Self-aggrandizing athletes

Was just watching Randy Moss on SportsCenter, claiming he's the best wide receiver to ever play the game (American football). For those unfamiliar, Randy plays for the San Francisco 49ers, who will be playing in this Sunday's Super Bowl. Randy is a veteran of many seasons and has great career statistics, but in the opinion of most fans is probably not the best to ever play the game.

It was interesting to see the response by Jerry Rice (retired wide receiver also from the 49ers), who now does commentary for ESPN. Jerry pointed to the number of Super Bowls his own teams have won (whereas Randy has yet to win one). Also, the graphics shown on the screen show Jerry ahead in almost every major category.

Regardless of the sport, I have a problem with athletes proclaiming themselves to be "the best ever", "elite", blah, blah, blah. It's ok (and even necessary) to have self-confidence, but there's a fine line between self-confidence and coming off as a chest-thumping fool. The best athletes normally defer to the fans and media as to who's the best at this, and who's the best at that.

Any famous athletes in other sports that are like this?
And what kind of reaction do they get from the fans?

(In boxing, I guess you'd have to include guys like Ali and probably Floyd. And I guess if you can back it up, fine. But usually all-time rankings are best left to the fans.)

Naz is an example of trying to be a legend when he had not achieved that status. This is why he looked a prat getting owned by Barrera.

Messi is rated as the best footballer in the world but does not brag about it whereas I think Ronaldo would. Both do not compare so far to the real greats like Pele and Maradona.

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Originally Posted by Master

Naz is an example of trying to be a legend when he had not achieved that status. This is why he looked a prat getting owned by Barrera.

Messi is rated as the best footballer in the world but does not brag about it whereas I think Ronaldo would. Both do not compare so far to the real greats like Pele and Maradona.

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Exactly the perception I get, bro.
Which is why I'm more of a fan of Messi's than I'd ever be of Ronaldo.

Again, nothing wrong with being confident. But when you start calling yourself the greatest of all time (except Ali, who did it pretty much to get under people's skin), people can't wait to see you get torn down.

I think this is another example of people expecting athletes to be commendable people with character and integrity. Many are, however, many aren't.
In sports, many of the people are just there for physical attributes. They shouldn't be considered experts on ethics, statistics, impartiality, judgment, politics, morals, etc.
So when someone asks an athlete a question on if they are the best, why do they expect not to get a dumb ass answer??

Well. Ray Lewis could use a big ol cup of get the fuck over ya'self ??? If I see that ass clown stomp 'dance' one more time I'm pitching an empty at the flatscreen. He may not be calling himself the best LB to play but dude. We get it, ok, tears...emotion...face paint...soap boxes, Jesus and loooong goodbyes. Now fuck right off. Thanks :)

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Originally Posted by boozeboxer

I think this is another example of people expecting athletes to be commendable people with character and integrity. Many are, however, many aren't.
In sports, many of the people are just there for physical attributes. They shouldn't be considered experts on ethics, statistics, impartiality, judgment, politics, morals, etc.
So when someone asks an athlete a question on if they are the best, why do they expect not to get a dumb ass answer??

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If you get asked, sure. But nobody asked Randy Moss whether he was the best ever.
He just up and offered his very unpopular opinion.

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Originally Posted by Spicoli

Well. Ray Lewis could use a big ol cup of get the fuck over ya'self ??? If I see that ass clown stomp 'dance' one more time I'm pitching an empty at the flatscreen. He may not be calling himself the best LB to play but dude. We get it, ok, tears...emotion...face paint...soap boxes, Jesus and loooong goodbyes. Now fuck right off. Thanks :)

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Finally! Someone else not overcome with tears watching the "Goodbye Ray Lewis" show.
AMEN, brother!!


(Tony Gonzalez, arguably the best tight end ever to play the game, also retired this year and he hasn't yet been spotted handing out flyers of his face to passing motorists. Take notes, Ray.)

You got problems with athletes who know their role? :teacher:

No. As long as they don't take up 2-page spreads in the newspaper to tell us about it.

James Toney is the king of this. When Toney is talking you better be listening because it's James Toney time! He'll knock your mic, sing a sonnet for Burger King, all the whilst declaring himself the greatest thing since Barbie.

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Originally Posted by Spicoli

Well. Ray Lewis could use a big ol cup of get the fuck over ya'self ??? If I see that ass clown stomp 'dance' one more time I'm pitching an empty at the flatscreen. He may not be calling himself the best LB to play but dude. We get it, ok, tears...emotion...face paint...soap boxes, Jesus and loooong goodbyes. Now fuck right off. Thanks :)

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If i'm not mistaken Ray Lewis calls that his "squirrel" dance what ever the fuck that means. The dude is suppose to be retiring this year, (lets hope he does) for this reason alone I hope SF wins the Super-bowl. :-X

I don't know why i'm thinking about him, but "Mr. October", Reggie Jackson comes to mind, some of his NY Yankee teammates used to say, where the fuck was he the rest of the year?

Now he (Lewis) is being implicated in an issue regarding the use of an NFL-banned substance, and he's obviously bothered. They brought it up on "media day" and Ray was like, "Hey... cut that shit out. Don't you know it's "Ray Lewis Day"? Let me bask in the adoration and self-promotion and you, get the hell outta here!"

;D


I not only hope SF wins.... I hope Frank Gore leaves his cleat marks all over Lewis's chest on his way to several touchdown runs.

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Originally Posted by TitoFan

No. As long as they don't take up 2-page spreads in the newspaper to tell us about it.

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Best advice: don't buy if you don't like. :thumb:

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Originally Posted by GOAT

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Originally Posted by TitoFan

No. As long as they don't take up 2-page spreads in the newspaper to tell us about it.

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Best advice: don't buy if you don't like. :thumb:

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Kinda hard to avoid the aerial banners paid for by Ray himself. ;)

Leave Ray alone(Insert sound of Ray Lewis crying here), it's clearly because he is one of the most polarizing figures in football that he is getting all of this media attention. I agree that it is annoying as fuck and some things he does draws attention to himself but I give the media part of the blame. They made a big deal and overstated alot of things that have happened in Ray's personal and professional life. Also they(ESPN) are trying to get his name everywhere because he already has a deal to do TV with them.