Who's Better...Present Day Players and Teams or the Past?

[TheStarOne]

Scotty Pippen,Oscar Robertson,Goose Gossage, Jack Nicklaus.........have insinuated they and or their teams were better than present day teams.

I've played sports. And I say, present day athletes are bigger, stronger,faster but the TEAMS aren't as good as teams of the past.

Would the 90's COWBOYS have beaten the Patriots of the 2000 decade or the Broncos of 2015?
Would the Chicago Bulls dynasty teams beat the GS Warriors?
Nicklaus vs. Spieth, or Tiger Woods

 

[Dude]

Good question, it the oldies that set the stage, and then new generations perfect the play. Also, much technology involved today in sports that the pioneers did not have. Both are great for different reasons.

 

[Dude]

Hey this is a great thread, man, I can dig it. What is everyone's opinion of the OP question, it's a good one.

 

[SJ76]

Scotty Pippen,Oscar Robertson,Goose Gossage, Jack Nicklaus.........have insinuated they and or their teams were better than present day teams.

I've played sports. And I say, present day athletes are bigger, stronger,faster but the TEAMS aren't as good as teams of the past.

Would the 90's COWBOYS have beaten the Patriots of the 2000 decade or the Broncos of 2015?
Would the Chicago Bulls dynasty teams beat the GS Warriors?
Nicklaus vs. Spieth, or Tiger Woods

Easy. You see any Bo Jacksons, Deion Sanders, MJs, Lawrence Taylors, Nolan Ryan type athletes today?


I don't see a running back in the last 10 years even close to Bo. Or a DB like Deion. Not to mention both played 2 sports and you don't see that today.

 

[SJ76]

As far as golf, the competition today is loaded. Jack had a few guys at the top that could play with him, but what he did was pretty impressive. Would he do it today? I don't think so

 

[Manster7588]

Players today will be better because of improved nutrition and strength training,and better equipment, its unfair to try to make comparisons. I think you have to judge players against their peers then try to figure how players would compare had the played in different eras.

 

[Cave_Johnson]

I'll tell you what the 90's Bulls were better at than the Warriors: Having first names that weren't fucking stupid.

Michael, Scottie, and Dennis. Fine.

Stef-en, Draymond, and Klay?

I've heard of Steve-en and even Stef-on. But Stef-en? No, sorry. Not calling you that. You're Steve. Just because your mom's hot doesn't mean I have to agree with her on how to pronounce your stupid-ass name.

Draymond. Speaks for itself. Dumb.

Klay. Is it short for Clayton? Nope. Just Klay. With a "K". More like Gay Thompson amiright?

 

[Sharkonabicycle]

Those comments are generally completely stupid because ALL the games have evolved since then.

Golf = Better clubs/balls for distance/accuracy, but longer and more difficult holes now.
Basketball = Stronger/faster, but no arm bar and easier rules and all relative (other team stronger/faster).
Football = All relative (other team stronger/faster).

Basically you have a bunch of old farts that probably have mental issues sitting around saying, "WHEN I USED TO PLAY, IT WAS blah blah blah BLAAAAH blah blah blah." While their crotch fruit sits nearby saying, "Sure Dad." and then some dumbass ESPN intern is forced to go interview these mindless buzzards and write an article about it.

 

[broncosmitty]

Sports have been going downhill since Abel got picked second in dodgeball.

 

[SonnyCID]

Easy. You see any Bo Jacksons, Deion Sanders, MJs, Lawrence Taylors, Nolan Ryan type athletes today?


I don't see a running back in the last 10 years even close to Bo. Or a DB like Deion. Not to mention both played 2 sports and you don't see that today.

I think there is more great athletes today.

But they dont stand out as much because the overall competition is better. And they dont play two sports because with the size of superstar contracts, they have to commit year round to their sport.

 

[Broncos6482]

Today's athletes are bigger, stronger, and faster, thanks to increased understanding of nutrition and their year round ability to train and work out (they don't have to have jobs in the offseason like old timers used to).

Then you have technological advancements that have made their equipment lighter while providing more durability, plus it's easier to scout now thanks to the proliferation of video equipment and how you can literally take game tapes with you anywhere on a tablet, and today's players as a whole are much more educated about the sport they play.

Then you have specialization in sports (especially pitchers in baseball) where guys are trained to do one thing and to do it really really well, rather than be good at a lot of different things. Another example would be the run stuffing DT that's taken out on third down, or the pass rush specialist, third down back, etc.

Look at it like this: the 1966 Green Bay Packers, the first Super Bowl champions, didn't have a single player that weighed 300 pounds. In fact, their biggest player was DT Jim Weatherwax, who stood 6'7" and weighed 260 pounds. Meanwhile, the 2015 Tennessee Titans, the worst team in the NFL last year, had 13 players that weighed at least 300 pounds, and 20 players that outweighed the biggest guy on the Packers 1966 team.

If you could invent a time machine, and you sent the 2015 Titans back in time to play the 1966 Packers, the Titans would mop the floor with them. They're simply too big, fast, and strong.

 

[Clayton]

If you could invent a time machine, and you sent the 2015 Titans back in time to play the 1966 Packers, the Titans would mop the floor with them. They're simply too big, fast, and strong.

Yeah, I fully agree.

I do think there are standout players from the past that you could take to today's game and they'd flourish. MJ, Magic etc would likely be top players in the NBA today if they adjusted their outside shot for today's game. Jim Brown could play in today's NFL and do Adrian Peterson stuff if he had today's medical staff. But the 2nd tier NBA players and NFL players from yesterday wouldn't stand a chance today at all. A guy like John Starks who was a semi-big star back in the day probably would have a hard time making a starting lineup in today's NBA. Most of the older NFL olineman and Dlinemen would get beat by your average Ohio St or Alabama lineman.

As far as MLB is concerned, I think everyone pretty much agrees to keep players relative to their era but steroids just gets people too mad to put that era next to the rest of them.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Scotty Pippen,Oscar Robertson,Goose Gossage, Jack Nicklaus.........have insinuated they and or their teams were better than present day teams.

I've played sports. And I say, present day athletes are bigger, stronger,faster but the TEAMS aren't as good as teams of the past.

Would the 90's COWBOYS have beaten the Patriots of the 2000 decade or the Broncos of 2015?
Would the Chicago Bulls dynasty teams beat the GS Warriors?
Nicklaus vs. Spieth, or Tiger Woods

NBA...I played basketball at a decent level...had some small college scholarship offers...the 80s and 90s era was better imo...the emergence of the more athletic 2 & 3 position, more balance with more legit low post players.

NFL...this one is a little tougher to call...clearly teams were better in the pre-FA years. But overall I think the players today are faster/stronger/bigger...too bad QB play has declined.

Golf...I have to disagree with Jack...the depth of field in golf today are substantially stronger than most any period Jack played in imo.

MLB...hard to say, I stopped having serious interest after the strike yr...yet to rekindle it.

 

[PDay8810]

Not a slam dunk for me.
I think you have to make the playing field level and judge the individual. Put yesterday's player in today's world and the training amenities and tell me a Bart Starr wouldn't be a winner. It's all about the make-up and mindset of the player and the intangibles would count. No head slaps or 260 lb guards and I tell you the Merlin Olsen's, Alan Page's and Bob Lilly's would adapt and still be special gifted football players. Greatness should be just that.

 

[Clayton]

too bad QB play has declined.

2015 had the highest rate of passing plays, completions, attempts, completion percentage, passing yards, touchdowns, and lowest interception rate. Because QB play was so flat and good overall, it was the top defenses in the Super Bowl. That and oline play has regressed.

 

[dkmightyhammer]

If you gave modern golfers the equipment that Nicklaus had they'd probably quit playing. Golf, probably more than any other sport has made massive technological strides.

Hockey goalies have also enjoyed some nice perks with equipment compared to goalies from 3 or 4 decades ago.

 

[PDay8810]

too bad QB play has declined.

not really....high school coaches spreading the field while drawing up plays in the dirt for 7 on 7 success has changed the game. 7 outta 10 QB's make taking a snap under center an adventure cause they haven't done it. O-line play is nothing like it was 20 years ago. The game has evolved and QB is just the biggest example.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

2015 had the highest rate of passing plays, completions, attempts, completion percentage, passing yards, touchdowns, and lowest interception rate. Because QB play was so flat and good overall, it was the top defenses in the Super Bowl. That and oline play has regressed.

I can buy the stats angle because the rules are geared for the OFC and the ball to be in the air more...that said...it seems like the number of teams with QBs capable of delivering in the playoffs when you are playing the best DEFs is still relatively low.

Some examples...Carson Palmer, Matt Ryan, Dalton...these guys are going to put up good numbers nearly every year, but when the rubber meet the road...they struggle more than they did in the reg. season...consistently.

 

[Clayton]

not really....high school coaches spreading the field while drawing up plays in the dirt for 7 on 7 success has changed the game. 7 outta 10 QB's make taking a snap under center an adventure cause they haven't done it. O-line play is nothing like it was 20 years ago. The game has evolved and QB is just the biggest example.

I'm not 100% on this but didn't QBs used to sit for a year or two? It seems like the trend for the past decade is to throw them in immediately whether they are ready or not. I'm not sure that was always the case.

It has become very apparent that oline play has gone downhill because of spread schemes in college and lack of reps in the NFL. It does seem like olinemen get hurt all of the time, too, but maybe that was always the case.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

not really....high school coaches spreading the field while drawing up plays in the dirt for 7 on 7 success has changed the game. 7 outta 10 QB's make taking a snap under center an adventure cause they haven't done it. O-line play is nothing like it was 20 years ago. The game has evolved and QB is just the biggest example.

Agree 100%, but your example in bold kinda supports my claim...doesn't?

I'm not saying the talent is worse, but the preparation and training to play NFL football is not the same as it was 20 yrs ago.