mike, i can agree that all the types of athletes you mentioned could be reasonably deemed the best athletes in the world - except hockey ;-) great skaters, for sure. best athletes? they, imho, are specialized like nba ball players. that is why comparing nba players vertical to high jumpers, imho, isn't appropriate. nba players have to do a lot of "other" things and don't focus on one. the proof? why aren't all the tall high jumpers making gazillions in the nba? b/c they can't.
as i said, it depends on your criteria - which is as varied as there are people. if you are bull (i hate that guy!) walton marketing the nba and your job security, guess what criteria you will use? ;-)
i think you are being a little one sided. taking size into account, shaq is incredibly quick. you can't compare mugsy bogues quickness to shaq. for a 7'3", 330 lb guy, shaq is incredibly quick. dare i say that if there was a person that big and quick in the entire united states of america, he would be in the nba making a gagillion bucks? i'd also argue that for his size, charles barkly was very quick. not spud webb quick, mind you. but very quick.
as for free throws... well, shaq can't bend his knees right so, i'm speechless ;-) |
