Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Both Legendary players in their respective sports whom many considered the 'best' while in their primes yet only won one title while each in those primes. Auerbach/Russell's Celtics & Belichick/Brady's Pats respectively the reasons for those 'just' one titles. However, each finally got over the hump at each Dynasty's expense in both '67 & '06. Wilt wins another Ring just before retirement in '72 as a 'passenger' on a Laker squad with Peyton doing the same now for Denver. Thoughts?

Pretty interesting parallels you drew between the two men and their respective situations. Fascinating, and definitely worth pondering more!

One huge difference: In the ten years Russell and Chamberlain were both in the NBA, Russell's team knocked Wilt's team out of the playoffs SEVEN times. In the 15 years Manning and Brady have both been in the NFL, Brady's team has knocked Manning's team out TWICE, while Manning's team has knocked Brady's team out THREE times. I'd say that sort of kills the parallel right there.

Bob Gill wrote:One huge difference: In the ten years Russell and Chamberlain were both in the NBA, Russell's team knocked Wilt's team out of the playoffs SEVEN times. In the 15 years Manning and Brady have both been in the NFL, Brady's team has knocked Manning's team out TWICE, while Manning's team has knocked Brady's team out THREE times. I'd say that sort of kills the parallel right there.

Well, thing is, even if Manning's team wasn't consistently done in by Brady's team like Chamberlain's was by Russell's, it's still worth noting that both Wilt and Peyton have faced some degree of collective perception that they were underachievers; many people would expect athletes who were so statistically accomplished to have been more frequent champions than they were. So, still an interesting comparison.

Also of note is that the chief nemeses in both stories were men who played their entire careers for Boston-area teams (and yeah, I'm assuming Brady will be a career Patriot, which at this late stage of his career isn't a stretch at all).

From a straight football perspective, John Elway's legacy just before Super Bowl 32 was even worse, considering he had been on three losing teams and was on a team that was a double-digit underdog. Fast forward 366 days and suddenly Elway became an iconic legend.

by rebelx24 » Tue Feb 09, 2016 8:41 pm

"...Also of note is that the chief nemeses in both stories were men who played their entire careers for Boston-area teams
(and yeah, I'm assuming Brady will be a career Patriot, which at this late stage of his career isn't a stretch at all)."

The locale of the nemeses is less important than the fact both were coached by two of the greatest in the history
of the respective sports.
Auerbach is certainly without peer and Belichick, depending on health and desire, could break Shula's record
(as has been stated in another thread.)

oldecapecod11 wrote:Auerbach is certainly without peer

Though Phil Jackson has surpassed Auerbach in NBA titles, 11-9

by BD Sullivan » Tue Feb 09, 2016 10:35 pm
"Though Phil Jackson has surpassed Auerbach in NBA titles, 11-9"

And surpassed him in seasons, games, wins, winning percentage, and wives.
Yet, Auerbach is certainly without peer.

rebelx24 wrote:Well, thing is, even if Manning's team wasn't consistently done in by Brady's team like Chamberlain's was by Russell's, it's still worth noting that both Wilt and Peyton have faced some degree of collective perception that they were underachievers; many people would expect athletes who were so statistically accomplished to have been more frequent champions than they were. So, still an interesting comparison.

Yeah, I guess that's true. If you look at it that way, it still makes sense.

74_75_78_79_ wrote:Both Legendary players in their respective sports whom many considered the 'best' while in their primes yet only won one title while each in those primes. Auerbach/Russell's Celtics & Belichick/Brady's Pats respectively the reasons for those 'just' one titles. However, each finally got over the hump at each Dynasty's expense in both '67 & '06. Wilt wins another Ring just before retirement in '72 as a 'passenger' on a Laker squad with Peyton doing the same now for Denver. Thoughts?

Wilt was more than a passenger, he changed his game in LA, was NBA All-defensive team, and the best rebounder in NBA. They didn't score blocked shots but he had a ton, the 71-72 Lakers are still one of my favorite teams, but with two good guards scoring points, Chamberlain only took high percentage shots. So, though his scoring was not what it was, he was still a dominant player 71-72 and 72-73, he could have played 4-5 more years.

That said, I get your point about the parallels in terms of the rivalry