re: Karl Malone Jr

Every now and then, usually about every twenty minutes or less, a question or comment comes up that allows people to express an opinion as though it were a hard and fast "fact." Comparing a qb to a basketball player as the greatest athlete is hard to do in my mind. The games and, more importantly, the times were different. Big draft numbers, no free agency, probably steroid stuff, and dictatorial control over players and coaches influence these assessments.

I am content to say that both were, and are, great from the point of view of accomplishments and their love of the state. Bradshaw was surrounded by talent on offense, and their defense was no slouch either. Having said that it is obvious that anyone could have stepped in and gone to the super bowl. Really! If I had been the qb, you think we would be talking about me right now. Bradshaw got a bad rap as a country bumpkin who couldn't learn a playbook; therefore, he was another stupid LA idiot. I tend to look at Bradshaw as crazy like a fox and laughing all the way to the bank.

How about we compare them to Arthur Ashe, Muhammad Ali, Bob Petit, or Mel Ott. Comparisons make good barroom arguments that only prove we are talking about great athletes no matter when the period of time that they played.