The Latest Rage In Sports

She has scored more points than anyone in major college basketball history.

Not only is she the NCAA Division I women’s record-holder, but she has scored more points than Pete Maravich, who held the Division I men’s record.

And that’s where the controversy begins.

Of course, there has to be a controversy of some kind.

No longer can we accept an extraordinary career, tip our hats, bow down with respect, and cheer great performances.

No, there has to be some fly in the ointment that is supposed to make us find some kind of negativity.

You know who finds all this?  The media.

Last Sunday Caitlin Clark scored 35 points against Ohio State in her final game at home playing for Iowa.

It was the last time Hawkeye fans would see her play on campus before the Big Ten Tournament gets underway.

She passed the all-time women’s mark against Michigan on Feb. 15 and now surpassed the all-time point total established by one of the most colorful players in the history of the sport, “Pistol” Pete Maravich, who played for LSU.

Are we talking apples and oranges?

Without doubt.

Clark has competed in a 4-year college career.

Maravich’s career, like all Division I basketball and football players, were only 3 years.

Freshmen were ineligible to play varsity sports back then.

Clark has played in 129 games with more to come.

Maravich 88.

There was no 3-point shot in the Pistol’s day.

As we know, there isn’t a hoopster alive who ever saw a 3-point bomb he or she didn’t like.

There was no shot clock when Pete suited up for the Tigers.

There is today, of course, which speaks to much higher scoring.

Negative Nancies like to point out that Caitlin Clark, for all her greatness, has never won an NCAA championship, which she still can this season.

Well, Maravich didn’t either.

The lady from Iowa has never bragged about her scoring exploits.

What she has done is become a great basketball player in her time.

In her record breaking game against Iowa, Clark had 9 assists, 6 rebounds and 3 steals to go along with her 35 points.

Those one-game numbers reflect the kind of game she plays.

A team game.

She doesn’t stand around and demand the ball.

She doesn’t shoot every time it’s in her hand.

She goes to the boards after misses, she plays both ends of the court, and she sets up teammates.

Not everything in sports has to be measured.

There doesn’t have to be a G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All-Time) label whenever anyone does remarkable things, even if it’s for more than one-year.

Look, writers and commentators have to come up with things to write about and talk about.

I get it.

I’m doing that right now.

I also understand the need for stories that may shed a different light on events.But why the heavy-handed negativity.

Why do we have to diminish Caitlin Clark’s abilities and success by comparing her feats to another great who did what he did in another time?

Comparing players who performed in different eras is ridiculous.

For the time they played in, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson and Jerry West were considered the very best in the NBA.

Then, along comes Kareem, and Magic, and Larry.

And don’t forget Doctor J.

Who?

Look it up.

Enter Michael Jordan.

Followed by LeBron James.

There are different times in sports.

We know, that the more current, the athletes are greater in size, speed, and skill.

Let’s digress and talk about home run records.

Once upon a time, Babe Ruth was king.  Sixty home runs in 1927, until Roger Maris hit 61 in 1961.

But wait, Maris did it in a 162-game schedule.

He actually hit his 61st in his 163rd game, because a tie game during the season was replayed.

Put an asterisk * on that record by Maris, they said.

And they did till it was removed.

Aaron Judge another Yankee, hit 62 in the 161st game of the 2022 campaign.

There were others who banged out much more, such as Mark McGuire and Barry Bonds in the late 80’s and early 90’s.

But evidence of the use of steroids eliminated those two from home run record consideration.

That was strictly baseball.

In this case, we’re talking about apples and oranges.

Men and women basketball players who had different game-totals, and rules.

I’m not boosting up Maravich over Clark because of the differences.

Hardly.

All I’m saying is Hail to Pete Maravich who, in his time, led everyone who ever played in points scored.

And Hail to Caitlin Clark, who, in her time  led everyone who ever played in points scored.

And the icing on the cake for Clark, who has brought even more attention and respect to the women’s game.

Someday, there will be someone else who will play better and score better.

It happens in every sport.

So let’s revel in what we’re seeing right now.

And go from there.