tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759057101816208790.post8565220224819079755..comments2023-05-30T07:49:25.987-04:00Comments on The Sports Rippers: Never enoughW.F. Slingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07144402457062127302noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759057101816208790.post-45114230363276294682009-12-02T23:28:29.491-05:002009-12-02T23:28:29.491-05:00Fair point about Robinson. I actually debated putt...Fair point about Robinson. I actually debated putting him on that list as I was writing. Robinson certainly wasn't on the level of the other guys as a player. Socially though, Robinson is probably the most important athlete in history. Ali was a great fighter, but most boxing experts will say he wasn't the greatest heavyweight of all-time, and his social impact is a huge part of his legacy as well. It all depends on how you look at it, I guess. Either way, you obviously see my point. As great as Jeter is, to put him on the level with Ruth is ridiculous. I'm not a Yankee fan, but I can certainly admit that the Yankees are the biggest sports franchise in America and one of the biggest in the world. It could be argued that without Ruth, Yankee history would be much different and not nearly as rich.Tony G. Daggerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12525426810515319627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759057101816208790.post-70150694413299550592009-12-02T22:03:36.214-05:002009-12-02T22:03:36.214-05:00I should add that I agree with the rest of the art...I should add that I agree with the rest of the article. I love Jeter and am a big Yankee fan, but he's no Ruth (or Gehrig). I'd say the best comparison in Yankee lore for Jeter would be Dimaggio (although Dimaggio was surely a better player). They both are heroes in NY, lead the team, are social icons, somewhat try to avoid publicity, and have that squeaky clean image while managing to run through supermodels (Marilyn Monroe much?).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759057101816208790.post-78512619636589241442009-12-02T22:00:57.859-05:002009-12-02T22:00:57.859-05:00Jackie Robinson did great things for baseball and ...Jackie Robinson did great things for baseball and America, but he doesn't belong on that list. The rest of those players changed the way their sports were played and brought them into new levels of mainstream following because of their talent. Jackie Robinson was a great, courageous man and a very good ball player. He might even be a more important figure than Ruth, but he wasn't Ruthian.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com