Muhammad Ali was a human rights activist and he made a massive statement by refusing to fight in the Vietnam War backin the ‘1960s. That turned him into a counter culture symbol during that era. Le Batard is making the comparison during his podcast, saying: “I don’t think we understand how unfair we’ve been to excellence over the last twenty years. With social media mocking people, he was always chasing Michael, always chasing Michael. Seeing him holding that American flag-it means something different than it did twenty years ago, but the person holding it doesn’t. He still represents excellence for twenty years, today’s Ali. Do you know how hard it is to tackle that?”

He continuied: “Michael Jordan is America’s ultimate winner, and not even Brady could do it because he wasn’t first. We have watched for 20 years someone who holds that American flag in the middle of the Olympics. Once upon a time, we treated Team USA differently, but now, we don’t give it the same respect as we did when it was Jordan and Barkley. Imagine Michael Jordan at the end of everything, not shooting jumpers for the Wizards, older than any athlete out there and still deserving of holding the flag. How emotional you would have been watching it because you’re so much nicer to him.”