Wildly Premature Sports Comparisons

If there's one thing that us sports fans love to do, it's comparing teams and players to those of the past.

And while sometimes it can be warranted, a lot of the time we're just doing it to stir up a debate and have some fun with our buddies.

But when the media takes some of those bar-like conversations and actually talks about them, it's when things can get a little bit ridiculous.

Who knows if there will ever be another LeBron James or Peyton Manning? What we do know is that comparing young stars to them is probably a bit too premature—and these are some of the ones that are the craziest.

LeBron James

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Compared to: Michael Jordan

Following his four straight NBA Finals trips and two championships, the gap between comparing LeBron James and Michael Jordan has certainly closed a bit, but talk should still be reserved until James gets at least a few more rings.

With a stacked squad with the Cleveland Cavaliers, "Bron Bron" has certainly put himself in the position to become one of the best ever—if not the best—when all is said and done.

Unfortunately, he just doesn't quite have the credentials to stack up with MJ just yet, though—even if James does find the talk humbling and "the ultimate."

Buster Posey

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Compared to: Derek Jeter

This one might not be as far-fetched as I first thought it was—but it's still a bit unfair to Derek Jeter.

With five full seasons in the majors, San Francisco Giants catcher and former NL MVP Buster Posey has proved to be one of the best winners in all of sports.

That's usually the case when you win two World Series titles—with a chance for a third this year—in that short time.

Still, even after ESPN's Jayson Stark wrote an article about Posey potentially becoming the next Jeter, I think the comparisons are still premature.

Sure, Posey is a leader and a class act like "The Captain" was during those early years, but No. 2 was a once-in-a-generation player, so let's not just assume Posey can become that just because he has had a few good seasons and, ironically, has some of the same accolades.

LeSean McCoy

Compared to: Barry Sanders

Don't get me wrong, Philadelphia Eagles running back LeSean McCoy is a fantasy football player's dream thanks to his elusiveness and agility on the football field, but that's where the comparisons to former Detroit Lions star Barry Sanders should end.

The two have similar body types and moves capable of making defenders look silly, but McCoy's career has paled in comparison to that of Sanders'.

Although McCoy has plenty of years left to prove himself worthy of the comparisons—he's still just 87th all time in rushing—he has even acknowledged that there is a big gap between these two guys, so maybe media and fans should do the same and be patient to see if he ever truly becomes as great.

Bradley Beal

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Compared to: Ray Allen

Prior to the 2012 NBA draft, then-Florida Gator shooting guard Bradley Beal was asked who he would compare his game to.

The confident and still young player mentioned Ray Allen—and from there, the comparisons just sort of took off.

Sure, the two players both have nearly identical body types and smooth jumpers, but let's not get ahead of ourselves by comparing a guy who has played just two seasons and has posted a 15.7 scoring average with the NBA's all-time three-point king just yet.

Beal can fill it up from deep, but he has a long way to go to get to where the future Hall of Famer is.

Amari Cooper

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Compared to: Randy Moss

I'm not trying to take anything away from current Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Amari Cooper, but does anyone remember just how dominant Randy Moss actually was?

Cooper is sure to be a top-10 pick in next year's NFL draft—assuming he declares—but I'm not convinced that the 6'1" wideout will take over the league like Moss did during his rookie year in 1998, when he put up record-breaking numbers.

Moss' former teammate on the Minnesota Vikings Cris Carter made the comparison between the two, but I'm not sold on it, thinking Cooper looks more like A.J. Green—which is still very good—but not sensational.

Sidney Crosby

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Compared to: Wayne Gretzky

Like most sports, whenever the game's greatest current player displays unbelievable talent, pundits and fans are quick to compare him to an all-timer.

In Sidney Crosby's case, he has been mentioned in the same breath as Wayne Gretzky since he was a teenager, as "Sid the Kid" does many of the same all-around things that "The Great One" used to.

It's time to stop the comparisons, though.

Is Crosby the best player in the NHL right now? Absolutely, especially after winning his second league MVP last season and holding one Stanley Cup in his career.

Hell, Gretzky even admits that of the guy.

But that doesn't come anywhere close to winning as much or setting as many records as Gretzky did.

Andrew Luck

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Compared to: Peyton Manning

Yes, Andrew Luck replaced Peyton Manning as the starting quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts following Manning's release before the 2012 season, but that shouldn't make fans and "experts" get too ahead of themselves in comparing the two.

While Luck has had a tremendous first two full seasons—leading the Colts to the playoffs each time—he still has a ways to go to get anywhere close to the success Manning has seen.

The comparisons have gotten so absurd that even when Peyton set the all-time passing touchdowns mark, there have been people hoping/thinking that Luck would break the record in 2030.

Come on, guys, let's just enjoy both of their careers and hope that Luck is the next great passer without putting too much pressure on his shoulders to live up to Manning's accolades.

Clayton Kershaw

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Compared to: Sandy Koufax

There isn't a more dominating pitcher in the game right now than current Los Angeles Dodgers hurler Clayton Kershaw, so of course he's going to get compared to other greats at the position.

And the most natural one happened to don the same Dodgers cap as he—Sandy Koufax.

Both tall, hard-throwing lefties, Kershaw and Koufax certainly have similarities—with both enjoying a remarkable four-year run—but Kershaw isn't quite yet on the same level as Koufax because of his poor postseason record.

In the regular season, it's hard to argue the similarities.

But when the calendar turns to October, Kershaw seems to wilt under the pressure—he carries a 1-5 record and 5.12 ERA to Koufax's 4-3 record and 0.95 ERA and three World Series rings.

Jabari Parker

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Compared to: Carmelo Anthony

I really like a lot about this year's No. 2 overall selection Jabari Parker—but not enough to compare him to Carmelo Anthony.

While Parker plays bigger than his position like Melo—meaning he's bulkier and wider than his 6'8", 230-pound frame—he doesn't have nearly the same scoring prowess that Anthony has.

Parker can stretch the floor and shoot pretty well, but he has a long way to go before he finds himself anywhere close to being a top-three scorer in the league, as Anthony has the four of the past five seasons.

Jabari Parker should be a good player, but not a pseudo-superstar like Carmelo is.

Andrew Wiggins

Compared to: LeBron James

Did the Cleveland Cavaliers really just trade away the next LeBron James?

As crazy as the Jabari Parker-Carmelo Anthony comparisons are, the Andrew Wiggins-LeBron comparisons are even more absurd, with the latter looking more and more ridiculous after seeing how Wiggins showed flaws during his lone season for the Kansas Jayhawks.

Much like Parker, there's a lot to like about Wiggins' game—including his athleticism and stout defense for such a youngster—but anyone in Minnesota thinking that he'll be the world's best player in five years is probably smoking something they shouldn't be.

A perennial All-Star? I could see that. But a league MVP who is winning scoring titles and being compared to all-timers? Not quite.

Johnny Manziel

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Compared to: Brett Favre

Can we wait until Johnny Manziel actually throws a few NFL passes before comparing him to a guy who, until recently, led the NFL in all-time passing touchdowns?

Look, as a Cleveland Browns fan, I can only pray that Johnny Football tuns into anything close to Brett Favre, who won three league MVPs and a Super Bowl title, all while going down as one of the best ever at the position.

Do I expect it though? Nope.

Manziel does improvise and play with a similar passion as Favre did during his 20 seasons, but until the kid goes out and proves he has the same guts No. 4 did, we should all reserve our opinions on who he most compares to—especially in terms of some of the best ever.

Mike Trout

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Compared to: Mickey Mantle

Baseball fans have been enamored with the play of Los Angeles Angels superstar Mike Trout for three seasons now, so it's not difficult to admit that he's the best player in the game.

Still just 23 years old, Trout has a lot of baseball left to prove that he's one of the best to ever play the game—but it's still too early to even mention that.

Expected to win his first league MVP this season, he may be putting up incredible numbers, but let's hold off on the Mickey Mantle talk just yet.

Trout has actually eclipsed Mantle's numbers in their first three full MLB seasons, but who knows what will happen in the future?

If he can keep up the production, I have no problem in saying these two are similar players. But until that happens, it's unfair to Mantle to assume Trout will have a similar career.