Of GOATS and Men

I'm watching (out of the corner of one eye) another casual, yet boring debate on whether LeBron James is The GOAT. In full disclosure, I detest making lists -- with the exception of giving instructions or going to the grocery store. But I've participated in this and similar arguments on multiple people, places, and subjects with too many people to count. I have my opinion on James and others, but it's not my focus here. Instead, I'll share this idea for consideration; greatness is an altogether separate quality from 'best', 'excellent', 'most valuable', etc.. It speaks to those individuals, places, events, etc., that transcend their respective spheres of interest or simple moments in time.

The idea of someone or something being The GOAT is extremely subjective. It's affected by our individual selective bias, attention, and retention as much as 3rd parties influencing what we see, hear, and read. Even those of us who are very well versed on a given subject can't read every book, see every video, or experience every event to present our opinions as authoritative over that of millions who are likely witnesses to that same experience and many others. Such pronouncements are really outrageous when considering they're made in the moment without much regard to history. As much as it's entertaining to argue James as The GOAT over the Black Mamba or... gasp (!)... Air... it's nonetheless a bit irrational considering we have a generation of people who didn't experience the impact of Air in real time. (I'm sorry, but trying to figure out Air's impact on society from YouTube videos is a fool's errand.) Those of us who are completely flummoxed by the mention of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar or Bill Russell as The GOAT should take their seats and remain quiet until called upon.

So all you wannabe influencers, tastemakers, gatekeepers... ease up off the gas. Let the rest of us enjoy and appreciate all of these outstanding people, places, and things while keeping an eye out for the emergence of new greatness in the future. It's the one thing we can all be sure about.