Who is the greatest? Certainly when being the greatest is mentioned, Muhammad Ali comes to mind. But, is he really the greatest? Some say he is, but this is still debatable because where will you place Joe Louis, the Brown Bomber who stopped every known opposition in his time. Or Rocky Marciano, the Great White Hope, who did the same feat but whose career was cut short by a freak accident. One thing is sure though, Ali is the most colorful fighter in the history of boxing.
Why would one be called the greatest? What would make one assume greatness? Would winning eight gold medals in an Olympics make one? Then Michael Phelps would classify as the greatest. What would then become of Marc Spitz who won seven gold medals in the 1972 Munich Olympics, a record he held for 36 long years? Or Carl Lewis, who gave the United States recognition and won six gold medals in track and field?
Should Michael Phelps continue on his crusade and win eight or nine more gold medals in the 2012 London Olympics, then his feat would really be hard to duplicate. But for how long will the record stay? He broke Spitz record in 36 years, I'm sure somebody would in the near future. But for now they are the greatest Olympians in their generation.
I'm really happy in the thought that Americans are in the forefront of this quest for greatness. And every time they climb the podium, with the
custom American Flag hoisted and claim their medals, it makes me prouder to be American.
Being great is a title nobody can really claim. You can only be the best today because the future belongs to somebody else.
by:
The Flagman
