Friday, June 15, 2007

Sports Similarities

(http://www.vale.k12.or.us/)

Has anyone noticed the eerie similarities between many teams in different sports? I have.

For instance, there is the leader of his team, the player that won or could possibly win many MVP trophies - yes, I am talking about Canadian-born and the face of the Phoenix Suns' franchise, point guard Steve Nash, and 2007 Super Bowl MVP and the face of the Indianapolis Colts' franchise, quarterback Peyton Manning. Before last year, these two teams - the Colts and the Suns - would constantly meet in the semifinals, being denied every time by the better team.


There are also the similarities between the two dynasties in both the NBA and the NFL. Both the New England Patriots and the San Antonio Spurs won 3+ titles in the last five years. Both have a nonchalant leader - power forward Tim Duncan and quarterback Tom Brady. Both have a top-five defense in the league annually, and have a top-notch veteran defensive stopper - small forward Bruce Bowen and strong safety Rodney Harrison. Lastly, both dynasties have a key veteran that they signed in the offseason - sharpshooter Michael Finley and outside linebacker Adalius Thomas.

There is the all-purpose player - running back LaDanian Tomlinson of the San Diego Chargers and small forward LeBron James. There is also the free-spending team - the Washington Redskins, New York Knicks and the New York Yankees.


The top rivalries in both the NFL and MLB are alike, since one of the teams in both rivalries are reddish in color and the other team is whitish in color with blue outlines. I am talking about the Washington Redskins against the Dallas Cowboys and the Boston Red Sox against the New York Yankees.

Then there are the teams which find their players almost always behind bars. The 2006-2007 Cincinnati Bengals and the early 2000 Portland Trail Blazers were the bad boys of the NFL and the NBA.

The player in the clutch comes up huge nearly every game - Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees, Adam Vinatieri of the New England Patriots and Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers.

There is also the all-star duo in the MLB, the NBA and in the NFL - the Batman and Robin of sports. In the MLB, there is the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez (Robin) and Derek Jeter (Batman). In the NBA there was Shaquille O'Neal (Batman) and Kobe Bryant (Robin) and is Shaq and Dwayne Wade (Robin). In the NFL there is Marvin Harrison (Robin) and Peyton Manning (Batman).

If you do not believe me, watch the NBA, MLB and NFL games on your tube. You will see the comparisons between these teams and players.

Pictures: Steve Nash (www.i-sportsbook.com), Tom Brady (www.baltimoresun.com), Three Spurs (www.sportsresourcezone.net), Red Sox vs. Yankees (point23.blogspot.com), Redskins vs. Cowboys (www.washingtonpost.com)