2008 Woodie Awards
Debunking Sports Myths: It's No Lie that some Sports Truths are Myths
Joe Posnanski/The Kansas City Star
Issue date: 10/28/05 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 4 next >
Ricky Williams is a myth. This struck me again on Friday night when Miami Dolphins fans wildly cheered for him. He then carried the ball six times for minus-1 yard.
Next week, they'll no doubt cheer for him again.
Myths in sports are hard to smash. People want to believe that Williams has had a great pro career. He has not. He led the league in rushing once, which is good. Otis Armstrong, Charles White and Christian Okoye also led the league in rushing.
The question is: How good has he been during his career? The answer: Average.
Maybe less than average. His career rushing average is less than four yards per carry. He is not a touchdown scorer. He doesn't catch the ball particularly well. He certainly is not admired throughout the league for his blocking ability.
He has hardly been a model citizen.
And yet fans cheer for him like mad in Miami.
This is not to pick on Ricky Williams. Kerry Wood is a myth, too. When people talk about the great pitchers in the baseball, Wood's name often comes up. He struck out 20 in a game. He strikes out a lot of people. But Kerry Wood has never won 15 games in a season. He has never finished in the top five in his league in ERA. He's wild. He has had a terrible time staying healthy. He has a losing record these last two injury-plagued years.
He's only 28 and might still have a good future.
But the idea that Kerry Wood is one of baseball's best is a myth.
Myths are so entrenched in sports. Is it true, for instance, that in golf, "Driving is for show and putting is for dough?" It sounds good. But look: The top four putters on the PGA Tour are Ben Crane, Arjun Antwal, Steve Stricker and Todd Fischer. They have made a combined $4.4 million this year.
The top four distance drivers? Thanks to Tiger Woods, they have made a cool $12.5 million.
Is pitching really 90 percent of baseball or some other preposterous percentage like that? It seems unlikely. Twelve teams have led the American and National League in ERA this century. None of them made the World Series.
Next week, they'll no doubt cheer for him again.
Myths in sports are hard to smash. People want to believe that Williams has had a great pro career. He has not. He led the league in rushing once, which is good. Otis Armstrong, Charles White and Christian Okoye also led the league in rushing.
The question is: How good has he been during his career? The answer: Average.
Maybe less than average. His career rushing average is less than four yards per carry. He is not a touchdown scorer. He doesn't catch the ball particularly well. He certainly is not admired throughout the league for his blocking ability.
He has hardly been a model citizen.
And yet fans cheer for him like mad in Miami.
This is not to pick on Ricky Williams. Kerry Wood is a myth, too. When people talk about the great pitchers in the baseball, Wood's name often comes up. He struck out 20 in a game. He strikes out a lot of people. But Kerry Wood has never won 15 games in a season. He has never finished in the top five in his league in ERA. He's wild. He has had a terrible time staying healthy. He has a losing record these last two injury-plagued years.
He's only 28 and might still have a good future.
But the idea that Kerry Wood is one of baseball's best is a myth.
Myths are so entrenched in sports. Is it true, for instance, that in golf, "Driving is for show and putting is for dough?" It sounds good. But look: The top four putters on the PGA Tour are Ben Crane, Arjun Antwal, Steve Stricker and Todd Fischer. They have made a combined $4.4 million this year.
The top four distance drivers? Thanks to Tiger Woods, they have made a cool $12.5 million.
Is pitching really 90 percent of baseball or some other preposterous percentage like that? It seems unlikely. Twelve teams have led the American and National League in ERA this century. None of them made the World Series.