who would you consider living legends ?

**The Great One** · 05-23-06, 11:47 AM

None of the above.

What exactly makes them special.

I've read books by John wooden and that guy just has the old school philosophy. I wonder why.

The only reason UCLA dominated everyone back in the "never happened and not real" 70's is because they were the first to really get true size. (Walton, Jabaar, among others)..

Could that happen now? Why not? Because Wooden is a better coach? Come on. The game just wasn't competitive then. it has changed. He just benefitted from coaching when few cared. The game wasn't as big then is it is now.

Ali. Why? Because he's old and hates white people? Acting like he protests something. Come on, it's boxing. Might as well include racist Jim Brown in there too.

Bill Russell. Go to my 1st point. He was one of the first truly tall players to play. I remember one time I was watching a game with a Bill Walton broadcast and he was ripping in Rodman for trying to block a shot saying "Who does he think he is Bill; Russell" LOL As if some guy from that age is even decent compared to an NBA player today.

It's no surprise to mowst of you I feel this way. But, how can you compare these "legends" to guys today. The 12th man on an NBA bench playing the center position today is 15 times better than Russell.

Golf is not a sport. Why put palmer ahead of jack Nicholaua. He's the one people think of first above palmer.

**priceperheadexpert** · 05-23-06, 11:48 AM

ALI
NAMATH
MAYS
JACK AND ARNIE
WOODEN...

after that..????

**Willie Bee** · 05-23-06, 11:53 AM

Nolan Ryan is certainly one in this part of the country. And Ernie Banks is held aloft in Legend status up in Chicago, not to mention other locales.

**QuickLearner** · 05-23-06, 11:55 AM

Originally posted by The Great One

None of the above.

What exactly makes them special.

So...what team did you play for?

**The Great One** · 05-23-06, 11:57 AM

I could possibly get on board with Nolan Ryan, but that about it on all the names listed. The only legends that come to mind right now are Jordan and Marino.

And 15 years from now, there is a realistic chance they will not be considered as great as they are now. As lebron and Peyton will challange then for everything they have.

**The Great One** · 05-23-06, 11:59 AM

Originally posted by QuickLearner

So...what team did you play for?

What the hell are you getting at?

If I had the same talent as I do now and played back in the 60's with those type of guys, you would know me.

I've competed at a decent level up to this point in my life, but nowhere near the lvel of professional athletes, but watch a 1960's football game and one of today. Do you see a difference?

**QuickLearner** · 05-23-06, 12:19 PM

Originally posted by The Great One

What the hell are you getting at?

I figure that if you can denounce names like Ali, Russell, and Wooden, people who revolutionized their sport...well then you must be carrying a hefty pedigree. Was I mistaken?

Originally posted by The Great One

... but watch a 1960's football game and one of today. Do you see a difference?

Sure. Today's athletes are bigger, faster, stronger, and healthier. So what? That wasn't the question. And since you mentioned him. I wouild certainly include Jim Brown in that list of legends.

If your argument was logical then we'd have to conclude that Jefferson, Lincoln, and FD Roosevelt were journeyman presidents.

Don't mind me. Please, carry on this discussion with the others. I'll watch.

**Mudcat** · 05-23-06, 01:15 PM

WAYNE GRETZKY

**Terris** · 05-23-06, 01:30 PM

Jordan Pele Maradona Ali Tyson Gretzky...
most american sports mean shit worldwide, like football or baseball, so noone playing that could ever become a legend haha

**SquareShooter** · 05-23-06, 01:37 PM

I'm surprised noone has yet mentioned
Michael Jordan

Completely disagree that Bill Russell would be a 12th man today. For example, very quick and logical argument, no long debate:
Bill Russell was one who could handle Wilt Chamerlain, and Wilts athletic ability would be unmatched today as it was when he played. There are clips over the internet where you can see Wilt tipping coins from the top of the backboard while entertaining public in halftimes. Kevin Garnett has repeatedly told to press that he has gone through grinds of plyometrics for years to be able just to repeat this Wilt's trick. He hasn't been able to do it just once even at his athletic prime. Wilt did this with ease.... And where you mention Wilt, Bill Russell is right near. They'd be superstars.

**The Great One** · 05-23-06, 01:46 PM

I said Jordan in an earlier post.

And no, a 12th man on an NBA bench is a much better athlete and is more physical than Russell. Hell, weights weren't even invented when he thought he was playing.

Garnet and others just say things like that because they have to and they also like to act gtateful because they act like those people are the ones who came before them and gave then the league and the popularity and all of that garbage you always see.

Everyone big man these days is 7 feet with a huge wingspan. That wasn't the case back then. Thats why some of those guys look better than they really are.

That would be like me getting in a 6th grade basketball league right now and looking at tape 30 years later. You could say I dominated, but then look at the others around.

Sort of the same thing today for high school 7 footers. There are so many and they look good most of the time because in some areas on the country the opposing teams tallest player will be 6'4".

**mad** · 05-23-06, 03:12 PM

Mad.

**SquareShooter** · 05-23-06, 03:20 PM

I feel a long debate starting...
Ok. First shot.

Wilt could tip the coin off the top of the backboard. Noone else can. Garnett can't and never could. Only 2 guys in the league are rumoured to be able to reach close to the top of the backboard - Travis Outlaw and Josh Smith. Tipping the coin off from it requires additional 1-2 inches depending on how close these 2 are. Which of the current centers could do something like Wilt?

**isetcap** · 05-23-06, 10:42 PM

Barry Bonds

**onlooker** · 05-23-06, 10:49 PM

Michael Jordan is the first to come to mind.

He is the only legend I grew up watching so far. Im in the process of watching another, Lebron James. But James has a lot of work to do.

**The Great One** · 05-23-06, 10:54 PM

Originally posted by SquareShooter

I feel a long debate starting...
Ok. First shot.

Wilt could tip the coin off the top of the backboard. Noone else can. Garnett can't and never could. Only 2 guys in the league are rumoured to be able to reach close to the top of the backboard - Travis Outlaw and Josh Smith. Tipping the coin off from it requires additional 1-2 inches depending on how close these 2 are. Which of the current centers could do something like Wilt?

It's not a high jump contest. Although, sometimes when it comes to the draft, these dumbass GM's act like it is.

How would Wilt defend Shaq, Duncan, Garnet, Dirk just to name a few?

Old timers like that don't have a chance. Not to mention, even someone like Rasheed that is 6'11" and could take that scrawny fool out behind the arc. He'd have no chance. By your reasoning, whoever holds the world record in the high jump would be great in the NBA.

**isetcap** · 05-23-06, 10:55 PM

Everytime I see Lebron play I say to myself, "Building the legend..."

Pujols could certainly be nearing legendary status also. He needs to get caught with a hooker or something like that so he can become more controversial.

**onlooker** · 05-23-06, 10:59 PM

Originally posted by isetcap

Pujols could certainly be nearing legendary status also. He needs to get caught with a hooker or something like that so he can become more controversial.

I was going to mention Pujols as well. He is the Legend in the making for baseball. He is to clean at this point and time, that just is not right. Someone will dig up some dirt on him.

**Bullajami** · 05-24-06, 08:53 AM

Henry Aaron
Pete Rose
Tiger Woods (in the making)
David Beckham

**kalmikrazy** · 05-24-06, 09:20 AM

I think it is unfair to say athletes in the 60's or 70's were not real athletes and todays athletes are for real. The old athletes worked with WHATEVER they had to work with. They didnt have the knowledge about working out, nutritional information, certified trainers, disposible income, steroids, etc. To make things fair, todays athletes use WHATEVER edge they have. And they should use every advantage they have as did old school athletes.

**Baphomet** · 05-24-06, 10:28 AM

Pelé
Maradona
Michael Jordan
Kasparov
L. Armstrong

**DamianDunlap** · 05-24-06, 10:48 AM

OJ
Hulk Hogan
Rick Flair
Michael Jordan
Ali
Bonds
Booker T
Shaq
MAgic

**The Great One** · 05-24-06, 11:21 AM

Boker T. Yeah right. The guys done nothing except annot people for years with his ebonics.

OJ should be in prison with magic and ali. Somebody's showing the racist homeboys a little too much love. Oh, and Magic should be dead by now, not 325 pounds.

But, I can't eg tover booker T. Might as well add Stevie ray and his bitch

.

Bret hart would go before him.

**SquareShooter** · 05-24-06, 02:38 PM

Bobby Fisher
Michael Schumacher

**isetcap** · 05-24-06, 02:55 PM

Bill Buckner

**Illusion** · 05-24-06, 05:43 PM

Jordan
Pujols
Barry Sanders

**Terris** · 05-24-06, 05:45 PM

Originally posted by Bullajami

David Beckham

lol

**peznt** · 05-24-06, 06:20 PM

Red Auerbach
Bill Russell

**The Great One** · 05-24-06, 06:25 PM

Some of you guys show waaaay to much respect to the has beens that were never even decent compared to real athletes.

I guess Greg Oden is a legend then if bill Russell is.

**Lucas** · 05-24-06, 08:16 PM

Dominik Hašek
Jaromír Jágr

**SquareShooter** · 05-25-06, 03:47 AM

Greg Oden is a legend in a making!
He'll probably end up being best basketball player ever, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain!

You can't say no to that yet, huh?

**imgv94** · 05-25-06, 04:52 AM

**DamianDunlap** · 05-25-06, 10:05 AM

Greatone nothing wrong with ebonics.

**The Great One** · 05-25-06, 10:05 AM

Originally posted by SquareShooter

Greg Oden is a legend in a making!
He'll probably end up being best basketball player ever, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain!

You can't say no to that yet, huh?

I have watched him play in persona number of times and then, of course, a couple times on ESPN.

His junior year I thought he was a bit overated as he was more a Ben Wallace type of player in high school meaning he was a rebounder and shot blocker( Hello, you are 7 feet tall in high school) So thats not that big of deal.

He didn't have a go-to post move or many offensive moves at all on the offensive end. Just kind of used his length. He needs to bulk up badly and he knows it.

His senior year, his game came around on the offensive end a little more. he got some post moves and such.

he could be a terror IF he can add some solid weight to his frame. But thats what people said about shawn bradley too. He's got great foot work and all.

Oh, and by the way, he looks 40. Seriously