Perspective - 1992 Versus 2012 - All About Your Era



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For years now I have argued in vain with others about the greatest running back of all-time.  I grew up watching Jimmy Brown of the Cleveland Browns.  For those who grew up during those years, there is hardly a question that Jim Brown was the greatest.  Then, along came Gale Sayers, Walter Payton, OJ Simpson and Barry Sanders.  The argument ensues.

Similarly, Jack Nicklaus grabbed the mantle of greatest golfer for many of us.  Then came Tiger Woods.  I grew up watching the likes of Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, Walt Frazier, John Havilcek, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell and Elgin Baylor.  Then came Julius Erving, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and finally Michael Jordan. 

The era in which you grow up defines how you see your heroes and their legend.I will always argue that Jimmy Brown was the greatest football player of all time.He ran the ball with power, grace and speed. I always felt the "Big O", Oscar Robertson, was the greatest until I saw Michael do what he did on both ends of the court.Jack will always be the greatest golfer to me but then I have watched Tiger utterly destroy his competition.

Today, the arguments are reaching a crescendo pitch regarding which team is better.The Dream Team of 1992 or the team representing the United States in the 2012 Olympics.It's a tough argument for either side.Twenty years separate the players of each team and there is no question that today's team has more speed and more athleticism.However, the players like Jordan, Johnson and Bird would have the same if they were playing today.So would Oscar Robertson, Jerry West and Bill Russell.These folks were all competitive in their time and there is no reason to believe that they would not possess the same skills at the higher level of speed and athleticism today.

The match-ups between the two teams are comparable. No question.The bench strength of the Dream Team definitely has the advantage. However, there are great players such as Dwayne Wade, Dwight Howard and others who are sitting out this Olympic year. Unfortunately, there is no way to compare players of the past with the players of today.We all do it but it is only for the sake of argument.My sons will be sharing a similar argument with their children twenty years from today when the new stars of the professional ranks are even quicker, faster and stronger.The cycle never ends.

Many will choose the statistical argument comparing the point spread of victories for the 2012 US team versus the point spread enjoyed by the Dream Team.My guess is that the 2012 team will handily destroy each of their opponents and will do so with convincing margins.They know how big a point difference they need to accomplish the very feat.

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For me, it comes down to the competitive nature of the players who play the game.No one can argue the competitiveness of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. All three were fierce, fierce competitors.They frequently willed themselves and their teammates to victory.All three could put their team on their back and win. All three wanted the ball when their team needed a basket or needed the last second shot.All three demonstrated this competitive desire and unwillingness to lose.

We saw this same type of competitive stance from LeBron James in the 2012 Championship series.He was determined to win.His determination and will to win was indeed the difference.One also would recognize that Kobe Bryant has that same competitive advantage.Yet, I still give the edge to Michael, Magic and Larry, three of the most competitive players to ever wear an NBA uniform.

The beauty of the argument is the argument itself. How great would it be to see all that assembled talent on the same floor.The question really is as simple as teamwork.Will the 2012 team play as a team as the Dream Team did?Will they play as a team or will they choose to play like an all-star team?All-star teams lack the cohesion of greatness.I suspect this 2012 team won't disappoint.The coaching of Coach K and the player leadership will form the team framework they will need to be incredibly successful.

Just Bring Home The Gold!