Letting Go Of The Legacy

What We Talk About When We Talk Legacies
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 6: Tim Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs and LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat during a game at the AT&T Center March 6, 2014 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2014 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 6: Tim Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs and LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat during a game at the AT&T Center March 6, 2014 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2014 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

I'm not sure how many times I've heard the debate on sports talk radio, or seen it on web slideshows: Who's the best player who's never won a championship? Barry Bonds? Ted Williams? Dan Marino? Karl Malone? Charles Barkley? Patrick Ewing? It's an irresistible topic because it feels like greatness unfulfilled: Otherworldly talent, combined with decades of devotion to one's craft … all falling just short. These men are seen almost as tragic figures, genius denied.

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