hall of famer or champion?

[FondestMemory]

this comes up on mike and mike all the time, so i figured i'd see what everybody's opinion on this is.

if you're a professional athlete, when your career is over and you're looking back on it, which would make you more proud and accomplished:

being a contributor to a championship team.

or.

being a hall of famer.


so basically, dan marino or trent dilfer? robert horry or charles barkley?

and both isn't an acceptable answer.

[fire on my lips]

I'd rather be Dan Marino or Charles Barkley, than Trent Dilfer or Robert Horry. Its got to be tough though being such a great player, but never being the big winner. I'd rather be a hall of famer. You have your entire career to be proud of, not one season.

[livethesounds]

this comes up on mike and mike all the time, so i figured i'd see what everybody's opinion on this is.

if you're a professional athlete, when your career is over and you're looking back on it, which would make you more proud and accomplished:

being a contributor to a championship team.

or.

being a hall of famer.


so basically, dan marino or trent dilfer? robert horry or charles barkley?

and both isn't an acceptable answer.

It honestly depends. Would T.O. rather be known as the greatest of all time, or own a ring? probably the first one.

Would Bruce Bowen rather be known as one of one of the great defenders of our era or have his rings...probably have his rings.

I, personally would rather have a championship. You know the players who really care about the game and are in the hall of fame would kill to have a ring.

[thejetstolehome]

i swear to christ i was just about to make a thread like this...oh and hall of famer.

[xearlynovemberx]

thats a good question i realy dont have any idea

[FondestMemory]

i personally say championship. i was never big on all the individual stuff and enjoyed the team aspect of the sports more than anything.

a championship is the greatest thing you can share as a team. i'd rather have that to look back on than anything.

[Spicoli hey bud]

While it's great to be a Dan Marino or a Charles Barkey (Marino is my favorite athelete of all time), as someone like Dilfer, who contributed to a Superbowl you can look back at your career with no regrets. I'm sure Marino has no regrets about his career, being that he was pretty much the best QB ever to play the game, but the fact that there was something out there that he did not accomplish through his great career has to bother him a little. Dilfer not only understood his role and performed to the best of his ability, but he won a championship as well. Maybe my answer would change if there wasn't as much contribution being made towards the championship, but in this case...

Championship.

[FondestMemory]

Maybe my answer would change if there wasn't as much contribution being made towards the championship, but in this case...

Championship.

right. it only works if you're a contributor to the championship.

for example, i'd rather be dan marino over jason garret anytime. even though garret has multiple rings.

[Clarett'sGreyGoose]

Champion.

[preppyak]

for me...when I'm looking back on my career, you think about what you've done...not what your team did. When you're playing, it's all about the team, but once you remove yourself from that, you think about what you did. I mean, if you don't have one of the better teams, it's not your fault you didn't win...especially as you get more people on the field at a time (Soccer and football come to mind)

I know I do that with Lacrosse now that I am done playing...I was a great player, and our team did well, but we came up short of winning States. Sure, I'd have love to have won states, but, I wouldn't sacrifice what I accomplished to go back and get it so much.

As a player, you want to leave that legacy...and, every year, 52 people get a ring in football, 15 in basketball, etc...only 3-6 get in the Hall, at most...think about it

[Broken Parachute]

I'd rather be a Hall of Famer because if I'm that good of a player, chances are I'll win a title or two in my career.

[mikeford]

id rather be bellhorn.

[preppyak]

I'd rather be a Hall of Famer because if I'm that good of a player, chances are I'll win a title or two in my career.

and if you don't...blame your teammates...because, you clearly weren't the problem

[FondestMemory]

for me...when I'm looking back on my career, you think about what you've done...not what your team did. When you're playing, it's all about the team, but once you remove yourself from that, you think about what you did. I mean, if you don't have one of the better teams, it's not your fault you didn't win...especially as you get more people on the field at a time (Soccer and football come to mind)

I know I do that with Lacrosse now that I am done playing...I was a great player, and our team did well, but we came up short of winning States. Sure, I'd have love to have won states, but, I wouldn't sacrifice what I accomplished to go back and get it so much.

As a player, you want to leave that legacy...and, every year, 52 people get a ring in football, 15 in basketball, etc...only 3-6 get in the Hall, at most...think about it

see, i look at it completely opposite of you.

i think about the team. when i'm telling my grandkids about my high school days, i could go on and on about the kind of stats i put up, and they may appear interested and in awe. but what i can't do is take two seconds to show them a ring that they will be in awe of.

i'd rather be able to do the latter.

i'd rather be able to share what i've worked so hard for with the 51 other guys, or the 14 other guys, who sacrificed as much as me and put in the same hard work and got there with me. that's just me though. i was never really into all the individual things. i just wanted to win games.

[Broken Parachute]

and if you don't...blame your teammates...because, you clearly weren't the problem
haha pretty much.

[dekdog11]

i saw this mike and mike this morning too, it was interesting. i would go with the ring. just a personal opinion. theismann made some good points, and i kinda agree with him.

[Flags of Dawn]

its funny you made this thread, because no more than 5 minutes ago, I was looking at my pictures from going to the Frozen Four back in April, and I was getting chills remembering how amazing that was. Being such a huge Wisconsin hockey fan, it was one of the best feelings in the world to see that team go through their ups and downs all season and eventually end up being national champions....That being said, I can't imagine how great it feels to actually BE part of a team that accomplishes something like that, after being a fan brought out those kinds of emotions. And I can't possibly see myself feeling that way about being inducted into a hall of fame

[preppyak]

see, i look at it completely opposite of you.

i think about the team. when i'm telling my grandkids about my high school days, i could go on and on about the kind of stats i put up, and they may appear interested and in awe. but what i can't do is take two seconds to show them a ring that they will be in awe of.

i'd rather be able to do the latter.

i'd rather be able to share what i've worked so hard for with the 51 other guys, or the 14 other guys, who sacrificed as much as me and put in the same hard work and got there with me. that's just me though. i was never really into all the individual things. i just wanted to win games.
and my mind keeps shifting on this...because I know they said you had to be a "key player" on the team, starting RB/QB, etc kind of a player...so, chances are you'd still get that recognition as a great player as well as being a champion. But, I think in the end, being told by your peers that you weren't "the best" would hurt more than not having the ring

I just think being a hall of Fame player is that upper echelon...where maybe 5 guys in the entire year you were born make it to the Hall...and they probably aren't at your postion. So, in an entire year, you may have been the best quarterback born...you may have been the best point guard...that's pretty astonishing to think about.

I mean, even at the most important positions, QB, etc...only 5 or so guys from a generation make the Hall...I just think it's more special

[FondestMemory]

and my mind keeps shifting on this...because I know they said you had to be a "key player" on the team, starting RB/QB, etc kind of a player...so, chances are you'd still get that recognition as a great player as well as being a champion. But, I think in the end, being told by your peers that you weren't "the best" would hurt more than not having the ring

I just think being a hall of Fame player is that upper echelon...where maybe 5 guys in the entire year you were born make it to the Hall...and they probably aren't at your postion. So, in an entire year, you may have been the best quarterback born...you may have been the best point guard...that's pretty astonishing to think about.

I mean, even at the most important positions, QB, etc...only 5 or so guys from a generation make the Hall...I just think it's more special

i see your point.

but like somebody said earlier. when trent dilfer's done, he can look back and know that he played to the best of his ability, had his ups and downs and had that one season where he was a part of something truly special. so he can look back with no regrets.

whereas marino can look back at how great he was and how deserving of the hall of fame he is, but there's always gonna be that one regret, that one thing he wasn't able to accomplish.

i'd be much happier with the championship, rather than the empty feeling that never goes away.

[bigmike]

Championship ring.

"You play to win the game!"

[Bobcat46308]

champion. i'd rather be a part of something special than simply special myself

[Spicoli hey bud]

Championship ring.

"You play to win the games!"
*game

and herm is a bad coach.

[mikeford]

i honestly think to be a great player and never win a title must be the most hollow feeling in the world. youve never been to the mountain top. youve never drank the champagne of the victorious.

id much rather be a forgotten folkhero like a mark bellhorn then someone like barkley or marino.

[justinevans]

champion.

[LeftWideOpen]

i'll take the HOFer because when my career is over, chances are im going to be a lot richer then the average guy who won a title.

and while i wouldnt have the pride of being apart of a championship team, i'd still be damn proud of myself for what i accomplished.

[justinevans]

i'll take the HOFer because when my career is over, chances are im going to be a lot richer then the average guy who won a title.

and while i wouldnt have the pride of being apart of a championship team, i'd still be damn proud of myself for what i accomplished.

you'll make enough $$ anyway.

[mikeford]

seriously league minimums are like 350k a year and up. if youre not retarded thats more than enough to live off of if you play for like 9 seasons.

[LeftWideOpen]

you'll make enough $$ anyway.

yeah, any professional athlete makes more than enough ...but if you are a HOFer these days, then you are on a whole other level because of endorsements.

the money isnt the only factor though. like i said, you'll still finish your career a very proud man ...probably even more so if you led a distinguished, record-book kind of career. Any player should strive for a championship but if the road along the way leads them to other, equally gratifying and more profitable things ...then i'd take that if i had to choose.

[mikeford]

id rather taste the sweet kiss of victory.

[Spicoli hey bud]

i'll take the HOFer because when my career is over, chances are im going to be a lot richer then the average guy who won a title.

and while i wouldnt have the pride of being apart of a championship team, i'd still be damn proud of myself for what i accomplished.
Making the league minimum for at least 7 years is solid money no matter what sport you are playing.

[justinevans]

yeah, any professional athlete makes more than enough ...but if you are a HOFer these days, then you are on a whole other level because of endorsements.

the money isnt the only factor though. like i said, you'll still finish your career a very proud man ...probably even more so if you led a distinguished, record-book kind of career. Any player should strive for a championship but if the road along the way leads them to other, equally gratifying and more profitable things ...then i'd take that if i had to choose.

tell that to Allen Iverson. Iverson won't chase a championship or the $$.

[zizou1790]

id rather be both but id rather be ragarded as Dan Marino as opposed to Trent Dilfer

[Chemical Love]

I think I would rather be a champion than be in the Hall Of Fame.

[justinevans]

id rather be both but id rather be ragarded as Dan Marino as opposed to Trent Dilfer

true...in other people's eyes...

but the feeling of winning a championship is the greatest feeling ever.

You have to answer the question for what you want to feel rather than how you want people to know you.

[LeftWideOpen]

true...in other people's eyes...

but the feeling of winning a championship is the greatest feeling ever.

You have to answer the question for what you want to feel rather than how you want people to know you.

the only problem with this is that i think you are neglecting how good you would feel to be a HOFer. You know how much pride comes with that? I think its way more then if I was a backup guard on a championship team once.

[justinevans]

the only problem with this is that i think you are neglecting how good you would feel to be a HOFer. You know how much pride comes with that? I think its way more then if I was a backup guard on a championship team once.

It all depends if you are a team oriented person or not I guess.

I would careless about personal accolades as long as we won.

Backup guards won't have the option for the hall of fame...so I think they'd rather win a championship.

So for this question to be asked, you'd have to assume you'd be a starter.

Winning a super bowl or a world series I think would out-do anything and you get to celebrate it as a team.

[FondestMemory]

the only problem with this is that i think you are neglecting how good you would feel to be a HOFer. You know how much pride comes with that? I think its way more then if I was a backup guard on a championship team once.

but my point is, yeah. dan marino feels great to be a hall of famer, but whenever he looks back, there's still one empty spot. one goal he never achieved. one thing that he'll always wish he had.

[livethesounds]

but my point is, yeah. dan marino feels great to be a hall of famer, but whenever he looks back, there's still one empty spot. one goal he never achieved. one thing that he'll always wish he had.

Yea, i remember a couple of years back on a cbs pre-game show they were talking about that with him, and he said hed give up all the records to have a ring. but if he didint have the records he wouldent be in the hall.

[LeftWideOpen]

but my point is, yeah. dan marino feels great to be a hall of famer, but whenever he looks back, there's still one empty spot. one goal he never achieved. one thing that he'll always wish he had.

yeah i mean theres certainly a void there and every athlete wants to win a championship ...but i just think that you would have accomplished so much that an ordinary player on a championship team was unable to do and that would more then make up for that "empty" spot. i think you could just as easily say the ordinary guy w/ a championship has a unfilled void because he wasnt able to accomplish things he would have liked to due to his talent.

i dont think this is an easy question or a right and wrong answer.

[nateisawesome]

definitely a champion