[GirlySports]

When someone dies early, it's easy to overrate them. Morrison, Tupac, James Dean, JFK, the World Trade Center (before 9/11, they were viewed as an architectural eyesore by many), they all got a lot of positive response at very least partially due to their early demises. But what about those who would have been really good?

Heath Ledger. I remember watching Brokeback Mountain and thinking "man, Heath Ledger is amazing in this role". He really stood out in a lot of movies that were average at best (he was the only thing, for example, that kept The Brothers Grimm from being totally unwatchable), and he really shined. He would have gotten the Oscar for the Joker regardless of him living or dying. I think that was a real loss.

Pelle Lindbergh. This guy was the reigning Vezina Trophy winner. The Flyers had a hole between the pipes ever since.

Roberto Clemente. If he wasn't so selfless, he'd probably be in the top 10 in career hits. 400 more hits after age 37 wouldn't be totally out of the question. Damn shame.

Bruce Lee: Charismatic legit Asian movie star in the 70s! He was teaching martial arts to Hollywood, James Coburn, Steve McQueen, Kareem Abdul Jabar. It's 2011 and there hasn't been an Asian close to breaking into Hollywood since Bruce Lee 40 years ago.

And a couple guys I'm not sure of:

Kurt Cobain: Not saying he wasn't great; Nevermind was the last gamechanger album released. I just wonder if we saw his peak, and whether his message would have been blunted if it continued. Would Nevermind become the Illmatic of Alternative Rock?

Len Bias: Easily one of the three or four best college players I've seen in my many years of following hoops. I just doubt that his fatal overdose was the first time he did coke.

Jeff Buckley: This one is tough because there's so much forecasting involved. He only had one album and like half of that was covers, one of which is what he's known for by like 90% of people, but the original stuff was really good. Amazing voice and guitar work but got a lot more acclaim after he died than before.