A Response
By Tom Grout
February 27, 2008
Ok, so you guys have brought up some things that I am going to have to respond to.
First of all I don’t write much about Gopher basketball because I never get to see them play. They have been on ESPN twice. I saw a whole game once and part of the other game. It’s not only hard to root for a team you never see it’s also hard to write about them. As you can see I don’t get the Big Ten Network.
I would love to watch the Gopher basketball team and that includes the girl’s team but until some things are done about the BTN I can’t. I do understand there may be something brewing about the availability of BTN coming soon. The best way to get a following for your team is to make them accessible.
I haven’t written much about our Timberwolves because there really hasn’t been much to talk about. I will say my youngest son went to the Dallas game on Sunday and got some autographs and on Saturday he watched the Wild practice and got autographs there too. He said the Wild players were far nicer than the Timberwolve players for whatever that is worth.
As far as basketball, for me anyway, it really doesn’t start until the playoffs or the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA is far more entertaining than the NBA by the way. I am no expert on either league so sometimes I hate to say too much and show my ignorance. I like to comment on things I know more about because it can make me look smarter than I really am and I’m for anything that makes me look smarter. I am also ignorant when it comes to wrestling so I am glad we have TDog and Randlars here to explain the sports own little art form.
On to the topic of who are the best athletes. That is not an easy thing to declare as in each sport it takes different abilities and talents to be successful. Before I go on I will say after speaking to my wife who saw a program about the guys who fly the Blue Angel planes, these guys are the winners hands down. At certain speeds they will become color blind and at other speeds they could pass out or become incoherent. There were a few other things too that they had to contend with that I have forgotten, and yes I do listen to my wife I just don’t always here it, all at speeds I can not fathom. So I submit them as the best athletes.
I also have heard that the race car drivers were thought to be the best and they certainly deserve a spot on the list. I think today they have made their cars safer than in the past so it isn’t so life threatening as it used to be and I think that is one reason they are thought to be the best because of the danger.
As far as basketball players being the best, I agree with TDog. Besides running and jumping why are they more special than hockey players who skate and soccer players who run? Wrestlers are in great shape but so are boxers and ultimate fighters and football players who not only run but hit each other. Baseball players have other talents especially hand/eye coordination to use not only in hitting a baseball but catching one too. Track stars and anyone in an Olympic sport, except maybe curling, are well trained and honed to compete against the best at that sport in the world.
Again, every sport has it’s own level of talent and abilities and to choose one over the other as the best athletes, at least for me, is very difficult and next to impossible.
On another note, the Wild picked up another tough guy as the traded for Chris Simon. I’m not sure anyone has been suspended more for his actions on the ice than him. The Wild GM must have agreed with me that the team was getting too soft. Now if Boogaard could come back with Fedoruk, Voros, and Simon what a line they could make.
Tom, good buddy, the topic was not "best ahtlete" but "best CONDITIONED athlete". And I'm not sure Blue Angel pilots really qualify here. I know they get incoherent when flying their jets, but that happens on AirForce One as well, and can last for months afterward.
I think the BTN has us all frustrated beyond words. I was really into the Goph Women's BB team and now, nothing. And I could really get into the Men's team, but no coverage. And Bibsly, you're right, its all a money grab by the Big Ten, and its sickening.
[Nice try, Tom, to turn the discussion back to hockey]
I stand by the Blue Angels as the conditioning they go through is not unlike any athlete goes through. They just amaze me. Most athletes no matter what the sport, except maybe curling, are in great condition. It still is hard to compare it from sport to sport to say who is the best conditioned. But I hope we get some good response it will be interesting to see other peoples take.
The only incoherent thing on AirForce One is it's passenger.
An excellent point on the jet pilots. I might go along with Mrs. Grout on that one.
Also, I have the BTN and you don't see much of anything anyway. That network must be run by the government to be so ineffective.
hahahahahahahhahahahah!!!
Good ones, one and all!!
Tom -- Perhaps the Blue Angels are in the running for "best conditioned people", as are Navy Seals, etc., but Tom, again, the topic is "best conditioned athletes". Where in the sports pages are the Blue Angel pilot standings? Who is the MVP of the league? Whose got the best win-loss record?
Sandbar -- with BTN do you get an occasional Gophs wrestling meet?
BTN regularily has wrestling on Friday nights. I've seen quite a few different teams wrestle. They will have up to three matches a night. I think I've seen the Gophers 3 times. I still can't figure out what's wrong with them. Rivera has been beaten in almost every tough matchup he's had when I've been watching. And Reiter doesn't look like the Reiter of old. It also really shows why the last two weights are so important. J usually recruits those weights first but he's a little short there. It'll be interesting when some of their new wresters get in next year. Matousek, Sanders maybe, they are a who's/who of wresting in the younger part of the roster.
BTW, the can container in EL is full now!
I envy you BTN. Reiter must be nursing an injury. Manny was hot at the beginning of the season, but not now! How about Dustin getting pinned for the first time in his career. Nord & Berhow may develop, but we sure have been spoiled for a lot of years at the uppers. Can't believe that Eidy hasn't developed yet. This was suppose to be the year for the individual titles. Not sure who, other than the amazing Mr. Ness, will still be standing.
I'll bet EL is full, glad that's not my department.
TDog you just want me to say that wrestlers are the most athletic since that is what you are. Ok, so the Rock, Stone Cold and the Crusher were the finest tuned athletes in the world. :)
Puh-leeze!!
Although wrestlers are superbly conditioned athletes, I doubt that they have the ability to keep up with the basketballers of any era!
The aerobic and anaerobic exercises that hoopsters are conditioned to, I believe far exceeds any of the afore mentioned. Fighter pilots? Nah! The Rock and Stone Cold, nope! (although the Hulkster could actually hoop)
Muscle mass does not have the stamina that lean muscle does. It's a biological fact. (cheetah vs. lion)
I still contend that Basketball players are the finest conditioned athletes on the planet!
I remember when in high school basketball practice we'd watch the wrestlers doing all the stairs and wind sprints and we all were thankful that we didn't have to work as hard as they did. I'll stick with wrestlers (real wrestlers, not the Hulkster) and after talking to my father-in-law who is a pilot, the jet pilots might get my overall nod. I wasn't aware of all they go through just to be able to even breathe or even see.
Congrats to the FF wrester Drew Ross on his state title. Alot of people don't realise just how hard that is to do. Hopefull the Long kid from West Central can get a title in a couple years. He's only a sophomore and he's very good.
I got to watch a lot of hockey this weekend and I must say that a bigger rink would really open up the game. When they go 4-on-4 and the ice gets opened up, it really gets fun to watch. No wonder Olympic hockey is so interesting. Also, the Gopher hockey sure does have some re-building to do.
Tom -- not necessarily, unless that's what you believe, I'm just trying to keep you on topic. Whose your next candidate, the Secret Service guys?
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