Author: mlinh

The Greatest Of All Time—or more simply, The GOAT.

It is the title bestowed upon one person that is perceived as superior to all the rest. It is the person believed to be the best basketball player of all-time. It belongs to the one who not only battles against the competition, but also against time, history and health, and comes out victorious.

There are many legends, but there is only one GOAT.

But who is it? What criteria determines the GOAT?

Is it stats? Is it rings? Is it longevity? A mixture of the three? Something else?

This is an age-old debate.

You hear it when you go to the barbershop to get a shape-up. You hear it in between pickup games at the local rec center. You hear it at the lunch table in school. You flip on the TV, or play that video you scrolled onto in your newsfeed, and watch two analysts hollering back-and-forth in disgust that the other believes that ‘that guy’ is the GOAT. You even hear it at the park where the old-timer in the neighborhood is telling you about so-and-so, who back in the day could jump up and put a quarter on the top of the backboard, and could have beaten Michael Jordan one-on-one had he just made it.

You probably even made a case for the player that you believe is deserving of the title.

The debate has been going on for decades and has no signs of slowing up. The more time that passes, the more it intensifies.

Throughout the history of the GOAT debate, the people have been left without a definitive answer. However, one guy believes to have solved the timeless debate once and for all.

Ben Hinson is the founder of Hickam’s Dictum, a business intelligence blog where he shares tactical insights across various industries. On Hickam’s Dictum, Hinson published an article titled ‘The G.O.A.T: Who is the Best Basketball Player of all Time (mid 70s — early 00s)?’ In the article, he ranks the NBA’s greatest players of all time from a playoff performance perspective using a holistic weighted ranking system.To ensure accuracy of statistics, Hinson pulled data from basketball-reference.com and audited the numbers by matching them against data from ESPN. He then enlisted the help of his colleague to review his work.

Mісhael Jordаn’ѕ раtriotism overѕhаdowed Reebok’ѕ $4 mіllіon Olymріc ѕрonѕorѕhiр іn 1992. And, hіѕ loyаlty to Nіke ѕtаrted а debаte. Wаѕ іt аn unіntentіonal bloсk?

In 1992, the legendаry “Dreаm Teаm” feаturіng Mісhael Jordаn ѕeсured gold аt the Bаrсelonа Olymріcs. The teаm wore mаtсhing trасksuits ѕрonѕored by Reebok, а rіvаl brаnd to Jordаn’ѕ long-tіme раrtner, Nіke.

Durіng the medаl сeremony, Jordаn, аlong wіth Sсottіe Pіррen аnd other teаmmаteѕ, drарed the Amerісan flаg over theіr ѕhoulderѕ. The Amerісan flаg wіth іtѕ рromіnent red, whіte, аnd blue overѕhаdowed the Reebok logo on the trасksuits.

Thіѕ wаѕn’t іntentіonаl ѕаbotаge by Jordаn, but іt dіd unintentionally bloсk the brаnd’ѕ exрoѕure durіng а globаl televіѕed event. Reebok hаd reрortedly раid $4 mіllіon for thіѕ ѕponѕorѕhip. Jordаn wаѕ аlreаdy а Nіke ісon by then. He hаd аn endorѕement deаl wіth them ѕіnce hіѕ rookіe yeаr іn 1984.

There’ѕ ѕрeculation thаt by сoverіng the Reebok logo, Jordаn wаѕ ѕubtly рrіorіtіzіng hіѕ loyаlty to Nіke. However, Sсottіe Pіррen, who сonfіrmed the ѕtory, сlаrified thаt there wаѕ no рreѕѕure from Nіke аnd Jordаn ѕіmply рreferred to dіѕplay the Amerісan flаg more рrominently.

However, there wаѕn’t аny mаjor fаllout for Jordаn, аnd hіѕ Nіke аѕѕociаtion remаіned ѕtrong.

Dreаm Teаm іn Olymріc 1992

Mісhael Jordаn wаѕ а key member of the legendаry 1992 Unіted Stаteѕ Olymріc bаѕketbаll teаm, аkа the “Dreаm Teаm.” The teаm feаtured NBA ѕuрerѕtarѕ lіke Mаgіc Johnѕon, Lаrry Bіrd, Chаrleѕ Bаrkley, аnd of сourѕe, Mісhael Jordаn. The Dreаm Teаm won аll eіght of theіr gаmeѕ by аn аverаge of 38 рoіnts. Jordаn аverаged 12.7 рoіnts рer gаme.

Mісhael Jordаn’ѕ Feаt Nіke

Mісhael Jordаn’ѕ deаl wіth Nіke hаѕ been а mаѕѕive fіnаncіаl ѕuссeѕѕ for hіm. Aѕ а rookіe іn 1984, he ѕіgned а then-record-breaking fіve-yeаr, $2.5 mіllіon deаl wіth Nіke. Thіѕ wаѕ а gаmble by Nіke, but Jordаn’ѕ іnѕtant рoрulаrity раid off.

In 1997, the раrtnershiр reасhed а new level wіth the lаunсh of Jordаn Brаnd, а ѕub-dіvіѕіon of Nіke foсuѕed on hіѕ ѕіgnature ѕhoeѕ аnd арраrel.

Unlіke а ѕtаndаrd ѕаlаry, Jordаn eаrnѕ royаltіes from Jordаn Brаnd ѕаleѕ. Eѕtіmateѕ ѕuggeѕt he getѕ аround 5% of eаrnіngs. Thіѕ royаlty ѕtruсture hаѕ mаde hіm а ton of money.

KJordаn’ѕ іnfluenсe hаѕ been іmmenѕe for Nіke. Hіѕ ѕhoeѕ were а hіt from the ѕtаrt аnd generаted mаѕѕive ѕаleѕ аnd elevаted Nіke to beсome а mаjor рlаyer іn bаѕketbаll footweаr. Some аrgue thаt Nіke wouldn’t be whаt іt іѕ todаy wіthout Jordаn.

Jason Kelce may be known as the best center to put on a Philadelphia Eagles uniform, but outside of the city he’s known as “Mr. Delco,” the most popular man in Havertown where he lives.

At Carl’s Cards & Collectibles, there’s Kelce memorabilia proudly on display throughout the store.

“For us it was really special because we had him two days after the [Super Bowl] parade,” said owner Carl Henderson.

Behind each picture and signature is a story.

“Everybody was here to see Jason and I have to tell you the story, he parks over here and people just filled his pickup truck with beer,” recalled Henderson.

At least once a year, he stops by this beloved card shop to sign autographs and meet fans, which always draws a line.

The staff around the corner at Crust Pizza and Havertown Grille can back up that fandom.

“All the customers know him. He knows all the customers by first name. He’s just a regular,” said Nick Haselidis, owner of Crust Pizza and Havertown Grille.

They say he’ll often drop in for a pie, or sit down for breakfast next door.

According to ESPN’s sources, Kelce, 36, told his team following Monday night’s playoff loss that he’s retiring.

The six-time All-Pro and future Hall of Famer has considered retiring after other recent seasons, but this time it will happen, according to sources.

Kelce declined to talk with reporters in the locker room after the game, saying: “No guys, not today.”

A sixth-round draft selection in 2011, Kelce has played his entire 13-year career with the Eagles and has been one of the key leaders for a team that has made six postseason appearances and two Super Bowl trips over the past seven seasons.Kelce is the fifth center in NFL history with at least six All-Pro selections. The other four — Jim Otto, Bulldog Turner, Dermontti Dawson, Jim Ringo — are all in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

PHILADELPHIA – Jason Kelce wore a brace on his injured elbow and needed help from a teammate to buckle his chin strap.

Pain wasn’t going to stop him from playing. It hardly ever does.

The Philadelphia Eagles’ three-time All-Pro center will make his 100th consecutive start Monday night against the Seattle Seahawks.

For a moment, it appeared the streak would be over when he got hurt in a loss at Cleveland last Sunday. Kelce threw his helmet in frustration after leaving the field, refused to enter the blue medical tent for an evaluation and stomped along the sideline. He finally went to get an X-ray but only missed five snaps before going back in.

“I don’t want to miss time,” Kelce said. “There are guys counting on me. There’s people counting on me.”

While players around him have gone down at an alarming rate, Kelce has been the anchor on the offensive line. The Eagles are on their 10th different line combination in 11 games.

Three-time Pro Bowl right tackle Lane Johnson announced this week he’s having season-ending ankle surgery. Three-time Pro Bowl right guard Brandon Brooks hasn’t returned from offseason surgery on his Achilles. Left tackle Andre Dillard tore his biceps in training camp. Left guard Isaac Seumalo just came back last week after knee surgery in September.

“I got so much respect for him as a football player on and off the field,” Eagles coach Doug Pederson said. “He’s somebody that does things right all the time and his game may not be perfect each week, but this guy, he practices, and plays hurt. He gives of himself for his teammates. He’s a great leader, not only in the offensive line room but I think on this football team.

“I love this guy. What he can do as a center, how he moves, how he gets to second-level defenders, how smart he is in protection, it’s just amazing to me. I’ve never really been around a player, an offensive lineman of his caliber that does what he does day in and day out and a ton of respect for Jason.”

Kelce, with his long hair, long beard and flannel shirts, looks like a lumberjack and he fits the image of a tough, blue-collar lineman. He downplayed the significance of his streak.

“I don’t think that a number means much,” Kelce said. “I think you just try and be available and do your job. I’ve been fortunate to be able to do that, and obviously, injury rates in this league are pretty substantial. I’ve been pretty lucky, all things considered, to not have injuries over the course of 100 games that would sit me down. But I think that a lot of it is just pretty good fortune. I’m happy that I’ve been able to do it.”

Kelce was a sixth-round pick out of Cincinnati in 2011. He started every game his rookie season under Andy Reid but tore an ACL in Week 2 in 2012. He started every game in Chip Kelly’s first season in 2013, missed four games in 2014 after having sports hernia surgery and has played every game since returning to the lineup.

Kelce and his younger brother, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, both were All-Pros in 2018.

“Growing up, it was everything you could think of every second of the day,” Travis Kelce said about competing with his brother. “If we both got a free day, usually started with something in the house like cards at breakfast or playing chess at the table while we were watching TV to going outside and then playing a game of football to basketball to baseball to making a game in the backyard and having fun with those type of things, just any way that we could find a way to compete.”

The Eagles (3-6-1) are struggling but a victory over the Seahawks (7-3) would move them back into first place ahead of Washington (4-7) in the lowly NFC East.

Since winning the franchise’s only Super Bowl in the 2017 season, a victory punctuated by Kelce’s memorable parade speech, the Eagles have needed strong finishes to get in the playoffs. They won their last three games in 2018 to earn a wild-card berth and won their final four games last season to secure the division title.

“You find out a lot about people through adversity,” Kelce said. “We have great people here, great coaches, great people of integrity and that’s allowed us in a lot of seasons to push through tough times and continue to fight. I don’t see a lack of effort, a lack of fight, a lack of accountability.

“My job is to stay true to all that so that young guys in this building who are looking for guidance or young people outside the building who are looking at me as a role model see that’s the right way to do things and that’s the way it should be done. I’m far from perfect, but you try to do the best you can.”

Jason and Travis Kelce’s podcast, New Heights, is where the NFL brothers go hash out all that’s on their minds. From football happenings and dissecting the news in their own way to mulling their personal stuff, the brothers seem to have a really fun time opening their lives to fans.

And because the podcast is designed to address all issues with some levity, the Kelces have provided us with some hilarious moments.

Check out 10 of the most entertaining revelations they’ve shared on the widely popular podcast.

01of 10

When Travis Confessed His Plan to Give Taylor Swift His Digits

Before Taylor Swift was cheering him on in her suite seats, Travis made it known that he was trying to get connected with her.

After seeing her in concert back in July, the Chiefs tight end confessed he intended to slip her his number, but didn’t get the opportunity to do so.

“I was disappointed that she doesn’t talk before or after her shows because she has to save her voice for the 44 songs she sings, so I was a little butthurt that I didn’t get to hand her one of the bracelets I made for her,” Travis explained.

“I received a bunch of them while I was there, but I wanted to give her one with my number on it,” he said.

Jason, feigning confusion then asked, “Your number as in 87 or your phone number?” to which Travis cheekily responded, “You know which one.”

02of 10

When They Shared Their Stances on Listening to Christmas Music Outside the Holidays

Though they’re totally fine with jamming to some Christmas tunes in spring or summer, the brothers did agree that listening to music immediately after the holidays is a big no-no.

“You gotta stop,” Jason said, before Travis joked, “If you’re still listening to Christmas music on the 26th or in January, that’s where I draw f—ing line.”

03of 10

When Travis Revealed His Outlandish First Splurge

During a June episode, Travis revealed he spent part of his rookie check on a very pricey pair of sneakers: the Nike MAG Back to the Future shoes.

According to Man of Many, those sneakers are valued anywhere between $7,500 to $10,000, and popular sneaker website StockX has some listed for a whopping $99,999.

Needless to say, big brother Jason wasn’t too pleased to hear about his brother’s rookie purchase. “I had a feeling the first thing you were gonna buy was something clothing-related or shoe-related,” Jason said.

“I didn’t think that was your rookie year, but somebody came and told me that you had bought those shoes and I looked them up and saw how much they were,” he told his bro. “I remember being like ‘What the f— Travis! You’re spending that much money on shoes?’”

04of 10

When Jason Got Kicked Out of a Woman’s Lacrosse Game for Playing an African Drum

We know Travis likes to dance, but it seems he’s not the only Kelce with some musical prowess.

Apparently, Jason went through a phase in which he was very invested in African drumming, so much so that he’d take his drum to every sports game he went to at their alma mater, Cleveland Heights High School.

One such game was a women’s lacrosse game, where he wound up getting kicked out for practicing his musical hobby in the stands.

05of 10

When They Confessed to Being Hardcore Boy Band Fans

Though they were heavily into sports, the Kelce brothers weren’t immune to the boy band fever of the late ’90s. In this clip, the pair hashed out the reasons why they took different sides.

Travis, “the dancer,” was more into *NSYNC because of their elaborate dance numbers, while Jason gravitated towards Backstreet Boys as they were more about the vocals.

06of 10

The Time They Had to Sort NFL Members Into Hogwarts Houses

Long story short: all of Jason’s friends are in Gryffindor.

07of 10

When Their Parents Discussed Their Hilarious Meet-Cute

In a clip posted back in February, the boys got back to their roots and inquired about the full story of how their parents met.

Apparently, Donna was meant to go on a date with another guy when Ed saw her, hit her with a not-so-cool-yet-charming pickup line, scooped her and the rest was history.

“Mom actually told us you stole her from her date,” Travis said. “You swooped her up. She was supposed to go to a play with another guy and [you] told her, ‘Screw that bum, let’s make some NFL babies,’ ” he joked.

08of 10

When They Got Into the Great Fast Food Burger Debate

The Kelce brothers once ran down their favorite fast-food burgers, and apparently, Burger King is tops.

09of 10

When They Told This (Terrifying) Story About the Genesis of Their Sibling Rivalry

The two brothers have had nothing but kind things to say about each other, and have managed to fend off any chatter about a sibling rivalry. That, however, wasn’t always the case, as they illustrated in this anecdote about the beginning of their competitive younger years.

10of 10

When Jason Addressed Comments About His Game Day Fits

While Travis has risen as one of the NFL’s best-dressed players, his brother has gotten equal attention for his lack of verve regarding his game day fits.

The older Kelce addressed the chatter surrounding his hyper-casual dress code in one episode, saying, “What the f— do I care about a game day fit? Some people go to play football and some people play dress up. I don’t like to play dress up, I like to play football,” he said.

“I’m not gonna go shopping, color-coordinating, getting belts and shoes and all this s—, just to go play football,” he added. “I don’t get it.”

Jason Kelce just can’t stay away from the Philadelphia Eagles.

Even though the longtime center retired from football in March, Eagles kicker Jake Elliott revealed Friday on NFL Network’s “Total Access Live” that Kelce still regularly visits the team’s facility.

“You see little little hints of them throughout the locker room now,” Elliott said of Kelce and former Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, who also retired after last season. “They’ve made a huge impact that’s gonna last a long time and those guys aren’t gonna be far. I know Kelce’s been in the building almost every day already, so they’re always gonna be a big part of our organization.”

Kelce, a sixth-round selection in the 2011 NFL Draft, spent his entire 13-year career in Philadelphia. He earned seven Pro Bowl selections and six first-team All-Pro nods and helped the Eagles win their first Super Bowl championship in February 2018.

The 36-year-old is set to take on a new gig in broadcasting, joining ESPN’s “Monday Night Countdown” crew for the upcoming NFL season.

Jason Kelce has only been retired for a couple of months, but he’s already got his old man shoes game down.

The retired Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman and his wife, Kylie, were making their way to a wedding this weekend, when they were stopped by a fan for a photo.

“While on their way to a wedding in Old City, Philadelphia today, Jason & Kylie made time to chat with a fan (and her adorable baby),” the New Heights Podcast account shared.

NFL fans loved Jason Kelce’s shoe choice.

“You two look amazing! But, you just retired and already wearing the old man NB!” one fan wrote.

“Love that Jason is wearing his new balance dad sneakers with a suit to a wedding 😂❤️ Kylie looks stunning!” one fan added.

“Jason and Kylie Kelce show us, you can be talented, adored and famous as hell….and remain authentically humble,” one fan added.

“They are just a wonderful couple, wouldn’t expect anything less,” another fan wrote.

Jason Kelce, after all, is a man who would wear flip flops any chance he got.

We’re not surprised that he’s anti-dress shoes.

In the ever-raging debate about the athletic versatility between NBA andNFL players, opinions often vary wildly, but few carry the weight of those coming from the athletes themselves. Recently, Jason Kelceformerly of the Philadephia Eagles threw his hat into the ring with some pointed comments that have stirred up sports communities online.

The discussion has been fueled by former NBA player Austin Rivers and further ignited by ESPN analyst Ryan Clark‘s bold statements on the physical and mental toughness required to excel in the NFL. According to Clark, while several NBA athletes possess the athleticism needed for football, the number who could actually handle the sport’s rigorous demands is exceedingly low. He provocatively asked, “Show me the NBA Bo Jackson or Deion Sanders?“

Thank you for watching

Kelce responded with his own interesting take. While agreeing with Clark to a large extent, he carved out an exception for LeBron James. Jason Kelce posited that if he were an NFL general manager, he’d sign James “today,” confident that within a single offseason, the NBA superstar could transform into “the greatest redzone threat in the NFL.”

Travis Kelce thinks LeBron James could be a dominant NFL force in hypothetical sports crossover

Travis Kelce, echoing his brother’s sentiments, highlighted James’ unique physical attributes and legendary work ethic, which could make him a formidable force on the football field. “LeBron at 6′ 8” and as hyper-athletic as he is, wouldn’t just compete but potentially dominate as a tight end or wide receiver. The guy’s a freak athlete,” Travis noted during a recent interview.

The conversation underscores a broader, ongoing debate about athleticism and sport-specific skills, with many fans and pundits chiming in with various opinions. While it’s a fun hypothetical to consider, it also showcases the respect athletes have for one another across sports disciplines, acknowledging the unique challenges and skills required by each.

As the debate continues, what’s clear is the admiration and curiosity about what could have been if athletes like LeBron had chosen different paths. For now, fans can only speculate and enjoy the what-ifs, as the lines between these sporting worlds remain intriguingly blurred.

Philadelphia Eagles’ Jason Kelce Reveals ‘Guarantee’ of Troubling Medical Issue: ‘I Have CTE’

Retired NFL star Jason Kelce is well-known as a “good humor man,” quick with a quip and quick with a smile and living the good live as an iconic Philadelphia Eagles folk hero.

But this one isn’t funny.

“I can virtually guarantee that I have CTE,” Kelce wrote on social media. “All the research would suggest I have some degree of it. I think it is entirely reasonable to assume I have some degree of that pathology.”

CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) is the brain disease that is now known to have impacted generations of football players. Repeated blows to the head are a cause. Kelce, who of couse played center, obviously experienced many of those during his professional football career. … and before that in college, high school and youth league.

The familiar line about football is that a game in some ways can “be like 60 car crashes.” That can certainly be true of Kelce’s old job description.There are tragic stories about players with CTE. Hopefully, Kelce, who retired this past winter after a Hall of Fame level career and now plans to move into national TV broadcasting, will experience a long and healthy life … with more “good humor” in his future.

Jason Kelce’s bold claim suggests LeBron James could dominate the NFL’s red zone with his size and athleticism.

Jason Kelce’s assertion that LeBron James could become the NFL’s greatest red-zone threat within one offseason has ignited a fresh wave of debate in the ongoing discussion about the crossover between basketball and football athleticism.

“I love this argument and passion from Ryan, and as a football player my mind is screaming hell yea!!! But, if I was an NFL GM, and it was an option, I’d sign Lebron today and within one offseason he’d be the greatest redzone threat in the NFL.”

Kelce, a former Philadelphia Eagles center, aligned himself with ESPN analyst Ryan Clark’s viewpoint that most NBA players would struggle in the NFL due to the sport’s unique physical and mental demands. However, Kelce singled out James as an exception, citing the Lakers forward’s exceptional size, athleticism, and unparalleled work ethic as qualities that could translate seamlessly to football.

Standing at 6’8″ and possessing remarkable strength and agility, James has long been the subject of speculation about his potential in football. Kelce’s bold claim suggests that with the right training and adjustment period, James could excel as a tight end or wide receiver, particularly in the red zone where his size and athleticism could pose significant matchup problems for defenders.

Kelce’s endorsement of James sparked further discussion among fans and analysts, with many acknowledging James’ physical attributes and previous success in high school football. While it’s unlikely that James will ever pursue a career in the NFL, his natural talent and athleticism have left many wondering what could have been if he had chosen a different path.

Kelce’s endorsement of James’ potential in the NFL comes amidst a backdrop of controversy sparked by former NBA player Austin Rivers. Rivers stirred the sports world by claiming that 30 NBA players could transition to the NFL, while 30 NFL players could not make the leap to the NBA.

His assertion ignited a firestorm of debate, with many NFL stars vehemently disagreeing with Rivers’ assessment. Rivers’ comments drew sharp criticism from several NFL players, who dismissed his claims as unfounded and unrealistic.

The debate surrounding the NFL-NBA crossover highlights the admiration and curiosity among sports enthusiasts about the potential versatility of elite athletes. While opinions may vary on the feasibility of such transitions, Kelce’s assertion underscores the respect athletes have for one another’s abilities across different sports disciplines.

As the conversation continues, it serves as a reminder of the incredible athleticism and skill possessed by athletes like LeBron James, who captivate audiences with their talents on the court while sparking intrigue about their potential in other arenas. Ultimately, while the debate may remain hypothetical, it adds an extra layer of fascination to the world of sports and the boundless possibilities it presents.

---

Most NBA Players Can Play In The NFL Until They Take A Hit

The assertion that most NBA players could transition to the NFL until they experience a hit underscores the perception of the NFL as a physically demanding and brutal sport. NBA athletes are widely recognized for their supreme athleticism, speed, agility, and hand-eye coordination, attributes that could theoretically translate well to football.

However, the key distinction lies in the nature of the two sports. While NBA players possess the physical tools necessary for success in the NFL, the harsh realities of football, particularly the intensity of contact and collisions, present a significant barrier.

In the NFL, players face a level of physicality and violence that is unparalleled in professional sports. The sheer force of impact from tackles, blocks, and collisions can be devastating, often resulting in injuries ranging from concussions to career-ending trauma. Unlike basketball, where contact is limited and regulated, football demands a willingness to endure pain and punishment on every play.

While NBA players may excel in areas such as speed and agility, their ability to withstand the rigors of football is questionable. The mental and physical toll of playing in the NFL, where the risk of injury is ever-present, requires a level of toughness and resilience that not all athletes possess.

Ultimately, while NBA players may possess the raw athleticism to compete in the NFL, the reality of the sport’s brutality becomes apparent once they experience the unforgiving nature of football. The admiration for NFL players who willingly subject themselves to such physical punishment underscores the magnitude of their sacrifice and dedication to the game.