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  • May 30, 2008 03:34 PM ET

Like father like son

Twizlamic (1-4-1) vs Swayze seeks redemption (75-91-15)
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I'm looking for the best sports tandem of father (or mother) and son (or daughter). I'm looking for two great athletes that played the SAME sport and share half of their chromosomes. There are alot to choose from but for my money I have to go with Rick and Brent Barry.

These two players have acheived true basketball success. Their accolades are exceptional on both the team and individual level.

Don't think so?

Throwdown!


Cassius Clay (56-5, 37 KO's)
Laila Ali (24-0, 21 KO's)

I will save some arguing for my other arguments, I believe this should be effective for the first one.


Nice choice.

Although Muhammad Ali is of course one of the most memorable and important figures in boxing Laila albeit a titleholder is better known for ducking competition. To this day she is known for the following 3 things and in this order:

1) Muhammad Ali's daughter
2) Co-host of American Gladiators
3) Being a boxer

Women's boxing in general is better known as a gimmick than a sport. This takes some of the luster off of this otherwise good father-daughter tandem.

Looking at the Barry's you can see what true success is in terms of father/offspring combos.

Rick Barry:
1975 Finals MVP
1967 All-Star Game MVP
1966 Rookie of the Year
6x All-NBA First Team (1966, 1967, 1974, 1975, 1976)
8x All-Star (1966, 1967, 1973-78)
3x ABA First Team (1970, 1971, 1972)
1973 All-NBA Second Team
NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team (1996)

Brent Barry:

2 time NBA championship (Spurs 2005, 2007)
1996 Slam Dunk Champion
10th all time in career three pointers made

More importantly the Barry's were consumate professionals in a team sport and always fulfilled the roles required of them.


If being Muhammed's daughter is the first thing she is known for, who are his other daughters? He has a bunch of kids, name one other.

Laila is a legitimate boxer, in a legitimate sport. She did not face "gimmick" punches or win numerous "gimmick" world titles.

I would hate for this TD to devolve into The Barry's vs. Laila Ali's sport popularity.

As stated above she is undefeated in 24 fights she has unified three belts over her 8 years in the professional ranks.

Laila is only the second woman to ever win a WBC title. Still think its a gimmick?

It is interesting that the fighters that claim she is dodging do not fight each other as well. Anne Wolf, Vonda Ward, Latisha Robinson, and Rogosina (thank you wikipedia) have only had one bout between all four of them. So who is dodging who.

Muhammed Ali is arguably the greatest Sports Figure of the 20th Century. He revolutionized the sport of boxing, and sports in general. The small space granted us on this website does not do his legacy justice.

One box is all you need to compile the Barry's fine accomplishments.


No one questions Ali's accolades and you good sir are the one that is dead set on Laila as being a great athlete. Who has she beat? You yourself had to wikipedia the top competition in the sport. How can you support her as a top ranked champ when you can not even readily name the top contenders? You did well in choosing arguably the best heavyweight boxer of all time. You did yourself an injustice by picking an athlete from a gimmick sport and touting her as one of the greatest ever.

If stats are all you judge an athlete by then I would question your sports IQ. Brent Barry himself is an outstanding role player I put the most significant of his stats to underscore the fact that he is an all around player that can hurt you from anywhere on the court. Brent like his father was, is a true triple threat. You can also not take away from the fact that both of these players have seen the mountain top in what is the most competitive league in professional basketball.

Laila is just not that great. In time if the sport were more competitive maybe she could have a lasting legacy. She however is a mere foot note and will always be tied to her father. Barry as a player stands on his own


So what would Laila have to do in order to be considered a great athlete?

Would she have to compete against men in boxing?

How about the WNBA, or is that a gimmick as well?

How about Track and Field? I also could not name the best women shot putters or pole vaulters in the world.

There is a gigantic distance between popularity and womens professional sports. But popularity does not equal athletic talent.

If Muhammed's son had half the resume of Laila, I would still have quite an argument on my side.

She is one of the top 5 most accomplished women boxers ever. Muhammed is arguably the most accomplished male boxer in history. Neither Rick nor Brent Barry can be considered even in the top 50 in their sport.

You asked for lineage, I gave you the most accomplished Parent - Child lineage across one sport in all of Modern Sports History.

Across a combined 29 years of professional careers, The Ali's lost only 5 bouts, had 58 KO's, 80 wins, and no less than 30 successful title defenses (19 by Muhammed).

A footnote? or one of the greatest female boxers all time who just happened to be the daughter of the greatest boxer of all time.

Comments (32) Add A Comment

May 30, 2008  03:36 PM ET
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JR. and SR. com on thats got to be it

May 30, 2008  03:45 PM ET
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I know you said "Like Father Like SON", but I figure this counts as well.

May 30, 2008  03:48 PM ET
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good call i didnt even think of that

May 30, 2008  03:49 PM ET
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Ali.. wouldn't have expected it. Nice call!

May 30, 2008  03:49 PM ET
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I'm not a hockey fan but the best father son combo has to be Brent and Bobby Hull.

May 30, 2008  04:01 PM ET
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Brent Barry?
-he's the best you could come up with ?

May 30, 2008  04:03 PM ET
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The Hull's are good too. i don't know how you can top the Ali's though. Muhammed is probably the best boxer of all time, and Leila is probably the best female boxer of all time. That's a tough one to beat.

May 30, 2008  04:03 PM ET
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What about Ken Griffey Jr. and Sr.?
Booby Bonds and Barry Bonds?

May 30, 2008  04:03 PM ET
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Brent Barry?
-he's the best you could come up with ?

jgb | 05/30/08, 04:01 PM

To me championships matter. Thats why the Ali's are such a good pick. I intentionally left it open to any gender combo with Laila and Muhammad in mind.

May 30, 2008  04:05 PM ET
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What about Ken Griffey Jr. and Sr.?
Booby Bonds and Barry Bonds?

Mets Fan is mad at the NL East | 05/30/08, 04:03 PM

Also good picks and actually ones I would have wanted my opponent to pick. See above comment for my reasoning.

May 30, 2008  04:06 PM ET
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I'm not a hockey fan but the best father son combo has to be Brent and Bobby Hull.
TradeAngelos | 05/30/08, 03:49 PM

Bobby and BRETT Hull.

May 30, 2008  04:24 PM ET
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Gordie and Mark Howe
Bobby and Brett Hull

May 30, 2008  04:38 PM ET
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If you are a women's boxing fan go ahead and vote right. If you had to wikipedia Laila just to find out what her record was I think you should be rolling with me.

May 30, 2008  05:01 PM ET
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Bean Bryant and Kobe Bryant are just as impressive as Rick and Brent Barry. The Ali's have both dominated their sport. I can't think of any other tandem where they BOTH dominated.

May 30, 2008  05:06 PM ET
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Dominating women's boxing is like being the toughest kid in the 6th grade. I'm sorry it is just not a sport. BTW if you don't think Rick Barry is a top 50 NBA player you watch too much women's boxing.

May 30, 2008  05:07 PM ET
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Oh! Karl Malone and his daughter (I forget her name). That wouldn't be a bad one.

May 30, 2008  05:07 PM ET
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You also have to consider what have the athletes contributed to the sport. Laila has taken from boxing and not given it anything.

May 30, 2008  05:12 PM ET
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I have all these alternatives but not one reason why Laila Ali should be considered an all time great athlete. Women's boxing is a farce right now. Men's boxing as a sport is even on the ropes. My opponent has not been able to take away anything from my picks. We have 3 great athletes and Laila Ali. This is really a vote on how important you think Laila Ali is and whether or not you think women's boxing has value as a sport, as entertainment or otherwise. Vote with your brain and not your heart. Muhammad Ali was great but the Barry's as a parent child tandem are just way more successful. Rick was able to do what no NBA player ever has. Bring a championship to the Bay Area. Rick is a two time NBA champ and has always played his role like a consumate professional. Laila has beat who again? And if you say Christy Martin I ask who else.

May 30, 2008  05:14 PM ET
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*Brent was on two championship teams not Rick

 
May 30, 2008  05:19 PM ET
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i agree with bartman.





yo

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