Once or twice in a generation, we bear witness to repeated greatness — sometimes to the point that we take it for granted and lose our sense of awe. I experienced this watching the Atlanta Braves rip off eleven division titles in a row, Michael Jordan lead the Bulls to six NBA titles (and win six Finals MVP awards), and Wayne Gretzky do Wayne Gretzky things and I’m seeing it now as Mike Trout effortlessly posts MVP seasons, and as Serena Williams, Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo enter the latter stages of their careers.
Tom Brady just won his seventh Super Bowl, and even if you picked the Chiefs to win, it’s still not a surprise that they didn’t. Probably owing to my long-standing Boston hate (and handegg dislike), I’ve never been a Brady fan, but it’s impossible to deny his greatness. It’s so difficult just to make it to the Super Bowl, let alone as many times as Brady has, and win it as many times as Brady has.
With the benefit of hindsight, greatness becomes apparent again. You realize it after enough time passes, because nobody has mirrored what Gretzky, Braves, MJ, et al. have done. Sometimes you don’t know how great they are till they’re gone.
— JY
Answers from last week’s issue
Since 2000, there have been two occasions where former NBA #1 overall draft picks were traded for each other. One trade occurred in 2006 between the Philadelphia 76ers and Denver Nuggets, and the other occurred in 2012 between the Milwaukee Bucks and Golden State Warriors. Who were the four #1 picks involved in these trades?
The trade that sent Allen Iverson (1996) to the Denver Nuggets involved Joe Smith (1995) going the other way. The other trade involving two former #1 overall picks was much less heralded, with Kwame Brown (2001) being thrown into a five-player deal to bring Andrew Bogut (2005) to Golden State.
Since 1990, three players — all second basemen — have collected 200+ hits, 50+ doubles, and 20+ steals in a season. Who are they?
This feat was accomplished by Craig Biggio (210 H, 51 2B, 50 SB in 1998), Alfonso Soriano (209 H, 51 2B, 41 SB in 2002), and the recently retired Dustin Pedroia (213 H, 54 2B, 20 SB in 2008).
What NHL player recorded a plus-minus rating of -40 in 1989-90, the worst rating for a player scoring 100+ points in the same season?
In his second full season with the Québec Nordiques, Joe Sakic scored 102 points while compiling a -40 rating. The Nordiques finished with a franchise-low 12 wins that season, leading to the second of three consecutive #1 overall picks. They would go on to draft Owen Nolan and Eric Lindros in the next two drafts.
Tom Brady has passed for a record total of 2,838 yards in Super Bowls — over 1,700 yards more than the next QB. Who has thrown for the second-most Super Bowl yards in NFL history?
Kurt Warner has 1,156 Super Bowl passing yards, just ahead of Joe Montana and John Elway — and despite having played in fewer Super Bowls than either of them.
#hayleyquestionheiser
Who has the most rushing TDs among quarterbacks in Super Bowl games?
Nine defensemen have recorded 20-goal seasons at least five times in their career. Only one is not in the Hall of Fame despite hitting the 20-goal mark six times in his career during the 1980s. Who is he?
Since 2000, what pitcher has hit the most batters? This pitcher also has the second-most walks and eighth-most strikeouts during that span.
Among players born in the former Yugoslavia, who has the most career assists?
#postscript
RIP Pedro Gómez, one of the best in the business.
Many thanks also to Hayley Wickenheiser for being named her name and to you for being named your name, unless your name is Carrot Top. (You know what you did.)
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Until then, be the Pedro Gómez you wish to see in the world.
— DJ/JY