I love all sports, Australian and International. The thing that annoys me about most Australian sports fans, however, is that they assume that Aussie athletes are the best, and in particular, the toughest. For instance, footy fans think that the toughest sport in the world is the NRL, when in reality few NRL players would last 3 plays in the NFL without crying for their mummy. (The helmets and pads aren't for protection- they are weapons. Anyone that wants to argue- youtube "Ryan Clark hit on McGahee" from last years playoffs. You simply don't see that level of violence in the NRL)But anyone that watches a variety of sports around the world realise that the best athletes in the world reside in the NFL, NBA and major European soccer clubs. And the pick of the bunch is LeBron James. 6 foot 9, 120 odd kg, fast and agile as Billy Slater, hand eye co-ordination like Michael Clarke (and he doesn't parade around in his scruds). His sport of choice is hoops, but there isn't a sport based on size, speed and athleticism that he wouldn't dominate. He would be great at any sports here except cricket. Give him 6 months to practice and he would kill the Olympic decathlon. In the words of Molly Meldrum, do yourself a favour and watch some of his highlights on YouTube or nba.com. Do it now. Seriously. Go.
LeBron has just won his first MVP award and is in the process of destroying the Eastern Conference on the way to a presumed showdown with the loathsome Kobe Bryant and his Lakers. He is doing this after topping the league with 66 wins, with a decent but not particularly good team around him. He led his team in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks. That happens once every ten years or so. He can play and defend against any position on the floor. I hope and I think that he will win his first title, and he just turned 24. Jordan was not MVP until 26 and didn't win his first title until 29. James has a chance, a real chance, to win 5 or 6 titles and go down as the best ever ,even MJ.
All sports fans should watch this guy given the chance. Watch his highlights on the net. Watch the playoffs on ESPN and One HD. You will be amazed.
I rate LeBron as quite possibly the best athlete I have ever seen and I have many arguments with mates about whether or not he will be better then Jordan. I think he will !!
ReplyDeleteThe yanks have million and millions more athletes to choose from then Australia per capita i still feel that we are superior to America in most areas.
There is no way in hell the NFL is tougher then the NRL. Protection...you are kidding. That hit was good to watch but the technique was terrible. He just run at the opposition head first and hoped for the best. Even half their shoulder charges are off the mark. They are soft.Take off the helmet and stainless steel shoulder pads and see if they improve their technique and actual try and use their shoulders and arms.
Even one of the NRL's softest athletes Steve Matai can put on a hit. See below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0jt4JTatew
Put it in perspective......we draw our athletes from 18 million people....
ReplyDeleteHow many do the yanks draw their players from ???
natural selection says they will have better athletes....most of their professional athletes steer clear of beer...which helps.....
thats the point George- their technique has nothing to do with using the shoulder and arms cleanly or protecting themselves- its all about trying to knock the guy out and shake the ball loose- if you take away the helmet and pads, youd have rugby type tackles, nowhere near as much violence in the hit.
ReplyDeletemcgahee was out like a light and taken even the guy doing the hitting took a few minutes to get up- not much protection there...
i agree re the population owen- but there are only about 30 million black guys which is 70 per cent of so of the NFL and NBA...
George, what areas exactly are Australia superior in? Nothing that the world cares about except for Commonwealth Games. If you took an average NFL team, gave them 6 months to train they'd win the Rugby or Rugby League world Cup. but its a moot point because they would need to cut their salary so much
Your sick fascination with American Sport disturbs me Deevs, SUPPORT YOUR OWN COUNTRY. LeBron is very very good I agree and will win the NBA title for Cleveland. I think the Lakers wont even make it to the final.
ReplyDeleteFor a country so small we are the most gifted and talented athletes in the world, end of story!
dont get me wrong- i agree we punch way above our weight- but you could argue that even smaller countries do as well or better- eg NZ at rugby, Holland or Portugal at soccer. It does come down to the culture of a country and what they concentrate on. I still believe however that the best pure athletes are in the UEFA, NBA and NFL.
ReplyDeleteBut I love watching the best sports in the world, regardless of where they are played. One-eyed Aussie sports fans miss so much- watching the Chelsea Barca game this morning for example, not just US sports.
I still can't get my head around a basketball player surviving more than 5 minutes in an NFL or NRL match for that matter. Yes he is big and strong I know, but he is playing basketball for a reason isnt he, and not just for the money. Its because he probably couldnt handle the hits that gridiron dished out to him in high school. However, I can't come up with anyone else in the world of sport that can take this title of worlds best athlete off the top of my head, so until I do, then LeBron is it. I'll try to get back to you, because as I say, it just doesnt sit right with me that a basketballer can survive the more brutal sports discussed
ReplyDeletetop nba players make much more coin than nfl players- about double among the top end due to 12 man squads v 50 man squads- and endorsements are bigger for basketballers. plus its not as painful. if I was lebron i know which one i'd choose. he was all-state at reciever in Ohio at HS, which a major football state. if he decided to try nfl, he'd get picked 1st round
ReplyDeleteDeevs how do you think Folau and Inglis would go as NFL or NBA players ??
ReplyDeleteLebron is 6ft 8 and 113kgs at 24 years of age.
Folau is 6ft 5 and 105kg and he only just turned 20. Folau has 2 more years of growth in him and if you look back at Tuquri and Sailor when they were 20, then I would say he has plenty of size to go. Im not saying Folau is a better athlete but you have to consider that he is not that far behind Lebron compared to other superstars around the world. Folau has unbelievable agility, speed, strength, great hands and good vision.
People like Inglis, Hunt, Folau, Uate and even big 19 year old Dave Taylor could crack it in the NFL anyday.
the thing is but george- athletes like folau are the exception here. they are routine over there- probably due to the population advantage . he may be able to make it but there are plenty of guys over there just as big and fast that have played the game their whole life. why would they need folau? by the way- lebron was listed at6'8" 113kg 5 years ago when he was a rookie- he is MUCH bigger than that now- they dont update those numbers much. and is folau really 6'5"? i agree that folau is a world class athlete- what bugs me is when aussies claim that guys like him are superior and other international athletes couldn't handle the nrl. the nrl is not the ultimate- its great, its tough, and there are great athletes, but theres a reason its struggling and no one outside of sydney and brisbane care. i do concede however, a few guys like folau, inglis, i dont agree on hunt, could make it given enough time and practice, but not many. certainly not mason as reported in the tele every few months- not nearly agile enough for his size. i love league,the nrl is the best league and they are possibly the most underpaid pro athletes in the world for their talents, but i dont like fans that assume its the be all and end all, thats my point.
ReplyDeleteI think the likes of Paul Vautin have a lot to answer for as he is the King of claiming League is the toughest sport and nothing else exists.
ReplyDeleteVautin's a germ that has way more than his 15 mins of fame. Time for Channel 9 to do what the Eagles did to him years ago. Boot him to the kerb. Is this another topic...
ReplyDelete50 points in a playoff game against Atlanta today. Not a bad effort i guess
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