The GOATs of Sports: Icons I Admire

I’ve always been a sports fanatic.  I owe a large part of that to my dad, who taught me everything I need to know about each sport.  But the one that is nearest and dearest to my heart is baseball—specifically the Los Angeles Dodgers.  I grew up listening to the legendary Vin Scully.  Hearing his voice was like music to my ears.  He knew every player’s history—where they grew up, their statistics, and heck, even their family life.  He just had a way of telling a story, and really made you feel like you were a part of the game itself.  I could go on about Vinny, but I’m here to discuss players, so let’s break it down.  

There’s one player from the Dodgers that has truly blown me away—Shohei Ohtani.  This man is going down as the GOAT.  The first player ever to reach the 50/50 club.  That’s fifty homeruns, and 50 stolen bases…his stat at the end of the year? 54/59…truly astounding.  I’m so glad that I get to experience a player of his caliber in my lifetime.  

He’s a powerhouse at the plate, hitting homers like it’s second nature.  On top of that, he’s also an amazing pitcher.  To be able to dominate as both a pitcher and a hitter is such a rare talent.  It truly feels like history is being made every time he steps up to the plate.  What I admire most, though, is his humility.  It’s an honor to watch a player like Ohtani. 

But no Dodger fan can ever talk about respect without mentioning the late, great Jackie Robinsion.  Jackie broke barriers by becoming the first African American player in Major League Baseball, and he did it with undeniable talent, grace, and courage.  He proved his worth through his spectacular skill and relentless drive, forever changing the game.  He’ll always be one of my favorite athletes.  Not just for what he did for baseball, but for what he did for humanity. 

And while my heart is held by baseball, I can’t leave without paying my respects to another legend—the late Kobe Bryant.  Watching Kobe play was like watching art in motion.  Every move he made was flawless, every shot purposeful.  His passion for basketball and his “Mamba Mentality” inspired so many, me included.  His tragic death broke me, and even now, it’s still hard to wrap my head around.  It doesn’t feel real.  Kobe wasn’t just an athlete, he was an icon, and the GOAT. 

I could go on and on about the athletes I admire and respect.  Sports has a way of inspiring us and reminding us of the beauty of hard work and passion.  

“The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great in whatever they want to do.”

Kobe Bryant