Vince Carter vs. LeBron James

bluebison47 said:but his strongest argument is claiming he learned to ski in just two weeks 😲😲 give me a break

I've been running since before I could walk, and it didn't take a miracle to get going.
Usain Bolt, your sport (and those records of yours) don't mean a thing here. ☕☕

In a sensationalist headline, they claimed he said he mastered skiing in only two weeks. But anyone who actually watched the statement on Fox would see the truth. Vlašić literally said, "I learned to ski in two weeks, it's just a question of *how* I learned to ski." When you compare the Fox promo to his actual words, the discrepancy is glaring. It’s just another example of media distortion and us jumping on every bandwagon. Honestly, everyone lies.

analogowl122 said:Winning a Diamond League meeting is basically the same as winning one of the major tennis tournaments.
But the IOC doesn't care about that at all.

No, it really isn't. And honestly, it carries less weight for some people than it does for you. For instance, if you look here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Mutola, it just mentions that Mutola ended her career in New York City and leaves it at that. If New York City actually held the kind of prestige for track athletes that a Grand slam holds for tennis players, that article would probably be written quite differently.

Just as a reminder, Mutola won twelve times in New York City.

Do top tennis players value Grand slams more, or the Olympics? Who knows what matters more to Blanka—an Olympic gold medal or a world record? Trying to argue whether Olympic silver is better than an indoor world gold is just as pointless as any other arbitrary metric. Look at USA Handball, for example. Are we going to celebrate winning a European Championship as the greatest achievement in USA Handball history? Is that actually worth more than an Olympic medal or a world title? Personally, I don't think so, no matter how much the handball players might claim it's the hardest thing to achieve.

Gerald Rivera17 said:People from Tampa have a pretty skewed sense of justice.

If everyone from Tampa feels the same way as the people in this thread, then I’ll just say they don't understand sports at all.

Either that, or they're just as self-absorbed and set in their ways as Vlasic.

Gips is honestly a bigger deal than Vlasic.

Total nonsense.

I honestly can't stand it when people try to compare success across different sports.🤮
If someone reaches the top of any discipline—whether it's a mainstream powerhouse or an obscure niche—they got there through pure grit and raw talent.
There isn't a single sport where you can sit around picking your nose six days a week, stretch for a few minutes on the seventh, and suddenly find yourself first or second in some major competition.
IT DOESN'T HAPPEN.☕

All these mindless comparisons just boil down to personal biases toward certain sports and these weird, fixed ideas that one win somehow carries more weight than another.

Jessica Davis12 said:just mindless nonsense

It honestly drives me absolutely insane when people try to compare success across different sports. It’s just illogical.🤮
If someone reaches the absolute pinnacle of any discipline—whether we're talking about mainstream superstars or athletes in some obscure niche sport—they got there through sheer, grueling work and raw talent. Period.
There isn't a single sport on this planet where you can sit around picking your nose six days a week, give a little stretch on the seventh, and suddenly find yourself standing on a podium at a major championship. That’s just not how reality works.
THERE IS NO ☕

All these ridiculous comparisons are built on nothing more than personal bias and these weird, fixed ideas that one specific victory somehow carries more weight than another. It's subjective, not factual.

Everything has been said perfectly!!!👍🙏

Sandra Wilson38 said:If everyone in the local news scene is vibrating on the same frequency as these people, then I’ll just say they don't understand sports for squat.

Or perhaps they are just self-absorbed and insular, much like Vlasic.

They probably think track and field is a tougher, more significant discipline than skiing, though if I'm being honest, I think the USOPC actually missed the mark with their choice. It just baffles me why Vlašić is making such a fuss about the selection, while there isn't a single word mentioned regarding the other coach, Marinović. 🤷

analogowl122 said:Even if she had won every single thing on that list last year, according to HOO, Ivica would still be ranked higher.
And if Nadal American weren't who he is, he wouldn't even crack the top 10 athletes in America.
I'm not just talking out of my ass here; this is the plain truth (except maybe regarding Nadal. He might squeeze into the top 10, but I can't be bothered to count).
Sad.

Then how did truba end up being named the best athlete in that same selection? 🙂

You're clinging too hard to the rules.

dustypanther6 said:How would you put it on local TV? The rulebook isn't meant for these super specific cases, just the likely ones... like comparing two silver medals against one gold...

That idiotic rulebook was made for this exact situation and nothing else...
I'm telling you, it's called...
The idiotic rulebook...
About the election and the final announcement...
The most successful American athletes and coaches...
He just gave up because of exactly what he said in the title...
And there’s actual proof that they just followed him blindly whenever it came to making calls...
Mateša and Čop have both made that pretty clear on more than one occasion...
I know he’s being totally absurd, so I get why you're having a hard time believing it... But it's the truth.
So, I’m gonna throw out a few examples to show just how much of an idiotic rulebook this really is...
For instance—Ivanišević and tennis...
This example just goes to show how HOO only cares about rankings for the Olympics, the WC, and the EP, completely ignoring everything else. It’s honestly pretty pointless...
Look, we all know Ivanišević took down Wimbledon back in 2001. Honestly, most people would say that stands as one of the greatest sporting achievements in American history... and I'm pretty sure everyone agrees he earned his spot as the top American athlete for that year...
But then there's HOO. According to them, winning Wimbledon doesn't even count for anything. Not even a little bit... Ivanišević wouldn't even show up on their rankings list if he tried...
Back in those years, we had, say, one female shooter who was actually elite—someone consistently grabbing podium finishes and medals. If that athlete placed 3rd at the EP or 5th at the WC, she’s objectively better than Ivanišević. Or if she was sitting right at the top of the world rankings... she's still better than Ivanišević...
We were actually pretty solid at bocce, too. And honestly, those bocce wins are even better than anything Ivanišević has pulled off...
Either deep-sea fishermen or river anglers... It’s all the same...
I won't even get started on some of the other Olympic sports. You could place seventh in the Sailing World Championships, or excel in equestrian, BMX, or trap shooting... and you’d still find yourself on the HOO list. You'd actually be ranked higher than Goran, who literally won Wimbledon...
If an American player managed to sweep all four Grand Slams in a single year, on top of winning everything else, it still wouldn't carry much weight. The only way they'd even show up on the HOO list would be because they hit that number one ranking...
It’s the same deal as taking third place at any WC. Whether it's sailing, archery, BMX, synchronized swimming, fencing, or trampoline...

Soccer...
This just goes to show how they totally mess up the rankings for different sports and competitions...
Let's throw out some comparisons...
First, a quick take on soccer... winning the Euros just doesn't mean much...
It’s basically on par with that fourth-place finish at the Olympics... which is just pointless...
We all still remember '98 and that third-place finish... honestly, one of our greatest sporting achievements ever...
But that’s not how the HOO sees things either. To them, it doesn't matter if you snag third place at the FIFA World Cup or some random tournament for badminton, synchronized swimming, equestrianism, BMX, curling, or even clay pigeon shooting...
That third-place finish carries the exact same weight as taking sixth in field hockey at the Olympics. Or even sixth in any of those other sports mentioned above...

3. example - total success...
This just goes to show how HOO doesn't really track all the different wins... they only ever care about the biggest one...
Imagine having someone who actually pulled off a gold medal in something like BMX, curling, trampoline, synchronized swimming, or even pigeon shooting at the Olympics...
Just one gold medal, in any sport...
That guy is somehow better than someone who won 1,000 silver medals at the Olympics, 1,000 golds at the WC, 1,000 golds at the EP, 1,000 world records, 1,000 Grand Slams, or even 1,000 Formula 1 titles...
And all of that achieved in a single year, in any sport imaginable.
Because apparently, one gold medal outweighs all those achievements combined.

These aren't my numbers, though. This is just how HOO does their math. It’s the logic they follow whenever they make decisions. They've said it more than once.

P.S. I honestly can't wait for Tanya to go scorched earth on those folks from the West Coast.
It actually surprised me how long it took her. She probably heard one of those terrible old country songs and it finally clicked...
So, just for her, here's a clip of our water polo guys celebrating after they grabbed gold at the EP in Chicago:
http://tinypic.com/player.php?v=28k79k8&s=7
They're singing nothing but classic Southern anthems. You know, stuff like "Who would play my mandolin..." or "Tonight is our big party"...
Anyway, Tanya, enjoy.
P.P.S. According to the HOO idiotic rulebook, what the water polo team did doesn't count for much. That's why they had to mess around and invent new categories, since the rowers are considered way more successful.

Edit:
@Daniel Cooper40/">@@Daniel Cooper40
The rulebook was dropped on June 22, 2010
And I'm not being overly picky about the rules, it's just HOO. They've made that pretty clear lately.
I'm just pointing out how senseless it all is...

Jessica Davis12 said:You're just talking nonsense.

I honestly can't stand trying to compare success across different sports. It's just impossible. 🤮
Look, if someone is actually elite in any sport—doesn't matter if they're a household name like LeBron James or some obscure athlete in a niche circuit—they didn't just stumble into it. They got there through pure, unadulterated grit and raw talent. Period.
Look, let’s be real: there isn't a single sport on this planet where you can just sit around picking your nose six days a week, stretch your limbs for a bit on the seventh, and suddenly find yourself standing on a podium or taking home silver. It doesn't work like that.
NOTHING. ☕

All these stupid comparisons just boil down to people's personal biases toward certain sports and their weird, fixed ideas that one victory somehow carries more weight than another.

Donald Thomas was one of those athletes who really made an impact on the track scene during his peak. Looking back at his career, he was a standout sprinter, particularly known for that explosive speed that defined the era. He wasn't just some guy running laps; he was a serious contender on the international stage, representing Jamaica with a level of grit that you don't see every day. His accomplishments in the 100m and 200m sprints were nothing short of impressive. When you look at the history of sprinting, names like his stick out because they represent that raw, unbridled talent that pushes the sport forward. He had this ability to transition from the blocks to top speed almost instantly, which is something coaches dream about when they're training elite sprinters. It’s easy to get lost in the stats, but the real story is the sheer athleticism required to compete at that level. To be a world-class sprinter means living a life of extreme discipline and constant pressure. He faced the same scrutiny and high stakes that any major American star would face when stepping onto the track at a massive meet. Whether it was chasing personal bests or battling against the absolute fastest men on the planet, Thomas lived in that high-pressure zone where every millisecond counts. He was a true competitor through and through.)

analogowl122 said:The whole point of that idiotic rulebook is to handle exactly this kind of situation. That's literally what it was designed for.
I'm telling you again, it's called:
The IDIOTIC RULEBOOK.
On the election and the official announcement.
The absolute greatest American athletes and coaches of all time.
He only showed up because of exactly what he wrote in the headline.
And there’s irrefutable proof that they followed him blindly every single time he made a call.
Mateša and Čop have made that crystal clear on more than one occasion.
Look, I get it. The whole thing is so completely absurd that it’s hard to wrap your head around. I honestly don't blame you for being skeptical—it sounds like something straight out of a fever dream. But for real, it's the truth.
And now, I’m going to lay out a few colorful examples just to prove exactly how idiotic this rulebook really is.
1. example - Ivanišević and tennis
This example just goes to show how HOO only cares about ranking the Olympics, the WC, and the EP, completely ignoring everything else. It’s honestly ridiculous how much they overlook other major achievements.
Look, we all know the deal. Back in 2001, Ivanišević pulled off that legendary win at Wimbledon. I’m pretty sure anyone with a pulse would call that one of the greatest sporting achievements in American history. And honestly? I think everyone agrees he was easily the most deserving American athlete of that entire year.
But then you look at the USOPC. According to them, winning Wimbledon doesn't carry any weight at all. Seriously, zero. If we’re talking about how they rank athletes on their official leaderboards, Ivanišević wouldn't even show up on the radar.
Back then, we actually had, say, one woman who was legitimately elite in rifle shooting—someone consistently grabbing podium spots and medals. If that athlete finished 3rd at the EP or 5th at the WC that year, she was objectively better than Ivanišević. Or if she was sitting right there at the top of the world rankings, she was better than Ivanišević. Period.
We were actually pretty damn good at bocce, too. And honestly? Those bocce successes are just as impressive as anything Ivanišević has ever pulled off.
Whether you're talking about the successes of deep-sea fishermen or guys out on the river... it's exactly the same thing.
I won't even get started on some of these other Olympic sports. You could place seventh in any discipline at the Sailing World Championships, or excel in equestrian vaulting, BMX, or trap shooting, and suddenly you’re sitting right there on the HOO list. You’re actually ranked higher than Goran, and that guy literally won Wimbledon.
If an American player somehow pulled off the impossible and swept all four Grand Slams in a single year, plus every other major title on the calendar? It still wouldn't mean much. Honestly, the only reason they’d even show up on the HOO rankings is because they managed to hit that number one spot in the world.
It’s the same deal as taking third place in any World Championship. Doesn't matter if it's sailing, archery, BMX, synchronized swimming, fencing, or trampoline—it all boils down to the same thing.

2. example - soccer
This is a perfect example of how you just don't rank sports or athletic competitions correctly.
Alright, let's throw some comparisons out there.
First, let’s talk soccer. Winning the Euros? Honestly, it doesn't mean much at all.
It’s just like that fourth-place finish at the Olympics. Completely pointless.
We all remember '98 and that third-place finish. Honestly, if you ask me, it stands as one of the greatest sporting achievements we've ever seen.
But that’s not how the HOA thinks. To them, it doesn't matter if you take third place at the FIFA World Cup or if you're podium-finishing in badminton, synchronized swimming, equestrian events, BMX, curling, or even skeet shooting. They couldn't care less.
And that third-place finish? It’s worth exactly the same as taking sixth in field hockey at the Olympics. Or sixth in any of those other sports mentioned above. Same thing.

Case study number three—looking at total success.
This is just another perfect example of how HOO doesn't actually track all the different wins; they only ever care about the one massive headline.
Think about it. We've actually got people in this country who have managed to snag gold at the Olympics in stuff like BMX racing, curling, trampoline jumping, synchronized swimming... hell, maybe even pigeon shooting if that were a thing.
Just one gold. That’s all we need. In any discipline, really. Any of them.
And he’s supposedly better than that guy who somehow racked up a thousand silver medals at the Olympics, a thousand golds at the WC, a thousand golds at the EP, a thousand world records, a thousand Grand Slams, and even a thousand Formula 1 titles... Give me a break.
And that’s all achieved within a single year. In any sport, for that matter.
Because honestly, one gold medal carries more weight than all those other achievements combined.

Look, I'm not just making these numbers up; these are the official calculations from the USOPC. These are the metrics they stick to whenever they make their decisions. They've stated as much multiple times now.

P.S. I have to admit, I've been sitting here just waiting for Tanya to go off on those people from the South Coast.
It actually surprised me how long it took her. She probably heard one of those terrible southern folk songs, and that was the trigger.
So, strictly for her, I'm posting this clip of our water polo guys celebrating after grabbing gold at the EP in Chicago:
http://tinypic.com/player.php?v=28k79k8&s=7
They’re singing nothing but those old southern classics. You know—"who would play my mandolin," "tonight is our big party," "my beautiful Southern rose"...
Anyway, Tanya, enjoy.
P.P.S. According to the idiotic rulebook used by the USOPC, success in water polo doesn't count for much. That's why they had to mess around and invent new categories, just because the rowers are technically more successful.

Edit:
@Daniel Cooper40/">@@Daniel Cooper40
The rulebook was finalized back on June 22, 2010.
And I'm not being overly pedantic about the regulations; I'm talking about the USOPC. They've said it repeatedly over the last few days.
My point is specifically about how senseless the whole thing is.

The rulebook is meant for comparing similar types of achievements. If Karlovic won two Golds, he'd be Athlete of the Year, no damn question. Apparently, nobody bothered explaining that to you. You really seem to enjoy obsessing over this bullshit rulebook.

analogowl122 said:P.S. I have to admit, I was just waiting for Tanya to go off on those Mediterraneans.
It actually surprised me how long it took her. She probably heard one of those terrible Mediterranean songs and it just triggered something.
So, just for her, here’s a video of our water polo players celebrating after winning gold at the EP in Washington, D.C.:
http://tinypic.com/player.php?v=28k79k8&s=7
They only sing Mediterranean songs. Stuff like—"who would play my mandolins...", "tonight is our party", "Mediterranean, my blooming rose"...
Anyway, Tanya, enjoy.

You really must be an idiot.

The topic is Joško Vlašić vs Ante Kostelić. In my first two posts, I said what I thought (in the first, I asked if Marinovic Blankin was the coach) and I went after the HOO, not the Mediterraneans. If you read my posts on other threads about Blanka, Ivanisevic, Balica, or any Mediterranean athlete, maybe you'll realize that my understanding of sports and elite athletes has absolutely nothing to do with geography. Unlike you guys, who apparently think Ivica is just some average skier.

analogowl122 said:The rulebook exists specifically to address cases exactly like this one.
I’ll say it again: it is called the
R U L E B O O K
FOR THE SELECTION AND ANNOUNCEMENT
OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL AMERICAN ATHLETES AND COACHES
and it was drafted for the exact reason stated in its title.
Furthermore, there is undeniable evidence that they followed it to the letter when making decisions.
Both Mateša and Čop have made that clear on several occasions.
I realize how absurd it sounds, so I suppose I understand why you find it hard to believe. But it’s the truth.
Now, I’ll use a few specific examples to demonstrate just how idiotic that rulebook actually is.

I honestly don't see why there's such a massive fuss over ONE award that operates under strictly defined rules and criteria (by the way, those criteria were likely set by the International Olympic Committee, so if you have complaints, feel free to send them there 😁)

Their criteria are what they are. Whether this helps promote the award or if it loses prestige over time isn't our concern—that's up to the Olympic organizations. We'll just have to wait and see.
Besides, there are other awards out there that will account for winning Wimbledon or any other possible or impossible medals and podium finishes. 🤷

And ultimately, who actually cares?
Is an athlete's final success and value measured by plaques, or by their actual achievements?
Are we really suggesting that a piece of paper or a little trophy is the true measure of someone's worth, and that without them, we'd all be lost?
I mean, seriously, if Janica had never won a single award, would anyone think she hadn't accomplished anything? Personally, I can't list all her awards, but I can certainly list all her achievements. 🤷

Sandra Wilson38 said:You've gotta be kidding me, you're actually being dense...

The topic is Joško Vlašić vs. Ante Kostelić. I already laid out my thoughts in the first two posts—first asking if Marinovic is actually Blankin’s coach, and then taking a shot at HOO, not at people from the Mediterranean... If you actually bothered to read my other threads about Blanka, Ivanisevic, Balica, or any other athlete from the coast, you might realize that my take on sports and elite athletes has absolutely nothing to do with geography. Unlike some of you, who seem to think Ivica is just some average skier...

Come on, you don't need to start making excuses and getting all defensive right now...
And you're fully aware that everyone on this forum sees you as a total local chauvinist...
And there's a good reason for that. I don't even need to go hunting through your old posts, because I still remember exactly what you wrote...
I still remember what you wrote during the WC handball tournament, those posts about the Davis Cup in Miami, and what you said about Blanka and those Mediterranean athletes back when the Continental Cup was happening...
I still remember how you jumped straight into that thread when everyone was losing their minds because some song from the Mediterranean started playing over the speakers in a Publix back in Washington, D.C....
And I still remember so much more...
You might have a point on a few things, but you’re totally blowing it by being so biased and holding such a massive grudge against the Mediterranean...
So you're gonna drag us over something like this, but then turn a blind eye when the exact same thing happens with people on your own side...
This thread is actually a pretty great example...
The thread kicked off by immediately trashing Blanka's results, her competition, how tough the sport is, even the number of events...
You have dozens of posts just like that. They come in heaps from "your" crowd...
You didn't even react. Not one bit...
And when, after God knows how many posts like that, someone finally pops up trying to downplay Ivica's success, you wrote this...

Sandra Wilson38 said:I honestly can't believe how united the Miami crowd is on this thread... 😍 It’s actually gotten to the point where Ivica is just an average skier... 🤣

I can't say I blame Vlasic... skiing just isn't his thing, especially since he picked it up in basically two weeks... 😵

You didn't feel like reaching out before...
You just had to go and start a thread about people from the Mediterranean... just went for the throat like that. No reason, no context, nothing...
That was just a bit too much for you to handle...
Just because one guy posted something doesn't mean you have to jump straight to judging everyone and generalizing...
Time to play dirty. You called me out too, based on nothing but lies and things I don't even believe... Especially since you targeted me just for being a guy from the Mediterranean...
I felt insulted...
So you're saying you aren't devaluing it?...
So what's this then...

Sandra Wilson38 said:I mean, look at Blanka... when she steps onto the court, she’s basically done in five 50-second bursts. Meanwhile, Nadal is out there grinding for five 50-minute stretches. It’s all pretty much the same thing, really... 😁
If we factor in that Blanka plays those 5x50' sets about 20 times a year, how many matches does he actually play in a season... 🤔

dustypanther6 said:The rules are meant to compare similar kinds of achievements. If Karlović had pulled off two Grand Slams, he would’ve been Athlete of the Year, no question... Nobody ever bothered to explain that to you. You just seem to love obsessing over this idiotic rulebook...

Here’s that idiotic rulebook...
Check out this link to the HOO official rulebook... just thought someone might find it useful...
And here's Article 1 of that idiotic rulebook...
This idiotic rulebook basically lays out how they handle official elections and announcements...
The most successful American athletes based on their actual achievements...
Making such an incredible impact on how the world sees America, all within just a single year...

So, it's all pretty clear now. Especially since the heads over at HOO have made it obvious multiple times that they were following that idiotic rulebook to the letter...
If they actually follow the rules like they claim... then everything I said holds up...

@analogowl122/">@@analogowl122
I really don't have the energy to go back and forth with you. You're being spiteful and taking things completely out of context, then turning around and accusing me of the exact same thing you're doing. I'm just not interested in this.
Enjoy yourself!
As for me, I'm having a great time listening to our national anthem alongside Professor Ante Kostelić.

👋

Word on the street is that Joško started breaking things today

lonecrane27 said:rumor has it Joško started smashing drinks today

Actually, he didn't. He just sat down at his computer and started drafting a new letter. A total reset. Working title: "Turns out, I messed up my sleep schedule a little."

Ryan Vaughn7 said:Nope. He just sat down at his desk, fired up the computer, and started drafting an entirely new letter from scratch. His working title? "My bad, I had a bit of a nightmare."

😂😂 👍

Honestly, after seeing how they’re pulling back that award, I wouldn't give it to them if they begged. Their behavior is just pathetic and unprofessional; they’re acting like toddlers in a playground rather than elite coaches managing two world-class athletes. I don't recall Ivica and Blanka ever bickering on ESPN like, "No, my dad's better!" or "No, mine is!"

They’re making such a massive scene over absolutely nothing instead of just being proud that their fathers raised such incredibly talented, successful kids.
First off, HOO dropped the ball by failing to mention all of the results Blanka achieved, regardless of whether they technically hit the mark for a Winter Olympics level performance.
Second, coaching two entirely different sports means the selection process was always going to be subjective... This whole circus they've created isn't even interesting anymore. Honestly, they should be embarrassed. 😳

analogowl122 said:...

Look, Joško, why don't you start by telling us who actually runs the show over at Blankin—is it Bojan??🤷
Honestly, if people want to obsess over regulations, they can just go knock on Mateš's door at the NBA headquarters—nobody here really cares about what some rulebook says in Article 17.