Good Morning, Stumpers!

We like to think outside the box here at The Stump, so naturally, if you can think of the most common sports debate maybe of all time, that’s where we are going today. Obviously we will zig and zag along the way! Happy September 24th!

Stump Story / Glue Of The Day

🐐 Using The G.O.A.T. Debate to Stay in the Moment!

Just this past weekend, I found myself at a diner at midnight with the boys all the way back from Middle School. It’s usually those conversations that could go all over the place. In stereotypical ‘guys talking sports’ fashion, the obvious came up…

“Yeah, he went 6-0 in Finals, but what about all the years before the championships? What about the years after? He just didn’t have the longevity. Jordan doesn’t even come close to LeBron.”

The good ‘ole G.O.A.T debate!

I honestly couldn’t tell you how we got there. We were talking about what Breakfast combos we should order and then suddenly we were talking GOATs. But it brought up an interesting point that I’m still thinking about today.

I have always respected LeBron for how good of a player he is, but I don’t think I can say I’ve ever been one of his fans. I won’t throw myself in the hater category, but maybe just indifferent is the right word. The antics and complaining always kind of turned me off, but my favorite players do the exact same thing 🤷

I’m not here to convince you one way or the other who the Greatest Of All Time is, there really will never be a correct answer to the question. It will go down as one of life’s great mysteries.

What I will say however is this: I am setting a goal for myself this upcoming NBA season. I want to appreciate what I am watching when it comes to LeBron a little more.

It happens too often in sports where the great ones are right in front of our eyes, and it isn’t until after they are gone that we find ourselves watching their highlight videos saying what a good player they were.

In Tennis, I do this now with Nadal and Federer, in Football with Brady, and in the Olympics with Phelps and Bolt.

In the beginning you don’t always know in the beginning that you are watching one of the all-timers, but eventually is becomes apparent. It became apparent with LeBron a long time ago, and I don’t want to be saying, “man I wish I watched more LeBron towards the end of his career”, like I now say with so many others.

Maybe on a wide-scope level this goes into being present and in the moment, instead of being in last week, last month, last year, or tomorrow. It’s easy to get lost and anxious in those places, they are scary. But staying in the moment, being grateful for what’s going on around you, and attacking the world one diner trip at a time with some friends might just be the way to go.

Sorry, I did it again, went from LeBron and MJ to talking about life….gotta stop doing that!

Anyway.

Happy ‘Stay-In-The-Moment’ Wednesday!

Of! The! Day’s!

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