Best Sportsman Ever

[Alex]

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

My point is it's very different to rate someone as the best of all time in what they do, rather than best in overall athletic ability. IE. Sports people are athletes, but rating a sports person isn't necessarily rating their athletic ability.

That said, if you compare their results to their peers, and they're absolutely dominant, the skill of the sport shouldn't matter. If the skill was THAT easy, more would be as good at it. You could argue that someone being absolutely dominant in a simple sport is even harder. There are loads less variables for you to gain in.

 

[Alex]

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

Yeah, as Shifty mentioned earlier, if we're talking athletic ability, Wilt has to be right up there.

He would still dominate today. When people suggest that the great athletes of the past wouldn't, I feel they're failing to acknowledge that they would get the same level of professionalism, training, etc as today's stars.

 

[Alex]

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

Or, who would be the greatest athelete per country?

Obviously Anthony Mundine in Australia - he said it himself on TV.

 

[Bobby]

Australia's best athlete is Sally Fitzgibbons, this is not something that's up for debate.

 

[Alex]

Australia's best athlete is Sally Fitzgibbons, this is not something that's up for debate.

Best looking?

 

[Bobby]

Best looking and best performing. Best.

 

[Chacarita Juniors]

The title Best Sportsman Ever leads me to think of someone mythical...someone who's name is a legacy...simple...his airness, Michael Jordan.

American football: Barry Sanders, Jerry Rice, Deion Sanders (though no one would mention him). Primetime was one of kind.

Baseball: Roberto Clemente, Ken Griffey Jr., Willie Mays.

Boxing: Julio Cesar Chavez, my all-time favorite. After watching those Mike Tyson ko's, I just don't know if Ali could hang with him...I just don't know. I'd have to give the edge to Tyson's brutality over Ali's swiftness.

Yeah, it has to be Jordan and then everybody else.

Adrian Peterson & LeBron James will make great cases once they put an end to their careers.

Bo Carlos*son and Wilt Chamberlain purely based on athletic ability have to the two of the best ever, especially Chamberlain.

 

[Alex]

Best looking and best performing. Best.

Good looking, and has a good record, but nowhere near our best performing.

 

[Alex]

The title Best Sportsman Ever leads me to think of someone mythical...someone who's name is a legacy...simple...his airness, Michael Jordan.

American football: Barry Sanders, Jerry Rice, Deion Sanders (though no one would mention him). Primetime was one of kind.

Baseball: Roberto Clemente, Ken Griffey Jr., Willie Mays.

Boxing: Julio Cesar Chavez, my all-time favorite. After watching those Mike Tyson ko's, I just don't know if Ali could hang with him...I just don't know. I'd have to give the edge to Tyson's brutality over Ali's swiftness.

Yeah, it has to be Jordan and then everybody else.

Adrian Peterson & LeBron James will make great cases once they put an end to their careers.

Bo Carlos*son and Wilt Chamberlain purely based on athletic ability have to the two of the best ever, especially Chamberlain.

I love how most American suggestions in this thread have been from American sports. But people of other nationalities have nominated people outside of their national sports, as well as inside it.

How could you mention baseball and not mention the Babe?

 

[Chacarita Juniors]

You want me to nominate people outside "my" national sports even though I haven't got the slightest idea of what I'd be talking 'bout. Hmmm...maybe I should've mentioned track and field or racing but that's 'bout it.

And yeah, Babe Ruth...duh. There, happy?

Tennis, golf, cricket...no thanks, not interested.

 

[Alex]

You want me to nominate people outside "my" national sports even though I haven't got the slightest idea of what I'd be talking 'bout. Hmmm...maybe I should've mentioned track and field or racing but that's 'bout it.

And yeah, Babe Ruth...duh. There, happy?

Tennis, golf, cricket...no thanks, not interested.

Haha, not having a go. Just think it's an interesting observation - and quite typical of how America is perceived by other nations.

And I'm not saying you have to be interested in the other sports, I don't care about the American sports, but I still considered them.

If we're talking best ever, and you say "duh" for Babe, who would you originally leave him off? If he's better than the other three, they don't get a mention.

 

[Back Door Skip]

Because he was fat.



Baseball is a terrible sport anyway.

 

[ARIAGA II]

I love how most American suggestions in this thread have been from American sports. But people of other nationalities have nominated people outside of their national sports, as well as inside it.

How could you mention baseball and not mention the Babe?

Because he never played black people.


In hockey it's agreed that Wayne Gretzky is the Greatest ever, in WWF the same for Shawn Michaels.

 

[Bobby]

Good looking, and has a good record, but nowhere near our best performing.

 

[yoyo913]

In hockey it's agreed that Wayne Gretzky is the Greatest ever

From wiki:

Nicknamed "The Great One", he has been called "the greatest hockey player ever" by many sportswriters, players, and the NHL itself. He is the leading point-scorer in NHL history, with more assists than any other player has points, and is the only NHL player to total over 200 points in one season – a feat he accomplished four times. In addition, he tallied over 100 points in 16 professional seasons, 14 of them consecutive. At the time of his retirement in 1999, he held 40 regular-season records, 15 playoff records, and six All-Star records.

Probably a better resume than Jordan's (other than only having 4 championships) because he's considered the most talented player and also has the best statistics (#1 being: leading point-scorer).

He had a season with a total of 163 assists and 52 goals in 80 games. Imagine how big of an impact that would have on your team if you were a fan. In another one he had 92 goals and 120 assists in 80 games.

In those years the average number of goals per game per team was 4 (Edmonton's was just over 5).

 

[Chacarita Juniors]

Haha, not having a go. Just think it's an interesting observation - and quite typical of how America is perceived by other nations.

And I'm not saying you have to be interested in the other sports, I don't care about the American sports, but I still considered them.

If we're talking best ever, and you say "duh" for Babe, who would you originally leave him off? If he's better than the other three, they don't get a mention.

"I love how most..." Riiight.

I left off Babe Ruth because he wasn't even close to being the athletes Clemente, Griffey Jr., and Mays were but I obviously recognize his significance to the game of baseball. I thought we were rating complete athletes...just a minor misunderstanding I guess.

Usain Bolt not finishing off his races just rubs me the wrong way...for that reason alone, Michael Johnson > Usain Bolt...for now. If he were to finish off the way you're supposed to, well, then it be a different story.

 

[jschuck12001]

Haha, not having a go. Just think it's an interesting observation - and quite typical of how America is perceived by other nations.

Fuck other Nations! I just watched the INXS documentary, now I know why your so butt hurt on the USA.

 

[Alex]

"I love how most..." Riiight.

I left off Babe Ruth because he wasn't even close to being the athletes Clemente, Griffey Jr., and Mays were but I obviously recognize his significance to the game of baseball. I thought we were rating complete athletes...just a minor misunderstanding I guess.

Oh ok. Same confusion as Jschuck had.

Usain Bolt not finishing off his races just rubs me the wrong way...for that reason alone, Michael Johnson > Usain Bolt...for now. If he were to finish off the way you're supposed to, well, then it be a different story.

I actually think it makes him more impressive. Especially in such a short event.

 

[Alex]

Fuck other Nations! I just watched the INXS documentary, now I know why your so butt hurt on the USA.

Documentary or mini-series? If it's the one that was just on here that's a mini series...it wasn't the real INXS in it, they were actors. Why would that butt hurt me? They were successful in the USA, and put it right up their US label

 

[jschuck12001]

Documentary or mini-series? If it's the one that was just on here that's a mini series...it wasn't the real INXS in it, they were actors. Why would that butt hurt me? They were successful in the USA, and put it right up their US label

It was the 2 part series, kind of a B movie but I like the band so I watched it. What was interesting is how people in Australia turned on them because of they were so determined to make it in the USA.

You made a post earlier in this thread that leads me to believe you are irritated by Americans and our "the world revolves around us" attitude.