The Greatest Athlete of All Time. It's one of the most interesting debates in sports, right up there with how much C.C. Sabathia weighs, whether or not there is actually a curse on the Los Angeles Clippers and what kind of conditioner Tom Brady uses.
But in all seriousness, it's not the kind of thing that gets settled in one column, or ever really, if you take the concept seriously. Opinions are always shifting, new information about people is always coming to light and no one is ever viewed in a vacuum. Sports are here for our entertainment, and as such, it's our right to yell and expound on athletes' triumphs and shortfalls as often and as loudly as we want to.
That being said, there are a few basic precepts that I abide by before ever entering into this conversation with someone else. First, it's every fan's right to use any part of an athlete's life to make their argument — Ali and the draft, Pete Rose and gambling, Lance Armstrong and cancer, Ty Cobb and racism, etc. Second, everyone deserves the right to be completely arbitrary, sort of like in sports itself. Remember when Dallas Braden threw a no-hitter last year? That kind of arbitrary. Third, if there is an easy answer to this question for you, than you're doing something wrong. Go learn more about sports.
On to a few athletes that must be considered. I offer these as suggestions for starting points in this discussion. They by no means comprise a full list or even necessarily include my current personal choice. But they should all enter the debate due to their inarguable impact on their respective sport and society as a whole.
Jackie Robinson: So in case six all-star games, the 1947 Rookie of the Year award, the 1949 National League MVP, a Hall of Fame bust and a number retired across ALL OF BASEBALL isn't enough for you, remember that Robinson was the first black player in the major leagues and endured untold racism and danger throughout his incredible career. He posthumously earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom and Congressional Gold Medal for his achievements on and off the diamond. Discussion over? Almost, but not quite.
Wayne Gretzky: Otherwise known as "The Great One," he holds 60 official records across the regular season, post-season and all-star game, has his number retired by all NHL teams and had the waiting period for his Hall of Fame vote waived. Gretsky redefined vision in the rink, obliterated old scoring records and demonstrated that size and stature were not as important in hockey as previously thought. He also immediately ended discussion for best hockey player ever upon retirement.
Willie Mays: Twenty all-star games, two MVPs, 12 Gold Gloves and the fourth-most home runs of all time. He was considered the essence of grace in center field, and his basket catch running away from the diamond in the 1954 World Series is one of the iconic images of the game. He played spectacularly in an important market, helping the Giants reach the World Series in his breakout 1951 campaign. The "Say Hey Kid" could play with the best.
Michael Jordan: Tongue hanging out, playing with the flu, three retirements, six NBA championships, one NCAA championship … his star continues to shine as brightly as his bald pate. Yes, his Hall of Fame speech could have been a little more respectful, and yes, he did play alongside two other HOF'ers in Pippen and Rodman, but it's simply impossible not to acknowledge his brilliance with a basketball. In the ultimate compliment, stars today recognize they will always be measured against him, regardless of how hard they try to carve out their own legacy.
