Albert Pujols puts up video game numbers, LeBron James is a beast at age 20 and can basically do what he wants with the basketball, Roger Federer dominates tennis, and not barely he usually wins without dropping a set. Are athletes more dominant now then ever before?
200614
Yes atheletes are getting better. If you look at it, atheltes today have an advantage because if the get sick or hurt, we have better doctors and medicine that can help them get better. Plus, we have better teaching(like in baseball, better coaches to teach the best swing), and better ways to train. So yes, players are getting better all the time.
355770
You know, every country goes through a period of rebuilding once their champion players retire or begin to wind down. It's not fair to expect to produce champions at every turn. We in Oz have never had the pleasure that others have had with multiple champions or choices of them. We have produced some great players though, some of the best, just not all at the same time. Just be grateful that no matter where the players herald from that we still get to see fantastic tennis. I know what you are saying in relation to representative tennis. Sadly a lot of players do put their personal careers ahead of country. Although I personally find that a little sad ( as none seem to mind the chance at Olympic Gold) They have the right I guess to limit their matches and games if it's the Grand Slams that they have their eyes on. We tend to have unrealistic expectations of our players. Maybe it's just that other players are finding form or new players making their mark. I'm sure they are trying. They wouldn't want their fans to be disappointed in them.
586649
Greetings from inside the Yahoo Brain in New York City!\nHope you're catching the live webcast at: http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/asktheplanet/brain.html !\n\nAndy won this the same way Michael Jordan won ESPN's SportsCentury greatest player over Babe Ruth and Wilt Chamberlain--he played more recently.  These polls are always skewed towards the most recent times so they can garner the interest of younger fans/viewers.  And if those fans are allowed to vote, forget it--then it will be all players who play currently!\n\nHope this helps!\n\n--J.
548465
Yes, only because it's one part of the equation. Hear me out. I used to work with college athletes at a major university - a powerhouse when it comes to basketball (often). I saw some very talented young men go, absolutely nowhere. Why? No discipline. What you said is important - the practice along with the talent. IF the talent is all that's emphasized, there's going to be a  problem.
172734
Hip-hop culture definitely had an amazing affect on the game. It used to be about winning and winning only. Now it's half about just being flashy. It's not necessarily a bad thing though in my opinion. It's part of what makes the game fun to play (if you have skills) and fun to watch. I think black players such as LeBron James don't NEED fundamentals. They're so athletically gifted it really doesn't matter. White players have a tendency to be less athletically gifted. So they have to learn some fundamentals to exploit themselves to their full potential. I'm not trying to be racist but it's true. I don't really think white players are dominating the NBA either I think you might need to rephrase that...
214091
Maybe, maybe not...I just think Lebron has more to ijmprove on like his jump shot.for me it's still not perfect. You can't slash to the basket everytime so you got to have versatility in your game. Well for me Lebron will not put the same number in the era of Jordan. A lot of players that played that era have retired when Lebron came into the picture. He will be left out iof that happened...Not even enter the playoffs
90409
I am with you on the younger players.The NBA fan of today has the media to thank for hyping all the young guys in the NBA.Back in the day,You actually had to go to games to see the stars then as there was no such thing as ESPN,etc,etc.The younger generation get all jacked up over someone who can dunk a basketball,or score 81 points in a game,Big deal.What they dont get is that B-Ball is a TEAM Sport,not an individual one.All of the "Old School" guys had to pay their dues because they were'nt subject to the World Wide Media Frenzy we have today.I will say that in my opinion for what its worth that Oscar Robertson was the best all-around player ever.The man averaged a Triple-Double for his Entire career.Kobe in all his greatness,or self-appointed greatness as it were,Will never be the player of Oscars caliber.I know I'll probably hear it from Laker Fans,but Tell me how many Rings he has since Shaq Smartened up?Zero,and will be the same amount untill he gets the Team concept which will never happen.All for now,good question by the asker.
186285
I used to be a fan of the NBA in the late 80's into the early 90's.  The Larry Bird/Magic Johnson rival along with Michael Jordan's dominance was a great time for basketball.  Since then it seems as though the game has gotten away from the team concept.\n\nLook at the scores, they isolate one-on-one matchups with the big stars (kobe, iverson, shaq, etc) and NO ONE plays defense.  If they got back to a team game, like the college style, it would be a lot more interesting.  There seems to be no intensity in the game any more.
607056
tough to call.. agassi has the experience.. nadal is 16 years younger.. \n\nthey said agassi was limpin' around after his last match.. i'm gonna have to go with nadal simply because of the youth factor
371973
It's silly to make such comparisons anyway. If you argue that Wilt Chamberlain was the best, I'd argue that the game wasn't as developed and the league was less athletic. Also, he commonly played against much smaller centers, including Bill Russell who was only 6-9 and about 215 lbs!\n\nThe game is just different in every era.  But, if I'm going to make an argument about why I think Jordan may be the best, I suppose I'd have to start with his 6 championship rings in 8 or so years during the 90s.  Of course, you'll say something like without Pippen and Phil Jackson he never won a title, in which case i'll list his incredible stats over the years and point out that he was typically a better-than-fifty percent shooter from the field to go along with his million ppg, but then you'll point out how Chamberlain averaged over 50 ppg during one season alone!\n\nThere's really no point because it's all about context.  Jordan did things that no one else had done and he revolutionized the game.  Is he the greatest? It's an irrelevant discussion that people tend to take overboard in my opinion.
132207
No. This is because you can't really compare the two of them yet, because kobe is still young- but so far, he isnt, because kobe doesnt pass the ball. all he does is shoot, shoot, shoot. but dont get me wrong- kobe is probably the most skilled player in the league today. jus think where the lakers would be without him.
434374
i play tennis at my local club and as far as i've seen men tennis players are NOT weak... and is a tougher game to playing football... you have to be skillfull to play tennis... its not much of a womens game is a unisex game,,,  but girls/women are all attracted the atheletic men...  cuz they tend 2 have fit bodies... and yaa,,, well thats wot my friends say/..
82417
Well there are a lot of international players in the NBA, but they really shouldn't call themselves that.  THere's the Olympics and International tournaments to determine world champions.
366608
Arguably Yes...look at the last round of the Greg Norman's epic collapse at the 1996 Masters and Nick Faldo shooting a cool 67 to win by 5 strokes. 3 Masters victories and 3 Open Championships = 6 Majors, which is a great golf career!\n\nNot winning a U.S. Open could be fodder for the nay sayers, but Nick played more Internationally than most European players these days.
666591
Because guys dominate the sport.
269180
I agree with you! Even the most "naturally gifted" athlete can't reach optimum potential without hard work.  An average athlete can improve through hard work and a "never say die" attitude.
256527
Theres no doubt that Nadal is a great player, however, he only truly shines when playing on clay.  Federer on the other hand, has mastered all surfaces and has become a legend when compared to Nadal.  BUT, at the Roland Garros, since it IS a clay tournament, Nadal definitely may have an upper hand, as he has shown in the past when playing Federer.  It is a tough prediction, and, considering Nadal has had a lot of down time from being injured, I think that Federer might be able to pull out the next French.