25 Biggest Game Changers in Sports
If you are reading this article, chances are you and I have one thing in common: We are sports junkies. Now, I am not going to speak for you, but one of most addictive and enjoyable aspects for me about sports is its ability to showcase the remarkable.
Competition can bring out the best in people and for the elite few that possess the rare combination of ability, talent, intelligence, timing and what the French call "holy crap, I can't believe he just did that," sports provides the platform to become legends.
These are the types of athletes that we are going to celebrate on this list. The following 25 athletes are the biggest game changers in the current sports landscapes. They can change the momentum of any contest and at any moment. They are the players that can put their team on their back and almost single-handedly lead them to victory.
No. 25: DeSean Jackson
1 of 26At 5'10" and a soaking wet 175 pounds, DeSean Jackson is like Mighty Mouse on the field. If the Eagles are struggling to get points: "Here he comes to save the day."ย
Jackson can turn the course of a game anytime he gets his hands on the ball. He is explosive, deceptive and he specializes in making big plays when it appears there are no big plays to be made.
Every time Jackson gets his hands on the ball, you can feel the audience tense in anticipation of something special and that in itself is pretty special.
No. 24: Rajon Rondo
2 of 26I am tired of hearing about how it is time to start referring to the Celtics as "The Big Four" instead of "The Big Three." Rajon Rondo has blown right past that. It is now just "The Big One."
Rondo is the straw that turns the Celtics' Guinness. Rondo can alter the course of a game in a matter of minutes. He can shut you down with his defense and then set the table for his team to go on a seemingly never-ending run.
He also never needs to rest. He is the fastest player on the court despite playing 40-plus minutes a night.
No. 23: Cliff Lee
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When Cliff Lee is on a roll, the opposition almost gives up. Lee has Greg Maddux's control and better stuff and he has the uncanny knack for saving his best performances for the biggest stage.
On his way to leading the Texas Rangers to the 2010 World Series, Cliff Lee so dominated the New York Yankees that they seemingly had to spend every post-game interview denying the fact that he had destroyed their confidence.
Due to Lee's control and endurance, he was pitching complete games like it was 1947. He was so dominant leading up to the World Series that it became a legitimate question whether a manager should even use his No. 1 pitcher against him.
No. 22: Ben Roethlisberger
4 of 26Ben Roethlisberger can alter a game at any moment. When he is at his best, there is no defense that can stop him because he creates the kinds of plays that one usually only finds in the sandlot.
He has the size and enough mobility to escape any pass rush and, once he does, it is outside of the pocket where he tends to do most of his damage.
Roethlisberger breaks down a defense by buying extra time. He keeps his eyes constantly down the field and he is ready to find a receiver who breaks open in the chaos he creates.
No. 21: Roberto Luongo
5 of 26When Roberto Luongo is at his best, the Vancouver Canucks are at least guaranteed a tie, because the opposition is not going to score on him.
Luongo can alter the course and momentum in any game he is in. He can make the kind of saves that rip the heart out of an opponent, piece-by-piece. When Luongo is busy doing his impersonation of a brick wall, the Canucks are able to go on the offensive against a demoralized opponent.
No. 20: Ed Reed
6 of 26Ed Reed alters the way the way the Ravens are able to play defense and he certainly alters the way offenses plan on attacking them.
Despite missing the first six games of the 2010 NFL season, Reed is tied for the league lead with eight interceptions and he doesn't stop with the interceptions, either. Reed has made an art of the pick-six. He does not limit his game to interceptions either. Reed is a fearless and effective tackler in the passing and running games.
Ed Reed is offense on defense and he can change a game on any pass attempt.
No. 19: Tim Lincecum
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Big-time Timmy Jim is downright unhiittable. There is a difference between not allowing hits and being unhittable.
Some pitchers will pitch to contact. Lincecum is not one of those. He pitches to be nasty. In Lincecum's first start of the 2010 postseason, he set the tone by generating a league-wide, season-high 31 swinging strikes.
Make no mistake, there is a difference on the effects of a hitter's psyche between not getting hits and swinging and missing. The effects of facing Lincecum can linger and alter an entire series. ย
No. 18: Adrian Peterson
8 of 26The popular theory that teams need to throw the ball when they are behind does not apply if your running back is Adrian Peterson. Peterson's size, speed and power make him a threat to take any play to the house.
Peterson's punishing running style wears opponents down and out. Opponents of the Vikings can go into the second half with a lead, while thinking they have Peterson bottled up, only to suddenly find themselves clutching their knees and reaching for oxygen masks as Peterson runs up and down the field.
No. 17: Kevin Durant
9 of 26The Durantula can score points in bunches. When he is on the floor, his team is not out of a game. He puts quickness, height, shooting and ball-handling in such a freakish package that when he is hot, he is impossible to defend.
At the ripe age of 22, Durant is already the most feared scorer in the game. When he hits the zone, the points, for him and his teammates, follow. ย
No. 16: Lauren Jackson
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Lauren Jackson can take over a basketball game in any phase. She can shut down the paint on the defensive end and own it on the offensive.
No lead is safe when playing against Jackson. She will out-rebound, out-shoot, out-block and out-pass her opponents into quitting.
Jackson led the Storm to an improbable 19-point comeback against the Phoenix Mercury in the Western Conference Finals. That comeback allowed the Storm to cap off their season with an undefeated postseason run.
No. 15: Devin Hester
11 of 26Devin Hester has mastered the art of kick returns. He is so adept at taking them to the house that he doesn't even need to get the ball to change the momentum of the game.
Most teams will try and kick away from Hester. This often leads to short kicks/punts and gives the Bears all the field-position advantage they need to take control of a game.
Hester's big play ability is magnified on a team with a great defense like the Bears. He can take a short pass, punt or kick to the house at any time and one TD is often all the momentum the Bears need.
No. 14: Alexander Ovechkin
12 of 26Ovechkin is a one-man wrecking crew. He can take over a game at the drop of a hat.
He can dominate the action with his physical play or with his explosive offense and often times he uses both. When he is at his best, he can control the flow of the entire game.
No. 13: Roy Halladay
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People often say a pitcher has no-hit stuff. When they say it about Halladay, they mean it. Halladay is so good, you almost expect a no-hitter.
Roy Halladay put all of his talents together when he pitched the second perfect postseason game in major league postseason history. No matter how bad Halladay's team may be playing, they always have the luxury of knowing they are just one Halladay start away from better days.
No. 12: Martin Brodeur
14 of 26At one point or another, every team in the NHL has had their will broken by Martin Brodeur. While he has not been his usual dominant self this season, it is too soon to write him off.
When Brodeur is clicking, other teams may as well just stop shooting.
No. 11: Troy Polamalu
15 of 26Troy Polamalu's speed and power make him the best safety in the NFL. His awareness and instincts make him the game's most impactful defensive player.
Offenses need to constantly be aware of Polamalu's location. The problem is, he always seems one step ahead of them. Time and time again, Polamualu exposes an offense and comes up with the big sack, forced fumble or interception that either alters the course of the game or seals the victory.
No. 10: Mariano Rivera
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Rivera is, without a doubt, the greatest closer in the history of baseball. When he comes in, the opposition is reduced to hoping for miracles.
For almost two decades, Rivera has allowed the Yankees to play seven inning games. He has been amazingly durable and he has no problem going for six-out saves. Rivera's mere presence changes the way teams play the Yankees and his entrance into the game finds the opposition resigned to losing.
No. 9: Cristiano Ronaldo
17 of 26Ronaldo has skyrocketed to the top of the soccer landscape. He has the ability to score at any time. He has the footwork and creativity to single-handedly break down a defense for the goal or to create opportunities for his teammates.
He has the speed to change a game and the headers to create goals on corner kicks. Ronaldo is instant offense.
No. 8: Dwight Howard
18 of 26Dwight Howard is developing an offensive low-post game that may someday lead him to be able to take over a game on both ends. However, his defense is so imposing, he doesn't need a polished offensive game to make this list.
Howard has not met a shot he cannot block. The guy can jump through the roof and he has the timing to make him elite. When Howard is at his peak, he seems to grab every rebound and no one even bothers to drive the lane. He relegates teams to the jump shot and if they don't make it, they aren't going to win.
No. 7: Sidney Crosby
19 of 26When Crosby hits the zone, points follow. Crosby creates goals for himself and his teammates. He is unselfish and he has the vision to be a facilitator.
Still, Crosby is at his best when he himself is scoring the goals. He has a deadly slap-shot and the explosiveness to break free. When Sid the Kid is on the ice, the game is never over.
No. 6: Josh Hamilton
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Josh Hamilton can change a baseball game any way he chooses. He can rob players of hits with his glove. He can keep players from taking extra bases with his arm. He can take an extra base with his feet and, most importantly, he can drive in runs with his bat.
Hamilton makes his impact felt in all phases of the game and when he is hot, his team always expects to win.
No. 5: Lionel Messi
21 of 26At the age of 23, Messi is the youngest player on this list and if I wasn't an American, chances are pretty good he would be No. 1.
Messi has the speed and skill that led to Barcelona's Team President, Joan Laporta, calling him the best talent in the history of the sport. Messi is a dynamic force who can score goals from anywhere and at anytime. His wide range of moves leaves spectators with their jaws hanging open and he often reduces his opponents to spectators.
No. 4: Albert Pujols
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Pujols is the most feared hitter of his generation. The only hope at an effective strategy that a pitcher has when facing Pujols is to pitch and pray.
Pujols has amazing strike zone discipline and bat control. He hits for power and contact. When the game is on the line, teams walk Pujols without thinking twice.
No. 4: Kobe Bryant
23 of 26The Black Mamba can change a game by sheer force of will. Of course, he often adds his many attributes into the mix. Kobe Bryant can score on anyone, anywhere and at anytime and when he sets his mind to it, he will stop his opponent from scoring.
When Kobe's jumper is falling, his team is never out of a game. He commands a double team and he can shoot over them and pass out of them. Kobe lives for big challenges and big moments. When the game is on the line, he wants the ball and he almost always delivers.
No. 3: Tom Brady
24 of 26Tom Brady is not going to blow people away with his athletic ability. His accomplishments often look routine. This is the source of his greatest strength.
Brady knows where to go with the ball. He knows how to attack a defense and spot the open receiver and he has the unbelievably consistent accuracy that makes it seem like his throws are never off target. Brady has been in the middle of the brightest spotlights of the NFL and he is at his best when the pressure is at its greatest.
No. 2: LeBron James
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LeBron James may have the most well-rounded game in the history of basketball. He can, and has, taken games over on the defensive and offensive end of the court. He forces every player on the floor to constantly be aware of his whereabouts.
When James' outside shot is falling, his teams are almost unbeatable. His court vision makes him hard to double team and his skill at taking it to the basket makes it impossible to crowd him. When he is hot, he is unbeatable.
No. 1: Michael Vick
26 of 26Michael Vick is the most explosive athlete in sports. As he demonstrated in the Week 15 game against the Giants, there is no safe lead when you are playing against Vick.
His dual-threat ability makes him impossible to game plan for. He will destroy you from outside of the pocket and pick you apart or run up the holes in the middle from within the pocket.ย
He may not have the consistency of some of his elite QB peers, but there is not another player in the NFL who can generate points in as many ways or in as big of bunches as Vick.
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