Greatest Athlete Of All-Time?

[HPC]

Who would you consider the greatest Athlete of all time?

If you chose Other, and dont mind explaining, please do.

(For any sport)

 

[Uofo2212]

I voted Thorpe, but Bo Jackson might be up there, as would Ali.

 

[Wes]

No Tiger or Federer?

 

[shanks25]

Where's babe Ruth? Where's Ali?

 

[All The Hype]

I think that it's Michael Jordan and it's not even close. The athleticism he showed and the way he just dominated the NBA for years and years was unprecedented.

 

[Wes]

I think that it's Michael Jordan and it's not even close. The athleticism he showed and the way he just dominated the NBA for years and years was unprecedented.

Any different than the way Gretzky dominated the NHL?

 

[braden]

I answered Gretzky simply because of the gap between him and the rest for such an insane amount of time. I mean, if he'd never scored a goal in his career, he'd still be the all-time points leader. Think about that.

The gap between Gretzky and the rest of the NHL is much broader than that of Jordan and the rest of the NBA.

 

[sportscardtheory]

Jerry Rice. Of all the players listed, he had a better MIX of work ethic and pure skill than any of them. All of those players were/are amazing, but besides maybe Thorpe, none even compare to Rice, in my opinion.

 

[WJCIII]

If you're talking about pure athleticism, then you've got to have Bo Jackson on the list. We've seen 2 sport players before, but Bo was strong, fast, agile, etc. He would have been All-Pro and All-Star multiple times if not for the hip.

 

[Bornagaincollector]

I picked Lance Armstrong.

 

[HPC]

Okay, I added Tiger Woods, that was an oversight on my part.

Im not 100% sure on Bo Jackson. He had the athletic ability, but never was really dominant in one sport. He was always a big name, but never really someone who would be considered "one of the greatest". Deion Sanders is the same way

 

[matfanofold]

This is a tough one because it can be looked at with a few different angles. It could be the greatest pure athlete, in which case I just may choose Bo Jackson. Or, it could be looked at as the greatest athlete in ones choosen profession within sports. And to cross refrence these is a diffacult task...

However, here is my answer and why....


Mike Tyson.


No other professional athlete has come up so quick and totally destroyed the competition. I can not even think of another professional athlete who at such a young age just stood head and shoulders above everyone else and really redefined the sport. Sure Lebron is great right out of the gate, as was Tiger, but not even close to the delta of dominance Tyson brought to Boxing.

 

[Wes]

Okay, I added Tiger Woods, that was an oversight on my part.

Im not 100% sure on Bo Jackson. He had the athletic ability, but never was really dominant in one sport. He was always a big name, but never really someone who would be considered "one of the greatest". Deion Sanders is the same way

Deion was perhaps the greatest cover cornerback ever.

 

[sportscardtheory]

I think if you add someone like Tiger Woods, you should be asking who the best sports star is. Many will disagree, but golf is more of a skill that takes minimal athleticism. Jerry Rice was ten times the "athlete" Tiger Woods is.

 

[baseballguy350]

Bryan Clay. A true athlete.

 

[matfanofold]

Okay, I added Tiger Woods, that was an oversight on my part.

Im not 100% sure on Bo Jackson. He had the athletic ability, but never was really dominant in one sport. He was always a big name, but never really someone who would be considered "one of the greatest". Deion Sanders is the same way

Are you kidding? Did you ever watch him play eithor sport? He was a dominant RB and a HOF'er type baseball player.

 

[Uofo2212]

I would even add Wilt Chamberlain, as he dominated hoops, then played pro volleyball, and was a standout track athlete in college. Nobody had the combo of power and speed that Bo had though, if and when healthy and if he fully dedicated himself to a sport he could dominate.

 

[HPC]

Okay, I added Tiger Woods, that was an oversight on my part.

Im not 100% sure on Bo Jackson. He had the athletic ability, but never was really dominant in one sport. He was always a big name, but never really someone who would be considered "one of the greatest". Deion Sanders is the same way

Are you kidding? Did you ever watch him play eithor sport? He was a dominant RB and a HOF'er type baseball player.

Speaking on a purely statistical margin, Bo was never truely dominant. He had a great year in 89 where he hit 30hr, 100+ RBI, but he eventually died down in baseball. Football, yes Bo was very dominating, but the most rushing TD he ever had was 5 in a season.

Speaking on athleticism, Bo could be considered top 5

 

[carlitoson]

Because there are so many variables when it comes to team sports, I'd have a hard time deciding on one of those. Therefore, I vote for either Paavo Nurmi or Roman Sebrle. Or maybe Babe Zaharias.

 

[crowhop]

Why is Cal on that list?
Or Griffey even?
Willie Mays is the greatest, athletic baseball player.
Bo Jackson is the most athletic person to ever play baseball.