My 10 Most (and Least) Competitive Athletes in the World

If the willingness and determination to win or succeed in sports didn't exist and all that mattered were measurables, then David Eckstein (all 5-foot-6 inches of him) would have never played minor league baseball, much less won a World Series MVP.

Two-time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum (all 150 pounds of him) would probably be working at a bank.

You wouldn't see anyone in the NBA under 6-foot-3 (which means no Isiah Thomas, who just happens to be in the Hall of Fame) nor would you see any WRs with noodle arms.

Sorry DeSean Jackson, you're not welcome here even if you just happen to be a Pro Bowler.    

So you see, size and talent can only take you so far when competing against the world's best athletes in any sport and if that wasn't the case we'd be building statues for all-world talents such as: Mike Mamula, Tony Mandarich,  Ryan Leaf, Kwame Brown, Darko Milicic, and Mark Prior; instead of labeling them busts.   

So without further ado, my personal lists based on what I have seen over my young life. 

MOST COMPETITIVE

1. Michael Jordan: This guy was a flat killer. Why else do you think he was a perfect 6-for-6 when it came to the NBA Finals? He simply never let his team lose when a game was ever in doubt.

2. Kobe Bryant: The closest thing we will ever have to Jordan in terms of game and competitiveness. He is even Jordan's same height and body type, and just might match him in rings this June. Probably the second best shooting-guard in NBA history, just behind that Jordan fella.

3. Roy Halladay: No wonder every game he starts looks like a no-hitter is taking place as his teammates refuse to sit next to him or even talk to him when he's in the dugout with his game face on. And when an umpire calls a borderline pitch a ball, Halladay's stare towards home plate is what dreams are made of.

4. Tom Brady: If you saw the Brady 6, you will know why Brady is on this list. He was drafted 199th overall and had the body of a 15-year-old entering the NFL. Two MVPs and three rings later and you see just how far will to win has taken him.

After games, you can see Brady running straight to the locker room while others do a meet-and-greet at midfield, not caring one bit if they had just won or lost.

5. Roger Clemens: So what if he cheated? Here's a guy that was so intense on the mound that he would have to wear a mouthpiece because he would grit his teeth so hard.

When that glove went over his face and under his hat leaving just his eyes piercing into the batter's box you knew you were in for a long night and just might get a 95-mph fastball in your ear if you dare hit a HR off him.  

NOT SO MUCH

1. Dwight Howard: Probably the most perfect specimen to ever lace them up. Can seemingly jump over buildings and if he has an ounce of fat I've never seen it. So why has he never won anything other than some DPOY awards?

He's never in game-mode it seems. He always looks like he's playing in a PE class. This guy should average 30 points and 15 rebounds in his sleep, yet he is never among the league leaders in scoring.

The best example was just before Game 1 of the 2009 NBA Finals when he was laughing and went to joke with Bryant while Bryant gave him this look of "are you serious dude, get away from me; I have a game to win."

2. Vince Carter: Half man, half coulda and shoulda been amazing. His performance in the 2000 dunk contest will long live in basketball lore.

He did things that no one else could dream of. Eleven years, three teams and no rings later, we're all left to wonder what could have been.

3. Tracy McGrady: Are you sensing a theme here? No wonder the NBA isn't what it used to be. An unbelievable talent that has not only never won a ring, but has NEVER EVEN WON A SINGLE SERIES. It's no coincidence that he's Carter's cousin. In his prime, T-Mac was the most dominant scorer in the league.

4. AJ Burnett: You would think spending four years as Halladay's teammate would cure all ills. I guess not. This guy had the best stuff in all of baseball in his prime. He could get his fastball up to 98 mph and had the game's best curve ball.

Yet, Burnett might finish his career with a LOSING record and an ERA well over 4, despite walking away with over $125 million earned during his overrated career.

5. Lloyd Carr: I will take this to my grave as I was a Michigan fan growing up. Carr never met a big lead that he liked. If Carr had the killer instinct of an Urban Meyer, Pete Carrol or Steve Spurrier, the Wolverines wouldn't have won just one title, they would have won at least three.

Who else benches maybe the best QB in NFL history (Brady) for most of his collegiate career? Who else can make an offense led by Chad Henne, Mike Hart, Mario Manningham and Jake Long finish dead last in scoring in the Big Ten?

I believe Carr's No. 1 rule he lived by was: Thou shall not ever try to win a game by more than one touchdown even if said team is five touchdowns better than the other.