Submitted by SoggyConclusion4674 t3_zqetmx in sports
Comments
IslandChillin t1_j0xvow0 wrote
Wow that's amazing tbh
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Catssonova t1_j0y333i wrote
Pretty sure he's one of the greatest of all time. It's hard comparing some of the top guys because they have all been so good. Djokovic still gets my vote despite his ridiculous ideas at times.
ExquisiteFacade t1_j0ya626 wrote
He should stick with it. Sounds like he's got a future there.
handsoffmydicks t1_j0yaekq wrote
He hasn't left the top 10 ever since he entered it as a teenager. GOAT stuff.
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MattGeddon t1_j0yd6pc wrote
That’s really incredible given that he’s had a whole load of injuries.
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MattGeddon t1_j0ydaae wrote
Rafa has the slam lead but Novak has a load of the other big records, so I think ND is slightly ahead for me as well. It’s great that the two of them are mid 30s and still going!
sleepdream t1_j0ydzb0 wrote
meh, probably still needs 20 more years to confirm
yellowbin74 t1_j0yi62l wrote
Yeah but can he ping pong?
geordieColt88 t1_j0yii9b wrote
Amazing what vitamins can do for you
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Emfx t1_j0ymyzo wrote
A ton of people underestimate how physically demanding tennis is. It can wreak absolute havoc on your tendons/joints. For him to compete at this level for this long is nothing short of a miracle.
Catssonova t1_j0ynt82 wrote
I thought Djokovic took the slam lead already but I could be wrong. I'm hoping that's what the downvotes are for because I agree with you.
examinedliving t1_j0yocqw wrote
The constant quick sprints on hard ground are brutal
theamac95 t1_j0yoct3 wrote
Nadal is still 1 slam up on Nole.
Catssonova t1_j0yofx8 wrote
shrug Dunno man, you're cursed for downvotes I guess
SushiRex t1_j0yqase wrote
I'll admit it. I was one. I was so sure Fed would last longer than Nadal. To me that's not a testament of my Idiocracy. It's a testament to Nadal's fortitude. Anyone else would have retired by now. The love of the game is real.
Slowmexicano t1_j0yqjp7 wrote
He does have 22 major slams. You would have to win every slam for 5 and a half years to tie him.
Tidesticky t1_j0yqk78 wrote
Saw him beat Gump once
Rameez_Raja t1_j0yr5ig wrote
Tbf it was true then, no one had any way of knowing how much sports science, surgery, and rehab would advance in the last decade. Right now, Messi, Benzema and Modric are still three of the best soccer players at 35+ years old, James Anderson is still the best fast bowler in the world and is improving if anything at 40 years old, you have Rey Mysterio in WWE jumping around like he was in the 90s after his knees were busted and done 15 years ago, there's Tom Brady at fucking 45... it's insane.
flim-flam13 t1_j0yr6uq wrote
That was more than 12 years ago. One of many inaccurate predictions for him (he can only win on clay, he can’t handle big hitters, etc).
But the reality is injuries have had a huge impact on his career.
Frostcrest t1_j0ytf5z wrote
Baseball has also seen a Renaissance in pitchers like Verlander and Scherzer still dominating well past their prime
For all the talk of blown out arms, we're seeing a lot more longevity when you take into account that throwing 100+ mph isn't a big deal anymore
Just a decade ago 95 was "fast"
Nail_Biterr t1_j0ytvzo wrote
He's pretty good, huh?
bandofgypsies t1_j0yupme wrote
For me, Justin Verlander is the current example of how far sports science has come. To have pitched the way he pitched for 15 plus years, fast and hard, and often doing it very quickly (and that he doesn't spend a lot of time between pitches compared to the rest of League), and to have then had Tommy John surgery at 37/38 years old, miss nearly two years of baseball, only to immediately come back from that and win a cy Young by dominating the league and throwing the third highest average fastball velocity of its entire career? Absolutely unbelievable.
ICanAnswerThatFriend t1_j0yv0w5 wrote
Yeah Dennis Quaid throwing a 96mph fastball on the side of a highway back in 2002 got him signed to the big leagues.
3cit t1_j0yvoy3 wrote
If it's not Federer, it's Nadal, but it sure as hell isn't djokovic!
I am on board with that. Federer was my favorite first, so hes my favorite now, and that makes him the best ever for me. But whichever way you fall on the goat debate youre correct. Unless you think joker, cuz it's not him.
John__Nash t1_j0yya7j wrote
That's "sports science" to you.
BiggsFaleur t1_j0yz6kq wrote
He already has insane results, imagine if he didn't pick up some of those injuries along the way
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RobbinDeBank t1_j0z0bvh wrote
Has he proven himself on a cold rainy night in Stoke?
geordieColt88 t1_j0z191n wrote
My mistake, it’s amazing how many people refuse to believe their eyes about him and Djokovic
sh0ta_sh0ta t1_j0z1ram wrote
One of the most consistent athlete in sports history
Excalipurrrrr t1_j0z26ej wrote
Wait wtf. I haven't seen wrestling since WCW Nwo days. Ray Mysterio is still alive and still wrestling?!
Local-Time t1_j0z2da7 wrote
I mean, it was a very logical prediction. I have no idea how he has been able to avoid (career ending) injury for so long. He has sustained so many injuries over the years, and like you said, has such a brutal style.
That being said, I hope he plays forever.
John__Nash t1_j0z31r6 wrote
It's all sports, everywhere.
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DrBokbagok t1_j0z4rvl wrote
Lebron at 38 is still a top 5 player.
i also have to think most of these guys are on some kind of hgh or ped
GregorSamsaa t1_j0z56s2 wrote
10 to 12 yrs ago tennis prime age was still very much considered to be early to mid 20s. Especially in the new era of tennis where athleticism and recovery play such an important role.
Federer was thought to be close to being done, Nadal and Djokovic were about to have their prime years to battle it out with most expecting Nadal to bow out early due to his grueling style of tennis.
The predictions and expectations were very realistic. It’s what those three ended up doing that is unbelievable.
nicolemorelishot t1_j0z5yax wrote
What does that translate to in butt picks?
RollTheDiceFondle t1_j0z6et3 wrote
Too bad it’s in a sport like tennis. All that hard work for nothin’.
SomeKilljoy t1_j0z76m7 wrote
Not only Is he still going, he occasionally wrestling tag team with his son
wanderlustcub t1_j0z7t04 wrote
Could you also say that the number of pitches for a pitcher has gone down, allowing them to pitch longer overall? (I’m not sure if pitchers are pitching more or less compared to decades ago so I’m unsure.)
tiredtoes t1_j0z8zyt wrote
Agreed. I also think a lot normal people underestimate how actually terrible being a professional athlete in general is for longevity/post career life. Pushing the body to the absolutely limit day in day out isn’t “peak health.” It’s a massive trade off to seek the rewards of pro sport.
SlimyPurpleMeteor t1_j0z9gp5 wrote
I was certainly one of those who thought he’d hang up the racket in his early 30s due to body breaking now.
Needless to say I was proven wrong and it’s possible Rafa he could win a couple more slams.
enjoyeverysangwich t1_j0z9w1g wrote
Why would you be surprised he's still alive??
Kraptacula t1_j0za96n wrote
NGL I thought he died a few years ago?
snusfrost t1_j0zb3qt wrote
Just because…?
OHTHNAP t1_j0zbjjf wrote
Just don't say the word that rhymes with "hair noids".
Pifflebushhh t1_j0zcaj2 wrote
It's one of the most prestigious sports in the world, what are you saying?
Excalipurrrrr t1_j0zcmig wrote
Sort of a joke because so much time has passed and you hear of all the legends dying off.
frankyseven t1_j0zcr6s wrote
He did, it's called "sports science".
BigLewi t1_j0zcuzs wrote
Wrestling kinda be like that tho
frankyseven t1_j0zcwim wrote
Less, like a lot less. Probably 25% less for a starting pitcher. It's rare for a pitcher to pitch into the seventh inning now.
frankyseven t1_j0zd711 wrote
Even golf, a sport that many people don't even consider a sport, is brutal on your body.
Excalipurrrrr t1_j0zdb9s wrote
I am pretty sure I heard that to. One of the Mysterio died. I could Google it but maybe the elder?
Excalipurrrrr t1_j0zdjo0 wrote
My reaction is out of pure awe and respect someone can do that to their body. I can't even bend over without worrying about my lower back and I'm fit and youngish still.
PNWoutdoors t1_j0zdudc wrote
Hemorrhoids.
jussayingthings t1_j0zdwtp wrote
Rameez Raja is best admin :)
Oliv9504 t1_j0zeybc wrote
Physical condition training and physiological treatments have improved a lot
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discgolfallday t1_j0zfbk2 wrote
Yeah all for a measly 220 million dollars, worldwide fame, a spot in the history books about one of the world's most popular sports, countless dollars raised for charity, multiple books and films
What a loser
squidmanwillie t1_j0zfnba wrote
Nowadays if you don’t rip your arm out of the socket at least once a season they bench you
FluidSynergy t1_j0zfp3d wrote
Okay boomer
frankyseven t1_j0zgakg wrote
I'm 34. Back and knee injuries are very common in golf.
Neans888 t1_j0zh0tt wrote
He’s ok. It’s only top 10, it’s not like he’s been top 7 the whole time.
Despicable2020 t1_j0zhng9 wrote
An incredible story that's nearing its end.
Highwind65 t1_j0zhshr wrote
Rey Mysterio is still at it? Time to watch some vids, a childhood hero for me.
AlsoIHaveAGroupon t1_j0zi5di wrote
They definitely pitch less. The belief is that when a pitcher begins to tire, they stop using proper mechanics to compensate, so the biggest injury risk is pitching while tired. They now count the number of pitches thrown and pull a starter quickly when they're near a predetermined maximum. They used to view off-days as chances to skip the worst pitcher in the rotation and start the best pitcher sooner, but now it's generally an opportunity to give every starter in the rotation an extra day of rest. And they now put pitchers on the disabled list at the slightest indication of a problem. But are Verlander and Scherzer's dominance at an older age a result of that?
It's hard to say.
There have always been occasional pitchers who are still effective at an old age. Just from my lifetime, Perry, Kaat, Sutton, Niekro, Ryan, Clemens, Wells, Johnson, Moyer, Colon come to mind. Scherzer and Verlander are just two guys and not a representative sample of anything and could just be random chance, and they're not even that old yet. 37 and 39, while Perry and Clemens won Cy Young awards in their 40s, Ryan lead the league in strikeouts at 43, Colon was an All-Star at 43, and Niekro was an All-Star at 45. And for all the talk of Scherzer still pitching well at 37 and Verlander winning the Cy at 39, it's still a young man's game. The top 7 finishers in the NL Cy Young vote were all in their 20s, and 2nd through 8th place in the AL were also in their 20s. The young are still dominating, and being a good, old pitcher still makes you an outlier.
And even if we could say for sure that pitchers are aging better, there are lots of potential explanations: pitch counts, extra rest, improved medicine, something nefarious like PEDs, or I once read a study when Clemens and Wells were still going in their 40s suggesting that fat pitchers age the best and it successfully predicted Bartolo Colon's longevity (and while neither is fat, Verlander definitely looks heavier than when he was young).
Sleeper____Service t1_j0zioos wrote
The math checks out !
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powabiatch t1_j0zj393 wrote
I remember when Vinnie Testaverde (44) and Brett Favre (38) played a game in 2007 and they called it the senior bowl. Lol times have changed.
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eclipse1498 t1_j0zk15q wrote
I mean yeah, not many sports have a common injury literally named after them
L-Sulla t1_j0zk1at wrote
What if I already have a few? You don’t know me!
MC_JACKSON t1_j0zkozr wrote
Lets not forget Tiger winning a major, in his 40's, on a fused back
Thoarxius t1_j0zlm2w wrote
It's too early to tell really.
RnVja25hemlz t1_j0zn9r1 wrote
Or Jagr at 50 not at the top of his game anymore but still playing in a pro league
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TheOnlyOneWhoKnows t1_j0zqemp wrote
I definitely agree that Federer and Nadal are the greatest of all time.
BUT with that being said I think there’s an argument to be made that Djokovic prime vs prime was just as good as both Nadal and Federer. Which he deserves credit for. Is that an unreasonable statement?
bodie425 t1_j0zqmra wrote
Oh if only I could be his fingers for one game.
gigamiga t1_j0zsdeu wrote
Djokovic is undeniably the GOAT of tennis by any measure. He beats them both head to head, has more slams, more 1000 series wins, longest time at #1, everything. You can hate the guy but it's still facts.
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changerofbits t1_j0zvbnt wrote
Eh, that’s pretty anecdotal, and there were genetic freaks before. Nolan Ryan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar both had long, highly productive careers. I’m not saying sports medical science hasn’t improved a lot, but it’s not like there simply weren’t late 30s or early 40s people competing at a high level. I suppose you could argue that the games are more competitive these days, and that if not for medical improvements, people would otherwise have had to retire earlier.
keralaindia t1_j0zvqwj wrote
Golf?
Lol I kid.
ProfessionalCornToss t1_j0zxf04 wrote
Funny enough tennis pros don’t really get tennis elbow since they have good technique.
eclipse1498 t1_j0zz5yd wrote
Yeah, golf ankle.
keralaindia t1_j101d9z wrote
Golfers elbow, golfers vasculitis
BarristanSelfie t1_j103kdl wrote
The average pitch, of any type, is 5 mph faster than it was 20 years ago.
nicolemorelishot t1_j103zoa wrote
Okay, I guess
RipThrotes t1_j103zs3 wrote
Meanwhile I just want to see new actors in new intellectual property....
Can we dial back the medical miracles for some good new content. Doesn't have to be good, all I want is non-nostalgia driven rehashes.
xSaIntLuKe t1_j1049ev wrote
I'm Swiss so chance is 1:8'698'000 that i only need 2 more or 1:2'899'333 that i need 19 or less to tie his record.
Phormitago t1_j107h4h wrote
one of the players of all time, certainly
HerKneesLikeJesusPlz t1_j107kay wrote
Someone he was wrestling died during his ‘619’ move in Mexico a few years back
Now__Hiring t1_j108eqw wrote
LeBron, Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, etc
fartswhenhappy t1_j1097tp wrote
Ovechkin is 37 and on pace for 48 goals.
adrian678 t1_j10b561 wrote
When players are so close tied together in achievements you start looking at the other stuff that they bring to the table. Nadal and Federer are a perfect example of professionalism in tennis and life. Djoker outside of the court is dumb asshole with enough popularity and influence to cause much more harm than good.
RoboTronPrime t1_j10b8hf wrote
Roger or Stan?
VoightofReason t1_j10brt8 wrote
The craziest tennis stats i know are
- Only 15 times in 20 years has the winner of a major not been Roger, Rafael or Novak.
- Only 9 times has a grand slam final not had 1 of those three gents
heartwarriordad t1_j10eb99 wrote
He's now basically playing on one foot and lives with excruciating pain in the other, so not entirely an off-base prediction.
Nervous-Donkey-4977 t1_j10knqs wrote
xSaIntLuKe t1_j10lf7t wrote
Maybe this is just Martina Hingis' burner /s... or is it?
Thesuppressivepeople t1_j10lzp5 wrote
Tennis has one of the highest skill ceilings in all of sports by a long shot.
RoboTronPrime t1_j10o7p6 wrote
Ooo, fair point, could be lol!
noctalla t1_j10pb8c wrote
It was a reasonable prediction. Rafa's a machine, but Wolverine he ain't. And yet he keeps on playing. It just goes to show that even reasonable predictions can be wildly inaccurate.
BasvanS t1_j10pjrp wrote
“Why not number 1 for 20 years?”
- a helicopter parent probably
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3cit t1_j10x286 wrote
My hate is more powerful than facts!
3cit t1_j10xgp8 wrote
Not at all, by any measurable statistic I would say my comment is more unreasonable.
BlackNasty4028 t1_j114dnt wrote
You say baseball words nice
happycamperjack t1_j119m6v wrote
Not people, Nadal literally said that himself. He was so close to retiring a decade ago due to all the knee pains and injuries. But stem cell therapy and his amazing team of doctors kept him going.
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happycamperjack t1_j11p4vc wrote
But Nadal does sort of say that every year too tho. I’m always amazed by his determination of coming back. Like he literally had to cut some nerves last year to his feet just so he can keep playing.
ELH13 t1_j11uj3l wrote
Jimmy Anderson is NOT the top ranked test bowler, and hasn't been on top since 2018. He was also not top ranked test bowler until May 2016, after which he held it until around August 2018.
That isn't to say he isn't bowling well and hasn't been, but facts are facts you don't get to just make them up.
BringBackBoshi t1_j12f2sc wrote
Just 17 and change? Pfft, what a chump.
calligraphizer t1_j12gajd wrote
I played competitively until college. I fucked up my back and right knee - I used to be a killer with a passing forehand ending with a slide on my right leg (on hard court). It just really messed up my knee and now I can't run like that more than once or twice in a match despite better overall fitness. I definitely can't do weekly matches either
gideon513 t1_j12ggc5 wrote
I was one of them. But he also changed his style over the years.
MuddydogCO t1_j13mla9 wrote
To some of us those words mean WAR.
jai_kasavin t1_j13xgm4 wrote
Which movie is this? Also which is the best baseball movie in your opinion?
ICanAnswerThatFriend t1_j13xv9t wrote
My joke refers to The Rookie
Best baseball Movie? : Well my friend. Nothing beats the Great Bambino. (The Sandlot)
Nizzleson t1_j1agse9 wrote
Glad to Jimmy Anderson on this list. Man is a freak. For those who don't know cricket, he's well worth a dip into some YouTube highlights.
Truthful_Azn t1_j1c9dt7 wrote
One of the GOAT of tennis. Kind of hard picking between him, Djokovic and Federer.
Working_History7335 t1_j1h1lu3 wrote
Rafa is a monster. Joker Nole still the goat though
moxyfloxacin t1_j0xrxfy wrote
Might not be the greatest of all time but KoC is one of the most likable