They are rare - VERY rare - but occasionally there is a player in sports who is regarded as an all-time great primarily because of his defense. Ozzie Smith and Brooks Robinson were two examples. Both were competent all-round players, but it was their defense that dazzled us.
The problem with defense is that it deals not with what happens, but with what does not happen - what you kept from happening - and people tend not to notice what did not happen. It still rankles me that the year John Fowler was voted Defensive Player of the Year in the SBC he did not make the All-Conference team. How can that be?! The very best defensive player in the entire league, and yet he is not good enough to make All-SBC! It was not like he never scored. He averaged double figures and was a good rebounder for a small forward. But folks just do not value defense.
We need more like Ozzie and Brooks.
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