Michael Jordan - The G.O.A.T of all sports

[Humble Narcissist]

Jordan hadnt played competitive baseball for 17 years when he went to the minors.He was also steadily improving and most experts picked him to make the majors, but the MLB tried to use him in the strike and that was the end of that.

He never would have made it in MLB, that was all hype.  He couldn't hit a curve ball plus how many guys that tall make it in MLB?

[Army of One]

He never would have made it in MLB, that was all hype.  He couldn't hit a curve ball plus how many guys that tall make it in MLB?

Again he hadnt played for SEVENTEEN YEARS,expecting him to be hitting curves on the regular in year 1 from mlb level pitchers seems a little harsh no?Im not saying he would been a good or even average player, missing 17 years wouldnt allow that, but he could have made a roster on merit.

https://www.foxnews.com/sports/michael-jordan-would-have-made-majors-basell-terry-francona

[WoogsRaven]

That article is bullshit. Not a chance in hell MJ would have made a major league roster on merit.

[Humble Narcissist]

That article is bullshit. Not a chance in hell MJ would have made a major league roster on merit.

Correct.  It was awkward watching videos of him playing in the minors and obvious he was given the chance simply on his name.  He had as much chance of having an MLB career as I have.

[Walter Sobchak]

Theres a few problems with Gretzky, a couple of players have matched his peak, and the nhl in the 80s was like the nba in the 60s, the game has advanced way more than basketball say from the same period.Also hockey players are only on the ice for around a 3rd of the game.And for someone proclaimed as the G.O.A.T, only 4 Stanley Cups isnt cutting it.

No one has come even close to matching Wayne Gretzky’s records.

The NHL was never better than it was during Gretzky’s Oilers’ heyday. If Peter Pocklington didn’t break up that team, they would have won 3-4 more championships.

There is absolutely no team sport athlete that comes close to Wayne Gretzky statistically.

And Gretzky was at a physical disadvantage to his peers, his success wasn’t due to him being genetically or physically superior to his opponents (Wilt Chamberlain, Williams sisters, Jim Brown).

[Dave D]

Correct.  It was awkward watching videos of him playing in the minors and obvious he was given the chance simply on his name.  He had as much chance of having an MLB career as I have.

He may have not made it on merit but he would have made it solely for marketing purposes. Jerry Reinsdorf owns the White Sox, he would have made sure his star basketball player would have gotten a call up and he would have stayed until Jordan said he could not handle the big leagues.

Based on him being Michael Jordan his chances were much better than yours. If  Tim Tebow could have stayed healthy he would have been taking major league at bats, largely based on who he is as a "celebrity", Jordan in his prime was much more famous than Tebow ever was.

[fredrollon]

If Wilt had not pussed out, that would have been a fun watch.

Leaving aside monetary considerations, Wilt's choice of opponent was sensible , as Ali liked to give the public a good show and so would've carried him.

Plenty of other pros might have just hit Wilt with a liver-shot and called it a night.

[WoogsRaven]

He may have not made it on merit but he would have made it solely for marketing purposes. Jerry Reinsdorf owns the White Sox, he would have made sure his star basketball player would have gotten a call up and he would have stayed until Jordan said he could not handle the big leagues.

Based on him being Michael Jordan his chances were much better than yours. If  Tim Tebow could have stayed healthy he would have been taking major league at bats, largely based on who he is as a "celebrity", Jordan in his prime was much more famous than Tebow ever was.

If you believe that to be true then explain why it didn't play out that way. A decision like that is made by the GM, not the owner. There's no way an MLB GM would compromise a skill position on the roster(especially not if the team is a contender), just so that they could market MJ's celebrity status by calling him up from the minors. MJ sucked at baseball, he barely hit .200 in single A ball. Do you even remotely understand how good you have to be to play in the majors, especially as an outfielder?

[Dave D]

If you believe that to be true then explain why it didn't play out that way. A decision like that is made by the GM, not the owner. There's no way an MLB GM would compromise a skill position on the roster(especially if the team is a contender), just so that they could market MJ's celebrity status by calling him up from the minors. MJ sucked at baseball, he barely hit .200 in single A ball. He never would've gotten the chance in play in the majors.

Because Jordan stepped into baseball after 17 years.  Mike Trout spent a year in the minors. The minor leagues are used to prep these guys.  Do you think they should have just thrown Jordan into a major league game, when they dont do that for anyone?

Serious question, do you think Jordan was assigned to Birmingham because of his past baseball skills or because of his name?

Do you think the guy who was still paying Jordan's basketball salary, while he was playing baseball, wouldn't have taken advantage of the financial possibilities of calling him up to the Sox, just to find out what fan interest there was in MJ the baseball player?

This has nothing to do with his baseball skill or talent.


Also ownership has more say than a GM. The Red Sox fired Drombroski a year after winning the World Series. GM jobs are dependent on keeping ownership happy first.  Reinsdorf had World Champions in the Bulls and he let Krause convince him the run was over BUT he even said he called Phil Jackson to see if he would come back, overstepping the GM's power.

I didnt realize the White Sox were contenders back then so maybe he wouldnt have gotten an endless run of at bats in the majors but I still think he would have gotten a call up early in the season.

[El Diablo Blanco]

Jordan dominated while he trained and ate like shit. He’d have a steak dinner, get into his convertible and smoke a Cuban on his way to the stadium. Suit up and drop 40 points and have another cigar on his way back home. If he had the drugs and training like athletes today he’d be even greater.

[WoogsRaven]

Because Jordan stepped into baseball after 17 years.  Mike Trout spent a year in the minors. The minor leagues are used to prep these guys.  Do you think they should have just thrown Jordan into a major league game, when they dont do that for anyone?

Serious question, do you think Jordan was assigned to Birmingham because of his past baseball skills or because of his name?

Do you think the guy who was still paying Jordan's basketball salary, while he was playing baseball, wouldn't have taken advantage of the financial possibilities of calling him up to the Sox, just to find out what fan interest there was in MJ the baseball player?

This has nothing to do with his baseball skill or talent.

He was assigned to the Barons based off his mediocre baseball skills. He deservedly earned his spot on that team but that's not saying much. It's a low ball minor league team. And Jordan wasn't getting paid a basketball salary when he played baseball. He was RETIRED from basketball(or suspended for gambling, depending on what you believe)

What financial possibilities are to be gained by calling him up, especially if the team he's being called up to is a contender? So more fans can attend the game to watch him go 0-5 with 4 strikeouts?

It's the BIG LEAGUES. It's got everything to do with talent. And comparing the situation with Jordan and a future hall of famer in Trout is laughable.

[Dave D]

He was assigned to the Barons based off his mediocre baseball skills. He deservedly earned his spot on that team but that's not saying much. It's a low ball minor league team. And Jordan wasn't getting paid a basketball salary when he played baseball. He was RETIRED from basketball(or suspended for gambling, depending on what you believe)

What financial possibilities are to be gained by calling him up, especially if the team he's being called up to is a contender? So more fans can attend the game to watch him go 0-5 with 4 strikeouts?

It's the BIG LEAGUES. It's got everything to do with talent. And comparing the situation with Jordan and a future hall of famer in Trout is laughable.

Cool bro. We agree to disagree.

Jerry Reinsdorf just said in the ESPN documentary that he WAS still PAYING Jordans $3million basketball salary while he was playing baseball. So he was lying?

Why would the Mets call up Tebow? Theres zero money to be made off of player licensing?

I didnt compare the skill set of Trout and Jordan. I used the example of the best baseball player in the world needing time in the minor leagues so he could get adjusted to the speed of the game. You asked me if I thought Jordan was going to be called up to majors why they didn't just do it immediately. I then explained why. If Jordan would have been callled up immediately, with zero experience, when NO ONE is ever called up immediately, his whole attempt at playing baseball would have been recognized as a complete shame.

And since its all about talent you think a young player like Trout spends time in the minors because his talent needs to be harnessed and he cant help a team win or because his rookie contract can be manipulated so its financially advantageous to the club that a player doesn't accur a full season as a major player?

[WoogsRaven]

Cool bro. We agree to disagree.

Jerry Reinsdorf just said in the ESPN documentary that he WAS still PAYING Jordans $3million basketball salary while he was playing baseball. So he was lying?

Why would the Mets call up Tebow? Theres zero money to be made off of player licensing?

I didnt compare the skill set of Trout and Jordan. I used the example of the best baseball player in the world needing time in the minor leagues so he could get adjusted to the speed of the game. You asked me if I thought Jordan was going to be called up to majors why they didn't just do it immediately. I then explained why. If Jordan would have been callled up immediately, with zero experience, when NO ONE is ever called up immediately, his whole attempt at playing baseball would have been recognized as a complete shame.

And since its all about talent you think a young player like Trout spends time in the minors because his talent needs to be harnessed and he cant help a team win or because his rookie contract can be manipulated so its financially advantageous to the club that a player doesn't accur a full season as a major player?

I like a good debate and we can agree to disagree.....But the only explanation as to why he was still getting paid his basketball salary was because the contract he was playing under before he retired was all guaranteed money.

bro---I'm sorry you can preach to me until you're blue in the face but Jordan NEVER would've developed into a player good enough to be called up to the majors. Even if he would've stuck with it for a few years and never returned to the NBA. Not a chance. It was all a big fucking charade from day one.

[Dave D]

I like a good debate and we can agree to disagree.....But the only explanation as to why he was still getting paid his basketball salary was because the contract he was playing under before he retired was all guaranteed money.

bro---I'm sorry you can preach to me until you're blue in the face but Jordan NEVER would've developed into a player good enough to be called up to the majors. No chance.

LOL good deal. I thought I was legit angering one of the few remaining good members...

That said..... contract pay wouldn't be paid if a player steps away from the contract, it would be frozen/suspended until the player came back to work.


And I dont think Jordan was a major league player based on skill. He would have been a player strictly on his name value.

But the one thing im not considering is that I dont think Jordan would have taken a hand out/mercy call up.  Thats the biggest monkey wrench in my theory. He would have wanted to "earn" his spot.

[Skylge]

It has nothing to do with athleticism and such, but I think only the original sports from the ancient Olympic Games in Greece are "real". If I'm correct they all had a military background. So they came from the wish of military leaders who were looking for an edge on the battlefield.



All other let's say modern "sports" really are just fun & games. They were all just made up in the 19th or 20th century by people who were bored and had a lot of spare time?



The money in modern "sports" is very real however. Apart from boxing all classic sports pay a lot less than modern ones.

[AbrahamG]

I'd put Ali above him. 

Best athlete of all time? Bo Jackson.

[Flexacon]

It has nothing to do with athleticism and such, but I think only the original sports from the ancient Olympic Games in Greece are "real". If I'm correct they all had a military background. So they came from the wish of military leaders who were looking for an edge on the battlefield.



All other let's say modern "sports" really are just fun & games. They were all just made up in the 19th or 20th century by people who were bored and had a lot of spare time?



The money in modern "sports" is very real however. Apart from boxing all classic sports pay a lot less than modern ones.

I think the original definition for sports referred to things like fox hunting.

[US MUSL]

If he had the drugs and training like athletes today he’d be even greater.

Probably be hurt all the time.

[Bevo]

White broski’s debating over Hebrew athletes, rather stick to thong warriors

[che]

.Its why the American boxing scene for the heavier weights fell off a cliff in the 00s, once the NBA offered those crazy salaries, there was no doubt where any elite black athlete was going.

Dumbest thing I've ever heard.

[che]

A basketball player can never be considered the best athlete of all time.  The athleticism of a basketball player is too limited.

You are right  ,there are some exceptions but in general the bigger you are the less athletic  you are going to be , in MMA or Boxing just look at  the difference in overall athleticism   between a flyweight and a heavyweight , in the NFL the smallest guys are the most athletic , there is a reason why gymnasts are usually   5'0''-  125 lbs ........................ .......................

[Army of One]

Dumbest thing I've ever heard.

been known for years, have you been living under a rock?

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/boxing-whatever-happened-to-the-great-american-heavyweight-419049.html

https://www.insider.com/adam-kownacki-fights-robert-helenius-barclays-center-saturday-2020-3

https://www.quora.com/Why-doesnt-the-USA-dominate-heavy-weight-boxing-anymore

https://www.quora.com/Why-arent-there-any-more-great-heavyweight-boxers-these-days

[che]

been known for years, have you been living under a rock?

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/boxing-whatever-happened-to-the-great-american-heavyweight-419049.html

https://www.insider.com/adam-kownacki-fights-robert-helenius-barclays-center-saturday-2020-3

https://www.quora.com/Why-doesnt-the-USA-dominate-heavy-weight-boxing-anymore

https://www.quora.com/Why-arent-there-any-more-great-heavyweight-boxers-these-days

I have been involved in the sport of boxing my entire life ,I don't have to read any article to know why boxing is not like used to be in the US

[The Scott]

I freely admit that I despise what has become of professional athletics and especially so the NBA.  And I think Jordan sucks the ass of the Balloonknot Taints®.  He is a ball palming, travelling taint-licker.

Oh.  And I am a tremendous fan and admirer of Wilt Chamberlain.  Basketball, like most sports, was on TV once in a great while in the early 70s but if it was Chamberlain and the Lakers on ABC's Wide World of Sports, I tried to watch it in glorious black and white.  Chamberlain, by many accounts, was a superb all 'round athlete.

But the truth of this matter is it's still just a kids game played by (today at least) fuckwits. 

If I awoke tomorrow and heard that Jordan had been kidnapped by aliens, I would not give an interstellar intercourse. 

[Army of One]

I have been involved in the sport of boxing my entire life ,I don't have to read any article to know why boxing is not like used to be in the US

Clearly you do.Anyone even slightly well read and educated would know African Americans choosing better paying sports is the main reason for the decline in the heavier weights of American Professional Boxing.Your ignorance doesnt make you right.