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.

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Originally Posted by chinchekked

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.

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LMFAO!

Ok... ok... I won't continue piling on the dude. I mean, he has had a stellar NFL career, and he will be missed by a lot of fans. I myself like to see linebackers of that caliber play and disrupt the flow of the offense.

But I'll draw the line if he goes out and requests a 2-story high statue of himself to be placed at the entrance to M&T Bank Stadium.

No-name non-athlete zero's are worst.


:cool:

Only if they pound their chest and tell everybody what great, no-name, non-athlete zeroes they are.

:cool:

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Originally Posted by TitoFan

Only if they pound their chest and tell everybody what great, no-name, non-athlete zeroes they are.

:cool:

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tito!

I haven't seen you around the back end of the site lately. have you learned how to post pics yet? Plz say yes, I typed a lot of words trying to fix that deal.

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Originally Posted by TitoFan

Only if they pound their chest

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Fixed. The rest wouldn't suit to their image. ;D

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Originally Posted by Youngblood

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Originally Posted by TitoFan

Only if they pound their chest and tell everybody what great, no-name, non-athlete zeroes they are.

:cool:

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tito!

I haven't seen you around the back end of the site lately. have you learned how to post pics yet? Plz say yes, I typed a lot of words trying to fix that deal.

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Hey blood. I learned how to "Imgur", and then got turned off by the prospect of having my choice of pictures broadcast over the Net. Maybe I'm doing something wrong. Too bad too. I tend to only post great pics. (Excuse the self pat on the back, there). ;D

lol just set it to private, and it will only show whatever pic you have posted at a time.

WR's these days are expected to be drama queens but the best never boast about themselves: Calvin Johnson, Andre Johnson, Wes Welker. Even better still are the ones who actually run block when asked to.


I'm getting to the point where I'm done with the NFL, Goodell & the Government are going to ruin the game. Want concussions to not happen, then scale back on the pads don't legislate against tackling. In 10 years it'll be flag football :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by El Kabong

WR's these days are expected to be drama queens but the best never boast about themselves: Calvin Johnson, Andre Johnson, Wes Welker. Even better still are the ones who actually run block when asked to.


I'm getting to the point where I'm done with the NFL, Goodell & the Government are going to ruin the game. Want concussions to not happen, then scale back on the pads don't legislate against tackling. In 10 years it'll be flag football :rolleyes:

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It's a very difficult issue to resolve because there seems to be a "perfect storm" of circumstances. Bigger, faster players (many aided by PEDs)..... fans and the media glorifying BIG hits..... little or ineffective improvements to protective equipment. Then nobody wants concussions. Seems all kinds of contradictory to me.

And yes... the defensive players are getting the raw deal in all of this. No helmet-to-helmet..... fouls on hitting a "defenseless" receiver..... illegal hands to the face..... no horsecollar tackling. Yeah, in 10 years we may very well have flag football.

The NFL makes enough money. As much as needed should be spent getting medical people, biomedical engineers, rules people, and whoever else needs to get together to work tirelessly to resolve this issue. 'Cause pro football prides itself on being the "real" America's game. But this could all go south in a hurry if nothing's done.

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Originally Posted by TitoFan

It's a very difficult issue to resolve because there seems to be a "perfect storm" of circumstances. Bigger, faster players (many aided by PEDs)..... fans and the media glorifying BIG hits..... little or ineffective improvements to protective equipment. Then nobody wants concussions. Seems all kinds of contradictory to me.

And yes... the defensive players are getting the raw deal in all of this. No helmet-to-helmet..... fouls on hitting a "defenseless" receiver..... illegal hands to the face..... no horsecollar tackling. Yeah, in 10 years we may very well have flag football.

The NFL makes enough money. As much as needed should be spent getting medical people, biomedical engineers, rules people, and whoever else needs to get together to work tirelessly to resolve this issue. 'Cause pro football prides itself on being the "real" America's game. But this could all go south in a hurry if nothing's done.

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The NFL used to glorify big hits, hell with Sports Illustrated one year I got NFL Rocks a video of mostly gigantic hits in which I remember specifically former Buffalo Bill linebacker Daryl Talley (amongst others) being made fun of when he collapsed due to a concussion.

From the standpoint of a lawyer (if we sink ourselves to such a level) that looks MIGHTY bad in hindsight....mighty bad indeed.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6iVHelTR9c


However, that's the way the game is played & should be played