We Love to Rip Athletes Down

Alright lately I've really been noticing a trend in sports that shows up more and more. We rip down athletes by comparing them to the best players in the history of the game. And frankly it's kind of bumming me out. The first instance which was so fucking obvious is Lebron James.

Lebron:

Lebron James is one of the best basketball players in the world right now. He led the Miami Heat to the NBA Finals only to lose to the Dallas Mavericks. He is sick, and the Heat will win at least a couple championships in the next five years.

But then when the finals came around the talk started. The Michael Jordan comparisons. Michael Jordan is the best NBA player ever. He dominated the game in a way that we will probably never see again. He talked shit on the court, he talked shit in the media. He was the ultimate baller. I hate the shit out of Lebron, but it isn't fair to compare him to Jordan.

The latest victim of our compulsive sports comparing is Rory McIlroy.

No shit he isn't Tiger

McIlroy just raped the US Open. And I mean raped. He ended the tourney with a -16; the next closest player, Jason Day, posted a -8. And cue the Tiger Woods comparisons. Look, Rory is good. He could be the next great golfer. But Tiger was a dominant force, averaging one win in three tournaments at one point in his career. I mean it used to be when ESPN would do a poll on who'll win the Masters the choices would be 1) Tiger 2) Phil Mickelson 3) Everyone else. Will McIlroy ever be dominant enough for that type of shit? I doubt it.

Look, the kid is good. But comparing good current athletes to the best players in their sport EVER is stupid. And it is pretty unique to the sports world. It isn't like I see "127 Hours" and say it sucks because James Franco will never talk like Morgan Freeman. I don't say that Mac Miller blows because he'll never be as good as Eminem. So why does the sports world have to be so critical of every player to the point where they have to be compared to the best ever? Compare them to their competition. Rory McIlroy shat on every golfer who was in the U.S. Open this weekend. Lebron James shits on most NBA teams. Why do we need to reach back in history just to bring down athletes?


How would you like it if at your job you were constantly compared to the best person ever at your job? Don't tell me that shit wouldn't get old. I'm not saying we can't be critical of athletes, but there is a certain point where it gets fucking ridiculous. And we're at it.