By: JJ Arey
June 22, 2021
1. Would you rather have Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers lead your favorite team on a game-winning drive?
Being an opposing defensive coordinator tasked with stopping Tom Brady on the final drive of a game is a very frightening prospect for even the league’s best defenses. With six Super Bowl wins and 11 game-winning playoff drives, it’s no secret that the GOAT has a stone-cold killer’s mentality when the game is on the line. He is the ultimate blueprint for what a quarterback should be like. If there’s any player that can carry an offense who’s best receiver is Julian Edelman to the Super Bowl, it’s Tom Brady.
However, the greatness of Aaron Rodgers in crunch time is too much to ignore. His superior agility and ability to extend plays with his legs is the deciding factor in this question. On top of being the more mobile quarterback of the two, Rodgers also has an undisputable canon for an arm. Tom Brady is known for being an offensive surgeon; dissecting defenses and making the correct reads to his weapons. Rodgers has always been known as more of a gunslinger, the type of a quarterback who's not afraid to throw the ball downfield. When the game is on the line, I like a guy who will extend plays and make the throws that no one else will dare to attempt.
2. As an NBA Executive, would you rather start your franchise around Jayson Tatum or Devin Booker?
I will not fall victim to recency bias. I will not fall victim to recency bias. I WILL NOT FALL VICTIM TO RECENCY BIAS!!! How many times do we have to remind NBA fans of this? After Kevin Durant dropped 50 points on the Milwaukee Bucks last week, an average fan would have been convinced that he was the greatest thing since sliced bread by the way the media reacted. We as NBA fans are so awed by how talented the league has become that on a nightly basis a singular performance is enough to vault a player ahead of another in the minds of many fans. There is no doubt that what Devin Booker is doing for the Phoenix Suns right now is nothing short of spectacular, and any 20 year old kid who can drop 70 points in a professional basketball game definitely deserves all the recognition that he receives.
But at just 23 years old, I want Jayson Tatum over Devin Booker to start my franchise. He’s led the Celtic’s to four straight playoff appearances and has been one of the league’s most natural scorers since the day he stepped foot in the NBA. Tatum has been absolutely cooking the Eastern Conference for the past four seasons and his game has only been elevated year after year. His PPG (points per game) total has increased each year since his rookie season, and his extra 2 inches of height over Booker allows him to elevate his jump shot over most defenders. Each player can get to any given spot on the floor and hit a shot, but Tatum’s superior athletic ability and scoring prowess is enough for any GM to crown him their franchise player.
3. Would you rather be player A or B?
Player A: .300 lifetime Avg, 11x All star, 5x Gold Glove, 300 HR, 2x MVP, Hall of Fame
Player B: .225 lifetime Avg, 2x All star, 100 HR, 4x World Series Champion?
Essentially, this question boils down to would you rather be an all time great on a team that never won, or an average player on a great team? I would be willing to bet that a fair number of people would rather have the first statline, as the fame and individual accolades would place that player on the list as one of the best to ever do it. However, I personally would take the second option 100 out of 100 times. Like 99% of the American population, I didn’t win any major professional sporting titles in my career. I could only imagine the euphoria one must feel after winning a championship in front of millions of screaming fans. Very few people can ever say they won a World Series, and I would almost feel as if my career would be invalidated had I not at least won one. In my opinion, hoisting that huge trophy over your head and popping champagne bottles in the locker room encompases any individual record or accolade.
4. Would you rather have to tackle Derrick Henry in the open field or take a hit standing in the pocket from Ray Lewis?
Now this one is intriguing. Each prospect offers almost surefire personal danger with the high risk of physical injury. Neither one of these sound appealing to say the least.
Aside from the inconspicuous murder trial Ray Lewis was apart of, No. 52 was a scary sight in the black and purple. He was notorious for laying out any receiver that dared cross his path on the field and his pre-game routine made it known how mentally and physically intense of a person he was. Derrick Henry on the other hand is a 6 foot 3, 238 pound monster back with the speed to outrun cornerbacks. We all know what this man is capable of on a football field.
For this quandary I am going to hope and pray that Derrick Henry grants me mercy in the open field. I’ll settle for a Derrick Henry stiff arm straight to my chest if it means I don’t have to face Ray Lewis standing still. This is Ray Lewis we’re talking about here. It was actually once tested on ESPN’s Sports Science show that a Ray Lewis hitstick generates 1,000 pounds of force. With all due respect to the two time rushing champ, I’ll take my chances and risk open-field embarrassment over a hit from the Mack Truck that is Ray Lewis.
Comentarios