Iconic Historical Sports Legends - By Moses (a.k.a Stacey Marc)

To describe an athlete in as fewest words to capture a moment, or moments.
The easiest synopsis; What defines a man or woman in the sportsworld. How a person is remembered in the future. The stories that are told, and the awe in which they're told, shape our youth and keep us as humble as people. As our children, and our childrens' children are taught, we remember. The folklore of sport through the eyes and the magic in the ways our elder spokesmen parent us. Guiding us to achieve in life, towards accomplishments, that give us the satisfaction of success.
It is said 'To the victor goes the spoils'. This, however, entails stories of battle and therefore we remember the etiquette within each sport. A stroke penalty on the ball in the water. A 15 yard personal foul penalty in a crucial time of the game, a timely homerun, or goal, all bring to light the intricities of sport. In war it would be 'remembering the enemy and what we were fighting for'. In the sportsworld, most would suffice that there is an opponent, not an enemy. This breaks down the barrier of control. When Bobby Thompson hit his 'shot heard around the world' it was Ralph Branca who served it up, making Branca iconic in his own right. Likewise that of Donnie Moore, Mitch Williams, Dan Marino, Fran Tarkenton, Jim Kelly, Chico Resch, Kerry Fraser, Bill Buckner, and anyone else in the games of sport that had miserable public failures. It has to be alright to make a mistake for this reason.
A man, woman, and child has to know that making a mistake won't kill them. That you move on, for the fans that you do have (praying if you have to), to give yourself (the viewer of all sequential events) the strength to move forward.
In Modal analysis there are several scales, ionic but one of them. Dorian, lydian, phrygian, and locrian are others. It is with this understanding that people put things into an historical perspective. (Ionic) iconic, the hero of defineable traits and characteristics, at a magnified level, their highest peaks (and lowest peaks for that matter) allow us to magnify perspective.
The determination of an athletes' peak achievements are those at the 'Big Game'. Whether it's Borg versus Connors, Barry Bonds facing Nolan Ryan, Cliff Lee's knack at pitching the 'Big Game' (although not last night), a Gordie Howe hat-trick, Terry Sawchuck's uncanny ability to make save after save, Joe Montana's performance at the Super-Bowls he's played in, Coach Lambardi's infamous locker room speeches, Lawrence Taylor's tackling ability, or Edwin Moses and Rocky Marciano's winning streaks. History remembers all participants, through a chronological chain of events over time that helps put things into perspective for our childrens' children.