|
 Its the label no player ever wants associated with his name... BTN: Best to Never win a Championship.
Its a heavy burden.. one carried by many great players in sports history: Barry Sanders, Ted Williams, Charles Barkley.
More recently, the badge of dishonor was worn by Jimmy Johnson, Phil Mickelson and Ray Bourque.
Coming into 2007, the target was on Peyton Manning. Considered on of the top 3 quarterbacks in the game, one of the top 10 players in the game... Peyton's Place was also BTN.
A 29-16 victory over the Chicago Bears and the black cloud over Manning's head was cleared away and his spot in the NFL Hall of Fame assured.
But the scarlet letters of BTN do not go away... they just move on to the next great player who hasn't been able to get his team over the hump.
I don't want to let this conversation get bogged down into whether BTN is a fair label. Over the last century, there have been many great, great ball players who weren't ever able to win a Championship. Names like Dan Marino, Ty Cobb, Karl Malone, Ernie Banks, Marcel Dionne and Dick Butkus. The fact that they never won a championship doesn't diminish their acheivements. Or does it ? No doubt a conversation for a different article.
Among today's players there are several notable names who could be target #1  on the BTN list. LaDainian Tomlinson, Lebron James, Barry Bonds, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Vladimir Guerrero and Donovan McNabb are all at the top of the list.
But without a doubt, the top two names on the list are Alex Rodriguez and Kevin Garnett.
Rodriquez is the starting third baseman for the New York Yankees, having played shortstop for the Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners. Since 1996 (his first full season) through 2006 he leads the major leagues in home runs (HR), runs scored, runs batted in (RBI), total bases and extra-base hits. Of all players in baseball history at age 30, he is first all-time in both HR and runs scored, 2nd in total bases and extra base hits, 3rd in  RBI, and 4th in hits. In his career to that point, Rodriguez had more HR, more RBI, more runs scored, and more base hits than all-time leaders Hank Aaron (HR and RBI), Rickey Henderson (runs scored) and Pete Rose (hits) did prior to their 30th birthdays. And he has no rings to show for it.
Garnett is widely regarded as one of the most versatile players ever. He is a top rebounder, leading the league in rebounds in the last three seasons and being in the top 3 for the last five seasons. He has consistently been amongst the top assists leaders at the forward position. He holds the record for most consecutive seasons(6) of averaging at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists, formerly held by Larry Bird. But unlike Larry Legend, Garnett has never taken home the hardware.
There is a poll on the front page where you can vote on your BTN.
|
