| 1. Are they too cool to try/care? If so, then I don't | | | | championships. Brady demands perfection of himself |
| bother. This is like girls that smoke (when I was | | | | and his teammates. |
| single, of course). Regardless of how attractive/rich | | | | (*It was hard for me to go with Brady here. Brady |
| beautiful she was, smoking was not negotiable. | | | | went soft in 2009 - letting Moss pout all over the |
| Likewise, acting too cool to try/care is not negotiable. | | | | field while Welker killed himself week in and week |
| DeSean Jackson is flirting with joining Randy Moss, | | | | out. He's also never been the same since his knee |
| Terrell Owens, Jose Reyes, Manny Ramirez, Amare | | | | injury. I was prepared to switch my allegiance to |
| Stoudemire, and Richard Jefferson in the "too fly to | | | | Manning but again, he Bill Bucknered the Super Bowl.) |
| try" crew. Trying/caring only in big games or when | | | | Hockey |
| the score is close doesn't count either. It's all or | | | | Alex Ovechkin is everything I hoped Eric Lindros |
| nothing. I want guys diving after loose balls, sacrificing | | | | would become. What Lindros often lacked (heart, |
| their bodies, and giving 110% despite the scoreboard. | | | | grit); Ovechkin brings on a nightly basis. He also leads |
| (Notice I couldn't come up with any hockey players? | | | | the NHL in points and goals. Ovechkin is an offensive |
| Effort is what hockey is all aboot, err about.) | | | | force. Even better, he ranks first in plus/minus. Not |
| 2. Is there enough talent? While I don't need Michael | | | | only is he producing during his time on the ice, but |
| Jordans, I do need to win games. A fourth string | | | | he's keeping his opponents off the board as well. |
| cornerback can work his tail off on special teams, but | | | | When you're getting that kind of production from |
| if he can't shut down the opposition's top receiver his | | | | one of the league's premier players on both ends of |
| effort is irrelevant. Effort is enough for his mom to | | | | the ice, you must be thrilled as a coach. |
| love him. Not enough to be my favorite player. | | | | Qualification number one (too fly to try) doesn't really |
| 3. Would I want to be his teammate? All personal | | | | apply to hockey players. When nine other skaters |
| preferences on this one. I can't pledge my allegiance | | | | are flying around you at warp speed, it's hard to be |
| to a whiner (oops, sorry, didn't see you there Cindy | | | | lazy without getting benched. However, anyone |
| Crosby). Nor will I root for a "love me some me" | | | | who's watched Ovechkin knows his energy level and |
| egomaniac to succeed (how are you today, Terrell | | | | intensity is unmatched. He hits, defends, fights, and |
| Owens). Finally, it would be impossible for me to | | | | does whatever else is required to win. From |
| support someone whose teammates can't stand him | | | | everything I've read, his teammates love him too, |
| (here's to you, Wilt, Barry Bonds, yester year's Kobe, | | | | and opposing fans despise him (always means you're |
| and yet again, TO). | | | | doing well). |
| 4. Does he have "IT"? "IT" can't be taught or | | | | Two concerns with Ovechkin. First, he's young now, |
| acquired. You either have it or you don't. Tom Brady | | | | only 24, but will his body hold up for an extended |
| has it, Donovan McNabb does not. "It" is that | | | | career with his reckless style of play? I sure hope so. |
| uncanny ability to rise to the occasion. To overcome | | | | Everything I love about Alexander the Great is what |
| obstacles. To hoist a team on your shoulders and | | | | I despise about Sidney Crosby. Cindy is always |
| carry them to victory, or more importantly, | | | | whining about something or antagonizing an opponent |
| championships. Derek Jeter, Martin Brodeur (shaking | | | | before scurrying back to his bench. Maybe my |
| my head), Kobe Bryant, Ben Roethlisberger (I just | | | | perception of Crosby is because I'm a Flyers fan. |
| threw up a little) and Dwyane Wade have this. | | | | Maybe not. Either way, Sid the Kid is a fantastic |
| 5. For who? For what? Seriously, Ricky Watters | | | | hockey player. He's also a gigantic pansy. |
| would like to know. I'll defer to Aaron Rowand for | | | | My second concern is Ovechkin's response to the |
| this one. Take it away, Aaron. "For who? My | | | | pressure of matching the successes of Crosby. |
| teammates. For what? To win." Well said. | | | | Crosby now has a Stanley Cup and an Olympic Gold |
| That's the current criteria. "For who? For what?" was | | | | Medal. Crosby defeated Ovechkin in both |
| the latest addition - added in 2007. The list is always | | | | tournaments en route to his titles. Will their rivalry |
| changing, so I'll update it as necessary. Remember, | | | | push them both to greatness a la Bird and Magic, or |
| ask not what you can do for your favorite athlete, | | | | will Crosby's early success do irreparable damage to |
| ask what your favorite athlete must do for you. | | | | Ovechkin's confidence a la the Jordan - Drexler |
| Now onto my favorite players... | | | | battles in the early '90s? If Ovechkin and the Capitals |
| As you will soon learn, Philadelphia athletes were | | | | fail to advance further than the Penguins or worse, |
| excluded from this list because they're obviously (for | | | | lose to them again, will Ovechkin succumb to the |
| better or worse) my favorite athletes. Very few of | | | | pressure? While he's yet to carry his team deep into |
| them meet the criteria anyway (at least right now). | | | | the playoffs or anywhere near a championship, I |
| Therefore, with the exception of Willie Green, | | | | believe Ovechkin has the intangible "IT." Time will tell. |
| they've been left out. Just Kidding... Wait, that's | | | | Like or not, the NHL rests on the shoulders of |
| confusing. Just kidding about Willie Green being | | | | Ovechkin and Crosby. They are the league's most |
| included. Not kidding - Philly athletes were left out. | | | | marketable stars and are the most attractive playoff |
| Baseball | | | | matchup the NHL has had in years. That, in addition |
| Derek Jeter fulfills all the necessary requirements. | | | | to matching Crosby's early success, is a lot of |
| However, I can't pick a Yankee, even if he is, "The | | | | pressure for any 24 year old. Let's hope he can |
| Captain." Therefore, Albert Pujols is currently my | | | | handle it. |
| player of choice. Like Jeter, Pujols rates extremely | | | | Basketball |
| high in all categories on my checklist. Obviously, Jeter | | | | Contrary to most NBA superstars, its Duncan's skills |
| has more championships, but Pujols just turned 30, so | | | | and intelligence that set him apart from his peers, not |
| there's plenty of time for him to claim a couple more. | | | | his athletic ability. In fact, Duncan's athleticism has all |
| Some may argue his "IT" level isn't up to par with | | | | but abandoned him now. He labors up and down the |
| other baseball superstars. I think Brad Lidge would | | | | court like my friend Brad after four hours of ball, |
| vehemently disagree. | | | | dragging his knees behind him. Yet, he can STILL put |
| Here's what I love about Pujols: He can hit for power | | | | up a 20 and 10 whenever he pleases. That's right, |
| AND average. I get frustrated that Ryan Howard has | | | | whenever he pleases. |
| only managed to do this once (his MVP season of | | | | With Duncan, you won't see gaudy numbers every |
| 2006). I know Howard's power numbers are | | | | night because he won't force it, especially if his team |
| ridiculous, but I can't excuse his averages over the | | | | doesn't need him to. The stats don't matter. His |
| past three seasons (ok, his.279 in '09 is acceptable). | | | | playing time doesn't matter. Winning matters. Take |
| Pujols' power numbers rival Howard's and he hits at | | | | the night of February 18, 2010 for example. Duncan |
| an average nearly 50-100 points higher. All while | | | | and the Spurs starters were getting ripped by the |
| batting in a lineup significantly less potent than the | | | | Houston Rockets. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich went |
| Phillies' stable of mashers. Again, I understand | | | | to his bench in the second half. San Antonio's bench |
| Howard's power numbers are fantastic, but name | | | | cut into the deficit and kept the team close, cutting |
| two other players in the Cardinals' batting order. You | | | | the lead to 3 with less than ten seconds to go. |
| can't, and Pujols still rakes in the RBI. | | | | Following the game, Duncan was asked about his |
| It gets better... Pujols doesn't strike out. It would | | | | playing time and the extensive playing time given to |
| take over three full seasons for Pujols to strike out | | | | the bench. Duncan's response? |
| as many times as Howard does in one, yes one, | | | | "Our second unit did a good job getting us back into |
| season. Need further statistical evidence of his | | | | the game. The guys out on the court were the guys |
| greatness? Pujols ranked in the top five in on base | | | | making the run. You don't penalize them and take |
| percentage (OBP) every year from 2003-2009 | | | | them out when the score gets close." |
| except one (8th in 2004), and was in the top five | | | | You see, Duncan understands winning. He knows it's |
| every year during that span in slugging percentage | | | | not about him or his touches. Winning is about a |
| (SLG) and OPS (OBP and SLG combined). He's an | | | | cohesive unit where no player is more important than |
| offensive machine that often gets overlooked for | | | | the next. This is why Popovich rips into Duncan at |
| postseason awards because he's unbelievably | | | | practice like he's a rookie from the D-League. Duncan |
| consistent. To top it all off, Pujols is an amazing talent | | | | has no ego. He sets a precedent for his teammates - |
| at first base who baseball junkies say loses out on | | | | No one is above the team and everyone is subject |
| gold gloves because he lunges for, and sometimes | | | | to tough love from the coach. It's no coincidence the |
| boots balls that other first basement can't make a | | | | Spurs have been one of the NBA's elite teams over |
| play on. Do I wish he could steal 50 bases? Sure. | | | | the past decade. |
| Other than that, there's not much else to ask for. | | | | Watch Duncan play and you'll appreciate him more |
| Football | | | | and more. He's a master of his craft. Annually, my |
| What makes the NFL great is that a single player | | | | brother and I see the Spurs when they visit |
| can't carry a team to a championship. A quarterback | | | | Philadelphia. I spend most of my time watching |
| can't run an offense if he's under heavy pressure. | | | | Duncan's every move and cursing the Sixers in-house |
| Wide Receivers can be double covered. Eight men in | | | | announcer, Matt Cord. (Seriously, Matt, shut up.) |
| the box will slow down a stellar running back | | | | Duncan boxes out with precision and his offensive |
| (LaDanian Tomlinson's playoff career). An offense can | | | | moves are effective, even though mundane. He |
| easily avoid a defensive superstar if the unit | | | | worked Samuel Dalembert over so many times that |
| surrounding him is average (Darrelle Revis vs. Colts in | | | | poor Sammy got himself a technical for screaming at |
| AFC Championship). In football, it's hard for a single | | | | the referee. Dalembert then went over to Duncan to |
| player to even influence every game unless it's the | | | | say a few things. Duncan's face didn't change. On the |
| quarterback. With that said, Tom Brady is my | | | | very next play, he raised his right hand toward his |
| favorite NFL player that satisfies all five requirements. | | | | point guard, received the ball, and drew another foul |
| I don't always root for him or his team, but I love | | | | on Dalembert. Sammy went off, got ejected, and |
| everything about how he approaches the game. | | | | Duncan stood there in silence with a blank stare. Just |
| His championships speak for themselves as do his | | | | another day at the office. |
| multiple Super Bowl MVP awards. Brady's clutch. If I | | | | Duncan has the accolades and titles to further prove |
| had to select any quarterback for a 4th quarter drive | | | | what a great player he is. He teammates love and |
| to tie or win a game, I'm picking Brady. No question | | | | respect him as evidenced in the way he puts his |
| about it. You may argue for Ben Roethlisberger but I | | | | massive hands on their heads to congratulate or |
| can't put the game in his hands over Brady. (In fact, I | | | | encourage them. They don't shy away either, they |
| wouldn't put anything near Roethlisberger's hands. | | | | embrace it. He's the alpha wolf looking after his pack. |
| He's apparently too touchy-feely.) Peyton Manning | | | | Duncan's time in the NBA is winding down. I'm hoping |
| was elevated to "clutch driver" status for two weeks | | | | he gives us another long playoff run before he hangs |
| following his dismantling of the Jets. Unfortunately, his | | | | the shoes up for good. Regardless, the best power |
| horrendous 4th quarter in last month's Super Bowl | | | | forward the NBA's ever seen will be a tough act to |
| got him demoted. Now he's beating Roethlisberger | | | | replace on my favorite players list. After falling to the |
| away with a pylon down on tier two. I digress. | | | | Spurs 90-87, in a game where Duncan struggled |
| Despite his ability to rise to the occasion, it's Brady's | | | | offensively but still grabbed 26 rebounds, Pacers |
| demeanor and style that I enjoy most. Only he and | | | | guard, TJ Ford summed up Duncan in one sentence, |
| Manning will get into a receivers face over a dropped | | | | "I don't know too many guys in this league that can |
| pass or blown route. I love this. Accountability among | | | | go 4-for-23 and still help his team win." Neither do I |
| teammates is the most important foundation for | | | | TJ. Neither do I. |