Monthly Archives: August 2019

H2H 33: Tom Glavine vs. John Smoltz – Who was Better?

The Atlanta Braves of the 1990s and early 2000s were one of the great baseball dynasties in recent memory, winning 14 consecutive division titles from 1991 to 2005 (though only one World Series title).  These great teams were led by Hall of Fame manager Bobby Cox, All-Star and Hall of Fame hitters such as Chipper Jones, Fred McGriff, and David Justice, but perhaps most importantly, a trio of Hall of Fame pitchers in Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and John Smoltz.  Among the Big Three, Maddux is generally regarded as the alpha dog and one of the greatest pitchers ever, but Glavine and Smoltz were no slouches either, with both winning 20+ games on numerous occasions and taking home NL Cy Young honors at least once. Between these two star Atlanta pitchers, the question is:

Who was better – Tom Glavine or John Smoltz?

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Countdown 2: Top 10 Wide Receivers in NFL History

Who are the top wide receivers in NFL history?  Here is our top 10 countdown:

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H2H 32: Andre Johnson vs. Steve Smith – Who was Better?

Since the early 2000s, the NFL has continued to evolve towards becoming more and more of a passing league, which in turn has led to ever-increasing stats for quarterbacks and wide receivers alike.  While Hall of Fame wide receivers like Randy Moss and Terrell Owens are recognized as among the cream of the crop of this generation, this recent group of pass-catchers is deep and comes in all shapes and sizes.  Standing out among the crowded field are two prolific, yet very different players in the tall and powerful Andre Johnson and the small but shifty Steve Smith. The careers of these two All-Pro and Pro Bowl wide receivers essentially overlapped and in any given season, you could find one or the other (or both) at or near the top of the receiving board – with all of this in mind, let us ask the question:

Who was better – Andre Johnson or Steve Smith?

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Countdown 1: Top 10 Sports Rivalries of All Time

What are the top sports rivalries of all time?  Here is our top 10 countdown:

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H2H 31: Joe DiMaggio vs. Ted Williams – Who was Better?

1941 was an iconic year in baseball history, highlighted by the great individual accomplishments of Joe DiMaggio of the New York Yankees and Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox.  Between the two, the Yankee Clipper’s record-setting 56-game hitting streak and the Splendid Splinter’s .406 season batting average have stood the test of time – nearly 80 years later, DiMaggio still has the longest hitting streak in baseball history and Williams remains the last man to hit .400 over a full season.  These two Hall of Famers and baseball icons have been forever linked by their overlapping careers (they were arguably the two best players of their generation) and the fierce rivalry between the Yankees and the Red Sox, which leads to the inevitable question:

Who was better – Joe DiMaggio or Ted Williams?

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H2H 30: Kevin Garnett vs. Dirk Nowitzki – Who was Better?

Note: Updated for Kevin Garnett’s 2020 Hall of Fame selection.

Throughout most of the NBA’s history, seven-foot centers and forwards have traditionally played close to the basket and focused on scoring and rebounding in the paint.  In the mid to late-1990s, however, the first wave of “unicorn” players began to emerge in the shape of versatile seven-footers who could dribble, pass, and shoot with the skills of a guard (yes, that included making three-pointers).  Two of these early unicorns were high schooler Kevin Garnett and German-born Dirk Nowitzki, who went from being raw, but talented teenagers to franchise faces and league MVPs. With both players having retired in recent years, the landscape of the NBA has changed dramatically since when they first entered the league – now, positionless seven-footers such as Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Kristaps Porzingis are becoming increasingly valuable for their unique skill sets.  As we look back upon a couple of the prototypes of the modern basketball player, a natural question arises:

Who was better – Kevin Garnett or Dirk Nowitzki?

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H2H 29: Phil Esposito vs. Tony Esposito – Who was Better?

From Richards to Conachers to Sutters to Stastnys to Sedins to Staals, there has been no shortage of prolific siblings that have played in the NHL.  Among these many sets of brothers, though, Phil and Tony Esposito may be the most unique – not only are both of them members of the Hockey Hall of Fame (a rare enough feat in itself), but they also played very different positions in center and goalie, respectively; in some ways, it is surprising that there are not more skater-goalie sibling combinations in hockey, since as kids growing up, it would be natural for one brother to be shooting the puck on another.  Given this unique set of circumstances, while it is not the most straightforward to compare them against each other, nevertheless, the question should be asked:

Who was better – Phil Esposito or Tony Esposito?

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