What's Harder: Sports Edition
Have you ever sat back and wondered about the great mysteries in sports? If you answered yes, then you might have asked yourself a series of "what's harder" questions.
Our goal with this slideshow was to compose a list consisting of 10 "what's harder" questions and answer each one of them in a responsible manner. The only way to reach a logical conclusion is by using statistics, history and a large dose of common sense.
As always, if you don't agree with our answers, drop a comment below and explain your side of the story.
Going Undefeated or Losing Every Game?
1 of 10
Naturally, you'd think that going undefeated is a lot harder than losing every game.
Sadly, it's not that simple. Once you've fallen into a deep hole and lost a bunch of games, you would think that a team's morale would start to crumble like Gorgonzola.
That isn't always the case. No one likes to lose. The 0-16 Detroit Lions can attest to that.
In football—or any sport for that matter—unpredictability can swing the outcome of a game, giving the team that always loses a puncher's chance to finally win.
Going undefeated is a different animal.
Only one team has done it in the history of the NFL: the 1972 Miami Dolphins. The 2007 New England Patriots came within a helmet-catch of joining that prestigious club, but in the end, it wasn't meant to be.
Football is the only sport where teams realistically have a chance to go unbeaten. There are far too many games in the MLB, NBA and NHL to ever consider that happening.
Even in the land of pigskin, it's nearly impossible to achieve that feat. The amount of competition, scouting and preparation each week makes a lot of these games a toss-up.
While losing every game is difficult, winning every one is more challenging.
Being a Leader or Being a Great Individual Performer?
2 of 10
Sometimes being a leader and being a great performer go hand in hand. Look at Michael Jordan or even Tim Duncan. Those two guys led their clubs by example and performed incredibly on the court.
Still, no matter what sport we're talking about, there have been a ton of players who are either great individual performers or unquestioned leaders.
You could really make a robust case for either side of the coin here. Scoring a ton of points or being a great defender isn't easy by any means. You have to be hypertalented and focused.
On the other hand, being the unsung leader of a team is crucial. Earning the respect of your teammates, coaches and the fans isn't for everyone.
In the end, being a leader may be harder. There are so many moving pieces and in-house issues that arise. Needless to say, it's a grueling business being the guy people look up to.
It feels like all of the greatest players in sports transition into that leadership role over time, while others stick to being a solid individual performer.
Sinking a 40-Foot Putt or Hitting a Half-Court Shot?
3 of 10
Unless you're well-versed in the art of hitting half-court shots or you're one heck of a golfer, both of these two tasks are difficult.
But which one is harder? If you think swishing a half-court shot would be nearly impossible, try sinking a 40-foot putt.
There are so many more conditions to account for out on the links: wind, angles, depth, location of the ball. Tossing a basketball straight down the court is a combination of strength, accuracy and a little bit of luck.
Who's up for a little test? Someone go out there and attempt 50 putts from 40 feet out. After, find a court and go for the epic half-court shot. See what comes easier to you.
My money is on the half-court heave.
.jpg?w=256 "PATRIOTS-VRABEL")
Winning an MVP Award or Winning a Championship?
4 of 10
There's a misconception in sports that the only thing that matters is winning a championship. Championships are huge, and that is what everyone wants to accomplish, but it's not the only tool you use to measure a player.
Becoming the most valuable player in your respective league is also critical.
Dan Marino, Ken Griffey Jr. and Charles Barkley are excellent examples of that. Those individuals were respected for all of the amazing things they accomplished over their careers despite not winning a championship.
So what's more difficult: Winning an MVP award or that elusive championship?
Both aren't easy, but winning a championship in the world of organized sports is more of a team effort. That means you can't solely rely on your own abilities to take you to the promised land.
Being the most valuable player means you're the best. Without you, your franchise would struggle to find an identity.
The championship is always going to be harder. You could be the best player in the world, but without a cast and crew supporting your every move, you'll never be able win a championship. Just ask Allen Iverson or LeBron James before he fled to South Beach.
Rush for 2,000 Yards or Throw 50 Touchdown Passes in a Single Season?
5 of 10
The NFL has shifted over to more of an offensive league in the last 10 years or so. This surge in yardage and points has paved the way for quarterbacks to throw the ball more often while the rushing yardage has stayed around the same range.
Those numbers lead us to the following question: Is it harder today to rush for 2,000 yards or throw 50 touchdowns in a single season?
History tells us it's actually harder to throw for 50 touchdowns. Since the league's inception, only two quarterbacks have done it: Peyton Manning in 2013 and Tom Brady in 2007.
On the flip side, there have been seven halfbacks who have toppled the 2,000-yard mark.
The numbers may lean in favorite of the tailbacks, but the opportunities are greater for passers. In 2014, quarterbacks averaged 34.9 pass attempts. Running backs averaged 26.7 rushing attempts.
There have always been more passing attempts than rushing, but when you factor in the league's decision to limit the contact a defensive back can have with a wide receiver, it gives the passing game an advantage.
Putting all of the facts on the table, even though both are monumental tasks, it's easier to throw for 50 touchdowns than run for 2,000 yards.
Being a Fan of the Cleveland Browns or the Chicago Cubs?
6 of 10
The good people who cheer for the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Browns represent two long-suffering fanbases dying for a championship.
As you know, the Browns have never seen the Lombardi Trophy, while the Cubs haven't won a World Series since 1908.
Despite being driven to the brink of madness, fans will never give up on their beloved teams.
The beauty of sports is that there's always next year. For the Cubs, the upcoming 2015 season could be a special one. Theo Epstein, the Cubs' president of baseball operations, has spent the last five years taking apart and rebuilding the very core of this team.
With a new manager in Joe Maddon and a superb pitcher named Jon Lester, the young nucleus of talent in Chicago could realistically take that next step.
To the contrary, the Browns are still in a holding pattern. After drafting Johnny Manziel to be the team's franchise quarterback in 2014, things haven't gone according to plan.
Manziel is still a huge question mark, and the same can be said for the uber-talented Josh Gordon. Because of that, it's harder by the slimmest of margins to be a fan of the Browns right now.
Win Your Season-Long Fantasy League or Win in a Daily Fantasy League?
7 of 10
This question goes out to all of the lovers of fantasy sports across the world: Is it more challenging to win your season-long league or enjoy success in a daily fantasy game?
Daily leagues have become commonplace amongst the fantasy community. A chance to win some cash or just put together a powerhouse lineup is all the rage right now.
In some circles, it's even taken the wind out of the season-long leagues. Having no commitments and not worrying about lengthy injuries is a nice perk.
Do those factors make it easier to win in a daily league? No, not really. The pools are filled with more people—unless you stick to head-to-head games—which makes creating lineups even more challenging.
In your office league, you can play the waiver wire, trade for different players and compete with the same group of guys every year.
Daily fantasy leagues are more difficult because your fate unfolds quickly. In the season leagues, you have time to play general manager and figure out a solution.
Win a Triple Crown in the MLB or Average a Triple-Double in the NBA?
8 of 10
Only 16 people have won the Triple Crown in Major League Baseball. Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers was the last to achieve the feat, doing so in 2013.
The Triple Crown consists of a single player hitting the most home runs, RBI and having the top batting average in the league. We can see why only 16 men have claimed the award.
Averaging a triple-double for an entire season in professional basketball is a beast in its own right.
There has only been one NBA player to ever average a triple-double for an entire season: the great Oscar Robertson during the 1961-62 season.
His 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 11.4 assists per game to this day is the greatest stat line in NBA history.
To show you how difficult it actually is to average a triple-double for an entire season, take this tidbit of information into consideration: LeBron James—the closest thing we have a triple-double candidate right now—has never even averaged a double-double before in a season.
Robertson's triple-double season may never happen again. The league has changed too much since then. Therefore, it's definitely harder to achieve than winning the MLB's glorious Triple Crown.
Hit a Fastball in the MLB or Return a Serve in Professional Tennis?
9 of 10
You have to be a pretty handy with a baseball bat in order to hit a scorching fastball. With most guys being able to throw around the 90 mph mark, your best bet is probably to swing as soon as the pitcher releases the ball and hope for the best.
ESPN.com's Jim Caple tried to figure out how difficult it is to hit a ball thrown from an MLB-caliber pitcher. "The pitch clocks 94 on the radar gun and by the time I complete my swing, they've already thrown the ball around the horn, the next batter is stepping to the plate and my wife is giving a shortstop from Double-A her phone number," Caple writes.
Checking out some of the top hurlers in baseball and the average speed of their fastballs, per Matt Snyder of CBS Sports, it's abundantly clear that hitting a pitch like that is beyond the realm of comprehension.
That same level of difficulty can be said for returning a blistering serve in tennis. According to Wimbledon.com's records, both the men and women were serving up heat on the court.
Counting both sets of data, we saw serves anywhere from 111 mph all the way up to 143 mph.
At least in tennis, the ball isn't as hard as a piece of steel.
What's more challenging? I guess that answer depends on your own ability. Would you rather flourish with a racket or a baseball bat? Odds are you won't be able to handle either part of this question.
Still, based on speed, we're going to give the edge to the world of tennis here.
Believing Tom Brady or Bill Belichick?
10 of 10
Deflategate is all the hype right now. On the off chance you've been living under a rock for the last week, let Bleacher Report's own Mike Freeman catch you up on the latest madness surrounding the New England Patriots.
Deny, deny, deny. That's all we've heard out of the mouths of Tom Brady and his head coach Bill Belichick. To give this whole weirdness some sort of perspective, we really don't know what happened.
All we know is that 11 out of the 12 footballs the Patriots used were under the legal pressure limit. That fact violates the rules put forth by the NFL.
The inquiry we want to project out there is simple: Who is harder to believe? Brady or Belichick?
In this particular instance, it's Brady. Quarterbacks in the NFL usually understand everything about the balls they use on game day. For Brady, a man who's played in 237 games to date, you're telling me he couldn't tell the pressure level was off?
Taking a long-term approach to the question, the answer has to be the man with the hoodie. Belichick is the NFL's version of Darth Vader. He's a brilliant, meticulous coach who understands much more than any of us mortals do.
Unless noted otherwise, all game scores, stats and information come courtesy of Sports-Reference.com.
.jpg?w=480 "PATRIOTS-VRABEL")
.jpg?w=600 "Former President Crashes Cowboys Presser")
.jpg?w=600 "Cardinals May Be Bluffing Pick")
