"The Greatest" is not always "The Best"

[timconnelly]

I was watching Jim Brown break away on a 70 yard touchdown run on classic sports about 8 years ago when I had a realization that startled me. I noted how the lineman were slow compared to today's lineman: And that's when it hit me! The answer to the question I'd always been troubled by but had never known to ask.

The players of today are better than they used to be. I honestly believe that Tino Martinez is a much better player than Lou Gehrig. And yes, I believe that Joe Morgan was a better player than Rogers Hornsby.

Why wouldn't they be? The pitchers they faced are bigger, stronger, and in better condition.

Babe Ruth would find the players of today to be bigger, stronger, faster, better conditioned, better coached, and it would effect him if he had to face the knuckle-curves and sliders of today.

I'm saying that players like Aaron and Bonds were better players. But none were as great!

Greatness is another issue. It measure what a player did in his own time against HIS contemporaries. It is the thing we can figure with certainty. Ruth dominated his time like nobody else! His manager never asked him to get ready to play teams from 70 years in the futre. The greater your margin of domination of your own time, the greater you are as a player.

If anybody ants to discuss this futher...

[NetShrine]

Originally posted by timconnelly
I honestly believe that Tino Martinez is a much better player than Lou Gehrig.

Ever see the movie "Raw Deal" with Arnold Schwarzenegger? There's a scene where he comes home to his wife who's drunk off her ass and had been baking. She throws a cake at Arnie and it smashes up against the wall. Then, in classic Arnie one liner mode, the camera closes to his face, and he says in his classic Arnie voice "You should not drink and bake."

Tim, while I respect the heck out of you based on the great posts you've had so far, I have to say "You should not and post."

Tino? The Iron Horse? Ever see a picture of Gehrig? A real good one? The guy was built like a monster. You can say the same about Jimmie Foxx.

OK, kidding aside - - I see your point. I probably would have used McGwire instead of Tino. Or even Bagwell.

I do agree that the bodies are different topday. Watch Classic ESPN - - look at a game form 1973 or 1977 - - you think "Gosh, did those guys ever exercise?"

[timconnelly]

Great humor, Steve!

I love that drinking icon!!

[Duque]

For Arnold one-liners, nothing beats Commando

I think, though, that if Lou Gehrig had access to all the stuff that Tino Martinez, Jeff Bagwell, et al. had today - personal trainers, nutritional supplements, better bats, videotape, laser eye surgery - that he would be just as great (if not greater) than he was back in the 30s.

[Skipper Steve]

Originally posted by Duque
For Arnold one-liners, nothing beats Commando

Hey Bennett, let off some steam.

That was one of them, no?

[Duque]

Originally posted by Skipper Steve


Hey Bennett, let off some steam.

That was one of them, no?

Yup. Along with "Don't bother my friend. He's dead tired."

and (after dropping guy off cliff):

Woman: "What happened?"
Arnold: "I let him go."

[Skipper Steve]

I also liked "Stick around" when he nailed a guy to the wall with a knife - - or was that Predator?