Plain English with Derek Thompson The Great Debate: What's the Single Most Amazing Sports Statistic in U.S. History?
Feb 18, 2022
Join Ryen Russillo, host of the Ryen Russillo podcast, as he dives into the most stunning sports achievements in U.S. history. The debate heats up around Wilt Chamberlain’s legendary 100-point game and Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hit streak. Russillo and Derek Thompson dissect the iconic milestones of athletes like Jerry Rice and Tom Brady, exploring their legacy in the context of their sports. The duo even takes a surprising twist by naming a non-American as the single most impressive sports accomplishment ever!
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Derek Thompson's Childhood Obsession
- As a child, Derek Thompson loved sports statistics, even at baseball camp.
- He enjoyed answering coaches' questions about historical baseball stats.
The 50% Test
- Derek Thompson developed the "50% test" to compare sports records.
- This test identifies records at least 50% greater than the second-place accomplishment.
Wilt Chamberlain's 50% Club Entry
- Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game doesn't pass the 50% test due to Kobe Bryant's 81 points.
- However, Chamberlain scoring 60+ points 32 times, more than all other players combined, does.