The internet has been both a gift and a curse since its inception. The gift lies in the vast amount of information we can share—we can communicate instantly, see events unfold across the world in real-time, and engage with people over long distances. However, the curse is just as apparent: the internet provides a home for haters and conspiracy theorists who would otherwise be minimized in society. This dark side has infiltrated sports talk, allowing negativity to dominate the conversation.

Figures like Stephen A. Smith, among others, have led this shift, constantly glorifying the past through nostalgia and myths rather than acknowledging reality. There was a time when we celebrated the progression of athletes—each generation improving upon the last. Athletes from the ’80s were seen as superior to those from the ’70s, the ’90s were better than the ’80s, and so on. This is clearly visible in track and field, where athletes continue to get faster and stronger each decade, both men and women.

But now, sports media thrives on outrage, just like social media platforms. We know from studies on Facebook and other platforms that rage and controversy generate engagement. A positive story about an NFL MVP donating time and money to charity might get 100,000 clicks, but an article bashing today’s athletes as “soft” will get a million. Haters, trolls, and algorithms drive revenue, which in turn fuels media figures like Stephen A. Smith to continue their negative narratives to secure ratings, contracts, and money. Greed runs the industry, but the athletes and fans deserve better.

There’s no logical argument that players from the 1980s—who drank beer daily, had little to no offseason training, and regularly used illicit substances—were superior to today’s athletes. Yes, legendary teams like the Celtics, Lakers, and Pistons would still be competitive in today’s NBA, but they wouldn’t dominate. The same holds true in the NFL.

Nothing annoys me more than the trolls who claim the NFL has “gone soft” or is “boring” because there’s less violent hitting. The truth is, today’s athletes are stronger and faster, making the game more dangerous. When big hits do occur, we see horrifying scenes of players being carted off the field. If you truly believe the game was better when players suffered career-ending injuries on a weekly basis, then you’re missing the point. The reality is, injuries are the worst part of any game.

We should celebrate athletes for taking care of their bodies and embracing load management. At the end of the day, they are human beings who deserve to live healthy lives after their careers end. They don’t owe fans lifelong injuries just for the sake of entertainment. In the past, athletes played through serious injuries out of necessity—they didn’t want to lose their paychecks or their spot on the team. Today, we know the long-term effects of playing through injuries, and we should never want to see our sports heroes broken and crippled in retirement.

LeBron James doesn’t need to keep playing—he’s already a billionaire. But he has the right to continue, and we should respect his longevity, just like we did with Tom Brady. Winning a Super Bowl at 43 years old is an astonishing feat, yet sports media thrives on tearing players down rather than appreciating greatness.

The toxic sports debate culture—endless comparisons like Jordan vs. LeBron, or Kobe vs. Magic—is ruining the enjoyment of the game. If you can watch LeBron James and not recognize his greatness, you’re simply being ignorant. If you think Magic Johnson and Larry Bird weren’t two of the best players of the ’80s, or that Jordan didn’t dominate the ’90s, you’re delusional. If you can’t acknowledge Tom Brady as the greatest quarterback of all time, you’ve let bias cloud your judgment.

We need to evolve how we discuss sports. That’s why I’m starting this page—to foster positive, constructive sports talk. Yes, some players deserve criticism. Ben Simmons, for example, has repeatedly quit on his teams. But overall, we should appreciate the evolution of the game.

Let’s celebrate how athletes today can extend their careers, create generational wealth for their families, and still be healthy in retirement. Let’s move past negativity-driven debates and focus on the beauty of sports. If you’re tired of toxic sports media, join me. Let’s build a space for real, respectful, and positive discussions about the game we love.