Unpopular Sports Opinion

Ever read something that made you scratch your head and wonder what really is going on? Well step into the ring with members of The 3 Point Conversion as unpopular opinions are thrown around like haymakers to those that are scrunching up their heads while reading these

Disclosure: These aren’t made up opinions at all. These are real thoughts backed up with facts. Enjoy!

 

“The NBA in the 90’s was vastly overrated.” – Alex Bab

Michael Jordan, arguably the greatest basketball player of all time, had his apex in the 90’s….so logically that would make it the greatest era of the game, right?

Absolutely not. While Jordan was indeed phenomenal, the rest of the league was weaker than most care to admit. Sure, it was top heavy with Hall of Famers (Karl Malone, Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, David Robinson etc.) but beyond that, the majority of rosters were bad and the game was sluggish isolation basketball.

It was an era of great players but terrible basketball that for some reason is still held by many as the golden age of the league. Go back and watch a game from the 90’s…it was slow paced and to be honest, kind of boring.

Oh, and defense wasn’t great then, either, despite what some will tell you. Throwing a clothesline on an offensive player isn’t defense, it’s borderline assault.

 

“Terry Bradshaw wasn’t really that great a quarterback.” – Mike Patton

Yes. This had to be said and plenty may think that a screw is loose with this even being uttered, but lets think on this.

Terry Bradshaw wasn’t even going to be the starting quarterback at first but Joe Gilliam (who Bradshaw admittedly said was better) ended up being the guy until he succumbed to his demons. While the Steelers were a great team, one position that was not great at all times was the quarterback. Just check these career numbers: 51.9 career completion percentage, 212 career touchdown passes and 210 career interceptions.

If anyone had these numbers in this day and age, they would be frowned upon let alone never thought of as a Hall of Famer. He may be a Hall of Famer but in reality, he was a quarterback that came along at the right time in the right place and he rode the talent around him to titles. That team was carried by people not named Terry Bradshaw.

 

“The NHL is the most creative league when it comes to All-Star Weekend.” – Danny Thompson

When you think of league creativity during it’s All-Star Weekend showcase, people always think of the NBA.

For example, the NBA has changed parts of their All-Star weekend for the last few years. They went from using rookies and sophomores on All-Star Friday night to going USA vs. the World and captains drafting for the All-Star game on Sunday night. Did you know that the NHL did that first?

Rewind time back to the 2010-2011 NHL All-Star weekend. They introduced the fantasy idea when Nicklas Lindstrom of the Detroit Red Wings and the Carolina Hurricanes’ Eric Stall made their selections in front of a live audience in Raleigh, North Carolina the night before the game itself (The NFL adopted the same idea with retired legends and the Pro Bowl but that’s a conversation for another time).

In 1998-2002 NHL All-Star games, those formats were North America vs the World. Sounds familiar? The NHL is ran by former NBA senior vice president Gary Bettman.

 

“Joe Namath shouldn’t be a Hall of Famer.” – Eric Urbanowicz

To be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame means to join an exclusive club, one that signifies that you’ve made it. So why is former New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath in? His stats, while impressive don’t scream “Hall of Famer.” He failed to break 200 career passing touchdowns, which is seen as the as a measuring stick for most quarterbacks who have been inducted.

In fact, he threw nearly 50 more interceptions than he did touchdowns. While he had a pivotal moment in sports history, he won less than half of his games. So again, let’s ask, why is he in?

 

“Evander Holyfield would have beaten Mike Tyson at any point of his career ” – Damian Adams

There are three things you can count on in boxing, the jab, good footwork and fans making excuses for Mike Tyson. Tyson is one of the greatest boxers to ever put on the gloves and may have the best highlight reel of all time. Tyson is beloved by almost all boxing fans and because of this, he is given every excuse in the book.

Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield fought twice, Holyfield won both fights, one by technical knockout in the 11th round and the other by disqualification after a frustrated Tyson bit a piece of Holyfield’s ear off. Analyst, boxing historians and fans alike still rank Tyson over Holyfield of all-time.

Holyfield was 34 and passed his prime when he beat Tyson. Tyson had his troubles but was a world champion going into the first fight, where he was heavily favored. It’s time to give Holyfield his props and stop making excuses for Tyson.

 

“Tim Duncan is overrated and not the best power forward that’s ever played” – Raphael Haynes

When you hear the name Tim Duncan, you think Hall of Famer, NBA great and the greatest power forward ever. He’s not the greatest power forward. In fact, there might be two forwards better than him.

When people compare him to Karl Malone and Charles Barkley, they bring up rings but let’s talk about stats. Duncan averaged 24 points or more once in his career (19 points and 10.7 rebounds in his career). Malone averaged 25 points and 10.1 rebounds for his career (12 seasons over 25 points) and Barkley averaged 22.1 points and 11.7 rebounds (five seasons over 25 points). Duncan is listed at 6’11 but is really 7’0” while Malone is 6’9″ and Barkley at 6’6″ but is really 6’4″.

Defensively, Duncan is better but being 7’0″, he should be able to average 2.2 blocks per game. His five rings compared to Malone and Barkley’s zero rings sticks out. Remember, when playing with a Hall of Famer, three future HOFs and having arguably the greatest coach ever, it tends to help you win championships.

Duncan is a great player but giving him the title “the greatest power forward” is stretching it, which clarifies my point that Duncan is overrated. Also, I didn’t mention Elvin Hays because I didn’t watch his career.