Are You Too Old For This?

Leave the GOAT Arguments to Farmers

Nostalgia-clouded who’s-better battles only get in the way of experiencing greatness

David Dennis, Jr.
LEVEL
Published in
5 min readApr 30, 2020

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Illustration: Moya Garrison-Msingwana

Update 6/7/22: Level has a new home. You can read this article and other new articles by visiting LEVELMAN.com.

I’m 34 years old. It’s a weird age, teetering between being in touch and stuck in my ways. And I know I’m not the only one standing at the intersection of Young Buck and Old Head. Every time something comes along, whether it’s slang or pop culture or a new tech platform, you confront the same question: Am I too old for this? That’s why I’m here — to work through these conundrums on your behalf, on a weekly basis. Together, hopefully, we can face some harsh truths about our own washed-ness.

I’m sure you already know this now that we’re four episodes deep, but every Sunday night for the next month or so will be like church, the NBA Finals, Roots, and a trip to the barbershop all rolled into one. That’s because ESPN’s The Last Dance has landed early — one of the few positives to come out of the pandemic — and the docuseries about Michael Jordan’s ’90s-era Chicago Bulls dynasty is the content we desperately need. The show is the perfect blend of nostalgia, badassery, hero worship, and cursing. But, as is the case with…

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David Dennis, Jr.
LEVEL

Level Sr. Writer covering Race, Culture, Politics, TV, Music. Previously: The Undefeated, The Atlantic, Washington Post. Forthcoming book: The Movement Made Us