I honestly feel like I have played football and basketball with a lot of really high IQ guys. Guys that I have said to, Man if you were 4 in taller, 20 lb heavier, or were faster, etc, you would totally be in the league.
My uncle and two of his sons are basketball geniuses in my mind. The way they played the game and could see the floor and shoot the ball was amazing. None of them made it past low level College. I was as good as the sons just because I was more athletic than them. All of them have rightfully gotten into coaching after playing because they had it up top but didn't have the athletic body.
I think there are a lot more high IQ people who play sports in the world than there are highly athletic people who play sports. But most of those high IQ people are not professional athletes.
I thought my Russell and Donovan example was a great one. And I can think of a lot more like that. Also, watching YouTube videos of Bob Cousy I seriously think he would have a hard time even becoming a starter in the NBA today despite his basketball iq. Due to size and athleticism.
But like I said, for the most part, I think it takes both. It's very intertwined.
People love to point out Larry Bird and Steve Nash but Steve Nash was actually really athletic and Larry Bird was 6'9 and way more athletic than people give him credit for. That on top of Genius basketball IQ levels. 1% of the population is 6'9. Just that alone is going to put you above most of the competition in the world. It weeds so many people out. I played with guys that if they were 6'9 I genuinely think they would be in the league.
You put Isaiah Thomas's or John Stockton's brain into so many people's bodies in the world and they are still not making it to the league. They were actually amazing athletes compared to the normal person. But then again, vice versa is true also. You switch most people's minds into Stockton's or Thomas's body and they also are still not making it to the nba. Many people's minds wouldn't be coordinated enough, competitive enough, free of anxiety with thousands of people watching them enough, etc.
That is so amazing and cool about your job with the Redskins. I'm jealous! I almost think we kind of agree more than we think we do.