The big 6 in life to achieve athletic greatness... Go through all the greats, MJ, TW, TB, Messi, Lewis Hamilton (had to toss in a couple non Americans)
1. God given ability. Goes without saying...
2. Obsession. Think about it, train it 24/7.
3. Luck of the draw. Right time, right place, right circumstances.
4. Chip-on-their-shoulder. “experts” told them they’d never amount to anything or be good enough due to size, skill, colour of their skin, etc. Only fuelled them, out to prove the world wrong.
5. Dominance. Minimum a decade of simply being on the top of your profession.
6. Emotionless. Under pressure, feel nothing. In game, their assholes.
Bonus. When discussing ones sport, no need to mention the full name, the athletes first name is enough.
I don’t say Championships are the defining stat to determine the GoAT but it has to be a focal point of the argument. Not the bullseye but you can’t ignore winning. That’s the essence of competition, winning.
Tompa (I saw somebody write that and I started giggling; yes, small things amuse small minds...) is the GoAT. As a guy who has watched him for the last 20 years being at the top of his profession, I’m comfortable to say it. My Dad, in his 70’s will disagree. He grew up in a different time and watched a different game and that’s where we get great debates (over pints).
It’s generational. It’s like that for all sports.
And that’s what makes the argument so great. Sports evolve, from the athletes themselves to the rules to the way the game is played. If we all agreed on the GoAT, well there’d be no arguments and that’s just f’n boring.
Is Tom the GoAT? To me, yes. To my old man, no. To my kid who’s now a fan, maybe but I’m sure that will change in 20-25 years...