In an era when fans have access to nonstop sports coverage online, greatness is no longer celebrated — it is scrutinized. Today, even the most decorated athletes constantly find their legacies criticized as fans discount achievements in favor of debate.
As conversations around legacy amplify, athletes are increasingly judged not just by what they accomplish, but by what critics believe they lack.
Matt Young, sports reporter for the Houston Chronicle, has seen this shift firsthand from fans and people within the media industry, specifically those on the “takes” shows.
“In the past, there wasn’t so much media around, so you didn’t have 24/7 sports analysis on,” Young said. “People could just kind of appreciate what (Michael) Jordan did or what whoever did. I just feel like the society we live in these days is a society of haters.”
The rise of social media has certainly allowed for fans’ ideas to be spread rapidly. Social media also makes it easier for people from around the world to connect, allowing one person’s negative comments to gain a lot of attention.
“Everyone thinks they’re Stephen A. Smith, even with their 10 followers on Twitter,” Young said. “To have a take, you have to be contrarian.”
With this shift toward discounting greatness, it can be difficult for those within the media to avoid making takes just for clicks. While Young admits that he has to look at what kind of articles recieve the most interaction and views, he acknowledges that he has a tough time writing about what he doesn’t believe.
“I think it is good to have a voice, if it’s genuine, to have a take,” Young said. “Just to have a take is not good for our business, or for society really.”
As a writer, a lot of times the focus goes on writing the story that most people will read instead of highlighting how amazing a moment was that happened in a game. Especially with the uptick in technology, where many news sites can track which stories do well.
“We can see exactly how many people click on our stories and how long they read the stories,” Young said. “There’s this competitive sense that you write a story that you think is really good, and you’re like, ‘Man, no one read it.’”
Sometimes, greatness is harder to recognize in the moment than it is to look back. This is where many fans find themselves in the trap of hating on players who are doing amazing things.
“There’s a difference between saying, ‘This is the greatest moment ever,’ and saying, ‘This was a really great game, or a great moment,’ so I just try to appreciate it,” Young said. “I think 20 years from now people are gonna be like, ‘Man, I remember Kevin Durant, what a great scorer, people don’t score like him anymore,’ and you were there in the moment, and that’s not what you were saying.”
Recently, on March 10, 2026, Miami Heat forward Bam Adebayo scored 83 points, second most by an NBA player all-time, trailing only Wilt Chamberlain. This event caused a lot of controversy within the sports world due to the way the feat was achieved. Many discredit the game because he made an NBA record 36 free throws. Young feels like it is unfair to discount the greatness that is unfolding in front of our eyes.
“I went back and re‑watched the game,” Young said. “That first quarter he had was incredible. I think people just need to enjoy the moment and get over the fact that Kobe (Bryant) is NO. 3 instead of NO. 2. I think people just need to relax and enjoy the moment.”
Bam Adebayo’s 83-point game should have stopped the internet. Instead, it was met with a shrug. A consequence of an NBA regular season that doesn’t carry the attention it used to. Stars sit out games, others play limited minutes, and the casual fans slowly disappear until the playoffs. Without the hyped nightly viewing, even record-breaking performances fall under the surface.
“I really hardly ever watch any NBA regular season,” sophomore Graham Smith said. “I’d say I’m a casual fan. I tune in for the playoffs. I just don’t think there’s as much following as far as the regular season goes. That’s why some of these records can go unnoticed.”
Miami, Ohio’s 31-0 regular season record separates it from the rest of the NCAA. The RedHawks were extraordinary within their conference, and no one could touch them. But in college basketball, respect is earned against power-conference opponents or dominant blowout wins. An undefeated MAC record doesn’t always receive national attention. Close games against Western Michigan and a first-round loss to UMass in the MAC tournament did little to silence the critics. And when they finally drew a top opponent in the NCAA Tournament, the result was clear.
“For a mid-major, in order for people to really respect what you did, you have to be blowing teams out or have statement wins against power-four teams,” Smith said. “They weren’t really dominating anyone. And when they ran into Tennessee, they got destroyed.”
