Tuesday’s Top Twelve – Legacies of the Sports World

In the wake of a week of huge deaths in music, entertainment, and sports–Michael Jackson, Farah Fawcett, and Steve McNair–the idea of legacy has really hit me.  Furthermore, it is fascinatingly interesting to see the varying “size” of the story each of these deaths has become.  I am hard-pressed to think about anyone–with the possible exception of our sitting president–whose death would have been a bigger story than the Michael Jackson’s was.  So, that is what leads me into this week’s Top Twelve.  Whose death today would be the biggest story?

Now, I know this idea sounds morbid, and I truly apologize if anyone is offended by speaking of the potential deaths of living people, but I want to look at it as more of a celebration of the following people’s lives (be it in a good way, a bad way, or most likely a combination of the two–like the great Michael Jackson).  It is certainly saying something, for better or worse, if you leave such an impression on the world that your death is a monumental story.  I believe that the following people’s deaths would be the “biggest” stories (however loosely that is to be defined).  Oh, and since this is a sports site (and an unlimited debate of this caliber would be essentially useless), I am going to limit it to sports figures.

Before we get into this list, I want to mention a few that were under consideration, but missed the final list.  It is an interesting question with the more you think about it because the size of a legacy can depend on many things, but particularly (1) what have you accomplised and (2) how much did you have left to accomplish.  There are some “retired” sports figures on the final list, but if their careers were over, they would have to be the most monumental of figures.  So, people like Larry Bird, Hank Aaron, Wayne Gretzky, Rod Laver, Carl Lewis, and Pele would be humongous stories were they to die today, but their “work” is pretty much complete and they have almost completely backed out of relevancy, so it would be more of a memorial to their careers than have any real impact on daily life. 

The other side of the story–that lost “potential” (see Lenny Bias) factor makes for huge stories and thoughts about “what could have been” really hit home.  But, there is still something to be said for accomplishments as opposed to potential, and people like Rafa Nadal, Tim Lincecum, Blake Griffin, and Mark Sanchez just have not done enough yet to crack the Top Twelve.

Since I can only speak to the American culture, I cannot really speak to the impact of someone like Ronaldo or Kaka would have were they to leave the soccer world today. Another factor of a “big story” is the universal appeal that would have to transcend sports and reach the hearts of everyone–sports fans and non-sports fans, alike. 

This is why guys like Albert Pujols, Roy Halladay, and Chris Paul would be huge stories in the sports world, but not quite would transcend sports enough to reach the Top Twelve. I also gave full consideration to non-players and would have included any of them had I thought they would have been bigger stories than anyone in the Top Twelve. 

And, there were a couple coaches (Bill Belichick, Phil Jackson, Bill Parcells, and Mike Krzyzewksi) that came close, but did not quite have enough, in my opinion.  There were also some owners (Jerry Jones, George Steinbrenner, and Mark Cuban) that would be big stories, but not quite big enough.

And, then there are those that basically “just missed.”  Be it for all the right reasons (Shaq, Peyton Manning, Ken Griffey, Jr.), all the wrong reasons (Roger Clemens, TO, Manny), or a bit of a bizarre combination of reasons (Brett Favre, Lance Armstrong, Phil Mickleson, Mike Tyson).  But, there was only room for twelve.  And, keep in mind, this is a snapshot in time.  This list would be VASTLY different were it done five years ago, just as it would be vastly different five years from now.  Hell, five days from now, everything might change.  In celebrity, like comedy, timing is everything. 

Again, the thought here is what sports figure, were they to pass away today, would be the “biggest” story.  I wish I could phrase it in a way that was less morbid and dark, but I am hoping you understand what I mean and take it to mean a celebration of celebrity–sports and otherwise.

 12). Serena Williams.  Serena clearly fits the bill of “transcending sports.”  She is an international celebrity despite her occupation being, at times, an afterthought.  And, oh by the way, she has 11 Grand Slam titles and is on the short list of greatest female tennis players ever.  Her sister, Venus, is not quite as good at tennis (debatable) and not nearly as internationally famous (indebatable).

11). Michael Phelps.  Arguably, the greatest Olympian of all-time who happens to be 24 years old and gearing up for London in 2012.  His age and past and potential future accomplishments alone would be enough to create one unbelievably huge story, but throw in the controversies in which he has found himself and you have one interesting person and, thus, one humongous story.  And, I can’t tell you what would happen in my home city of Baltimore, which clings to Phelps like he is some combination of Mother Theresa and Jim Thorpe.

10). Michael Jordan.  There is no doubt that, at his prime, Michael Jordan was the biggest sports icon in the world.  In fact, there was probably a period of 10-15 years where he would be the UNQUESTIONABLE #1 on this list.  But, with this being a snapshot and MJ’s relevance to today’s sporting world (a below average NBA executive in Charlotte) waning, I believe that there are nine sports figures whose death would be a larger story today.  Then again, having lived in a rural African village, where most people had never seen an electic light bulb, let me tell you that Michael Jordan’s recognizability stretches to all ends of the globe–still.

9). David Beckham.  Maybe today’s largest example of transcending sports into pop culture–possibly ever–is David Beckham.  His Hollywood marriage, his national revelry in the UK, and his–from what I hear–dashing good looks makes Becks almost the definition of international superstar.  The only reason he is not higher on this list is because it is a tough argument to make that he really has anything left to do on the soccer field–the characteristic for which he originally became famous.

8). Roger Federer.  One short month ago, I probably would have put Federer in the top two, despite being “just a tennis player.”  Imagine the story if a 27-year old, in prime condition, passes away just one Grand Slam title SHY of the all-time record.  That would be the ultimate combination of a superstar in sport and celebrity with a long historical list of accomplishments and still greatness left to achieve.  But, in one month, he won Grand Slams number 14 and 15 and completed his career Grand Slam.  This would still, obviously, be a huge story, but the fact that he has surpassed Sampras means that his biggest accomplishment has been realized.  There is no debate as to who is the greatest tennis player of the Open Era (though, I will heartily debate that Rod Laver, who played prior to the “Open Era,” was better).  A month ago, the debate was still in doubt, so if he left us, it would have never been answered.

7). Magic Johnson.  It was an interesting selection to have Magic ahead of Jordan.  But, the reason I chose this is because of all the intrigue surrounding the life of one Ervin “Magic” Johnson.  Not only was he the idol to pretty much an entire generation of basketball players, but he transformed the whole sport’s image of what a point guard is.  Jordan was the best that ever played, but he was not anything that we had not seen before–he was just better than everyone else.  Magic was a brand-new animal–the 6’9″ jaw-dropping, pass-first point guard.  But, before we get bogged down into a basketball discussion that I will probably lose (because Jordan was clearly a better player and a better champion), let us not forget the HIV situation.  He played an extremely large role–maybe the largest–in bringing the Pandemic to the forefront in the 1990’s.  Magic’s press conference was one of the very few “Where Were You?” moments of my lifetime.  And, because of all of this, Magic’s imprint on this world is undefinably gigantic–and all of this will be relived upon his death, be it of natural causes or as a result of one of the most frightening diseases to ever hit mankind.

6). LeBron James.  I debated where to put LeBron for a while.  I thought about putting him as high as #1, but slipped him back to #6 because he clearly falls into the Lenny Bias category.  Yes, he has accomplished a lot (one MVP, one Finals appearance), but losing him now would clearly put all the focus on “what could have been.”  And, quite frankly, we do not know.  It certainly seems to me that he is going to win multiple NBA championships and has a legitimate chance to go down as the greatest player to ever play the game.  But, let us remember, he is not there yet, and a lot can happen from now until then.  Needless to say, he is an absolute gigantic international celebrity with the world at his fingertips.  This is one of those where if this “snapshot” was taken five years from now, I would be surprised if he was not holding down the top spot.

5). Muhammed Ali.  Yes, I discounted the story size for retired greats like Hank Aaron and Wayne Gretzky, as well as dropping Jordan because of his relative irrelevance today.  But, there is the occasional career that stands on its own merit in a timeless existence.  I thought that Jordan or Bird or Joe Montana may do that, but it does not seem to be that way.  Then there is Muhammed Ali.  Maybe it was because he played an individual sport–and dominated it like no one else ever has.  Maybe it was because of his colossal personality that was put on stage for all the world to see and judge, criticize and revere.  Maybe it was because he was an overly opinionated man who came to fame in an era of social and civic turbulence.  Maybe it was because of his fascinatingly tragic physical demise from Parkinson’s Disease in the, now, end stages of his life.  And, maybe, just maybe, there is just something about his nakedly honest, guttural bravado that allows us all to adhere some of the greatness in him–both in and out of the ring–to ourselves in our simple, daily, nondescript lives.  Either way, the death of Muhammed Ali will be an incredibly heart-wrenching moment with stories and memories traversing the majority of five wonderfully troubled decades of Americana.

4). Derek Jeter.  The new “Pride of the Yankees,” Derek Jeter has four World Series championships and a world of fans.  He does not exactly fit the billing of “controversial” because he has, despite a career spent entirely in the fishbowl of The Bronx, kept his nose clean and played every day with a youthful desire and competitive fire.  He is heading rapidly towards the end of his career, so you may argue that his best days are behind him, but the reason I think he is still high on this list is because the Yankees are always in contention, so there may be more championships for him to win, and, more importantly for this conversation, he has an outside shot at catching Pete Rose for the all-time hits record.  If he were to play his last game today, we would never know if he would have ever dethroned the Hit King.  Plus, throw in the fact that he is the sports legend for a generation in the largest media market in the country, and this story would be gigantic.

3). Tom Brady.  A surprisingly similar career to Jeter’s, if you think about it.  He is in a major media market and has combined an incredible track record of winning with an equally incredible track record of avoiding negative publicity (save for leaving his ex-girlfriend as a single mother, which because of how it has been handled, has not seemed to affect his image at all).  Arguably the greatest quarterback that has ever lived, Brady is still only 31 years old and in the prime of his football playing life.  The Patriots are, again, a preseason favorite to win the Super Bowl (which would be his 5th), and the NFL was not the same without him last season, as he was out with an injury.  Added to all of his on-field success is his off-the-field publicity.  He has gone from one supermodel to another and is oft found on the covers of major tabloids, but not for anything other than a seemingly normal love life with a very famous woman.

2). Kobe Bryant.  One of the very few lists on which I would place Kobe ahead of LeBron, Kobe comes in at #2.  Maybe I am blowing this one out of proportion, but the combination of the past successes (4 NBA titles, a Gold Medal, and an MVP), potential for future successes (he is only 31), and a career that has been as polarizing as any public figure, possibly ever.  The classy persona that enabled him to transcend basketball player to become an international celebrity was torn apart by rape allegations in Colorado.  The alleged rape and the admitted adultery did not take away his eloquence or worldly, upper-class upbringing, but it did strip away his clean-cut image and tarnish his reputation forever.  But even before there was any ammunition, there was a surprisingly large contingent of Kobe-haters (a group of which I am gladly a part).  Whichever you choose–love or hate–you have to admit that Kobe is one of the more fascinating characters to hit the sports stage in a very long time.  I could spend an entire column discussing his intrigue (but I will not–at least not now).  Let us just say that this intrigue coupled with immense past success and an incredible opportunity for future success, makes Kobe a gigantic figure in the world of sports and celebrity today.  If he were to leave us today, the world may not mourn anywhere near the extent it would for some of the others on this list, but, in my opinion, it would take notice and be interested in the story on a larger scale than anyone else in the sporting world, except…

1). Tiger Woods.  And, the #1 was relatively easy.  Tiger has the whole package of celebrity-ism, in the prime of his career, with uncountable successes, and still monumental achievements yet unrealized.  The greatest golfer to ever walk the earth (and one of the most publicized, marketed, and trumpeted people ever) has not yet set the record for major championships and may not have even come close to his eventual stardom.  Add in the fact that he is on the doorstep of becoming the first athlete in history to make a BILLION dollars and is, oh by the way, married to a celebrity and the father of two soon-to-be-famous young children.  I don’t even want to think about it, but a celebrity death of this magnitude may rival John Lennon, Lady Di, and even Michael Jackson.  Probably falling just short of John F. Kennedy or Abraham Lincoln.

Again, let us hope that it will not be for a very, very long time that any of the aforementioned celebrity athletes faces the same legacy questions that are now thrown on the careers of Michael Jackson, Farah Fawcett, and Steve McNair.  Let us take the time to be thankful that we have a chance to appreciate–in their times–these fascinating personalities–complete with their human flaws perfectly complementing their seemingly immortal athletic abilities.