West Coast Connection Forum
Lifestyle => Sports & Entertainment => Topic started by: pappy on August 11, 2004, 09:58:32 PM
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what 5 athletes are the biggest waste of talent in sports history. me an javi were havin this discussion i could onoy think of 3 off the top of my head
1. Mike Tyson.... should of went down as the second greatest of all time behind ali.... instead he will be the biggest side show in sports history
2. Darryl Strawberry... came up as the black ted williams. He mad it look easy. Shame he had an attitude problem... an the cocaine bug
3. Dwight Gooden... he jumped from A ball to the majors skippin AA an AAA an still shut down every batter that faced him. His first season he was rookie of the year. His second season he was Cy Young winner. third season they wanted him to add a third pitch an oh yea he caught the cocaine bug.
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Len Bias.
Just days after being drafted number one in the NBA draft, he OD'ed on coke two days later.
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good ones tom.
Bo Jackson - he got injured
Jose Canseco - had a good career, but just too short, and he made some mistakes
Carney Landsford - was a great player, but his career was stopped short due to a snow mobile accident
Shawn Kemp - What the hell happened to him?
Barry Sanders - Why the hell did he retire so early? He could have probably broken many many records. He was way better than Emmit Smith.
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Terrell Davis- He was an awesome running back than got injured.
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KEN GRIFFEY JUNIOR!
and Tarrel Davis, even though i hate him (GREEN BAY PACKER FFAN :D)
i'll think of some tomorrow
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Ed O'Bannon
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Ed O'Bannon
how so. guy played great in college. But wasnt one of those players that could cut it in the NBA. Its not like the nets let him rot on the bench in the season in half he was there. A lot of players are great in the college ranks but dont cut it in the pro's.
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-Mike Tyson:reasos already stated
-Paul Gascoigne: could've been the greatest english soccer player since Bobby Charlton , but alcohol took care of that
I'm tempted to say Cantonna but even though i still think he would've accomplished even more had he been a part of the national squad , he's still one of the greatest of all time
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Ed O'Bannon
how so. guy played great in college. But wasnt one of those players that could cut it in the NBA. Its not like the nets let him rot on the bench in the season in half he was there. A lot of players are great in the college ranks but dont cut it in the pro's.
I guess he's more of a disappointment than he was a waste of talent.
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bo jackson- considered greatest athlete ever...but that hip injury
grant hill
shawn kemp - weight and drug problem
tyson- still for five years he was the greatest fighter ever
....how can someone say barry sander???? he's still the greatest running back ever
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Ricky Williams- Giving up $15 million bucks a season to smoke reefer....
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Yeah I was going to add Ricky Williams and Ken Griffey... Lamar Odom, well it's not too late for him to clean up his act.
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kobe bryant, instead of leaving to go to a good team, he stays with a team thats going to bring him down.
mike tyson
barry sanders
ken griffey jr
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kobe bryant, instead of leaving to go to a good team, he stays with a team thats going to bring him down.
mike tyson
barry sanders
ken griffey jr
how can you say kobe, i may not care for kobe. But how can you come to a conclusion on that without even seein him play without shaq for a season.
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agree with all. acouple more.
- Darius Miles = Wasn't he supposed to be the Next KG?
- Eric Lindros = Was the Next Great Player in the NHL, Concussions fucked him up
- Grant Hill = Dude is still getting paid mad cash for sitting on the bench.
- David Boston
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....how can someone say barry sander???? he's still the greatest running back ever
how so? he had too short of a career to be considered the greatest. plus I don't think he holds any records. nor has he ever won a championship.
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agree with all. acouple more.
- Darius Miles = Wasn't he supposed to be the Next KG?
- Eric Lindros = Was the Next Great Player in the NHL, Concussions fucked him up
- Grant Hill = Dude is still getting paid mad cash for sitting on the bench.
- David Boston
I agree with the first three
but why David Boston?
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Ricky Williams- Giving up $15 million bucks a season to smoke reefer....
8)
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Grant Hill (Even though it ain't his fault)
Rodman (actually a good player)
Strawberry
Shawn Kemp (damn he fucked up, used to be one of the best in the league)
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Bo Jackson - he got injured
Jose Canseco - had a good career, but just too short, and he made some mistakes
As mentioned above. There was a brief time when Jose Canseco was God. I dunno what in the world happened, but man, he fell off like nobody's ever fallen off before.
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kobe bryant, instead of leaving to go to a good team, he stays with a team thats going to bring him down.
LMFAO!...Hating at its finest.
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kobe bryant, instead of leaving to go to a good team, he stays with a team thats going to bring him down.
Oh Soo True
CLIPPERS BITCH!
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im gonna have to say.
eric lindros due to concussions, but most importantly his father carl sucking huge cock at being an agent.
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Damn, theres alot actually...
Griffey-probably the top of the list. For a long time he was really the only reason i watched baseball. Never was a baseball fan, but i was a Griffey fan since his first day in the league.
Jeff George-His attitude and leadership skills just sucked. But his arm was one of the best ever. Even while playing for the Raiders, Broncos coach Mike Shannahan said that of the 10 best passes he'd ever seen...George had thrown 9 of em. Remember, he coached Elway.
Grant Hill/Penny Hardaway-Injuries are a bitch
BTW, not to talk shit. But why would anyone put Kobe or Barry Sanders up here. Kobe's a fag, but i wouldnt call him a waste of talent. He just needs to grow up some is all. Sanders retired early...but he's obviously a FAR better runner them Emmitt Smith was...and probably (IMO) the best runner of all time.
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BTW, not to talk shit. But why would anyone put Kobe or Barry Sanders up here. Kobe's a fag, but i wouldnt call him a waste of talent. He just needs to grow up some is all. Sanders retired early...but he's obviously a FAR better runner them Emmitt Smith was...and probably (IMO) the best runner of all time.
for those that can't read properly:
I put barry sanders up there because he could have been so much more. I agree, and already said, I think he is way better than emmit smith. but barry sanders did not have a long enough career to prove certain things, such as longevity. He doesn't hold any records (that I know of) and he doesn't have a single championship. those are things I think you must have to be considered the best.
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He doesn't hold any records (that I know of) and he doesn't have a single championship. those are things I think you must have to be considered the best.
No u dont.
And i read it just fine. He just isnt a "waste of talent". He's in the Hall of Fame now. And like i said, is considered by many, if not most as the best runner ever. There backs like Payton, Brown, etc that can be argued as better backs...but not better "runners". Sanders is hands down the best. At the very least, 1/3 of all analysts would probably pick him as the best ever...sounds like a waste of talent to me. ::)
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what records does he hold?
and I think he was a great running back. Your right, he wasn't a waste of talent, he was the best thing that ever happened to the lions. I just think his career didn't reach his full potential. Calling him a waste of talent is definately the wrong word usage. What I mean is he had a dissapointing early finish. not dissapointing meaning he had a bad career, dissapointing meaning that I think he could have unarguably been the best running back of all time.
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Ryan Leaf - Formally From The San Diego Chargers
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what records does he hold?
and I think he was a great running back. Your right, he wasn't a waste of talent, he was the best thing that ever happened to the lions. I just think his career didn't reach his full potential. Calling him a waste of talent is definately the wrong word usage. What I mean is he had a dissapointing early finish. not dissapointing meaning he had a bad career, dissapointing meaning that I think he could have unarguably been the best running back of all time.
ok thats cool. Seein as the topic title was the biggest wastes of talent. I thought u were saying that he was. True, i wish he would have stuck around longer to break every record (because he would have). But, records are just that...records. To me, they dont define how great u are. Sometimes, they just define how long u played...or, in Emmitts case, how great those around you are. Especially in football where its SUCH a team game.
Btw, i have another to add to the list...
Tim Brown-Raiders. Now, im the biggest Raider fan youlll ever know, but me and M-Dogg were talkin bout this the other day. Tim Brown has had an unbelievable career. And has definetely been underrated, even tho his stats have spoken for themself. The only reason i put him in this category is because he hasnt had a great quarterback around him his whole career. Gannon is good, and very accurate...but thats about it. His whole career has been with QB's like Todd Marinovich, Jay Shroeder (however u spell it), Jeff George (who was on my earlier list), Hostetler (who wasnt as good as is Superbowl appearence was), etc. Basically the only receiver ahead of Brown in most statitistical categories is Jerry Rice who played a majority of his career with Joe Montana and Steve Young and in a passing offense. The Raiders always had a back and forth kinda thing. They like the power running game, and the deep ball (until recently). None of those really play to Brown (or Jerry really). Imagine Tim Browns numbers had he played his whole career with 2 hall of famers throwin him the ball. Now, dont get me wrong...this is like the Barry Sanders thing lol. Im not saying he was a waste...im just saying, imagine what he could have been.
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I don't know if your the biggest Raiders fan ever. I almost hit my dean in college, who is a 6'5" 260 lbs. big black man former Green Bay Packer because he was rooting for Tampa Bay in the Super Bowl (his a Florida boy). I would have got kicked outta college and beat up, but for the Raiders it's worth it... lol.
Tim Brown is only surpased by Jerry Rice in most every stat, receiving yards, catches, everything. Now Brown has had different systems around him, were as Rice always had a system that coaches took full advantage of his skills. Not saying Brown is better than Rice, because without a doubt, Rice is the greatest receiver ever, but Brown has been underrated as a great receiver. His the second best receiver of his era, if not of all time. But no one really gives him his due.
Barry Sanders was close to breaking Payton's rushing record, and if he decided to play longer, he would. The Detroit Lions were not, or are not, ever going to win the Super Bowl. But at least with Barry Sanders on their team they made the playoffs. Barry Sanders ran the Silver Dome turf like no other player in NFL history. He was never a waste, his became a first ballot Hall of Famer, he came close to many records, records he could have broke if he'd play even one more year, and had he ever went to say the 49ers, he'd have a Super Bowl ring, and more than likely a MVP award too. How is he a waste of talent.
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Barry Sanders was close to breaking Payton's rushing record, and if he decided to play longer, he would. The Detroit Lions were not, or are not, ever going to win the Super Bowl. But at least with Barry Sanders on their team they made the playoffs. Barry Sanders ran the Silver Dome turf like no other player in NFL history. He was never a waste, his became a first ballot Hall of Famer, he came close to many records, records he could have broke if he'd play even one more year, and had he ever went to say the 49ers, he'd have a Super Bowl ring, and more than likely a MVP award too. How is he a waste of talent.
try reading other posts and you will find reasons. He never used his full potential of talent, and I already explained why. I could go the same way with many of the players named on here. Mike Tyson had a great career before he went to prison, better than most every boxer ever, so how is that a waste of talent? Darryl strawberry and Dwight gooden had some great years in their career, so did bo jackson, jose canseco, Griffey, shawn kemp, and more listed on here. the point is, they never reached their full potential. Just like Barry Sanders. C'mon, how the hell you gonna say barry sanders reached his full potential? He only played 10 years, and like I said, he never won a championship.
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Barry Sanders was close to breaking Payton's rushing record, and if he decided to play longer, he would. The Detroit Lions were not, or are not, ever going to win the Super Bowl. But at least with Barry Sanders on their team they made the playoffs. Barry Sanders ran the Silver Dome turf like no other player in NFL history. He was never a waste, his became a first ballot Hall of Famer, he came close to many records, records he could have broke if he'd play even one more year, and had he ever went to say the 49ers, he'd have a Super Bowl ring, and more than likely a MVP award too. How is he a waste of talent.
try reading other posts and you will find reasons. He never used his full potential of talent, and I already explained why. I could go the same way with many of the players named on here. Mike Tyson had a great career before he went to prison, better than most every boxer ever, so how is that a waste of talent? Darryl strawberry and Dwight gooden had some great years in their career, so did bo jackson, jose canseco, Griffey, shawn kemp, and more listed on here. the point is, they never reached their full potential. Just like Barry Sanders. C'mon, how the hell you gonna say barry sanders reached his full potential? He only played 10 years, and like I said, he never won a championship.
i think he reached his full potential as a player, just not statistically. Yeah he retired after 10 seasons, but do u think he was going to be BETTER at the end of his career, then at the middle of it? You dont have to break all the records to be the best. Emmitt has a ton of records, but still no one would consider him better then Payton. Put it like this, id rather be a great runner...play 6 yrs, and run for 10,000 yards...then a runner that plays for 12 yrs...and runs for 15,000.
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Grant Hill, Griffey Jr.
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Barry Sanders was close to breaking Payton's rushing record, and if he decided to play longer, he would. The Detroit Lions were not, or are not, ever going to win the Super Bowl. But at least with Barry Sanders on their team they made the playoffs. Barry Sanders ran the Silver Dome turf like no other player in NFL history. He was never a waste, his became a first ballot Hall of Famer, he came close to many records, records he could have broke if he'd play even one more year, and had he ever went to say the 49ers, he'd have a Super Bowl ring, and more than likely a MVP award too. How is he a waste of talent.
try reading other posts and you will find reasons. He never used his full potential of talent, and I already explained why. I could go the same way with many of the players named on here. Mike Tyson had a great career before he went to prison, better than most every boxer ever, so how is that a waste of talent? Darryl strawberry and Dwight gooden had some great years in their career, so did bo jackson, jose canseco, Griffey, shawn kemp, and more listed on here. the point is, they never reached their full potential. Just like Barry Sanders. C'mon, how the hell you gonna say barry sanders reached his full potential? He only played 10 years, and like I said, he never won a championship.
i think he reached his full potential as a player, just not statistically. Yeah he retired after 10 seasons, but do u think he was going to be BETTER at the end of his career, then at the middle of it? You dont have to break all the records to be the best. Emmitt has a ton of records, but still no one would consider him better then Payton. Put it like this, id rather be a great runner...play 6 yrs, and run for 10,000 yards...then a runner that plays for 12 yrs...and runs for 15,000.
10 years is not a very long career at all. the greatest athletes are the ones who play for long careers, and still are able to compete at the end of their careers. Like I said, how you not gonna put barry sanders in this category, but you will put alll these other guys. What about Mike Tyson? According to your logic, how did he not reach his full potential before he went to prison? He was like 30 and 1. Griffey had a great part of his career on the Mariners, almost 10 years. Canseco had a great early part of his career, and he even has a ring.
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Barry Sanders was close to breaking Payton's rushing record, and if he decided to play longer, he would. The Detroit Lions were not, or are not, ever going to win the Super Bowl. But at least with Barry Sanders on their team they made the playoffs. Barry Sanders ran the Silver Dome turf like no other player in NFL history. He was never a waste, his became a first ballot Hall of Famer, he came close to many records, records he could have broke if he'd play even one more year, and had he ever went to say the 49ers, he'd have a Super Bowl ring, and more than likely a MVP award too. How is he a waste of talent.
try reading other posts and you will find reasons. He never used his full potential of talent, and I already explained why. I could go the same way with many of the players named on here. Mike Tyson had a great career before he went to prison, better than most every boxer ever, so how is that a waste of talent? Darryl strawberry and Dwight gooden had some great years in their career, so did bo jackson, jose canseco, Griffey, shawn kemp, and more listed on here. the point is, they never reached their full potential. Just like Barry Sanders. C'mon, how the hell you gonna say barry sanders reached his full potential? He only played 10 years, and like I said, he never won a championship.
How much more can you ask for than first ballot Hall of Fame from Barry Sanders. Sanders took a shitty team, with only himself, and made them into yearly playoff contenders. There was no way in hell he'd win a Super Bowl unless he ever got traded to the 49ers, or the Green Bay Packers, or some other team back then that wanted to win using more than Barry. The average NFL career last only 2 or 3 years, that man was in the NFL for 10. He retired at the top of his game, and just short of Walter Payton's record, a record everyone knows he can beat. But if the Lions were not going to use him to the best of his ablities, then why continue if your not going to win the title?
Tyson isn't a waste, because he won the world title, and dominated the heavyweight division for 5 years before going to jail. 5 years to dominated the heavyweight division is actually really impressive. He went to jail, cameback and dominated another 3, so 8 years of Tyson dominance. Ali dominated 4 years before getting stripped of the title, then cameback to dominate another 4 years, for 8 years also, Joe Louis dominated for I think 12 years, Rocky Marciano didn't dominate long. Tyson had a career that even legendary boxers would kill for.
What y ou expect from these player is greedy, because we want our favorites to do all the things that no one else can. I use to love it when Nick Van Exle would shot for threes as a Laker, hoping one day he'd break some records, or Garrett Anderson on the Angels would break the game hitting streak. Stats are a very hard way to judge players, Eric Dickerson holds the single season rushing record, and there are many running backs that are/were better than him. Because they never broke his record, does that mean they never reached their full potential. Everyone named, most I don't consider a waste. A waste to me is someone like a Len Bias, someone that never had a chance to make it, someone who we never got to see play. Bo Jackson too I'd call a waste because injury prevented a great career to end before it got a chance to take off. I wouldn't call Ken Griffey Jr. a waste because in Seattle, he chased records, and he has over 500 home runs. How is that a waste. He had a team with A-Rod and The Big Unit, and they still never won a World Series, infact in 1994 when the strike ended the season, the Mariners were under .500 with that great lineup. He had the stats though. What more can you ask of Griffey, he could win, but he had stats. Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden won, they had great careers. Liek Tyson, they made some bad choices, but didn't waste their talent. There will always be 1986, and they are on ESPN Classics, they are still talked about, what more can you ask. Through out history, sports follows the same pattern. If that's the case, Muhammad Ali (banned from boxing), Joe Di Maggio(injury), Michael Jordan(2 years in Minor League Baseball), Magic Johnson (orginally retired at the age of 31 because of HIV), Sandy Koufax (early retirement like Barry Sanders) are all waste of talent. Unless you had a Len Bias type of deal, then there is no real waste of talent.
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dude you don't understand. I'm not calling these players bad. I'm saying they had unexpected surprising endings or shortcommings of their career. and I would never call a player the best without a championship. playoffs don't mean shit, only thing that matters is winning it all.
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Barry Sanders was close to breaking Payton's rushing record, and if he decided to play longer, he would. The Detroit Lions were not, or are not, ever going to win the Super Bowl. But at least with Barry Sanders on their team they made the playoffs. Barry Sanders ran the Silver Dome turf like no other player in NFL history. He was never a waste, his became a first ballot Hall of Famer, he came close to many records, records he could have broke if he'd play even one more year, and had he ever went to say the 49ers, he'd have a Super Bowl ring, and more than likely a MVP award too. How is he a waste of talent.
try reading other posts and you will find reasons. He never used his full potential of talent, and I already explained why. I could go the same way with many of the players named on here. Mike Tyson had a great career before he went to prison, better than most every boxer ever, so how is that a waste of talent? Darryl strawberry and Dwight gooden had some great years in their career, so did bo jackson, jose canseco, Griffey, shawn kemp, and more listed on here. the point is, they never reached their full potential. Just like Barry Sanders. C'mon, how the hell you gonna say barry sanders reached his full potential? He only played 10 years, and like I said, he never won a championship.
i think he reached his full potential as a player, just not statistically. Yeah he retired after 10 seasons, but do u think he was going to be BETTER at the end of his career, then at the middle of it? You dont have to break all the records to be the best. Emmitt has a ton of records, but still no one would consider him better then Payton. Put it like this, id rather be a great runner...play 6 yrs, and run for 10,000 yards...then a runner that plays for 12 yrs...and runs for 15,000.
10 years is not a very long career at all. the greatest athletes are the ones who play for long careers, and still are able to compete at the end of their careers. Like I said, how you not gonna put barry sanders in this category, but you will put alll these other guys. What about Mike Tyson? According to your logic, how did he not reach his full potential before he went to prison? He was like 30 and 1. Griffey had a great part of his career on the Mariners, almost 10 years. Canseco had a great early part of his career, and he even has a ring.
U have a point with Griffey, cus i put him on my list. The others u mentioned, i didnt. Tyson i think already saw his prime before prison...and i dont believe was going to get any better. Canseco shouldnt even be mentioned lol. Griffey to me tho, could have still been on the rise. Even from as great as he was...he could have gotten better. Look at Bonds and McGwire. He could have lost some speed towards the end of his career...but his swing would have stayed the same. He probably would have even gained power towards the end if anything. So he was still on the rise when all his injuries took place. I didnt think Barry Sanders was "on the rise" like Griffey. Barry's production would have started slipping. Like i said, he's my favorite runner...and probably favorite player of all time. But the type of back he was, he would have slowed down. Think about it. he wasnt a strait ahead, power type of back. he relied solely on quickness and athletism, which will slowly start to disappear the longer u play. Barry wasnt gonna run over people. If his quickness starts to fade...then what? Youre right, he could have broken every record out there...but i dont think that would have made hime a better back. Just one that played longer. A back with 10 amazing years...2 good years...and 2-3 average ones.
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and I would never call a player the best without a championship. playoffs don't mean shit, only thing that matters is winning it all.
naw thats bullshit tho man. How can a player control who lines up with him? Put Barry Sanders behind Emmitt's O'line for his whole career...and see how many yards he racks up lol. Barry was getting hit in the backfield time and time again while Emitt would gain 4 yards before getting touched. Emmitt had Aikman, Irvin, Sanders....and all kinds of talent surrounding him to win championships. So i dont see him as better then Sanders. Payton played for a championship team that had one of, if not the best defense of all time. Easy to rack up the yards as a runner...when the other teams offense never has the lead. So i dont see how "winning it all" makes u greater then anyone who hasnt. In that case....i take Steve Kerr over John Stockton anyday...he's got like 5 more rings then him.
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Barry van Galen
He could have played 50 times for the national team.
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van basten; his ankles, man, that sucked.
Ayrton senna
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btw what the fuck happend to Winston Bogarde?? does he even play soccer now? last time i've seen him he played for chelsea
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yeah, he still has a contract with chelsea but i believe he doesn't even do anything anymore for that club at all
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"van basten; his ankles, man, that sucked."
I think Van Basten is the same as Cantonna , they did A LOT but they could've done so much more ...
oh and does anyone remember Anelka?
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agree with all. acouple more.
- Darius Miles = Wasn't he supposed to be the Next KG?
- Eric Lindros = Was the Next Great Player in the NHL, Concussions fucked him up
- Grant Hill = Dude is still getting paid mad cash for sitting on the bench.
- David Boston
o man fuck this i just saw dis
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dude you don't understand. I'm not calling these players bad. I'm saying they had unexpected surprising endings or shortcommings of their career. and I would never call a player the best without a championship. playoffs don't mean shit, only thing that matters is winning it all.
As I said, in that case, Sandy, Magic and all the rest of them I named were waste.
As for winning it all, which starting NBA 5 would you want
John Stockton
Dominik Wilkins
Charles Barkley
Karl Malone
Patrick Ewing
or
Derek Fisher
Veron Maxell
Tayshaun Prince
A.C. Green
Luc Longley
It's all up to you. Who would you rather lead your team, in football, Trent Green or Dan Marino. Champions are hard to win for a player for a reason, they need good teams. Without Scottie Pippen, Michael Jordan is Dominik Wilkins, or Clyde Drexler before he went to Houston. Wilt Champerland only had one title for a reason, his teams were not as good as the teams of Bill Russell's Boston Celtics. Champerland was the best player of his day, but his teams couldn't match the Celtics. Marino's Dolphin's could never be better than Montana's 49ers, or even Trent Green's Baltimore Ravens. Barry Bonds is the best player of his era, and has no World Series ring to show. Hell, his team lost to the Angels in the World Series, a team that used small ball, and not a single superstar. So I guess you'd draft Adam Kennedy before you'd draft Barry Bonds to your team. Teams win, not players. Remember that.
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^^yea but a player WILL NEVER be considered the greatest if he didn't win a championship.
If micheal Jordan did what he did without winning a championship, he would'nt be considered the GOAT..just like Wayne gretzky..like Maradonna (or Pele, whoever you prefer)
All, the GOAT's have won a championship...anyone understand what im trying to say? lol
It's true sometimes that"teams win, not players"...but GOAT's make their team win.