We all have wonders in our lives on what could have been if something in our lives would have changed. It doesn't mean a regret, which is something one should never have anyways, as we all need to make mistakes in life on occasion to get on the right path.
There are certain moments that you can look back on and say, if only. This list is inspired by something that just happened today, leaving the sporting community wondering "if only..."
Below is a list of 7 athletes, actors and musicians who either had their lives or careers end tragically in my lifetime, with probably more of an emphasis on athletes. I'll rank them in order based on a combination of potential cultural significance of what they could have been and their relevance in my areas of interest (i.e. sports hold more of an interest in my life than music).
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| What could have been for Oden... |
7. Greg Oden - Tabbed by many as one of the next big franchise centers for years to come, Oden has only played 82 games since being drafted #1 by the Portland Trailblazers in 2007. He didn't play in a game until a year and a half after he was drafted, and from there, he just continued to get injured. Worse for them is that Kevin Durant was drafted by the Supersonics (now the Thunder), so they'll always have their own version of "what if". Despite his lackluster stats in that 82 game sample of a career (9.4 points, 7.3 rebounds per game), anyone who watched Oden in college and before know the type of talent that he had. In the absence of hindsight, three scoring titles and at the very least, an NBA Finals appearance, there was a good reason why Oden was drafted with the first pick. For the most part of NBA history, the staple of sustained success was with having a big talented guy at center. I hope he can eventually get healthy and make a comeback of sorts. I hate watching talent go to waste.
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| He overdid everything - including drugs. |
6. Chris Farley - He'd be higher on my list if it wasn't a shock that he would end up dying in a very tragic way at an early age. Anything that Farley did, he overdid, whether it be in acting with his pratfalls or with his drinking and drug use. Farley's legacy for our generation was summed up in his appearances on Tommy Boy and Black Sheep, and the classic SNL skits such as the Chippendales auditions and Matt Foley, Motivational Speaker. I'm not sure how much more he could have done with his brand of comedy, as his range was limited to a very specific role (fat, aloof idiot who we couldn't help but love). Seeing what a similar actor in terms of lack of range (Adam Sandler) did with his "talents" over the years after a successful SNL stint, I'm sure there would have been a career full of movies for Farley had he stayed alive. However, I doubt they would have matched the appeal of his first two major roles (see: Beverly Hills Ninja).
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| Cobain hated the fame that his music created . |
5. Kurt Cobain - Like Farley, Cobain's demise was apparent to those who knew him best. Even in his lyrics, you could hear the wanting out of life that Cobain desired. In April of 1994, he shot himself dead at the age of 27 (no, it wasn't Courtney Love). I didn't get into alternative music (and music in general) until about 2-3 years after his death, so his death doesn't hit home with me as much as it might some others. I know some people who think Nirvana is overrated, and I admit that I haven't listened to them as much over the years as I did before - mainly because their library of music isn't as deep as most artists I listen to (and thus, I get sick of it quicker). However, there's no questioning the new era of music that came in with Nirvana and the album Nevermind. To many, Nirvana was music's answer to the fluffy era of rock music that preceded it, one that actually reflected the angst that many teenagers were dealing with. I don't know how much more Cobain could have done as a musician, but his early death will leave people wondering....if only. Could Nirvana have had as much staying power as Pearl Jam has? My opinion - no, only because I believe Dave Grohl already had Foo Fighters lined up before Cobain died. To think, Foo Fighters have been around since 1994 (its 19th year as a band). That's about five times longer than Nirvana lasted.
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| I'll Have Another in the Kentucky Derby |
4. I'll Have Another - In terms of a sports story, it doesn't get much sadder to see a horse miss out on a chance to win the Triple Crown because of a career-ending injury. I'll Have Another paid me a handsome sum back in May when he raced out of the 19th post as an 18/1 and took home the Kentucky Derby. He followed that victory up with another head-to-head victory over Bodemeister in the Preakness, en route to becoming the first horse since Big Brown in 2008 to win the first two legs of the Triple Crown. A swollen tendon is what will hold the horse from having a chance to be the first Triple Crown winner since 1978. If he would have won the Triple Crown, the marketability of the horse and horse racing in general would have had a short-term spike. Nevertheless, I'm sure his stud fee is through the roof, so no tears to be shed for his owners.
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| Biggie & Tupac's deaths left a hole in hip hop that will never be filled |
3. Tupac/Biggie - I know many of my friends aren't the biggest fans of hip hop music, but the deaths of these two rap legends left a hole in the hip hop industry that they have never really been able to replace. Both deaths were violent endings to Hall of Fame rappers, both of whom connected to their listeners in a rare way and brought hip hop music to new heights. It's unfortunate that these guys had to die when they did. To think that I've already lived four more years than either one of them did. I would probably have these guys up higher if I was a bigger hip-hop fan (I consider myself a fan of limited hip-hop, the small part of the genre that doesn't constantly rap about "big screen TVs, blunts, 40s and bitches"*). I wouldn't blame people having these guys as the biggest "what ifs" of our generation in terms of what could have came from their future talents. I believe they would have done more with their future talents than Cobain would have.
*A nod to the Steve Berman track on an Eminem record
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| Bias a couple days before his death |
2. Len Bias - For those of you who don't know who Len Bias is, I highly suggest you do a quick Google search and read everything about this guy's freakish athletic ability. Before Michael Jordan comparisons became the norm in the era of the 24/7 news media, Bias (from many accounts) would have been the closest thing to him in terms of his athletic prowess. According to Wiki, the Boston Celtics' famed coach Red Auerbach said he planned on drafting Bias for the Celtics for the three years before he actually declared for the draft. A few days after being drafted 2nd by the Celtics in the 1986 draft, Bias died of a drug overdose. I've heard that the 30-for-30 piece about him on ESPN (Without Bias) was well done, although I can't say I've seen it. All I know is that his death more than likely prevented the Celtics from continuing their dynasty into the early 90s (and perhaps allowed the Chicago Bulls to have a chance to secure their own dynasty with one less roadblock in the way).
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| One of the best athletes that's ever been around. |
1. Bo Jackson - With the talents that he possessed, Jackson could have been a Hall of Famer in both baseball and football. He had power and speed that the NFL had never really seen before, especially from the running back position (his Tecmo Bowl replica was probably the most devastating video game character ever). His limited NFL career had plenty of highlights, most notably the destruction of roided linebacker Brian Bosworth, who dared to talk shit to Bo. According to his Wiki profile, he is the first athlete to be named an all-star in two professional sports. His 4.12 speed in the 40m run is still the fastest recorded time at an NFL-draft combine. If he wouldn't have suffered his severe hip injury in the 1990 season, he would have had a good chance to become an all-time great running back (based on his 5.4 yards per carry in his career). In addition to his football talents, Bo also hit 20 home runs in his first four full seasons in the pros - the four years preceding his hip injury (including a career high 32 in the 1989 season). Bo was somehow able to make a comeback to baseball in 1991, signing with the White Sox. After missing the 1992 season, he came back in '93, artificial hip and all, and helped the Sox make their first postseason in 10 years in limited action. The hip injury ultimately derailed any chances Bo had of becoming Hall-of-Fame worthy in either sport. It's a shame too that much of the generation that followed me wouldn't even know who Bo Jackson is.
