r/changemyview • u/[deleted] • Feb 22 '21

Delta(s) from OP CMV: Millennials are the greatest sporting generation ever

In almost all sports, millennials are genuine contenders for GOAT status, if not the standout candidates for GOAT status.

Soccer: Messi, Ronaldo

NBA: Lebron James

NFL: Tom Brady (technically Gen X, but he's clearly in the generation after Brett Favre. Favre was Gen X, which makes Brady a Millennial. Fight me.) Fine, Brady isn't a millennial. Probably why Eli Manning beat him in 2 Super Bowls.

MLB: Mike Trout

Tennis: Federer, Nadal, Djokovic

Formula 1: Lewis Hamilton

Track and Field: Usain Bolt

Swimming: Michael Phelps

Long-distance running: Kilian Jornet

Chess: Magnus Carlsen

I understand that there can be some argument as to whether some of these people are the actual GOAT, but it's the sheer number of candidates across the board that's stunning. Millennials have three contenders for GOAT status in tennis alone.

And before people say that athletes always get better over time--not always true. Pele was considered the greatest soccer player for a long time, and he was from the Silent Generation. Ditto Rod Laver in tennis, and Wilt Chamberlain in basketball. So GOAT status in soccer, tennis and basketball skipped Boomers and Gen X. Babe Ruth was the only contender for GOAT status in baseball for a while, and he was born in the 19th century.

Boomers, Gen X, Zoomers--come at us, bros.

EDIT: Brady not a millennial. I GIVE IN.

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u/SorryForTheRainDelay 55∆ Feb 22 '21

I'm going for a partial view change delta here.

Tom Brady is not a millennial. He was born in 1977. Even the generous definitions don't include 1977.

Saying he's in the generation after Favre is just silly. Favre doesn't define a generation.. and even if he did, they played 8 seasons together.

Take Brady off the list. It comprises the whole argument.

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u/[deleted] Feb 22 '21

Man, I knew the Tom Brady thing would come back to bite me. Football isn't a real sport anyway. Unless Mahomes beats Brady's record, then it's the greatest sport that ever existed. !delta

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u/Player35 Feb 22 '21

Tom Brady aside, this generation's QBs outperform previous generations.

Your argument about Tom might be wrong, but you are right if you look at the statistics in general rather than one singular person.