Monthly Archives: January 2020

H2H 55: Brian Leetch vs. Al MacInnis – Who was Better?

In hockey, defensemen who not only prevent the other team from scoring goals, but can also quarterback their own team’s offense, both on the power play and at even strength, are invaluable to a team’s success.  Throughout the long history of the NHL, a select few players have brilliantly displayed both of these skills – two of these legends are Brian Leetch and Al MacInnis, who are recognized as two of the most offensively-gifted defensemen of all time and are part of a rare group that has reached the 1,000 career point milestone from the blueline.  In comparing the long and accomplished careers of these two players, the question is:

Who was better – Brian Leetch or Al MacInnis?

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Countdown 24: Top 10 Tight Ends in NFL History

Who are the top tight ends in NFL history?  Here is our top 10 countdown:

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H2H 54: John Havlicek vs. Scottie Pippen – Who was Better?

Two of the greatest dynasties in NBA history have been the 1960s Boston Celtics and the 1990s Chicago Bulls – led by legendary coaches in Red Auerbach and Phil Jackson and transcendent superstars in Bill Russell and Michael Jordan, respectively, equally important to each team’s success were their “secondary” or “complementary” stars.  In particular, two names that stand out from these teams are small forwards John Havlicek and Scottie Pippen, who were each renowned for their versatility in terms of an ability to score, rebound, pass, and defend, and basically do whatever was necessary to win. Superstars in their own right, given their similar importance to legendary teams, an apt question to ask is:

Who was better – John Havlicek or Scottie Pippen?

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Countdown 23: Top 10 First Basemen in MLB History

Who are the top first basemen in MLB history?  Here is our top 10 countdown:

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H2H 53: Marcel Dionne vs. Guy Lafleur – Who was Better?

When two players are drafted first and second overall in a given year, their careers are inexorably linked and will be forever compared and contrasted to each other (think Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin in the 2004 NHL Draft, or in a different sport, Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf in the 1998 NFL Draft).  Such was the case in 1971, when two Quebec junior hockey superstars, Guy Lafleur and Marcel Dionne, were selected with the first two picks in that year’s NHL draft – both picks worked out, as each player went on to have a legendary Hall of Fame career, thus inevitably bringing up the question:

Who was better – Marcel Dionne or Guy Lafleur?

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Countdown 22: Top 10 Little Guys in NHL History

Who are the top little guys in NHL history?  Here is our top 10 countdown:

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H2H 52: Rod Carew vs. Tony Gwynn – Who was Better?

At the 2016 All-Star Game, MLB renamed the AL and NL batting title trophies after Rod Carew and Tony Gwynn, respectively, an apt tribute given each player’s hitting prowess – after all, only six players in baseball history have won seven or more batting titles: Ty Cobb (12x), Honus Wagner (8x), Gwynn (8x), Carew (7x), Stan Musial (7x), and Rogers Hornsby (7x).  As baseball has evolved more and more into a game of the “three true outcomes” (home run, walk, or strikeout), Carew and Gwynn were unique in that neither was a power hitter, but instead, consistent .300+ contact hitters who each amassed 3,000+ career hits over nearly two decades. Given their similar games and the fact that they will be forever immortalized together as batting champion namesakes, it is only natural to ask:

Who was better – Rod Carew or Tony Gwynn?

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Countdown 21: Top 10 Power Forwards in NBA History

Who are the top power forwards in NBA history?  Here is our top 10 countdown:

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H2H 51: Joe Montana vs. Johnny Unitas – Who was Better?

As members of the NFL 100 team, Joe Montana and Johnny Unitas are rightfully recognized as two of the best to ever play the quarterback position; in fact, until Tom Brady came along, the mantle of greatest quarterback ever usually centered around these two names.  From Unitas being the first great modern quarterback with the Baltimore Colts in the 1960s to Montana’s Super Bowl brilliance with the San Francisco 49ers in the 1980s, each player won MVPs and championships while leaving an indelible mark on the game of football. With a century of professional football behind us, now is an opportune time to consider the question:

Who was better – Joe Montana or Johnny Unitas?

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