What makes an athlete the greatest? Is it their jaw-dropping moments, extraordinary accomplishments or everlasting impact on the world of sports itself? Many athletes have made the case for why they deserve to be called the GOAT (greatest-of-all-time). You think about athletes like Michael Jordan, Babe Ruth, Muhammad Ali, Roger Federer or Michael Phelps.
How about that guy that wears the number 12 in Foxborough, Massachusetts? That six-foot-four, 225 pound California native that still plays for the New England Patriots at age 41? Would you consider him the greatest?
Tom Brady is the story every sports fan should love but yet most hate.
His sports career started in San Mateo, California where Brady attended Junipero Serra High School. Brady grew up playing baseball, football, and basketball. He was once an All-Star prospect for the Montreal Expos, who were impressed with Brady.
Despite having interest from a professional baseball team, Brady set his sights on playing football. His journey was not easy. Brady struggled to be the first choice at the quarterback position for a 0-8 Junior Varsity team. It wasn't until the starter got injured that Brady seized the opportunity and made the most of it.
Brady became the starting quarterback for the Varsity team and held his ground until his senior year. He chose the University of Michigan as the next step to fulfilling his dream. Again, a frustrated Brady spent half of his college career as a backup quarterback for the Wolverines.
Yet, Brady stayed persistent. His final two seasons were different. In 1998, Brady led Michigan to 20 wins in 25 starts while sharing a Big Ten Conference Title and led the Wolverines to a 45-31 victory in the Citrus Bowl over Arkansas.
The following year Brady fought for the starting QB position but earned the trust of the then head coach Lloyd Carr to finish the second half of the season. Michigan faced Alabama that year in the Orange Bowl where Brady led the Wolverines to victory in an overtime thriller.
When Brady entered the 2000 NFL draft he put the ugliest 40-yard dash you will ever see in a combine. Brady did not fit the mold of what an NFL player should look like. He was just this scrawny yet average looking guy. Still, all Brady needed was an opportunity. One that the New England Patriots granted when they drafted Brady with the 199th overall pick in the sixth round.
In his second season, Brady replaced an injured Drew Bledsoe to deliver the Patriots their first-ever Vince Lombardi trophy against the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXVI. The rest is history.
Brady has a record six Super Bowl rings in the Patriots latest 13-3 victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII. His performance was nowhere near what we've come to expect from him. However, he still made crucial throws which sealed the victory for the Patriots. That now makes Brady the only NFL player to have six rings. He surpasses Charles Haley whom Brady previously shared the record of five Super Bowl rings.
Tom Brady is the king of the Super Bowl record books. He's earned the most wins (six), passing touchdowns (18) and passing yards (2,838). Brady is without question the best in the post-season. How wild is it that he has won more Super Bowls than any other quarterback has played in? Brady has played 18 seasons of football and half of his career has been spent going to the Super Bowl.
To me, Brady is the GOAT. When looking at the statistics no one comes close. He's accomplished incredible things in this league. It's one of the best sports stories to ever happen. I never understand the Brady hate. Sure, there are some stains on his career of being involved with deflategate and his coach Bill Belichick getting caught with Spygate.
I like Brady for giving the sports world another great example of overcoming adversity. He never gave up on his dream. He's always set himself to be an example as both a player and a person. He seems like a great family man. I can't knock a guy that's never positioned himself poorly off the field with incidents tied to rape or sexual assault.
Everyone views Brady differently. You either love or hate him. However, his athleticism cannot be denied. I understand that many sports fans are sick and tired of the Patriots winning. Heck, I used to despise them for it. Then I realized that this dynasty is special. I respect and admire what New England has accomplished. We may never see something like this ever again, especially Brady.
I'm hoping that one day I'd get to meet Tom Brady and share my favorite memories of watching him play.
