So here’s the big question, “Which sport, as a whole, has the greatest athletes in the world?”  My friends and I have spent hours, literally hours, debating this question.  I know who the greatest athletes in the world are.  To me, this is a no-brainer.  It is quiet obvious that the sport of BASKETBALL has the greatest athletes in the world. There is no doubt in my mind that this is true.  

Look at the facts:

Plain and simple, basketball players are quicker and can jump higher than other athletes from other sports.  These two qualities are very important in determining a player’s athletic ability.  And yes, i know that there are certain football and soccer players who are just as quick and can jump just as high, but overall, no other sport can compare.  

Every player on the court has to be a great athlete.  From point guard to center, each player has to be a great athlete.  This is not the case in most other sports.  Certain positions on the football field, baseball field, and soccer field have great athletes, but not every position.  You may be saying to yourself, “Well that’s not fair, because there are more positions to fill in football and soccer and baseball!”  That is a true statement, however, the athletic ability of every player must be taken into account to answer the question, “Which sport, as a whole, has the greatest athletes?”  

Now I am not saying that basketball requires more skill than other sports.  All sports require amazing skills and that is why there are professional athletes playing those sports.  Skill is not the same as athleticism.  And i know that all professional athletes from every sport have great athletic abilities.  I am only stating the facts that overall, the sport of BASKETBALL has the greatest athletes in the world.

Scott

The two teams today had some of the best players in the world going at each other, perhaps even the best player in the world in Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored his first goal ever against Chelsea in the 26th minute.  Chelsea answered right before the half when Frank Lampard scored his goal in the 45th minute of the match.  Regulation ended with the teams still locked in a draw at 1-1.  Thirty minutes of extra time were then added to see if either team could manage a goal before going to the penalty kick shootout.  Chelsea got very close to taking a 2-1 lead but came up short when Frank Lampard’s shot hit off the crossbar of the goal and bounced away.  Extra time ended deadlocked at 1-1.  

Then came the penalty kick shootout to decide it all.  Both teams had made their first two PK shots.  Then stepped up Cristiano Ronaldo, who had scored Manchester United’s only goal of the game, and he missed his PK shot!    Both teams then went on to make their next two PKs, and it all came down to John Terry, the captain of Chelsea.  With both teams tied at 4-4 in the shootout, all Terry had to do was make his PK shot and Chelsea would win 5-4 and claim the Champions League title, the most prestigious soccer championship in all the world.  He ran up to kick his PK, and as he kicked the ball he slipped and fell to the ground, unable to control his kick, and he hit the post of the goal and missed!  Man U made their next PK, which Chelsea answered and made theirs as well.  Man U upped the pressure again by making the following PK. Chelsea’s Nicolas Anelka had to answer to keep his team alive.  He ran up to take his shot, and Man U’s goalie Edwin Van der Sar predicted which way Anelka would shoot and blocked the shot, clinching Manchester United the Champions League title.  Chelsea had their opportunities to win.  They were so close, yet they just couldn’t finish the game off.  

This is the soccer game I experienced today.  The biggest soccer game on the biggest stage, and man was it exciting!  Now I have never been a huge soccer fan, but today may have changed my mind!

Shaq is the notorious recipient of this type of strategy because he is such a terrible free throw shooter. During these 2008 playoffs, the San Antonio Spurs had no problem implementing this strategy against Shaq and the Spurs. And then the ensuing argument started…..Should the NBA make it a rule that no team can run the hack-a-shaq strategy?

I say absolutely not! This is a completely legal strategy and I have no problem with it at all! Think about it. A professional basketball player has the opportunity to go to the free throw line almost every time down the court. Most NBA players and coaches would love it if the other team did this because they would have the opportunity to get easy points without any time running off the clock. However, since Shaq is such a terrible free throw shooter, some people are saying that this strategy is not fair and the NBA should make it illegal!?!

I don’t agree with that at all! Plain and simple, Shaq should be able to make his free throws. If he were to make 4 out of 5 or 5 out of 6, then the other team would probably stop fouling him. It just comes down to the fact that this is a person who is getting paid millions of dollars to play basketball and he can’t make free throws. That is not any other team’s problem! That is Shaq’s problem and he needs to step up and make his free throws.

~Scott