Is this saying a compliment?

I’d imagine being as good as “anyone in the league” is too general, and that’s what makes the player sound mediocre? Like they can’t be bothered to compare them to someone else.
Even if “anyone in the league” is referring to a specific other player, it’s still only saying that the current player is as good as (not necessarily better than) this other player; it just doesn’t say to you, the listener: “Hey this guy is pretty damn good!”...

None of it means anything, really. The just have to keep talking. My personal favorite is when they something like, “He is a very good football player!” Well, duh. They play professionally.

It means he is the best because if 1) the best is in the league and 2) so and so is in the league, then therefore so and so is equal to the best so that means so and so is the best. There can be two bests.

Doesn’t sound like one to me, but announcers annoy the heck out of me. They just rattle without actually saying anything.

It means if there’s anyone better in the league, the announcer is not aware of it. It’s a compliment.

@GrayTax If I was to say the same thing about you (”...is as good as anyone in the league”.) with regards to the quality of your questions and answers here on fluther, would you feel complimented?

It is a compliment. It means that the person can hold their own with anyone.

@lloydbird If taking “the league” as being fluther’s whole userbase, I’d feel complimented by the fact that the majority of answers are helpful and insightful, I guess.
But my opinion of the fluther userbase is pretty darn high; would that influence it?

@GrayTax Yes, and likewise if you’re in the league, you’re one of the best.

I think it means they deserve to be where they are, that they can’t be knocked or considered below par.

@GrayTax the fact that your opinion of fluther’s userbase is high would definitely influence whether you took @lloydbird‘s comment as a compliment or not. Similarly, the league is presumably well thought of to be broadcast, so the announcer’s comment can be seen as a compliment. It’s not high praise, but it is positive.

@GrayTax The higher your regard the more you are complimented.
So, yes, it “would influence it”.

@harple thanks for clearing that up.

Looks like I’ll have to revise my thoughts on this question!

Sports announcers are not generally credited with great literacy. There’s a good reason for that, I suppose, in that some sports announcers are former jocks themselves with (frequently) limited academic achievement.

In addition, it’s hard to say “The same thing” and “The same thing” and “The same thing” over and over for years at a time and sound fresh and original each time.

I am late on this but this saying is not a compliment. This is not a comparison to the best nor does this give any implication of being the best in any way, shape or form. If you are as good as anyone, that means you are just as good as anyone else at doing whatever it is you are doing. That’s just AVERAGE, because hey you are just as good as anyone! When you compare the abilities of “anyone” you come out with mediocre results because the bad and the good balance out and you get average. But if someone wants to say you are the best or one of the best, then it should be said that you are better than most or is one of the best at doing whatever it is you are doing. That is saying that you aren’t just as good, but better if not the best and that equals ABOVE AVERAGE, GREATNESS or ELITE and puts you far above just “anyone”. You wouldn’t say Peyton Manning is as good as anyone…..that guy is far superior to most QB’s, so how would that be a compliment for him?