3Peatkb24 wrote:-This is just something I am going to create that I can look back on and have in writing for future reference. I don't expect any reply's, this is just basically my opinions and thoughts I have about sports all-time.
-I started watching sports in 1977 as a 5 year old kid going on 6. The first NBA Finals I ever watched that I can remember was between the Philadelphia 76ers and Portland Trail Blazers = 1977 Finals. The first SuperBowl I ever watched that I could remember was when the Dallas Cowboys beat the Denver Broncos in the 1977 Season. I didn't get into watching Baseball until the early 80's. I do remember watching the Dodgers beating the Yankees in the 1981 Season World Series as that WS was one of the most talked about of all-time. Anyway for the record since my watching/following days of 1977 to present, here are my definite GOAT's and lists as of January 3rd, 2020.
Basketball
Basketball, my Top 3 players I have seen live:
1. Michael Jordan
2. Magic Johnson
3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
-Michael Jordan is 6-0 in Finals = 6 Championships, won 5 League MVP's, and 6 Finals MVP's. Jordan also won 10 Scoring Titles! Magic Johnson in just 12 full seasons went to 9 Finals and won 5 Championships, 3 League MVP's, and 3 Finals MVP's. He also recorded over 10,000 Assists and has the NBA record per season average of 11.2. The strongest argument for Magic being in the Top 3 is, he won Finals MVP as a Rookie scoring 42 Points, with 15 Rebounds, and 7 Assists in a close out game at Philly vs Doctor J, Mo Cheeks, Dawkins, and Andrew Toney. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has won 6 Championships, 6 League MVP's, and 2 Finals MVP's. He is currently the NBA all-time Leading Scorer with 38,387 Points.
My Top 3 teams of all-time that I have seen live are:
1. 1987 LA Lakers - Magic, Kareem, Worthy, Scott, Cooper, Green, M.Thompson
2. 1996 Chicago Bulls - Jordan, Pippen, Rodman, Kukoc
3. 1986 Boston Celtics - Bird, McHale, Parish, D.Johnson
*I would be intrigued to see how the 2017 or 2018 Warriors with Durant and Curry would do against these teams in a 7 game series? I also definitely have to mention Kobe and Shaq's Lakers of 2001. Shaquille O'Neal was such a dominant force and that was a huge break out season for Kobe, Kobe was super in those Playoffs!
Football
Football, my Top 3 players I have seen live:
1. Tom Brady
2. Joe Montana
3. Lawrence Taylor
-Tom Brady has led his team to 6 SB wins, has won 3 League MVP's, and 4 SB MVP's. He is a very safe pick for best player I have seen as I think it has to be a QB. The QB position is most important position on the field. I have Joe Montana at #2, he was 4-0 In SB's and in those SB's he threw no Interceptions. At #3 I chose Taylor, to me he is by far the best Defensive player I have ever seen. Awesome Pass Rusher and Leader.
-Regarding just a Top 3 QB list, mine would be: 1. Tom Brady, 2. Joe Montana, 3. Peyton Manning. Peyton has the NFL record for most League MVP's with 5. He also won SB's with 2 different teams as a starter, no other QB has done that in NFL history giving him 2 SB wins.
My Top 3 teams of all-time I have seen live are:
1. 1989 SF 49ers - the mid to late 80's is when the athletes started to noticeably get bigger, stronger, and faster compared to other era's. I feel safe with them at #1 led by Joe Montana and Jerry Rice. + Ronnie Lott on Defense.
2. 1992 Dallas Cowboys - that team was loaded! Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin + a dominant BIG O.Line and a fast Defense that could create Turnovers.
3. 2004 New England Patriots - Tom Brady and Bill Belichick!
Baseball
Baseball, my Top 3 players I have seen live:
I honestly cant answer this at this time because it's tough for me to say what's more important Hitters or Pitchers. Not only that I am not sure how to judge the steroid era? Like where should Barry Bonds be rated?
My Top 3 teams of all-time I have seen live I can do:
1. 1998 NY Yankees - they went 114-48
2. 1986 NY Mets - they went 108-54
3. 2016 Chicago Cubs - call me a little bias here but they did have the NL MVP in Kris Bryant, a solid Pitching Staff, and did go 103-58. They also won Games 6 and 7 on the road to win a WS, that never happens.
I still feel pretty secure and good about my top 3 players of all-time regarding basketball as of January 3rd, 2020. LeBron and Kobe are in this discussion though. LeBron and Kobe are 2 totally different players in reality. LeBron is more like Magic but just not as clutch as Magic was or the Leader he was. Kobe is more like Jordan but Jordan was a tad better IMO, he just won more but it was close 6-5 in Championships. LeBron probably would have more Championships had his teams not faced the Warriors, just like Peyton would've in football had it not been for the Patriots. These discussions are always fun regardless.
PS: Larry Bird was bad ass too, most Lakers fans can never admit that for some reason but he could hold his own vs anyone. He scorched guys like Dominique Wilkins who was way more athletic so I am not buying he couldn't beat athletic players one on one. That is hog wash! I have seen Bird put 60 on Nique! Bird was also a better shooter and rebounder than LeBron is or Kobe was.