It’s an age old question in sports and pop culture for that matter: who or what was the best ever? Is it Montana or Unitas or Brady or Manning? Is it MJ or Wilt or Magic or Bird? Are teams that we see now and in the last ten years or so better than championship teams from prior eras? Is it fair to compare the two?
Then there is the comparison of a single play or act on the athletic field that can generate heated debate. The Willie Mays catch always comes to mind. Doug Flutie’s Hail Mary pass stirs up those sentiments supporting the “little guy” underdog versus the big, bad bully. MJ’s game winner versus Utah is another classic. In late November of 2014 sports fans witnessed something quite spectacular, and this magical moment was from that same team that produced another enormous play on the biggest stage of all. Was Odell Beckham Jr.’s catch a better catch than the one hauled in by David Tyree in the Giants’ monumental victory over the undefeated New England Patriots in the Super Bowl?
This sports fan will make a determination while trying not to let the obvious influence of the Super Bowl sway his opinion. Tyree’s catch was perhaps the most important play in a winning effort by the Giants in the Super Bowl. Beckham’s catch supported another losing game by an at best mediocre 2014 New York Giants team that continues to perform below their potential. That said I have to take other things into consideration. Taking nothing away from Tyree his catch was severely aided by the inability of Rodney Harrison to make a play on that ball. Harrison not only could have made a play on the ball before Tyree made contact he also could have knocked the ball away when it was resting on Tyree’s helmet.
Beckham Jr.’s catch was simply a thing of beauty and perfection . . . . . . and he was absolutely mugged by the defender on the play as well. The athletic ability and skill he displayed on this catch snatching it with one hand after fighting through the blatant pass interference exceeds the level of excellence I have seen on any other catch.
Tyree put on a Super Bowl ring a few months after his catch, but Beckham Jr.’s catch is the better athletic play of the two. Better luck next season Giants. More importantly, what do you think? Please comment below.
