"Tom Brady has eclipsed Michael Jordan" - When Skip Bayless didn't hide his love for 7-time Super Bowl winner over His Airness
Skip Bayless is among the most hardcore supporters of legendary athletes, former NBA superstar Michael Jordan and NFL superstar Tom Brady. The TV analyst would often nitpick their rivals when debating why the two are the greatest in the history of the sport they played.
In picking the better athlete considering their respective performances, Bayless took Brady's side, claiming he had eclipsed Jordan as the greatest athlete ever. Here's what Bayless said on an episode of his show, "Skip and Shannon: Undisputed," four years ago:
"If we're just talking about pure postseason performance, I just have to say, to admit, to acknowledge, that Tom Brady has eclipsed Michael Jordan, just because he's [Brady] been greater longer. He's had far more opportunities because of the longevity of his greatness."
Skip Bayless' opinion garnered a lot of criticism from all around. The different physicality aspects of both sports make it unfair to pick one of them as the better athlete.
Their career timelines were also different. Basketball and football are two entirely different sports, making it tricky to compare the success and greatness of two superstars like Michael Jordan and Tom Brady, who dominated the big moments arguably better than any of their rivals.
Michael Jordan achieved enough in his limited career
Michael Jordan may not have displayed freakish longevity levels during his NBA career, but two decades since retiring, he remains among the greatest athletes of all time. Jordan was physically just as dominant as the others during his prime years when he won six championships in eight years.
There is a fair argument that he could've won eight championships if not for his abrupt retirement at age 30 after the Bulls' first three-peat of the 90s. Jordan came back midseason and was as rusty as he could've been. However, his comeback story was an achievement in itself.
After losing to the Orlando Magic in the 1995 Eastern Conference semi-finals, Jordan came back with a vengeance, leading the Bulls to another 3-peat, including a then-NBA record 72-10 regular season in 1996.
Despite his off-court controversies, Michael Jordan never slacked with his play on the court. He remains the NBA's undisputed GOAT for many, which is an incredible feat considering the talent that has graced the league since its inception.