Sprint CEOh-Snap: Comparing Palm Pre to iPhone is "like comparing someone to Michael Jordan"

Sprint CEO Dan Hesse was put on Charlie Rose's hot seat and asked the pointed question: "Is the Palm Pre making a dent into the iPhone market?"

Hesse's response?

Aaah... It's-it's doing well, but you can almost put the iPhone, to be fair, in a separate category. The Apple brand and that device have done so well, it's almost not... it's like comparing someone to Michael Jordan.

Gizmodo figured they'd remind Hesse that it was, in fact, the same category and that Apple needs competition (the consumer needs competition). Engadget thinks it was a duly respectful and tactful acknowledgement of the iPhone's success.

We think it's nice to hear a wireless CEO who's not so bombastic and, frankly, disconnected as most of them seem to be, as evident by Hesse's answers on Android, Nextel, the price of touchscreen handsets, and battery life as an impediment to smartphone growth.

Rene Ritchie is one of the most respected Apple analysts in the business, reaching a combined audience of over 40 million readers a month. His YouTube channel, Vector, has over 90 thousand subscribers and 14 million views and his podcasts, including Debug, have been downloaded over 20 million times. He also regularly co-hosts MacBreak Weekly for the TWiT network and co-hosted CES Live! and Talk Mobile. Based in Montreal, Rene is a former director of product marketing, web developer, and graphic designer. He's authored several books and appeared on numerous television and radio segments to discuss Apple and the technology industry. When not working, he likes to cook, grapple, and spend time with his friends and family.