Northern Wyoming News - Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years

Before you start thinking the heat has scrambled my brain or that I’m going to spout a theory that aliens left a snot rag on this planet millions of years ago, voila, the human race was created, keep calm it is not that crazy of an idea.

Although, if you’re ever bored and need a read, go on Reddit and look up the subreddits “r/humanoidencounters” or “r/ancientaliens.” Wildly entertaining with some of the most bonkers and hilarious alien theories and stories you will ever read.

Back on track.

LeBron James, Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Roger Federer, Usain Bolt, Adrian Peterson, Michael Phelps and Jaromir Jagr, what do all of these athletes have in common? They’re all aliens. Sure they look like humans on the outside, but believe you me these incredible athletes are full-blown aliens.

Each alien dominates their field like no human has done before. Even though they’re getting up there in years, in terms of their respective sports, and you start to think the end is near, or handing the crown to another player. Boom, they win another major and/or championship or pull off an incredible feat thought impossible. There is no other explanation other than these athletes are aliens. Open and shut case.

OK, maybe the use of aliens is a bit strong, but you get the point.

I’m still relatively young when it comes to following sports. I’ve just reached the point in my life where I’m older than a majority of the players in the NFL and NBA. So there’s a lot more to go, God willing. But I can’t remember athletes holding on and staying relevant for as long as the athletes we have today.

Look at what Roger Federer and Venus Williams did last weekend, both played in the Wimbledon Finals at ages 35 and 37, respectively. In a sport that doesn’t do anyone over the age of 30 any favors, that is amazing. And that Federer won his Finals match is truly incredible.

Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps, dominated last year’s Olympics in Rio. Phelps did it in the pool boosting his Olympic medal total to 28 and Bolt winning the 100 and 200 for the third consecutive Olympics. I don’t know if you’d ever be able to figure out who had the more impressive Olympic career between these two men. Phelps has the most gold medals of any Olympian that looks untouchable, but Bolt did something no one thought fathomable.

Gun to my head, I’m going with Bolt. I think the likelihood of us seeing another Phelps run is slightly higher than seeing another Bolt domination.

LeBron and Serena Williams have been the dominate forces in their respective sports for 10-plus seasons. And their reigns don’t look to be coming to end any time soon. And it’s not due to a lack of talent, there have been plenty of challengers but those two knock them off and add another sword to their Iron Throne.

I understand that sports medicine has made leaps and bounds in the last 20 years which is a factor in some of the incredible feats we’re seeing, but the greatness we’re seeing is the will of these athletes to max out their potential.

You don’t get to the level of the athletes without working at your skill year-round and turning weaknesses into strengths.

And sure, performance-enhancing drugs could possibly play a factor in some of what we’re seeing. But that’s such a bummer and a column for another day.

Let’s enjoy the accomplishments of the Federers and Williamses of the sports world as they raise another trophy or do some jaw-dropping act that makes you think, I can’t believe we are the same species.

Or are we?