Numbers matter, but not as much as results. Few stars rack up the accolades or break records without a corresponding impact in the win column; but the outcome of a game—of a competition—is often decided in the blink of an eye.
Of course there are always exceptions, such as retired Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders, who transcended the awfulness of a losing franchise to have a Hall of Fame career.
But, more often than not, legacies are built on how a star responds when it matters most; how a man or woman performs in the face of adversity. It's about being clutch.
Stats help quantify the value of an athlete, but history offers the final appraisal. Fans and the sports media alike reserve a special, cynical place in the sports universe for those who excel at being great when greatness is irrelevant; just as we revere those who may not categorically dominate, but make a play that is the difference between glory and infamy.
These are the big-time sports stars who just aren't clutch.