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re: Could Jim Thorpe have played professional sports if he was 25 today?
Posted on 2/16/14 at 6:26 pm to Zach
Posted on 2/16/14 at 6:26 pm to Zach
quote:
Walter Johnson
a top guy like Johnson was as good as anyone today, the difference is in quantity and specialization. There are more good pitchers today. Another difference I think gets grossly over looked is quality of defense. Look at the gloves they used in the 20's as compared to today. I don't think it is merely opinion to say today's equipment is much, much better.
0
Posted on 2/16/14 at 6:42 pm to trackfan
quote:
Whoa! You sound like you're saying that the difference between today's athletes and athletes from the Ruth/Owens/Thorpe/Grange era is primarily due to evolution.
People of today are taller and bigger than in the early 1900s. That's not opinion, either. That's also not evolution, it's better nutrition. We have a lot more access to food now.
That said, I agree with you that facilities and such were a huge deal. You take a modern athlete and give them a year on 1900 diet, travel, equipment, and training and they will see their objective times drop like a rock.
Posted on 2/16/14 at 6:48 pm to FightinTigersDammit
quote:And how far were the fences down the lines?
Remember, there wasn't an AL park in Babe Ruth's day with a CF fence CLOSER than 450 feet from home plate. And he didn't hit all his homers in Yankee Stadium, or to right field.
Posted on 2/16/14 at 6:51 pm to trackfan
quote:Baseball has risen in Latin American countries because Americans have set up shop there to train and scout them because baseball is popular there.
Baseball is not a blueblood sport. Baseball doesn't even require middle-class status. Baseball is like soccer and track, which is why so many people from third-world countries are among the world's best in those sports. Also, As Blacks have gotten more affluent, the participation in baseball has steadily declined.
Nobody is going to make it to the Majors playing with a broomstick handle and a tennis ball their whole life.
Posted on 2/16/14 at 7:04 pm to PrimeTime Money
quote:
Remember, there wasn't an AL park in Babe Ruth's day with a CF fence CLOSER than 450 feet from home plate. And he didn't hit all his homers in Yankee Stadium, or to right field.
And how far were the fences down the lines?
Read the above and reconsider.
Posted on 2/16/14 at 9:23 pm to FightinTigersDammit
I asked what the fields were down the lines. I don't care what center field is, since most hitters do not hit to straight-away center.
This post was edited on 2/16/14 at 9:24 pm
Posted on 2/16/14 at 9:24 pm to PrimeTime Money
Do your own research.
Posted on 2/16/14 at 9:49 pm to PrimeTime Money
Thorpe is thee greatest athlete this planet has ever seen. He was dominant in virtually every sport and athletic event. He was a tremendous tennis player, golfer, bowler, plus if course all of his more well known sports. He also won the national ball room dancing championship. No small deal or fear back then.
He took Carlysle Indian institute to a National Championship run in football.
Some athletes transcend time. IMO Thorpe, Babe Ruth, Jim Brown and Wilt were these types of athletes.
He took Carlysle Indian institute to a National Championship run in football.
Some athletes transcend time. IMO Thorpe, Babe Ruth, Jim Brown and Wilt were these types of athletes.
Posted on 2/16/14 at 9:49 pm to FightinTigersDammit
The great ones could play now, but that doesn't mean they would be great. Baseball, basketball, track , and hockey are sports were I think older championship teams could compete with today's teams.
The talent of the average pro player I would think would be greater now. Giving the edge to modern teams.
The talent of the average pro player I would think would be greater now. Giving the edge to modern teams.
Posted on 2/16/14 at 10:56 pm to FightinTigersDammit
quote:You were the one who brought up the size of the fields back then.
Do your own research.
Next time, don't cherry pick numbers and then tell others to do their own research when they ask for the whole story.
Posted on 2/17/14 at 12:34 am to Asgard Device
quote:
I truly believe that today's athletes are better than those of the past (on average)
What do you think makes this the case?
Posted on 2/17/14 at 12:58 am to Asgard Device
Maybe. It takes more than natural talent to make it as a pro these days.
Posted on 2/17/14 at 11:47 am to PrimeTime Money
quote:
Next time, don't cherry pick numbers and then tell others to do their own research when they ask for the whole story.
As long as we're giving out advice, don't be such a contrarian douchebag.
Posted on 2/17/14 at 2:08 pm to Powerman
quote:
It's not like the human species has evolved into some super athlete species in a matter of under 100 years. That's just absurd.
There are 260 lbs linebackers that run sub 4.50 40 yard dash times now. Yes, the human species has evolved. What did an Offensive Lineman weigh in the 40's-60's? 220 lbs at the most?
Posted on 2/17/14 at 2:21 pm to dnm3305
quote:
There are 260 lbs linebackers that run sub 4.50 40 yard dash times now.
Name 3.
Posted on 2/17/14 at 2:53 pm to trackfan
quote:
Whoa! You sound like you're saying that the difference between today's athletes and athletes from the Ruth/Owens/Thorpe/Grange era is primarily due to evolution. If you believe that, we're never going to agree on this topic.
Are you serious? What have I said that even hinted at evolution playing a part in this?
I'm sure you agree that NBA basketball players are taller today than 70 years ago? I suppose, by your logic, thats also due to evolution
Posted on 2/17/14 at 2:57 pm to Asgard Device
quote:
Could Asgard Device have posted about professional sports if it was 15 years ago today?
Think about it, using a Baud 15kb/s modem to access the bbs or using a webcrawler while looking excitedly to netscape.
Get on lycos or dogpile and try to use search engines before they were good.
Getting angry with webpages with too many pictures as you would watch tv or read while each page loaded.
I have my doubts many posters would post if these were the current conditions.
This post was edited on 2/17/14 at 2:58 pm
Posted on 2/17/14 at 3:07 pm to moneyg
quote:
What do you think makes this the case?
Athletes being better today is not a question of if but why. Too many measurables in sports like track and swimming to dispute that. The 4 minute mile wasn't broken until the 1954. Now 3:59 won't even qualify for NCAA's championship meet(top 16). That's just an example.
I believe the primary reason is competition. The pool is bigger and the drive to further approach human limits is much greater out of neccesity (bulking up to 260 won't get you in the NFL as a lineman, throwing 85mph probably won't allow you to start as a pitcher, running 3:59 mile won't allow you to have a pro career.)
It also should be considered how accessible this competition is as a product of population density and better travel capabilities. In 1950, there might have been a couple great runners in the country who would compete against each other once or twice a year. Now a competitive athlete in the NCAA can compete against elite talent on a weekly basis just by seeking out a competition one or more of the numerous comparable athletes in the region.
Posted on 2/17/14 at 3:29 pm to Jim Rockford
quote:
Those guys smoked, and weight training was frowned upon. Humans have evolved very little in ~100 years. Put a guy from the early 20th century on current training methods and nutrition, and he'd be indistinguishable from a modern athlete.
I read an early 20th century college football training manual (which was taken from a British Olympic rowing and running training manual) and it was basically...
Wake-up - eat an egg - drink a pint of beer - run 2 miles - stretch - eat meat/pork for lunch - drink two more pints of beer - run another 2 miles...
Lifting weights and weight training wasn't even heard of...that stuff didn't come into play until the 1950's/60's.
Posted on 2/17/14 at 3:31 pm to Zamoro10
This graph is interesting...100 M - World Record progression this past century.
This post was edited on 2/17/14 at 3:32 pm
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