In football, it is imperative for defenses to generate pressure against the opposing team’s quarterback, thus putting a premium on elite pass rushers. Most teams are fortunate to have one top-tier pass rusher; in the 2000s, the Indianapolis Colts, perhaps best-known for their explosive offense led by Peyton Manning, were blessed with dominating pass rushers from both edges – Dwight Freeney from the right side and Robert Mathis from left end. With opposing teams having to account for both sides of the line, the fearsome duo frequently posted double-digit sack totals and accumulated over 200 total sacks together with the Colts. As to the question of whether Freeney was great because he had Mathis on the other side, or vice versa, it is probably a “chicken or egg” type question, but let us compare and ask:
Scoring points is undoubtedly the most glamorous part of basketball and in the early to mid-2000s, with the exception of Kobe Bryant, perhaps no players in the NBA were more accomplished scorers than Allen Iverson and Tracy McGrady. In fact, over a five-year stretch between 2000-2001 and 2004-2005, the league scoring title was won by either Iverson or McGrady on no fewer than 28 points per game. As two of the most explosive and talented pure scorers of their generation, each of whom had to overcome their own obstacles on their way to the Hall of Fame (Iverson’s short stature in a game of giants vs. McGrady’s persistent injury issues), let us compare these uniquely talented players and ask the question:
When you think of center fielders, some of the greatest all-around players in baseball history come to mind: Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, Ken Griffey Jr., Ty Cobb, and currently, Mike Trout, just to name a few. As one of the game’s “glamour” positions, the best center fielders are wizards with both the bat and the glove; during the 2000s, two of the best center fielders in baseball were Jim Edmonds of the St. Louis Cardinals and Andruw Jones of the Atlanta Braves. Both were All-Star and MVP-caliber players in their primes who won numerous Gold Gloves and in full, their careers sit right at the borderline of the Hall of Fame. In comparing the careers of these two sterling center fielders and their Hall of Fame credentials, naturally this also leads to the question:
Star wide receivers come in many shapes and sizes – some are big and powerful, others are small but speedy, and yet others are a hybrid of those attributes. Two of the toughest pass-catchers to come around in recent history are Anquan Boldin and Hines Ward – near carbon copies in terms of their build and playing style, each player was not only a sure-handed receiver willing to go over the middle and make the tough catches, but was also among the best blocking wideouts in the league. With their comparable elite pass-catching production and unmatched physicality, it is only natural to compare these two unique wide receivers and ask the question:
While the United States has always been a bit of a little brother to Canada when it comes to hockey talent, the Stars and Stripes have nevertheless produced a number of outstanding NHL players over the years. Though Patrick Kane has likely assumed the unofficial mantle of best American-born player ever, two of the long-time contenders for the distinction were Pat LaFontaine and Mike Modano, both of whom came of age during one of Team USA’s golden eras in the 1980s alongside the likes of Brett Hull (born in Canada with dual citizenship), Brian Leetch, Jeremy Roenick, Keith Tkachuk, etc. Between these two Hall of Famers, one holds the American record for highest per-game scoring average and the other is the all-time career leader in goals and points, thus raising the question:
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