50 (sports) shades of Grey

By JIM RUTLEDGE
jrutledge@espnwisconsin.com

Despite the title, I will not be continuing our Jump Around series “Jim and Tom review books and movies they have not seen or read,” instead I’m applying 50 shades of grey to sports and not in a weird way…

The Online Cambridge dictionary defines “shades of grey” as “the possibility of the unknown.” Well if that isn’t the definition of why sports are great then I don’t know what is.

I’ve decided to come up with 50 sports arguments that are “TBD”, AKA “shades of grey.”

50 Shades of Grey – 50 Sports Arguments that cannot be answered now and in some cases ever. These are not in order.

1) It’s harder to be an athlete now because of the social media age raises your public profile and interaction with fans to an obscene level.
2) Larry Bird was over-hyped because of his race.
3) Recent and future concussion studies will lead to the end of the NFL as we know it.
4) Ryan Braun is innocent.
5) Soccer will overtake one of the major American sports and become a top three sport in the U.S.
6) Should PED’s be made legal in sports?
7) The greatest QB in Packers history is…..
8) The Miami Heat players colluded with Pat Riley and each other before free agency in 2010.
9) Scottie Pippen would have been a Hall of Fame player without MJ.
10) Roger Clemens would not have been as great late in his career without the help of PED’s.
11) How many rings would K. Malone, J. Stockton, C. Barkley and countless others have if MJ never played baseball.
12) Lebron would have been a great football player.
13) MJ would have been a great baseball player if he chose it instead of basketball
14) Lebron is better or worse than MJ.
15) Jim Brown or Barry Sanders was the greatest running back of All Time.
16) Jerry Rice wouldn’t have been a Hall of Fame receiver if he played for any other team.
17) Shaq stays in Orlando if the Magic kept the rights to Chris Webber.
18) Josh Hamilton would have been the greatest baseball player ever if he didn’t have drug problems early in his career.
19) The Shaun Marcum trade with the Blue Jays was a good trade.
20) If Title IX wasn’t created the Badgers would have a baseball team.
21) Is Russell Wilson a Wisconsin Badger?
22) Phil Jackson is a great coach because he had great players.
23) Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of All-time.
24) The 2011-12 Kentucky Wildcats had the greatest collection of freshmen ever.
25) Jarrod Uthoff would have been a great Badger.
26) Bobby Knight would have had the same success at Wisconsin that he had at IU.
27) Steve Bartman cost the Cubs a World Series
28) George Halas or Vince Lombardi, who was more important for their team?
29) Miller Park is the best ballpark in MLB.
30) We wouldn’t miss marching bands at college football games.
31) Dick Bennett or Bo Ryan.
32) Ron Dayne or Montee Ball, who is better?
33) Past athletes wouldn’t be able to compete in today’s sports.
34) Michael Jordan’s flu game is greatest single game performance in Finals history.
35) Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose are the future of the NBA.
36) Bryce Harper and Mike Trout are the next great baseball players
37) Ken Griffey Junior would have been the greatest baseball player ever if not for injury.
38) Brett Favre would not have been a Hall of Fame QB if Ron Wolf didn’t trade for him.
39) The greatest Brewer of All-Time is Robin Yount.
40) The Bucks would have multiple rings if Kareem Abdul Jabbar would have stayed.
41) NHL hockey would be successful in Milwaukee.
42) Ray Allen would have been a Buck for life if not for George Karl.
43) The Badgers would have won the National Title if Devin Smith was healthy.
44) Montee Ball was better than Trent Richardson last year.
45) Len Bias and Hank Gathers would have been a Hall of Fame basketball players.
46) Bo Jackson would have been a Hall of Fame running back if not for baseball and injury.
47) Aaron Rodgers would have been just as good if he was drafted by the 49ers.
48) Randy Moss would have helped the Packers win at least one more Super Bowl.
49) Wilt Chamberlin was as great as his numbers implied.
50) Requiring a one year gap between high school and the NBA has helped the league.

I’ve written in the past that to truly appreciate sports you should not be a homer or hater. If you can do your best to find that middle ground then you can debate everyone of these topics until your voice gives out.
The only thing that is not up for debate: Jerry Sandusky is a monster