Throwdowns > Closed

YODA said 03/28, 10:13 PM
MJ and Wayne may be "The Greatest Ever" in their respective sports. This TD compares sports' icons...with a twist.

Topic: Who would've been better: Michael Jordan at Hockey or Wayne Gretzky at Basketball?


The answer: "His Airness", Michael Jordan.


I'll focus on 3 reasons for my conclusion...


1. Tale of the Tape: MJ: 6'6", Wayne: 6'0".
Both were avg height for their own sport in the 80s/90s. But when roles are reversed, it's advantage MJ.
A 6'6" frame is an asset in hockey, both because of the physicality of the game and the reach advantage of a longer stick.
Conversely, Wayne's tiny stature (as an NBA player) is an obstacle and affects the facets of the game where he could effectively compete.


2. Athletic Versatility: Wayne was a hockey prodigy, a specialist since age 5. MJ was an all around athlete (Baseball, Track, Football, Basketball) up to the HS level.
Bith guys had the timing, creativity, and finesse that theoretically "should" have allowed them to achieve elite status in a different sport.
But with MJ, we some evidence that he CAN cross over.


Reason 3: Next Arg.


Good luck, Sith Lord.

YODA said 03/29, 03:19 PM
"How many 6'6" players have had success in the NHL...Bet you can't name 3!"

I bet I can.

Zdeno Chara - 6'11" (09-10 Norris trophy, Top D-man).
Tyler Myers - 6'8" (09-10 Rookie of the Year)
Chris Pronger - 6'6" - former MVP

Height simply doesn't impede skating ability. NHL recruits are getting taller each year. Would Mario have been more Super at 6'1" instead of 6'4"?

You're right about Gretz and his early LaCrosse success. Apologies for the ommission. Both were athletic as kids. I still feel more confident in MJ's sample as he played mutliple sports to ages 14-15 at Elmsley Laney HS in NC.


Reason # 3 for MJ: "Approach to Winning"

As Argos' correctly mentioned in the thread, Gretz's strength was his offensive "vision". He antipicated the play with uncanny ability and rewrote the record books on offense. But as we all know, offense is just half the battle.
Jordan had offensive gifts but it was coupled with an unsatiable desire to shut down his foes on defense. MJ was a 9 time All Defensive NBA First Teamer.
While Gretz could fill a specific role in the NBA, MJ would have had multiple options/opportunities in the NHL.

YODA said 03/31, 02:28 AM
Jordan an enforcer? That's pretty funny.
But YES, MJ's size provides more options than Lil' Wayne's.
MJ could have been a nifty Selke-type winger or like you've now put forth, an NHL D-man. The next Bobby Orr? Ha - Not too shabby.
It's daffy to think that tall NHL forwards (eg. Staal, Jagr, Mario) are at any disadvantage to avg height ones.

As for an NHL player's duties, I also have to disagree.
This isn't the NFL; Hockey's an end-to-end game (like basketball). If the other team has the puck, forwards play an important defensive role. (Likewise, D-men contribute on offense.)
Gretz wasn't defensively "irresponsible" but it was certainly not a strength. He didn't have a 2-way game like several other NHL centers in the era (eg. Messier, Yzerman, Trottier). Gretz's "vision" didn't translate to defensive prowess in his own league - the NHL. I don't think he'd bring it to the NBA.

We've discussed MJ in some detail, but you've not yet illustrated the potential advantages for #99. As such, I have little left to rebut.


So in this battle of probabilities, I will just say...

"Always bet on black!" - Wesley Snipes, Passenger 57


Good TD, Darth.