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Who is the best damn athlete in the world?
scores for each category (1-10) and a total out of 50.
I would have to agree, the guy is amazing and IMO a class act. I thought him calling out the Patriots as turds for there actions wasnt that bad of a call. Anyone else saying would have been laughed out of the league.
scores for each category (1-10) and a total out of 50.
1. LADAINIAN TOMLINSON (Résumé)
Wow factor — LaDainian Tomlinson has played six years in the NFL. He ranks 12th on the NFL's all-time touchdown list. Wow. If he has another season like last year, he'll rank fourth after seven seasons. It's nuts. Score: 10.
Athletic ability — If you score between 25 and 29 on the Body Mass Index scale, you are considered overweight. Anything 30 and above is considered obese. At 5'10, 221 pounds, LaDainian Tomlinson scores out as a 32 on the BMI. And he runs a 4.4. This says more about the insanity of the BMI than it does about LT, but it sure is fun to think that, by one definition, an obese guy is the best athlete in the world. Score: 10.
Showmanship — Coaches practically beg their players to act like they've been there before. But that doesn't stop even prolific touchdown scorers like Terrell Owens and Chad Johnson from becoming complete jackasses when they break the plane. LT actually acts like he's been there before, which he has, 111 times. Everyone may have their own definition of showmanship, but I'll take breaking tackles and breaking records over breakdancing any day. Score: 10.
Idolization — Tomlinson is not merely idolized, he is genuinely beloved. (And not just by fantasy football owners.) Do you think when he was wearing it former Charger QB John Hadl could have imagined a sea of people wearing No. 21 jerseys? Score: 10.
Things you've never seen before — Some backs have breakaway speed. Others have the power to run over middle linebackers. Some have soft hands. Others have perfect touch on option passes. Nobody — not even the great Walter Payton — did all these things as well as LaDainian Tomlinson does them. Which is why when he hangs it up, the Payton-Barry Sanders-Emmitt Smith debate will be about who is the second greatest running back of all time. Score: 10.
Total: 50
Wow factor — LaDainian Tomlinson has played six years in the NFL. He ranks 12th on the NFL's all-time touchdown list. Wow. If he has another season like last year, he'll rank fourth after seven seasons. It's nuts. Score: 10.
Athletic ability — If you score between 25 and 29 on the Body Mass Index scale, you are considered overweight. Anything 30 and above is considered obese. At 5'10, 221 pounds, LaDainian Tomlinson scores out as a 32 on the BMI. And he runs a 4.4. This says more about the insanity of the BMI than it does about LT, but it sure is fun to think that, by one definition, an obese guy is the best athlete in the world. Score: 10.
Showmanship — Coaches practically beg their players to act like they've been there before. But that doesn't stop even prolific touchdown scorers like Terrell Owens and Chad Johnson from becoming complete jackasses when they break the plane. LT actually acts like he's been there before, which he has, 111 times. Everyone may have their own definition of showmanship, but I'll take breaking tackles and breaking records over breakdancing any day. Score: 10.
Idolization — Tomlinson is not merely idolized, he is genuinely beloved. (And not just by fantasy football owners.) Do you think when he was wearing it former Charger QB John Hadl could have imagined a sea of people wearing No. 21 jerseys? Score: 10.
Things you've never seen before — Some backs have breakaway speed. Others have the power to run over middle linebackers. Some have soft hands. Others have perfect touch on option passes. Nobody — not even the great Walter Payton — did all these things as well as LaDainian Tomlinson does them. Which is why when he hangs it up, the Payton-Barry Sanders-Emmitt Smith debate will be about who is the second greatest running back of all time. Score: 10.
Total: 50
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