In a speech to his University of North Dakota graduates, Phil Jackson, the coach of the Chicago Bears...excuse me, Bulls, my bad (where's my editor?), Los Angeles Lakers gave who he said was the greatest athlete he has coached.Normally we would think, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Shaq O'Neal among others. No! The greatest athlete Phil Jackson has ever coached goes by the nickname, "the Worm." Yes, Dennis Rodman got his vote.
So that makes me think - what is an athlete. We have people hailing Tiger Woods as the greatest athlete. All Tiger does is swing a pair of clubs, then either drives or walks to his destination. A good cab driver could handle that (funny).
What about baseball players? I don't even consider them athletes. Okay, good eye-hand coordination, but you're only in full action when you're running to the bases. Baseball players are like police officers. In a month, police have maybe one on-foot chase...maybe. So let's do the baseball round off - 25% average batting average; so you're getting on based one out of four times...no real athleticism in that. It's right up there with golf and the WWF...that's right entertainment.
Real athletes are the Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt, Dewayne Wade, Serena Williams (hot mama too) etc, guys who are constantly able to perform at high levels - and literally do what other cannot. So Phil, I agree - Dennis Rodman could play the 48Th minute of a game stronger than the 1st minute; which is pure athleticism.
Chicago Funnies
Randall Watson
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