Sports Stars Who Remind Us of Legends

We will always compare sports stars of today to legends from prior generations. It is just what we do. 

There exist pockets of sports fans who will never understand the awesomeness that was the rivalry between Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. National Football League fans were blessed to watch arguably the two greatest quarterbacks in history face off on the field a total of 17 times. We may never again see anything like it in the NFL or in any major North American sports league. 

It is, instead, more likely that current and future stars will be forced to "compete" with the ghosts of the past. We can, thus, refer to some all-time greats as clones of prior sports legends. 

The best example may be Kobe Bryant to Michael Jordan. Bryant and Jordan were, when in their physical primes, similar sizes, they had similar styles on offense, and both were able to take command of National Basketball Association games seemingly at the flip of a figurative switch. Bryant does not possess as many rings as Jordan, but the comparison remains valid. 

Floyd Mayweather Jr. served as a modern-day Muhammad Ali even if we failed to realize it during the bulk of Mayweather's career. Drew Brees is Russell Wilson's idol, per ESPN.com, and it is easy to understand why Wilson sees himself in Brees. Todd Gurley has the goods to evolve into Beast Mode 2.0.

Thanks to video games and computer graphics, we possess the ability to simulate competitive events involving athletes from different generations. Still, one cannot help but wonder: What would happen if Bryant and Jordan played in the NBA at the same time while both were in their primes? 

Get on this, scientists. We need you. 

Todd Gurley to Marshawn Lynch

It turns out that not everybody loves the idea of comparing Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley to retired RB Marshawn Lynch. Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett, per ESPN.com, discussed the matter last December. 

"He's average to me, personally," Bennett told reporters. "I've seen better running backs. He's no Marshawn Lynch."

As with other examples on this list, Gurley is not a perfect clone of Lynch. The 21-year-old, who has a single NFL season under his belt, is lengthier than Lynch, and that allows Gurley to take longer strides. Gurley lacked consistency at points during his rookie year, but that's bound to happen with a first-year running back.

Those who don't see the comparison may be thinking of the version of Lynch who was the best short-yardage back in the game. That's understandable. Think back, though, to the long runs down the field that Lynch ripped off while with the Buffalo Bills and during his early days with the Seahawks. Yes, Lynch plowed through would-be tacklers, but he was also an elusive back. 

Now, go watch highlights from Gurley's rookie season and specifically look for glimpses of Lynch. 

Kevin Patra of NFL.com saw the similarities last October: "When he gets in space, the rookie runner can blow by defenders with subtle moves like Peterson or plow them over a la Lynch."

Gurley is not a finished product as an NFL running back or as an adult athlete. We won't know the exact type of back he'll become until he has spent years inside of NFL weight rooms and several seasons on the field. One can, however, already see a little Beast Mode in Gurley. 

Apologies to Mr. Bennett. 

Lionel Messi to Diego Maradona

It may be unfair to say that Lionel Messi is a clone of Diego Maradona; unfair to Messi, that is. 

Gary Lineker spoke to Sports Magazine about this very topic for a piece that was published in March (h/t Talksport.com):

"

I never thought I'd see a better player than Diego Maradona, but Lionel Messi is. Even on an off day, he does things that take your breath away. The only thing people can level at Messi is that he hasn't won the World Cup yet – well, he got pretty close.

Lots of players have won World Cups who were pretty bang average. It's a fact.

"

Messi, however, did not agree with that assessment while speaking with FIFA.com back in 2010: “Even if I played for a million years, I’d never come close to Maradona. Not that I’d want to anyway. He’s the greatest there’s ever been.”

Be thankful you don't have to pick one over the other. 

Physically speaking, Messi is as close to Maradona as the world has seen. They are arguably No. 1 and No. 2, however you would rank them, on a list of players to ever wear the No. 10 shirt. Messi, like Maradona, is a maestro on the ball who is able to surge past defenders with the speed of a track star. Many of Messi's goals mirrored those scored by Maradona. 

Messi even notched a "Hand of God" goal to call his own, per ESPNFC.us. 

Comparing Messi to Maradona is similar to comparing a current NFL QB to a legend who played decades ago. The rules allowed defenders to be more physical with Maradona than Messi has ever had to deal with during his pro career. Messi, meanwhile, plays at a time when there are more talented footballers on the planet than ever before. 

That's the evolution of sports. There are higher amounts of gifted football, basketball and hockey players than there were 30 and even 20 years ago. 

It was back in 2006 when Maradona hailed Messi as his successor, per the Telegraph. Messi didn't fail to disappoint. 

Russell Westbrook to Allen Iverson

As Adi Joseph of the Sporting News pointed out, Allen Iverson took part in a Q&A session for the official Showtime Facebook page back in May 2015. One fan asked Iverson to name his favorite point guard currently playing in the NBA. Iverson didn't dance around the issue: "Westbrook no doubt. He's a certified killer. Beast."

That wasn't the first time Iverson had high praise for Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook. During a Comcast SportsNet broadcast of a Philadelphia 76ers game in March of that same year (h/t CBS Sports), Iverson spoke about Westbrook's tenacity and about Westbrook's heart. 

In fairness, Iverson was the tougher player if only because of the players' sizes and builds. The 6'3" Westbrook has several inches on the undersized Iverson (6'), and thus it is not as taxing on Westbrook's body when he lays it all on the line as Iverson did time and time again when playing against the likes of Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. 

Both players are known for killer crossovers, although Westbrook will never cross up the greatest player ever, per Fox Sports. Westbrook, like Iverson, isn't afraid to take chances on defense even if those chances don't always lead to positive plays. 

The two have even been linked because of their off-the-court styles, per MTV.com. 

There is one thing Westbrook is lacking. Iverson carried the 76ers all the way to the 2001 NBA Finals, a series the Sixers lost to the Los Angeles Lakers. Philadelphia had no business playing in the Finals, let alone stealing a game from the Lakers, but Iverson played like a man possessed during that Most Valuable Player season. 

Westbrook has not yet achieved such an accomplishment. 

Francisco Lindor to Omar Vizquel

Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor is destined to be compared to Omar Vizquel. Vizquel, like Lindor, made his name with the Indians. It was back in the 1990s when the Indians competed for a pair of World Series titles that the Tribe did not win when Vizquel became a fan favorite and a local hero, in part because he could not contain the joy he felt while playing.

Vizquel, per Zack Meisel of Cleveland.com, sees the same in Lindor:

"

I was one of those guys who liked to laugh around the field whenever I made a play. You see that on (Lindor) too. That means he's just enjoying the game. I think he surprised himself with the way he caught that ball, because he really got caught in between and didn't know what to do. The ball got in his glove, he fell on his [backside] and he was able to recover and make a good throw to first base.

It's a way to say, 'Wow, I can't believe I made that play.' It was a really exciting thing to see.

"

Enthusiasm in the field is not all Lindor and Vizquel share. They are physically similar, with the 5'11" Lindor having a bit more length that allows him to sprawl out and make plays that the 5'9" Vizquel may have missed because even the great Vizquel was human.

The defensive comparisons are inevitable, as will be the case with any talented shortstop who makes his way through the Indians' system. Any list of the best fielding shortstops in history is worthless if it does not include Vizquel. Lindor is only 22 years old, but he has already pulled off incredible defensive plays during his brief time with the Indians.

In Vizquel, those Indians teams of old had an infield general who could also provide a spark in the lineup. The current Tribe hope to have the same in Lindor.  

Tom Brady to Joe Montana

Chocolate or vanilla? California or New York? Mac or PC? Tom Brady or Joe Montana? 

Decisions, decisions, decisions.

The careers of Brady and Montana are eerily similar. Brady, from sunny California, went to school at Michigan. Montana, from the QB hotbed of Pennsylvania, played his college ball at Notre Dame. 

Neither Brady nor Montana was a sure thing upon entering the NFL. Brady was, as explained by John Breech of CBS Sports, historically bad at the NFL Scouting Combine. Montana, as Larry Schwartz wrote for ESPN.com back in 2003, was rated behind several QBs of his time, and one scout believed that Montana "doesn't have great tools but could eventually start." 

Brady (6'4") is a couple of inches taller than Montana (6'2"), but neither man ever possessed the athleticism of Michael Vick, Aaron Rodgers, Andrew Luck or Cam Newton. Both Brady and Montana first learned how to be NFL QBs from the sidelines as backups, and both men ultimately became the faces of their franchises. 

Brady and Montana are two of the most clutch QBs to ever line up under center in the pros. Both have three Super Bowl MVP awards in their personal trophy cases. 

Kevin Lynch of SFGate.com blog Niner Insider pointed out one difference he believes separates the two all-time legends of the game:

"

Montana could win games that Brady could not. Even when pressured, Montana could still rise above and play heroically. Against Philadelphia in 1989 Montana was sacked 8 times, and nonetheless, he threw four, 4th quarter touchdowns to win the game 38-28.

While Brady is better at handling pressure than he used to, he doesn’t get better after getting pummeled, and, at times, Montana did.

Brady can win several more Super Bowls and playoff games. However, he’ll never possess Montana’s stupendous record in Super Bowls (4-0, 11 touchdowns and no interceptions). Also, Brady will never equal Montana’s pocket presence, mobility, sense for the big moment, or toughness.

That’s why Montana remains the best quarterback of all time.

"

Brady or Montana: Whom would you take? 

Harry Kane to Alan Shearer

Every young England forward will, in some way, be compared to Alan Shearer until somebody overshadows Shearer's accomplishments. Wayne Rooney looked the part for a time during his early days at Manchester United, but Rooney has been more of a sporadic star than a player deemed to be a classic English center forward. 

What was it about Shearer, other than the fact that he holds the record for the most Premier League goals in history (h/t Sky Sports), that made him such a special player? For starters, Shearer had a rocket of a right foot. Shearer's strength allowed him to hold defenders off, and he held the record for the most headed BPL goals until Peter Crouch broke that mark in May 2015 (h/t PremierLeague.com). 

Kane is a somewhat underrated athlete. No, the Tottenham Hotspur striker is not seemingly carved out of granite as is Cristiano Ronaldo. Kane does not possess the blinding speed of Gareth Bale, and nobody will confuse him for Neymar or Lionel Messi as it pertains to on-the-ball skill. 

Kane's movement off the ball is maybe his best attribute, one that makes playmakers around him better. Unlike other forwards who sit up top and wait for service, Kane darts through defenders looking for even a step of space that will allow him to convert a through ball into a clear chance on goal. 

Those who would underrate Kane's physical abilities should, however, examine the goal he scored against Chelsea in January 2015 (h/t YouTube). Kane, while in possession, sped past one defender, used his strength to hold off a different opponent and then deposited a shot from distance with a right-footed strike. 

Shearer-esque. 

Kane turns 23 years old this summer. He will represent England in the upcoming European Championship, and he will then play his first Champions League matches later this year. So long as he remains healthy and playing with a top club, Kane will have an opportunity to match or even surpass Shearer. 

He must first show, however, that he is more Shearer than Rooney. 

Noah Syndergaard to Roger Clemens

Roger Clemens maybe wishes that he had the blond locks that flow from the head of current New York Mets ace Noah Syndergaard, but that discussion is for another time and a different piece. 

For this example to work, think back to the 1980s and when Clemens was a young flamethrower with the Boston Red Sox. That version of Clemens was leaner than the pitcher who featured for the New York Yankees later in his career. The 6'6" Syndergaard, who has a couple of inches in height on the 6'4" Clemens, has a frame similar to that of the early Rocket.

Clemens wasn't afraid to throw inside or play dirty. There was the infamous incident of Clemens hurling a piece of a broken bat toward Mike Piazza during a World Series game. Clemens even once threw inside against his own son during a spring training game (h/t ESPN.com). 

Syndergaard, who has topped 100 mph multiple times, became a legend among fans of the Mets last October when he opened Game 3 of the World Series by launching a pitch over the head of Kansas City Royals leadoff hitter Alcides Escobar.

Syndergaard, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports, then offered the following challenge while speaking with reporters after that game: "If they have a problem with me throwing inside, then they can meet me 60 feet, six inches away. I've got no problem with that."

The possibility exists that Syndergaard will be the best young gun currently in the Mets rotation. Syndergaard is only 23 years old, and he has a ways to go before his body fully develops as a major league pitcher. How Syndergaard matures physically, emotionally and psychologically will all determine if he is a true clone of Clemens, or if the young star affectionately known as Thor burns out sooner rather than later. 

Floyd Mayweather Jr. to Muhammad Ali

Before beginning, we must all agree to pretend the cloning machine was left on too high a temperature before somebody noticed the error. Muhammad Ali and Floyd Mayweather fought in different weight classes, and Mayweather (5'8") is several inches shorter than Ali (6'3"). 

Moving on. 

In September 2015, Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports provided reasons for why Mayweather cannot be compared to Ali:

"

Unlike Ali, Mayweather’s contributions never extended to the social realm. Mayweather changed the way boxers, and other athletes, should approach their business and for that, future generations should be thankful.

But he didn’t have an impact upon society beyond boxing and his persona as the world’s richest athlete. Ali in so many ways made a difference in people’s live that few athletes, not just Mayweather, could approach.

"

Notice that nothing about the fighters' styles was mentioned. 

Ali was lightning-quick with his head movements, footwork and punches. Say whatever you will about the controversy surrounding the Phantom Punch. Ali nailed Sonny Liston with a right hand to the jaw on that fateful night. Mayweather, meanwhile, possessed what ESPN's Nigel Collins once referred to as "freakish hand speed and pinpoint accuracy." 

Both were intelligent defensive fighters. Ali's "Rope-a-Dope" strategy versus George Foreman will be discussed and remembered so long as boxing exists. Mayweather's defense proved to be impenetrable for Manny Pacquiao when the two fought in May 2015. 

Ali's trash-talking ways provided the blueprint for Mayweather and a plethora of other fighters and professional wrestlers. Both Ali and Mayweather proclaimed themselves to be the greatest fighters to ever live (h/t Sporting News). Mayweather even dedicated an Instagram page to one of his houses. 

Just imagine a 23-year-old Muhammad Ali on Twitter. 

There will never be another Ali. Mayweather, with his skills and boasts, is possibly as close as we'll get.

Russell Wilson to Drew Brees

Some may fail to see New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees as a legend. They're wrong. Brees is currently fourth in career passing yards (h/t Pro-Football-Reference.com). Baring unforeseen circumstances, Brees will pass Brett Favre on that list later this year. Brees is a Super Bowl champion and Super Bowl MVP.

"But Brees has played the majority of his home games inside of a dome," critics may say. True. So did Peyton Manning. 

Seattle Seahawks starting QB Russell Wilson spoke to ESPN's Terry Blount about Brees in November 2013: 

"

I followed him a lot. I watched him in his college career [at Purdue] and I remember my dad being like, 'Man, you’ve got to watch this guy. This guy is awesome.'

But I really started following him a lot and studying him my junior year of college, and also my senior year of college. When I went to Wisconsin [senior year], I had tons and tons of film on him. I just watched every throw, pretty much that he had thrown in the NFL. I studied his footwork, studied what he does, and obviously, everybody compares our height.

"

Size and footwork are not all that Wilson (5'11") and Brees (6') share. Brees turned 37 years old last January, and age and the wear and tear that comes from having a lengthy NFL career have limited the amount of success he has outside of the pocket these days. Wilson, per ESPN's Sheil Kapadia, posted a 118.6 passer rating "on throws from inside the pocket" last season. 

Wilson has two Super Bowls on his resume. He is also only 27 years old and thus theoretically entering his physical prime. Wilson would do well to continue to emulate Brees over the next decade. 

Kobe Bryant to Michael Jordan

"If you, electronically, switch the uniforms and played that at full speed, you would not have been able to tell who was who." This is the comment heard at the beginning of the incredible comparison video posted above. 

Bryant was slightly thicker in his prime than Jordan was during the middle of the 1990s as His Airness and the Chicago Bulls dominated the NBA. That is where the physical differences come to an end regarding these two basketball legends. 

Bryant clearly modeled his game after Jordan's. Bryant's back-down, turn and fade-away shot looks like an unintentional tribute to Jordan. Bryant never had as iconic a dunk as Jordan, but the former member of the Los Angeles Lakers could, as did M.J., defy gravity for a time. 

What fans and those who create highlight videos sometimes forget is that Bryant and Jordan were dominating defensive players. Jordan was named to nine NBA All-Defensive teams during his career. Bryant matched that feat.  

They are maybe the two most complete players in NBA history. 

LeBron James (6'8", 250 lbs) is bigger and a better overall athlete than Bryant (6'6", 212 lbs) and Jordan (6'6", 216 lbs). Kevin Durant has more height (6'9"). Stephen Curry is a better shooter from beyond the arc but is also not as good on defense as Bryant and Jordan. 

Bryant was the second coming of Jordan, even if he came up a bit short in NBA championships and MVP awards.