Jimmie Johnson: The Most Dominating Athlete of the Decade

It remains the most intriguing, entertaining, argumentative, vexing, annoying, time-consuming, time-wasting, useless, and completely necessary debate.

Who is the greatest athlete?

All-time. Single season. Single game. Single play. I’m surprised the debate hasn’t been narrowed down to the certain juxtaposition of astrological signs in relation to the earth's tidal forces and the latest gnashing of teeth from Cubs fans.

With the second decade of the 21st century about to debut, this leaves us with the first “long-term” sports debate of the era.

Who is the single greatest and most dominating American athlete in the first decade of the 21st century?

An excellent argument can be made that this athlete fits the bill on a global scale as well. There is not one single logical discourse to the contrary.

Jimmie Johnson: Driver of the No. 48 car in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Winner of four consecutive season titles.

Hands-down. Not even close.

I will not waste a lot of invectives and adjectives here trying to once again convince the non-believers that racers are athletes. No matter how persuasive or logical the arguments are, I have found that there is little that can be done to remove a lifetime of athletic ignorance.

I won’t spend any time at all in noting the hours spent strapped into a bullet, at speeds greater than 200 MPH, taking forces of gravity up to six times the norm, and the incredible stress that places on the human body, both physically and mentally.

Or the physical conditioning it takes to undergo that punishment for up to five hours or more every weekend, not counting the mountain of practice hours spent under those same conditions.

No, I won’t debate that for many athletes, you make a mistake and there’s a shattered bone or two that will more than likely mend to some semblance of normalcy. While meanwhile within a split second mistake on the track can shatter a life and leave friends and families unable to ever find that semblance of normalcy again.

Let’s focus instead on what Johnson has accomplished. In one of the most physically and mentally demanding sports in the world, he has captured the most coveted prize in his sport four times.

Four consecutive times.

And now dear readers, click here for the remainder of the article and the numbers proving Johnson's dominance, which will, of course, start one whale of a debate. Yes, I am wearing my helmet.

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