The Golden Age Of Sports? It's A Possibility

Sports today is subject to many scandals such as steroids, betting on games, criminal behavior, etc. Corruption really has been the predominant theme the past decade or so in sports. Beginning with the steroid allegations in 1998 during the home run race between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa sports has been hammered by scandal after scandal. We have witnessed on and off-field corruption from numerous stars. Sports have been given more than just a black eye. The way the media runs away with these stories, sports are close to taking one punch too many.

However, in my opinion the media has failed to emphasize that sports fans today are living in a gold mine of legends. Legends are surrounding us in almost every sport. For every Michael Vick there is a Peyton Manning; for every Roger Clemens there is an A-Rod.

The athletic world is blessed to have some of its greatest stars play today. We might take it for granted, but a second thought might make us pause.

The NFL has Manning and Tom Brady. These two players might end up the top two quarterbacks in NFL history. Manning is on pace to set every major passing record while Brady owns the single season TD mark (formerly held by Manning). They have a combined four super bowls between them and are two of the most recognizable figures in sports today.

Manning possesses that laser, rocket arm that we all learned about in the 2006 Sprint commercial while John Madden gushes about Brady's pinpoint accuracy almost every Sunday night in November.

In addition, we might be watching one of the greatest RBs of all time in the San Diego Chargers LaDainian Tomlinson. Tomlinson already owns the single season TD record and is on pace to achieve the all time rushing record as well. No one in today's game runs with LT's passion. His powerful stiff-arm and driving strength are feared throughout the league and when all is said and done he could be one of the greatest to ever play the RB position.

Examining the MLB we see they also have a legend to boast. Alex Rodriguez could be the eventual home run king has always been a tremendous player all the way around. We have seen him play well at both SS and 3B and withstand the pressure of playing for the most demanding city in sports.

Hockey has several young stars who are expected to produce record setting careers. In just his third season, Sidney Crosby, already a fantastic playmaker for the Penguins, came up just short in the Stanley Cup finals while rival Alex Ovechkin dominated the league this year with over 60 goals, winning the NHL's MVP award in just his third year. Both these players have met expectations and will be the two players to pull hockey out of the dark ages.

We get to witness many great athletes, but in today's world of sports we see none greater than Tiger Woods and Roger Federer.

Both these athletes have dominated their respective sport and have done it with great character. Woods has won over ten majors and is well on his way to becoming the greatest golfer of all time. The PGA had to make its courses harder just because Tiger is so dominant. Federer is widely considered the greatest tennis player ever and often goes weeks without losing not only a match but also a set! He makes the amazing seem routine and tomorrow will play for the French Open championship, the only major that has eluded him.

Last, but not least viewers today might be witnessing a new premiere athlete take the stage of elite as Big Brown will be racing in the Belmont Stakes for a shot at the Triple Crown. No horse has won since Affirmed in 1978 and we have seen many heartbreaking losses from Barbaro to Smarty Jones to Real Quiet and the list goes on. However, today we might see history if Big Brown can pull off the victory.

So even with all the bad publicity surrounding sports, we are still living a golden age. There are so many elite athletes who inspire us. So many moments where we just stand there, mouths gaping, heads shaking, saying "How'd he do that!"

There are so many positives in sports today. We just need to stop and remember them. I just need to stop and remember them. Maybe this article will help get us started.