Superlatives in sports - Topics

Why are defensive players so often called the most underrated? Who actually gets to decide who the greatest of all time is? Why do sports media keep publishing rankings nobody agrees on? Why do best game ever lists always come from major finals? Why do dramatic finishes outrank dominant wins in memory? Why does every era insist its athletes were the toughest? What makes a rivalry the greatest rather than just the longest? Why are some long-standing records treated as untouchable? Why do sports ranking lists disagree so much with each other? Is the most exciting team the same as the best team? Nostalgia does most of the work in greatest ever arguments. Why is the most popular athlete rarely the most respected one? What makes a coach the greatest rather than the most decorated? Can a player be the best at one skill but not the best overall? What is the most overrated statistic in sports debate? Who counts as the most influential figure rather than the best player? Why do greatest ever debates so rarely include women?