Best Sportsman Ever

[Zlatan]

He had everything, physically and mentally: talent, showmanship, leadership, athleticism and a very strong will to win no matter what. The ultimate athlete as far as I'm concerned.

 

[jschuck12001]

Americans not giving two shits doesn't make him a better or worse sportsman. Half of the world doesn't give two shits about a plethora of American sportsmen that have been mentioned here.

Are you sure about that? Any idiot can run straight forward for 7 seconds, you don't have the dynamics in track that you have in other sports so I don't think he can have that crown or even be considered.

 

[yoyo913]

He had everything, physically and mentally: talent, showmanship, leadership, athleticism and a very strong will to win no matter what. The ultimate athlete as far as I'm concerned.

I really find it interesting that he's the consensus #1 greatest of all time basketball player amongst almost everyone. That doesn't happen in a lot of sports.

 

[Bobby]

He's not a total consensus #1, you do get people who claim Russell was better.

 

[yoyo913]

He's not a total consensus #1, you do get people who claim Russell was better.

Pretty close to a consensus. And it stands out in comparison with other sports.

I mean his frigging bio on NBA.com says:

By acclamation, Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time.

http://www.nba.com/history/players/jordan_bio.html

Nothing similar to that on Pele's Fifa.com profile.

 

[Sir Didier Drogba]

Some other names for your consideration: Carlos Nicklaus, Barry Bonds, Stephen Hendry, Muhammed Ali, Sir Stephen Redgrave, Michael Schumacher.

 

[Mus]

He also played baseball for a bit at a professional level. You don't see that outside of women's sports

 

[Alex]

Are you sure about that? Any idiot can run straight forward for 7 seconds, you don't have the dynamics in track that you have in other sports so I don't think he can have that crown or even be considered.

I'm sure that plenty of the American sports people mentioned other nations don't care about, yes.

And no "idiot" can run as far on that 7 seconds as Bolt. Regardless of what skill it does or doesn't take.

You can only look at the skill he has compared to others. If you're saying that only skilful sports need apply, you could discount loads of sports for various reasons. We're not discussing the most talented athlete, but the sportsman that is best at what they do.

Most talented athlete is another good question though - especially athletes who have been the best of the best at more than one sport.

 

[Alex]

He's not a total consensus #1, you do get people who claim Russell was better.

And Wilt.

 

[Alex]

Some other names for your consideration: Carlos Nicklaus, Barry Bonds, Stephen Hendry, Muhammed Ali, Sir Stephen Redgrave, Michael Schumacher.

O'Sullivan is better than Henry. Henry may have won more world titles, but O'Sullivan is infinitely more talented than any other snooker player. Ever.

 

[Alex]

He also played baseball for a bit at a professional level. You don't see that outside of women's sports

He was terrible at it and played in the minors. Only got a contract because he was Michael Jordan.

 

[Mus]

He was terrible at it and played in the minors. Only got a contract because he was Michael Jordan.

He wasn't terrible, he had one of the better batting averages in his team. You don't just go and join a different sport after living and breathing basketball for at least 20 years in the twilight of your career and slot in almost seamlessly with professionals who have dedicated their life to the sport

 

[Alex]

He wasn't terrible, he had one of the better batting averages in his team. You don't just go and join a different sport after living and breathing basketball for at least 20 years in the twilight of your career and slot in almost seamlessly with professionals who have dedicated their life to the sport

He was signed by the Chicago White Sox purely because the Bulls owner - Jerry Reinsdorf, owned them. But he was never close to playing for them.

He averaged 0.200 flat playing for Birmingham in the AA minor league. As a non-pitcher that's terrible.

Don't get me wrong, he's better at baseball than the average Joe, but we're talking about a guy who is the best basketball player ever. Of course he is naturally athletic.

Ricky Ponting plays off scratch in golf, and was apparently considering going pro. As does Braith Anasta.

 

[Bobby]

He also played baseball for a bit at a professional level. You don't see that outside of women's sports

It's rare, but you do see it. Bo Carlos*son for instance. Bo could apparently be a high level (like, Olympic level) archer if he set his mind to it too, he's already very good at it.

 

[Juventino]

Don't forget Deion Sanders. He probably had the best multi-sports career ever, being considered one of the best corner-backs in the NFL, winning Super Bowls too, and he had a nice career in the Major League.

 

[jschuck12001]

I'm sure that plenty of the American sports people mentioned other nations don't care about, yes.

And no "idiot" can run as far on that 7 seconds as Bolt. Regardless of what skill it does or doesn't take.

You can only look at the skill he has compared to others. If you're saying that only skilful sports need apply, you could discount loads of sports for various reasons. We're not discussing the most talented athlete, but the sportsman that is best at what they do.

Most talented athlete is another good question though - especially athletes who have been the best of the best at more than one sport.

Sportman are referred to as athletes where I come from, maybe in Australia its different.

Yes, golfers and race care drivers are also considered athletes just a different kind.

To me what you have to do in your sport makes you great, there are simple sports and very complex team sports so if I'm going to pick the GOAT its going to be someone who excelled above everyone, most likely in a team sport because its harder to get several people on the same page than just one, and of course they need championships.

Just my opinion and I'm sure many disagree, I just dont get "wowed" by a guy who waits for a gun to go off and then runs fast.

If I want to see that I can go to South East Washington DC on any given night.

 

[yoyo913]

It's rare, but you do see it. Bo Carlos*son for instance. Bo could apparently be a high level (like, Olympic level) archer if he set his mind to it too, he's already very good at it.

That reminds me of Wilt's accomplishments outside of basketball.

The 7'2" goliath ran a sub 11 second 100 yard dash and also threw the shot put 56 feet. Despite competing and excelling in both sprinting and throwing his best events were not surprisingly the jumping events as Chamberlain triple jumped in excess of 50 feet and successfully won the Big 8 Conference high jumping competition three years in a row

http://ezinearticles.com/?Wilt-Cham...sas-(KU)-In-Addition-to-Basketball&id=4113288

Wilt is not a one-sport man, either. At Overbrook High School in Philly, he high jumped 6 feet, 6 inches, ran the 440 in 49.0 seconds and the 880 in 1:58.3, put the shot 53 feet, 4 inches, broad jumped 22 feet

Wilt held the distinction of being the last Big 7 high jump champion in 1957, clearing 6-5 in that competition. He jumped higher (at least 6-6 at the '57 KU Relays, 2nd), but not sure of PR. He also "hop, skipped, and jumped" 45-9 to finish 3rd at KU Relays that year. Would have loved to seen that body triple jumping, wouldn't you? Heard on pretty good authority that he could throw the shot as far in practice (or maybe further) than the low to mid 50 foot throwers at KU (some guys named Al Oerter and Bill Neider), and that he ran 49.0 quarter in baggy sweats (were there any other kind back then?). By any measure, Wilt was one helluvan athlete.

http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/discussion/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=698

Those are pretty damn good numbers.

 

[Bobby]

That's ridiculous speed for a 7-footer, and that was at time when training methods weren't specialized like they are today.

 

[yoyo913]

I'm confident he would dominate in today's era too. A fast 7 footer is insane and would own the current NBA.

 

[RobbieD_PL]

Who would be america's greatest Athlete? That'd be a thread in itself.

Or, who would be the greatest athelete per country?