I would venture to guess that if you took a basketball player and put him on a hockey team and took a hockey player and put him on a basketball team that the basketball player would look much more out of place than the hockey player.
Perhaps that is because is not as popular as basketball? Imagine if LeBron James had played hockey his entire life. You cannot tell me that he would not absolutely destroy in the NHL. He is bigger, faster, and stronger than every hockey player.
I dont think you get what I mean, but I'm not gonna change your opinion. Hockey players have very little athletic ability because they aren't 6'9 and 250 pounds.....except for Zdeno Chara.
I never said hockey players have little athletic ability. Obviously they are athletes. Just not as athletic as basketball players.
Apparently hockey players are either the best athletes in the world, or aren't athletes. There is no in between.
i used to get mad when i was in my ever brief "hay day" playing football and someone would say that basketball player was more athletic. now i know better. those men are some of the largest individuals in the world and what they are doing against each other is sheer amazing. i love love love the NHL way more than the NBA. and trust me when i say i have the utmost respect for what they can do. but the question remains who is more athletic? is a fish more athletic than a deer? different surface totally. i guess we can all just put our thoughts in on this one cause im not sure we're ever gonna come up with much comparitive evidence.
Funny how that works. I'm not claiming golf to be the most athletic sport there is. But... after playing every sport known to mankind, it is the hardest to excel at (without a doubt). Like anything else, you can discuss it at different levels that one plays. To play golf at a high level is harder than any other sport. First to agree not close to requiring most athletic ability, but hardest to master. Way more variable than any other sport. Also, I'm not discounting the athletic ability of basketball or football players. I agree to play those sports (especially at the professional level) requires great athleticism. I still put a hockey player a notch above them though. Yes they have shifts in hockey. But look at what a hockey player goes through during a "shift" or throughout an entire game. There's no play where you can take off because the ball isn't coming your way. There's no huddle for 30 seconds. There's not shot clock and walking the ball down the court while the other players wait for a pick and roll that they aren't involved in. It's non stop, give your body up at any cost action. There isn't a break.... at all! You have to play offense and defense at the drop of a hat without hesitation. Just the speed of the game and split second decisions make it more athletic IMO.
ditto.. And what exactly is your "athletic background" that makes you know what you're talking about? Other than being a BH.com know it all? Do you even know what it takes to play a sport at a level other than pick up game basketball? Tell ya what. Have basketball players line up and start doing suicides. But do it with a little wrinkle. Have them catch and make passes during the drill. While at full speed have them also shoot jumpers. Now throw in somebody randomly throwing elbows in their teeth and get up without missing a beat to defend a shot or make another play. Then when they are half way through their suicide drill have a 220 lb person blindside them into the bleachers and get up to continue on. Then continue going through their "shift" making more passes and shooting more shots on the fly. Dont let them stop moving while doing so. Then give them a 45 second to a minute break and throw them back on the court to do it all over again. See how they feel at the end of a 60 minute game. Oh yeah.... do it on an 1/8 inch blade under your feet with shoulder pads, shin guards, gloves and helmet on instead of size 16 shoes. You're right.... nothing to it. They are equivelant to bowlers.
..... Don't be mad you weren't athletic enough to play basketball, NYB. Thats why they invented hockey and golf.
Zero insecurity if you know what you're talking about. It's the other side that is sad, not objective, insecure and probably will never get it. Wont lose too much sleep over it. The facts are the facts. You either get them or you dont'.
Yeah there is no reason hockey fans are always defending the sport for no reason. Like the reason this thread was started. Yeah thats not insecurity.
Keep fishing all you want. It's what you do. Funny you assume I didn't play basketball. I think I was 5 when I played in my first organized league. Played through high school and would be willing to bet I could still take you to the hole and dunk on your empty noggin. He'll be going to college on either a baseketball or baseball scholarship. I've coached basketball as he grew up (and my other kids) through the years. Been coaching for about 10 years now, playing for over 3 decades. But hey.... what do I know about basketball. Vito is the expert there, he played intramurals. Maybe one should actually play, coach, understand the sports being discussed before formulating their "opinion".
