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Post by doc on Mar 7, 2016 21:58:55 GMT
Hard to pinpoint one player in some leagues. Magic Johnson was a 6'9" point guard who could play any position - and did - in game 7 of an NBA finals. Prior to Magic, there were no 6'9" guards playing basketball - I think he changed the style of play as much as anyone who has played in the NBA. Women's gymnastics I'd go with Nadia Comenici - Olga started it but Nadia perfected it, literally. Mark Spitz would be a good name for swimming....
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Post by FLORIDA HERD FAN on Mar 8, 2016 0:36:58 GMT
You are correct, Doc, that Olga Korbut started it and that Nadia Comanici perfected it.
Before Olga, women's gymnastics was an art form. Korbut introduced high risk athletic moves on the uneven bars and balance beam. World class women gymnasts today still include the "Korbut Flip" in their routines.
Olga transformed the sport and Nadia perfected it.
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Post by Bevo on Mar 8, 2016 1:04:54 GMT
Hard to pinpoint one player in some leagues. Magic Johnson was a 6'9" point guard who could play any position - and did - in game 7 of an NBA finals. Prior to Magic, there were no 6'9" guards playing basketball - I think he changed the style of play as much as anyone who has played in the NBA. Women's gymnastics I'd go with Nadia Comenici - Olga started it but Nadia perfected it, literally. Mark Spitz would be a good name for swimming.... The "Big O" was a 6'5" guard... In an era where guards were typically less than 6 foot. He was the "Magic" of his day. He AVERAGED a triple double, for a season. Something even Magic couldn't do. Oscar foreshadowed things to come. He was a "freak".
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Post by Bevo on Mar 8, 2016 1:17:38 GMT
The men's tennis one is tough for me.... I have loved tennis since watching Laver vs Rosewall at Wimbledon in 1971-1972 era. Tilden was a bit before my time. Laver was dominant. I think he started the boom in interest for tennis. But, so did Jimmy Connors. And then, McEnroe. Borg....Ivan Lendl.... They all had their time as the "best".
But, I think Pete Sampras was one of the first of a new era of tennis "athletes". Guys that actually WORKED out, and trained year round.... He DOMINATED the US Open and Wimbledon....so much so, he damn near killed the sport. That s why I nominated Pete as the " game changer". Roger Federer is probably the " best", all-around tennis player I've ever seen. But, he just took the Sampras model a bit further.
Maybe, actually.... Lendl was the guy that really started it.... He just wasn't as good.
And, that reminds me.... Martina Navratilova HAS to be the "game changer" of the women's game. I refuse to even consider an alternative.
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