played 275 games on the United States team, scoring 158 goals. That mark is an international record for any individual player, male or female. She was chosen by Pelé as one of FIFA's 125 best living players - only two women earned that distinction: Hamm and fellow American, Michelle Akers. When she was enrolled at the University of North Carolina, the womens' soccer team won the National Championship each year, only losing once in the 95 matches that she played. She averaged better than one goal per game as a Tar Heel. At age 19, Mia was the youngest member on America's first World Cup winner in 1991. The country, though, still had not embraced soccer. However, in 1999, Mia Hamm had become much more of a household name. The United States hosted the World Cup tournament and provided the host country a thrilling, shootout victory over China before a packed Rose Bowl crowd. This was the highest attendance for a women's sporting event ever. The sport of soccer has exploded at many levels in the U.S., but the predominant faction was youngsters - both girls and boys. In the past decade, kids flocked to the sport because of the success achieved by the United States team, thanks in large part to the efforts of Mia Hamm. She also led the way for Olympic gold medal-winning teams in 1996 and 2004, with a silver in 2000. As the 2004 Olympics closed, Hamm was selected by her fellow American Olympians of being Team USA's Closing Ceremony flagbearer. This may have had something to do with her announcing her retirement from the sport following the Games. So, she had a very appropriate sendoff to her career - carrying the flag at one last event...when, in reality, she carried it for her sport for thirteen years.
1. Tiger Woods (1996 – present), Men’s Golf – I don't know of any other athlete who has singularly created interest in his sport like Tiger Woods has. Woods was groomed to be a golfer since infancy. Most people have seen clips of him as a 2-year old pummeling a golf ball on the Mike Douglas show. Tiger broke 80 on a full 18 holes of golf at age 8. Tiger's father had a vision for him - and that was to become the world's greatest golfer. Well, he has achieved that. Woods has the most complete shot repertoire of anyone that the game has ever seen. He can drive the ball a mile, plus his shot-making inventiveness is second to none. Before Tiger hit the tour, who would think to use a fairway wood with a full swing to produce a flop shot of less than 15 yards from deep rough? None that I can recall. He is streaky when it comes to his short game, but the way he reads greens is exceptional. But, it's the bigger than life persona of Tiger Woods that puts him atop this list. He has changed golf from a middle-aged white man's game to being a sport for everyone - old, young, men, women, any race, you get the picture. The viewership of PGA events has grown exponentially since Woods became a professional. Networks pray that Woods plays in tournaments that they televise because people tune in just to see Tiger. The number of people who hit the links has increased as well due to the "Tiger effect." Heck, even golf movies have made a resurgence in popularity. Nothing can touch "Caddyshack," but "Tin Cup," "Happy Gilmore," and "The Legend of Bagger Vance" were all creatively done, successful movies in the Tiger Woods era. Woods' career has suffered setbacks in the past few years - the ACL tear he suffered at the 2008 US Open (that he won), as well as his scandalous personal life being unveiled to the world after Tiger's one-car crash last November. All of his mistresses then came forward with details of his affairs, effectively ending his marriage...and changing the way he played golf in 2010. Now single, Woods claims to have returned to his core values. Will we see the focus and intimidation that he brought to golf courses as recently as two years ago? Tiger has not yet overtaken Jack Nicklaus as the all-time winningest Major champion (Woods has 14, Nicklaus has 18), but he has half a career to win five more majors. I wouldn't count him out.
Will the 2008 US Open be Tiger's last Major Championship celebration?
Here are the best of the rest that I couldn't pass up at least giving a status of 'honorable mention.' These men and women would round out the Top 100 impact athletes who debuted in the past quarter-century:
1986: Greg Maddux, Andre Agassi, Brett Hull
1987: Rod Woodson, Cris Carter, Randy Johnson, Reggie Miller, Scottie Pippen, Aleksandr Karelin
1988: Pete Sampras, Joe Sakic, Thurman Thomas, Romario
1989: Ken Griffey, Jr., Derrick Thomas, David Robinson
1990: Emmitt Smith, Jaromir Jagr, Shannon Sharpe, Dominik Hasek
1991: Nicklas Lidstrom, Michael Johnson, Bjorn Daehlie
1992: Annika Sorenstam, Teemu Selanne, Oscar De La Hoya, Phil Mickelson
1993: Manny Ramirez, Will Shields, Michael Strahan
1994: Marshall Faulk, Venus Williams, Larry Allen, Jason Kidd, Kevin Mawae
1995: Derek Jeter, Serena Williams, Warren Sapp, Kevin Garnett
1996: Steve Nash, Jonathan Ogden, Terrell Owens, Allen Iverson
1997: Tim Duncan, Marion Jones, Lisa Leslie
1998: Dirk Nowitzki, Roy Halladay, Charles Woodson
2000: Tom Brady
2001: LaDainian Tomlinson, Rafael Nadal, Drew Brees, Michael Vick
2002: Apolo Anton Ohno
2003: Troy Polamalu, Carmelo Anthony, Antonio Gates, Dwyane Wade
2004: Usain Bolt, Dwight Howard, Larry Fitzgerald, Diana Tauarasi
2005: Chris Paul, Aaron Rodgers
2006: Shaun White, Nick Mangold
2007: Adrian Peterson, Darrelle Revis, Calvin Johnson
2008: Steven Stamkos, Chris Johnson, Derrick Rose
2009: Clay Matthews, Jr.
2010: Blake Griffin
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