G.O.A.T. The greatest of all time. This acronym has become commonplace today with the many discussions on the greatest NFL quarterback of all time, the greatest NBA player of all time, the greatest MLB player of all time, and even the greatest U.S. president of all time. The lists go on and on.

Of course, none of these can truly be apples-to-apples comparisons. The competition has changed. Rules have changed. Times have changed.

In terms of Super Bowl wins, it’s hard to argue that anyone could deserve the G.O.A.T. title more than Tom Brady. One could also argue that he was surrounded by many other greats in his years at New England — and even at Tampa Bay. It may not take a village, but it does take a great offensive line.

I am not an NBA fan today, but I was as a kid during the Magic Johnson and Larry Bird era. The rivalry between the L.A. Lakers and the Boston Celtics had most everyone I knew drawn in at the time. My interest was piqued again during the Bulls’ championship run and the amazing Michael Jordan and his cast of supporters. Jordan, in my opinion, is the greatest basketball player of all time, but those of a younger generation make a great argument for LeBron James, and justifiably so.

Very few true MLB fans would put anyone but Babe Ruth on the top of the baseball greatest of all-time list. Ruth doesn’t fit today’s image of an elite athlete, and, yes, that was a different era, but his accomplishments — and his stardom in a time without mass media coverage — are unmatched.

If you are up for a good debate, set sports — where championships can clearly be measured — aside and ask those in a group who the greatest U.S. president has been. This gets tricky… and quite interesting. Pose the question, and then be sure to stay quiet and listen. What are the measurables? Who set the standard? And how do you define presidential successes? Yes, sports fans are loyal to their teams, but you won’t find many tried and true Democrats suggesting that any Republican was the greatest president of all time — or vice versa.

So the debates continue, and I love listening to them. In fact, I would love to hear your thoughts on who you feel are the greatest and why. Shoot me a note and let me know.

Have a wonderful Wednesday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305
www.thedailyumbrella.com

CITYVIEW announced its 2023 Best Of Des Moines readers' choices Jan. 31. You can find all the results from the poll in the February issue of CITYVIEW magazine!

Best Local Chinese Food

1. Shanghai Chinese Restaurant

2. Tsing Tsao

3. Cool Basil

SEE EVENT PHOTOS HERE...

Your Clear Mortgage forecast from Jason Parkin

We'll get a little snow mixed with rain during the day into the evening today that will amount to an inch or less in the metro. Then from Thursday afternoon into Friday morning is when the heavier snow will come. Still a lot of differences in model amounts, and I hope to have more info today. There's another chance for accumulating snow Saturday evening into Sunday morning.

For help with preapprovals or refinancing, get in touch with Jason at parkin.mortgage

Meet Cayla Morton

Moving, grooving and singing every day

By T.K. West

After growing up in Appleton, Wisconsin, Cayla Morton studied the flute, voice and music education at Lawrence University Conservatory of Music. Growing up, she spent a lot of time traveling to Northwest Iowa in order to visit relatives, and she was excited for an opportunity to move towards that direction after college.

Following graduation, Morton taught her first five years at the high school in Lake City, followed by a year teaching at the Carroll Middle School and High School. Today, she is a vocal teacher for the Bondurant-Farrar Intermediate School and Junior High School. She teaches general music to students at the fifth- and sixth-grade level and choir to students in grades 6-8.

... Read more in the February issue of Bondurant  Living magazine.

These celebrities were born on this date: Freddie Prinze Jr., Milana Vayntrub, Kat Von D, James Van Der Beek, Aidan Quinn, Devon Werkheiser, Lester Holt, Kenny Smith, Just Leon, Nick Zano, Hines Ward, Randy Meisner

SUBMIT: Send your birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to: tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

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