What players have fundamentally changed a sport?
- Thread starter Jer
- Start date
Easiest example is Tiger woods
- What players have changed a sport? Tiger
- How did they change the sport? Money
- Was that change for the better or worse? Better
- Was that change short-term or long-term Long-term
Michael Jordan changed pretty much everything about how basketball operates. Style of play, fun to watch, competitiveness, fashion, etc.
Before him, Magic and Bird saved or at least established the NBA as a staple.
Before him, Magic and Bird saved or at least established the NBA as a staple.
I think Tiger would have to be Numero uno on this list
Equipment changes, course changes, tv coverage
Better
Long term
I'd go far beyond money. The guy was a dominant force.
Wilt Chamberlain fits here.
Got the lane widened, illegal to dunk on a free throw, can't inbound over the backboard, and offensive goaltending became a rule.
Got the lane widened, illegal to dunk on a free throw, can't inbound over the backboard, and offensive goaltending became a rule.
Probably one of the most modern day ones, for sure.
Good one. He was so dominant they had to change the rules.
Pretty sure the 3 second rule was also established because of him.
Not a player but this guy deserves a shout out in this kind of conversation.
Don Coryell. Made passing more common than just on long third downs.
Shaq and the zone defense.
I still don't like that zone can be played.
It's a long term change
I still don't like that zone can be played.
It's a long term change
I take a bit of a contrarian viewpoint on this.
I put these types of things into one of two buckets.
1 – New fans. I think most of the instances people will mention, a player may have drawn new attention to a sport, but those “new eyes” are less likely to last. This happens a lot at the collegiate level where spouses of fans start paying attention, fans of a school’s other sports start paying attention, etc. Typically, the effects are short-term while that player is playing and dissipates shortly after.
A smaller subset of this would be whole new fans to a sport. This is obviously the hardest to measure but I think you could point to several clear instances of it occurring at the different levels.
2 – Existing and casual fans. They are far more likely to have drawn attention from existing fans or casual fans that maintain or renew excitement and energy. I think most of the time, people that already pay attention to the sport tune in or pay attention, or sometimes renew/extend/maintain their attention.
I'd say those that had the biggest lasting impact would be Tiger Woods, Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Hollyfield, Tyson, Jordan, Bird, Magic, Curry, Sheryl Swoopes, and Lisa Leslie. All are true generational talents.
I put these types of things into one of two buckets.
1 – New fans. I think most of the instances people will mention, a player may have drawn new attention to a sport, but those “new eyes” are less likely to last. This happens a lot at the collegiate level where spouses of fans start paying attention, fans of a school’s other sports start paying attention, etc. Typically, the effects are short-term while that player is playing and dissipates shortly after.
A smaller subset of this would be whole new fans to a sport. This is obviously the hardest to measure but I think you could point to several clear instances of it occurring at the different levels.
2 – Existing and casual fans. They are far more likely to have drawn attention from existing fans or casual fans that maintain or renew excitement and energy. I think most of the time, people that already pay attention to the sport tune in or pay attention, or sometimes renew/extend/maintain their attention.
I'd say those that had the biggest lasting impact would be Tiger Woods, Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Hollyfield, Tyson, Jordan, Bird, Magic, Curry, Sheryl Swoopes, and Lisa Leslie. All are true generational talents.
I guess I didn't really care either way but at least it stopped the delays for illegal defense.
Randy Moss. Nobody had a clue how to stop him.
Same with Barry Sanders
Same with Barry Sanders
I hardly ever watch golf but the '97 Masters was mesmerizing and Tiger made it must watch.
The NBA felt like it had a gaping hole in it after MJ retired the first time and then it took some time to find itself after '98 although some really great talent like Kobe and Tracy McGrady were really taking off soon after.
NFL is the hardest sport for me to define true game changers because there's less "generational talent" gaps. Some that you could argue would be guys like Montana, Moss, Sanders, Emmet, Favre, Brady, Manning. People tuned into to watch them - how many wouldn't have would be hard to say.
Golf Beer Cart girls changed leisure Golfing.
Good for sport? Absolutely not we all suck when drunk.
Good for us short term? Yes absolutely till we sober up and find out we were +30 on a 9 hole course.
Good for sport? Absolutely not we all suck when drunk.
Good for us short term? Yes absolutely till we sober up and find out we were +30 on a 9 hole course.
