Is this true?

[sweggeh]

I have a theory that a person that dies at the top of their game will be remembered much longer than someone who faded out and died of old age. For a person to gain maximum relevance with longevity, they need to gain international fame (many have done this) and then die while young and on top (not many have done this).

Just look at the names...

Bruce Lee
Tupac
Bigge
Kurt Cobaine
Che Guevara
Michael Jackson
Julius Caesar
Alexander the Great
Abraham Lincoln
John F Kennedy
Marilyn Monroe
Bob Marley
Heath Ledger
Elvis

...and many more.

It seems that all you need are to have a great story, and then die young before people stop caring. Two of the most famous presidents in US history were both assassinated. The two most famous rappers in history? Both killed while young. And the third, Eminem, reached legend status AFTER he quit and people thought he would never return.

Who is to say if Tupac and Biggie lived, that they wouldnt have faded out like Nas did and not be in anybodies Top 10? Would Michael Jackson have died as an old man and no one care anymore, like all old celebrities who no one cares about anymore?

Would Bruce Lee be this popular if he hadnt died so shockingly at the height of his fame? I doubt it.

Its just something to think about. All these people are definitely deserving of their status, most of them were great people with great abilities and profound philosophies on life, but I am just think out loud here I guess.

[Myth]

Elvis did just fine after having gotten old and fat. Paul McCartney will also do just fine.

Btw, Michael Jackson, although not old, certainly wasn't at the top of his game when he died.

[Swaggin916]

I think it helps people who are on the fringe of being legendary but maybe not quite there yet. For guys like Elvis, Michael Jackson, Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods... It doesn't matter. I don't even think it hurt Brett Favre that much and he couldn't have gone out any worse.

[outbreak]

Elvis did just fine after having gotten old and fat. Paul McCartney will also do just fine.

Btw, Michael Jackson, although not old, certainly wasn't at the top of his game when he died.
Also odd to see caesar and alexander the great as their histories are a bit debatable and you can like hundreds of other rulers who lived a long time who were just as famous and romanticised by future generations. Also as far as I know caeser died in his 50s. Alexander the great was in his 30s or 40s as well wasn't he? But again it comes back to the fact you can list more names who lived a long time and past their prime who are still remembered just as much if not more. The correlating factor with a lot of the names you listed who actually died young and on top is that they were famous in an area that often is associated with a live fast life style of drugs and partying so it's not the biggest surprise they died young. Not everyone can be Keith Richards.

[Akrazotile]

I have a theory that a person that dies at the top of their game will be remembered much longer than someone who faded out and died of old age. For a person to gain maximum relevance with longevity, they need to gain international fame (many have done this) and then die while young and on top (not many have done this).

Just look at the names...

Bruce Lee
Tupac
Bigge
Kurt Cobaine
Che Guevara
Michael Jackson
Julius Caesar
Alexander the Great
Abraham Lincoln
John F Kennedy
Marilyn Monroe
Bob Marley

...and many more.

It seems that all you need are to have a great story, and then die young before people stop caring. Two of the most famous presidents in US history were both assassinated. The two most famous rappers in history? Both killed while young. And the third, Eminem, reached legend status AFTER he quit and people thought he would never return.

Who is to say if Tupac and Biggie lived, that they wouldnt have faded out like Nas did and not be in anybodies Top 10? Would Michael Jackson have died as an old man and no one care anymore, like all old celebrities who no one cares about anymore?

Would Bruce Lee be this popular if he hadnt died so shockingly at the height of his fame? I doubt it.

Its just something to think about. All these people are definitely deserving of their status, most of them were great people with great abilities and profound philosophies on life, but I am just think out loud here I guess.


Since its a bball message board, gotta throw Len Bias up in there too


But yeah, imagination is usually generous when it fills in a blank. We always assume things would have continued to be just as good if not gotten better. Nobody pictures guys putting out clunkers and declining. Just like when you see a hot chick in tight jeans and a push up bra you imagine her body really lookin like that, when often it doesnt.

[sweggeh]

Elvis did just fine after having gotten old and fat. Paul McCartney will also do just fine.

Btw, Michael Jackson, although not old, certainly wasn't at the top of his game when he died.

Elvis died at 42, very young and still very popular. Im am sure Paul McCartney and the Beatles would be way more popular if they died at the height of their fame. As it is, he will not be in these guys league who died young and at the top.

Michael Jackson wasnt in his prime, but was still a interesting character, returning to performing and still in the news. He was also killed in very controversial circumstances, like a lot of people on this list.

[Myth]

Elvis died at 42, very young and still very popular.

He was far from the top of his game when he died though, which was the original premise you proposed.

This is peak Elvis:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Elvis_Presley_promoting_Jailhouse_Rock.jpg/220px-Elvis_Presley_promoting_Jailhouse_Rock.jpg

Not this:
http://www.rocknrollsnob.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/FatElvis.jpg

[Akrazotile]

He was far from the top of his game when he died though, which was the original premise you proposed.

This is peak Elvis:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Elvis_Presley_promoting_Jailhouse_Rock.jpg/220px-Elvis_Presley_promoting_Jailhouse_Rock.jpg

Not this:
http://www.rocknrollsnob.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/FatElvis.jpg


My god aging is so cruel. Father Time is an abusive dad :(

[sweggeh]

He was far from the top of his game when he died though, which was the original premise you proposed.

This is peak Elvis:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Elvis_Presley_promoting_Jailhouse_Rock.jpg/220px-Elvis_Presley_promoting_Jailhouse_Rock.jpg

Not this:
http://www.rocknrollsnob.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/FatElvis.jpg

He may have not been in his peak, but he was still in the public eye and very popular. In fact the latter image is what he is remembered for, rather than the former.

[outbreak]

Elvis died at 42, very young and still very popular. Im am sure Paul McCartney and the Beatles would be way more popular if they died at the height of their fame. As it is, he will not be in these guys league who died young and at the top.

Michael Jackson wasnt in his prime, but was still a interesting character, returning to performing and still in the news. He was also killed in very controversial circumstances, like a lot of people on this list.

wait did you just say the Elvis and the beatles are not in the same league as tupac and biggy small? :biggums:

[outbreak]

He may have not been in his peak, but he was still in the public eye and very popular. In fact the latter image is what he is remembered for, rather than the former.
he's remember for his hip shaking days, which was his younger days.

[sweggeh]

wait did you just say the Elvis and the beatles are not in the same league as tupac and biggy small? :biggums:

I didnt say that. First of all, Elvis died young and popular. He didnt get old, irrelevant and die 20 years after he was popular. He may have been out of shape and not in his prime performance wise, but his popularity was very high when he suddenly died. He is in the same group as Biggie and Tupac as guys who died young and in the prime popularity wise.

The Beatles were great at the time, but they have slowly faded, or are fading into irrelevancy. They are still heavily appreciated for their music, but in terms of being international icons, they are not so much anymore. Whereas Tupac, Biggie and Elvis are still as talked about in everyday life as they were when they died. Their deaths have kept them at their level of popularity, maybe even elevating them to another level altogether.

[sweggeh]

he's remember for his hip shaking days, which was his younger days.

When most people think Elvis, they think of the outfit in the second picture.

[outbreak]

I didnt say that. First of all, Elvis died young and popular. He didnt get old, irrelevant and die 20 years after he was popular. He may have been out of shape and not in his prime performance wise, but his popularity was very high when he suddenly died. He is in the same group as Biggie and Tupac as guys who died young and in the prime popularity wise.

The Beatles were great at the time, but they have slowly faded, or are fading into irrelevancy. They are still heavily appreciated for their music, but in terms of being international icons, they are not so much anymore. Whereas Tupac, Biggie and Elvis are still as talked about in everyday life as they were when they died. Their deaths have kept them at their level of popularity, maybe even elevating them to another level altogether.

You are such a delusional idiot I don't even know how to respond to you any more.

[sweggeh]

You are such a delusional idiot I don't even know how to respond to you any more.

WOW...

Your username makes sense now. GTFO before you hit this thread with a outbreak of retardation.

[Bandito]

MJ could've been in that list when he retired the first time but he wanted to come back as a Wizard :facepalm:

[sweggeh]

MJ could've been in that list when he retired the first time but he wanted to come back as a Wizard :facepalm:

Yep he could of, if he went out truly on top. Lebron should win a title with Cleveland, come back to Miami and win two, then jump off a building because the world is too heinous and he cant stand peoples suffering. Maximum legacy boost.

[ace23]

wait did you just say the Elvis and the beatles are not in the same league as tupac and biggy small? :biggums:
I think you need to read more carefully.

[NumberSix]

I didnt say that. First of all, Elvis died young and popular. He didnt get old, irrelevant and die 20 years after he was popular. He may have been out of shape and not in his prime performance wise, but his popularity was very high when he suddenly died. He is in the same group as Biggie and Tupac as guys who died young and in the prime popularity wise.

The Beatles were great at the time, but they have slowly faded, or are fading into irrelevancy. They are still heavily appreciated for their music, but in terms of being international icons, they are not so much anymore. Whereas Tupac, Biggie and Elvis are still as talked about in everyday life as they were when they died. Their deaths have kept them at their level of popularity, maybe even elevating them to another level altogether.
Are you insane?

When they remastered their catalog in 2009, they sold over 30 million copies of their box set. Who else can sell anywhere near those numbers these days?

[Myth]

When most people think Elvis, they think of the outfit in the second picture.

He debuted the outfit before he was fat though. :confusedshrug:

[GimmeThat]

I think your theory holds ground.

but I also think that people may be remembered more because of how they died as well.

it's safe to say that in the modern society, dying of old age is the standard expectation, unless some sort of outbreak came along, then it really immunes that argument.

[Timmy D for MVP]

I don't think there's any doubt. Someone who dies at the top of their game are:

1) In the limelight since they're at the top of their game
2) Unable to possibly fall from that spot
3) Remembered partly for their death

[BlkMambaGOAT]

I have a theory that a person that dies at the top of their game will be remembered much longer than someone who faded out and died of old age. For a person to gain maximum relevance with longevity, they need to gain international fame (many have done this) and then die while young and on top (not many have done this).

Just look at the names...

Bruce Lee
Tupac
Bigge
Kurt Cobaine
Che Guevara
Michael Jackson
Julius Caesar
Alexander the Great
Abraham Lincoln
John F Kennedy
Marilyn Monroe
Bob Marley
Heath Ledger
Elvis

...and many more.

It seems that all you need are to have a great story, and then die young before people stop caring. Two of the most famous presidents in US history were both assassinated. The two most famous rappers in history? Both killed while young. And the third, Eminem, reached legend status AFTER he quit and people thought he would never return.

Who is to say if Tupac and Biggie lived, that they wouldnt have faded out like Nas did and not be in anybodies Top 10? Would Michael Jackson have died as an old man and no one care anymore, like all old celebrities who no one cares about anymore?

Would Bruce Lee be this popular if he hadnt died so shockingly at the height of his fame? I doubt it.

Its just something to think about. All these people are definitely deserving of their status, most of them were great people with great abilities and profound philosophies on life, but I am just think out loud here I guess.
To be fair, the names bolded survived way past the life expectancy of their time.

[sweggeh]

Are you insane?

When they remastered their catalog in 2009, they sold over 30 million copies of their box set. Who else can sell anywhere near those numbers these days?

Look, I am 21 so I wasnt old enough to have first hand remembrance of any of those people. And I can tell you during my life Tupac, Biggie and Elvis have been much more prevalent in pop culture as personalities than the Beatles. The Beatles are extremely popular, theres no doubt about that. But they are not as relevant in this day and age as Tupac, Biggie or Elvis, that much is undeniable. A lot of people couldnt even name all of their members, yet you wont find anyone who hasnt heard of Tupac, Biggie or Elvis.