The Road to GOAT

Source: Statista

The Australian government has once again canceled the visa of tennis star Novak Djokovic, adding another twist to the saga that makes none of the involved parties look particularly good. “Today I exercised my power under section 133C(3) of the Migration Act to cancel the visa held by Mr. Novak Djokovic on health and good order grounds, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so,” Australia’s Immigration Minister Alex Hawke said in a statement on Friday.

On Monday, an Australian court had ruled in favor of Djokovic, allowing him to leave the quarantine hotel he had been detained in and resume his preparations for the Australian Open. After entering Australia on a special exemption from the country’s strict vaccination requirements on January 4, Djokovic’s visa had been revoked, forcing him to quarantine until Monday’s ruling. Djokovic, who is hoping to compete in the Australian Open starting on January 17, is likely to appeal the decision once again, in order to keep his dream of winning his 21st Grand Slam title alive.

As Nadal, Federer and Djokovic now all stand at 20 Grand Slam titles, the 34-year-old Serb looks most likely end up with the record that all three men have been chasing for years. With the still-injured Federer turning 41 this year and his last major title dating back to 2018, it seems increasingly unlikely that the Swiss maestro can add to his tally. Meanwhile Nadal’s physical playing style is taking its toll on the 35-year-old Spaniard, who has been struggling with injury throughout his career. At this point, Djokovic looks like the safest bet to come out on top in the Grand Slam record books, adding weight to his supporters’ argument that he, not Federer, nor Nadal, is the GOAT (the Greatest of All Time).

The Road to GOAT

NBA Fans Pick Jordan Over James in GOAT Debate

Source: Statista

“The Last Dance”, the ESPN documentary about Michael Jordan and his last season at the Chicago Bulls, has not only captivated American sports fans for the past few weeks, but it also reminded people of how great an athlete Jordan was, all of his flaws notwithstanding. As the documentary clearly shows, Jordan was no stranger to controversy during his playing career, and yet, whenever he stepped on court, he transcended into this otherworldly figure seemingly unconstrained by the laws of physics.

While not uncritical of Jordan and his sometimes harsh demeanor on and off court, the documentary will probably cement his legacy as the greatest player of all time, if at all necessary. As a recent ESPN poll shows, Jordan is already considered better than his heir apparent LeBron James in every respect of the game. According to ESPN, 73 percent of the 600 NBA fans polled think that Jordan is the better overall player than James, while 76 percent would trust him over James to take the game-winning shot.

Jordan is considered the better offensive and defensive player, the more spectacular one to watch, and, stepping off the court, the one people would rather have a drink with. 63 percent of respondents would also pick him as a teammate over James, which some might consider surprising, given how hard “His Airness” pushed his teammates in practice and how ruthless he could be if someone didn’t follow his lead.

NBA GOAT Infographic