Simple enough question. Who are your top five greatest sportspeople of all time? I thought the results might be quite interesting given the range of countries and sports covered by people on these Boards. Note, that by "greatest", I am talking about their impact, skills, achievements etc, rather than just being your favourites, although I accept that you will probably be biased towards people you like.

To get the ball rolling, here is my list:

1. Sir Donald Bradman (Cricket): For those of you who are unaware, in cricket, a really good batsman might have an average as high as 50. Sir Don finished his career at 99.94. Despite being an Australian, he was the Man, especially for providing his nation with something to celebrate during the Depression and War years.

2. Pele (Soccer): You know you've made it when everyone knows you by one name.

3. Muhammad Ali (Boxing): I wasn't going to have him on my list, due to my reservations about the sport of boxing, but I can't deny his impact.

4. Michael Jordan (Basketball): Another guy who has become a legend even amongst people (like me) who would not have even bothered to watch basketball if it wasn't for him.

5. Tiger Woods (Golf): Tough call choosing someone who potentially still has so much of his career to go, but the Michael Jordan comments apply to Tiger as well.

Hmm, no rugby players, no New Zealanders, and no women. Maybe I should have made it a top 10 or 20. Also, note that I was going to put Wayne Gretzky in but I figured that might be a bit odd, given that I have only ever watched 2 ice hockey games in my whole life and I never watched him play.

1 - Sir Donald Bradman (cricket) - No introduction needed really. The greatest man ever to pick up a cricket bad. His average was absolutely unbelievable.I'm actualyl pretty pissed off at my England for getting him for a duck in his last ever game, otherwise his average would have been 100+!!!

2 - Bobby Charlton (football) - Astoundingly shocking hair, astouningly brilliant talent. Englands top ever scorer and not even a forward. One of the best footballers ever and one of the finest sportsmen.

3 - Jim Laker (cricket) - Probably the biggest unsung hero in cricket ever! Probably the greatest spinner ever to live and rarely even spoken about. 19 wickets in one test match, no one has come close to that really.

4 - Pele (football) - THE greatest footballer EVER. His goalscoring record was absolutely mind-boggling.

5 - W.G. Grace (cricket) - 54200+ runs and 2800+ wickets. BRING IT OOOON! :lol: 'The Doc' was a legend in every sense of the word.

I want to add more, like Gary Linekar and Alan Shearer but have to limit it to 5!

It's time for one of the girls to speak out. You may be surprised at my choices. :p

#1 Billie Jean King - She's won so many titles and matches in tennis, but the best was her defeating Bobby Riggs in the infamous Battle of the Sexes in 1973.

#2 Nadia Comaneci - I can just remember watching this little girl break down when she saw her gymnastic score was a 1.0. To the joy of the fans, it was made clear she achieved a 10, but the scorecard wasn't wide enough for three digits! Nadia is the reason I continue to keep an eye on gymnastics.

#3 Roger Bannister - The first man to break the four minute mile - twice! He did this while continuing his medical studies and even managed a knighthood for his efforts. :thumb:

#4 Bruce Jenner - This one is a bit pride as he did most of his Olympic training while going to college in Iowa. Still, incredible to compete successfully in 10 different events.

#5 Joseph Jacques Plante - He was the foundation for how hockey goalies stand and protect their net. Oh yeah, and he originated the fiberglass hockey mask worn by goalies today.

#1 Martin O'Neill - Ex-Celtic manager who quit to look after his wife who has cancer. Good looking, excellent manager and kind hearted too - what else do you need? :)
#2 Jose Mourinho - Current Chelsea manager - you have to laugh at his antics on and off the pitch, and his general I don't care what anyone thinks attitude
#3 Rafa Benitez - Current Liverpool manager. He's very cheeky :)
#4 Matt Dawson - Rugby Union player for Wasps and England. I tried to think of a valid reason but if I'm honest it's just because I fancy him :lol:
#5 Neil Lennon - Celtic captain and excellent footballer. I also like his hair :)


Honourable Mentions
Steven Gerrard - went off him as he has a bimbo girlfriend
Frank Lampard - who the hell calls their kid Luna :(

Michael jordan
Mohammed Ali
Babe Ruth
Lance Armstrong
Diego Armando Maradona

* About my last choice: Pele was probably individually the better player, but Brazil would have won those worldcup titles without him just as easily, he just completed the team, Maradona on the other hand WAS the team.

1. Reggie White (American football): The best athlete and man to ever live. His nickname was the Minister of Defense because not only did he play defensive end for the Packers (and Eagles), he was a very devout man and was even ordained a minister by his church. May he rest in peace. :cry:

2. Brett Favre (American football): Combined with #1, he got the Packers to the Super Bowl (twice!) for the first time in thirty years. Many years later, he's still the best there is, and his legacy will live forever.

More as they come to me.

Bjorn Borg(tennis)
Babe Ruth(baseball)
Pele
Jesse Owens(track, he owned Hitler and his racism)
Fatality or Heaton(e-sports) lol

I'm going to only pick sports I know something about, so no cricket champions on my list. ;)

1 Ayrton Senna. Formula One driver, the best I've ever seen in my opinion. Sure Schumacher might have more records and sure Fangio may have driven all his championships in a time when it was common for several drivers to die in a season but the passion, quickness and the never give up attitude by Senna made him special, and his death on the race track made him ever the greater of a legend.

2. Pete Sampras. Arguably the most gifted player ever to wield a tennis racquette(sp?). His coolness and skill made him great on court and outside it. He packed up his carear nicely by winning the last tournament he played in, which happened to be a grand slam. Federer is a potential player to catch him, but he still has a long way to go though.

3. I could not live with myself if I'd not pick a Finn here so I'll pick Paavo Nurmi, a long distance runner who held several records in his time. He probably still has a few minor records but the bigger ones have allready been beaten. A great symbol of Finnish atheltics.

4. Pele. Others have introduced him well enough so I probably won't need to do that. Simply the best man to kick a ball, ever. ;)

5. Wayne Grezky. When Canadians start finding this thread this man will probably be on the top of their list. An truly great ice hockey player and easily the best ever in NHL. The guy has so many amazing records that no one can even come close to that it makes you wonder.

I'm sure that people won't be surprised at how partisan my choices are. After all, I'm an Australian. :p

#1 - Sir Donald Bradman (cricket)

For much the same reasons as HB and BA have listed. Quite simply, Bradman was incomparable; a peerless batsman, a true gentlemen, and an inspirational figure. Plus he's an Australian.

#2 - Muhammad Ali (boxing)

Ali wasn't just a great boxer, he was another inspirational figure; a man who transcended his sport to become more than a man. He talked the talk and walked the walk. So many quotes, so many achievements.

#3 - Heather McKay (squash)

I'm sure a few people will be saying "Who?" For them, here is a link:

http://www.squashpics.com/pastplayers/heather_mckay.htm

Put simply, anyone whose career spans 15 years, and who loses only two professional matches in all that time, is in a class of their own.

#4 - Gary Ablett (Australian Rules football)

Again, another "Who?" for most (and anyone outside Australia). Ablett's nickname was "God" - one which he has asked not to be used, as a born-again Christian - and he was absolutely incredible on the field. He didn't have size or power as a full-forward, but he was tough as nails, skilled beyond belief, and could turn a match around in a matter of minutes. One of the greatest AFL players in history.

#5 - Pele (soccer)

One word. 'Nuff said. While I agree with Pacman's sentiments about Maradona, Pele was such a phenomenal player (and less mired in controversy than Diego) that he made the cut here.

Some really interesting choices so far, the most dubious (in my opinion) being Matt Dawson (!) But everyone is entitled to their opinion!

Barmy Army, why do you consider Pele before Charlton?

@HB:
Well, Shell already admitted:
I tried to think of a valid reason but if I'm honest it's just because I fancy him :lol: There's also the question of whether cycling (Lance Armstrong) or track (Jesse Owens) are actually "sports", per se, but these guys are most definitely athletes, and are very good at what they do. :hmm: How about changing the title to "Top Five Greatest Athletes" so we can include these great achievers?

Preben Elkjær
(Soccer) A guy who can smoke 20 cigarettes a day, and still play soccer at top level wil forever hold my respect :p

Pele
(soccer, again) For reasons mentioned by others, and because we almost share the same name :rolling:

Miguel Indurain
(Cykling) One of the greatest people to ever have ridden a bike... He's the one who first gave me the interrest in cykling sports.

Alan Shearer
(soccer :rolleyes: ) Great footballer, I was and is a huge fan of his.

Carl Lewis
(athletic - long jump, 100 and 200 meters) 10 Olympic medals (9 of which are gold), 8 world championship's gold medals, and 1 bronze, from 1983 to 1993.
All this in a carrier which went from 1984 to 1996. Need I say more :hmm:

This is difficult, given that I find so many sports immensely boring. While I recognize the athletic prowess of many people who play sports I hate, I cannot vote for them. Thus, no football players of any type. No cricket. No golf (not sure it's a sport anyway -- I like to play but watching is tedium incarnate).

So . . .

1. Jordan - his physical skills were only surpassed by his competitive spirit

2. Gretzky - in a league comprised mainly of thugs (even then), he was head and shoulders above everone

3. Wilt Chamberlain - amazing at basketball and track

4. Sampras by a nose over Emerson - I'm not sure that I don't think it should be the other way, given the crappy equipment Emerson used compared to Sampras, but I think, generally, Sampras had more competition.

5. Ali - Just . . . wow . . . and I don't like boxing all that much or he'd be higher up.

Hmmm...I can't put them in order, so here are my five:

-Mike Jordan - the Bulls used to kick a$$ when they had Jordan
-Bret Farve - Green Bay rules!
-Lance Armstong - Beat the French on their own turf...'nuff said. :p
-Wane Gretzky - Hocky was cool back then, and he was the best.
-Anyone on the US Olympic Swimming Team! :thumb:

Note, if anyone mentions Dale Earnheart, his loser of a son, or any other driver from NASCAR...I will personally beat you with a rather large trout! :p :rolling:

Just to clarify, for the purposes of this thread, I certainly do count track and field, cycling, motor racing, and golf as 'sports'.

1. Wayne Gretzky. Nobody will ever achieve what he did in the NHL.

2. Muhammed Ali. Simply the Greatest.

3. Bobby Orr (Ice Hockey). He revolutionized the defence position, and was one of three players ever to record 100+ assists in a regular season.

4. Nolan Ryan (Baseball). 7 no hitters, record setting Fastball, Career Strikeout record, Anything else?

5. Royce Gracie (UFC). Won three of the first four Ultimate fighting challenge tournaments, and always against guys bigger than he was. by the time his opponent realized that he was in trouble, Gracie was already having his hand raised by the referee...

5. Royce Gracie (UFC). Won three of the first four Ultimate fighting challenge tournaments, and always against guys bigger than he was. by the time his opponent realized that he was in trouble, Gracie was already having his hand raised by the referee... Holy crap, how could I have forgotten Royce Gracie? I guess he's much like Heather McKay in that respect - a true legend in their field, but without much exposure or outside recognition.

:bang: :doh: :bang:

I remember one of his bouts, against Dan Severn. Severn had a significant size and weight advantage over Gracie (heck, most of his opponents did). 95% of the bout was Severn pounding Gracie, and the commentators were saying that it was only a matter of time.

Then Severn shifted his weight slightly, Gracie whipped around him like an octopus, and Severn tapped. Absolutely amazing stuff - blink and you'll miss it. I can only imagine what Shamrock-Gracie was like.

Royce Gracie? Never heard of him. I'm sure Jaguar could take him.

C'mon people...Chris Berman!

I mean, he was the Swami for goodness sakes!

Listen to these quotes:

"That's why they play the game." (for upsets)
"Back back back back back back ... GONE!" (home runs)
"Rumblin', Bumblin', Stumblin'" (mostly for running backs)
"He could ... go ... all ... the ... way!" (mimicking Howard Cosell)

I had to cogitate on this for a while, so here goes:
</font> The Don (Cricket) - Sir Donald Bradman would have been a very glad man if his average was just .06 more than 99.94! No one else will equal this feat in cricket, ever. Roger Federer (Tennis) - He's still young (24), and the greatest players are already sweating over their records. Sampras was a great player, sure, but no-one can do to a ball on court what Federer does. Undefeated in 24 straight finals, which is testament not only to his talent but his sheer will to win. Ian Botham (Cricket) - Not just for Headingley '81, he was also a legend for Somerset. Just a shame he was always falling out with Peter Roebuck, which limited how long he stayed. Jonah Barrington (Squash) - won the British Open 6 times, his awesome fitness earned him the title "The Bionic Man". Also a really nice bloke. Brian Clough (Football) - Was a promising young striker at Middlesbrough before injury ended his playing career in his twenties. Became Derby manager, and with Peter Taylor elevated an unfashionable club to a powerful force. Then went to Nottingham Forest and did the same job, times 10. They didn't just dominate domestic football, with a 42-match unbeaten run across 2 seasons, he brought Forest success in Europe. They didn't just win the European Cup (the biggest prize in club football) once, though - they retained it, which very few teams have ever done. This gives rise to my favourite stat in football - that Nottingham Forest have won the European Cup more times than Barcelona! Ol' big 'ead - as he used to call himself - was a legend, and you can't ever say that players like Roy Keane or Teddy Sheringham would have been as good as they were (or are!) without Clough's influence. Also, many of his proteges went on to become successful managers in their own right - Martin O'Neill being one who immediately springs to mind. The scale of his influence is betrayed by Forest's descent since his retirement, and recent death: Forest now languish in the 3rd tier of English football.
Well, there are obvious others I omitted, (like Pele or Ali) but they'd already been done. ;) I've written too much anyway, and need some breakfast, so shall shamelessly post & run.

I'm not a big sports fan, but here goes:

1. Maradona: I remember watching the world championships in '86 and he's been the man ever since. Hands dow. By the way... who's Pele? :D
2. Alexander Karelin: Greco-Roman wrestling. This guy was undefeated for a decade, or something like that, and half of it without giving up a point.
3. Andre Agassi: Never watch tennis, except when he's playing.
4. Mike Jordan: He was at his peak when I was into Basketball.
5. I have to go with Morgoroth on the last one, Paavo Nurmi (... or maybe Matti Nykänen :D ).

I can only quote people I have seen - the first being a little before my time - but I've seen the videos

Mohammed Ali - quoted as the only person who could have "landed" anywhere on the planet and would have been recognised.
Lance Armstrong - Even without his battle against cancer his acheivements are legendary
Diego Maradonna - Its debatable wether or not he was a better player than Pele. But if I could put one player in my team - it would be him. Probably the greatest football player ever.
Carl Lewis - the finest athelete I have ever seen - especially considering he did it for so long over more than one field.
Michael Schumacher - absolutely indomitable, he may have had the car, for much of his career, but he made good opposition look ordinary. We haven't heard the last from this man.

Wayne Greztky - Nice to know that this ol' Oilers fan can state this objectively. Head and shoulders above anybody who's ever played or will play hockey.

Vladislav Tretiak - I hope you non-Canadians can forgive the fact that I'm more familiar with hockey than other sports. Despite my intensely ferocious patriotism when it comes to hockey, my objective and considered opinion is that Tretiak was the greatest goalie to ever don the pads.

Pele - Gretzky's equivalent for soccer.

Michael Jordan - Nobody ever did more amazing things with a basketball.

Steffi Graff - Whether a man or a woman, I don't think any other tennis player so thoroughly dominated the competition the way she did in her time. Navratilova once commented that her forehand smash was harder than that possessed by most men. Hingis, Seles, Sampras, Lendl, and so on haven't quite been able to demonstrate the same margin.

I'm going to go for people whose contributions OFF the playing arena are equalled by their accomplishments thereon.

Babe Diedrichson Zaharis - She did more for the advancement of women in sport than any other individual, simply by making people realize that women could be accomplished athletes without being freaks.

Mia Hamm (representing the whole US Women's Soccer team) - if you want one reason why soccer is so incredibly popular with American kids these days, here she is. These women epitomized the TEAM aspect of soccer, and did it while having lives. And damn, Mia is bloody GORGEOUS to boot.

Lance Armstrong - everyone knows why.

Reggie White - sure, lots of pro athletes give their names and their money to charitable enterprises and say they're helping to improve the community. He gave HIMSELF, and actually DID SO.

5th place is a tie between Michael Jordan and Wayne Gretzky, for all the reasons posted above. They, too, knew how to be stars in a TEAM environment. That's something that's sadly lacking in American pro sports these days.

1. Don Bradman (Cricket)

2. Jack Nicklaus (Golf) - he was to golf what Bradman was to cricket the consummate professional, dedicated to his sport and technique.
He won 18 majors and was second in a further 19; Tiger (Woods) may beat those records but it's Jack that will inspire him to that high.

3. Martina Navratilova (Tennis) - She won everything and deservedly so and in a time when there was more competition in women's tennis.

4. Herman George 'Babe' Ruth jr (Baseball) - Need I say more the greatest batter ever.

5. Pele (Football) - Simply the greatest

Honourable thoughts:
Rugby - Grant Fox, Martin Johnson, Barry John
Football - Sir Robert Charlton, Sir Robert Robson, Franz Beckenbauer, George Best, Paulo Maldini
NFL - Joe Montana, Lawrence Taylor, Jerry Rice
Tennis - John McEnroe, Steffi Graf, Billie Jean King
Cricket - Dennis Lillee, Malcolm Marshall, Sir Geoffray Boycott

Diego Armando Maradona - Simply the best footballer ever, Argentina and Napoli would never reach the top without him.

Michael Jordan - Nothing needed to say about him.

Franz Beckenbauer - IIRC he is the only one who has won the WC as player and as a coach, plus one EC with the german national team and three european champions' cups with Bayern Munchen.

Drazen Petrovic - Perhaps the best european basketball player.

Larry Bird - White can jump :D .

You would never guess that I am a Canadian hockey fanatic from this all hockey player list. ;)

1. Wayne Gretzky.

2. Vladislav Tretiak - IMHO the most superbly amazing goalie to ever play the sport.

3. Bobby Orr - revolutionized the way defence is played.

4. Gordie Howe - he had an incredibly long and productive career. #2 all time in goals scored and #3 in points, he had a professional career that lasted from 1946 up to 1980 (excluding his gimmicky one game comeback in 1997) including 22 consecutive NHL seasons with 20 or more goals followed by another five in the WHA. In his final professional season (back in the NHL), at the age of 52, he was still able to play in 80 games and managed 15 goals and 26 assists.

5. Maurice Richard - The first NHL player to score 50 goals in a season and 500 goals in a career. He was truly a legend in hockey mad Montreal. The book "The Hockey Sweater" (also made into a short cartoon) pretty much perfectly sums up how crazy the Montrealers were about him. In probably the most infamous incident in NHL history, there was a riot in Montreal after Richard was quite justifiably suspended for intentionally injuring an opponent and then punching one of the linesmen.

Barmy Army, why do you consider Pele before Charlton? I'm not really sure I understand the question, Rutkowski. The list is in no particular order.

This is hard...

@Boc: Argentina WILL be on top again :D

Pete Sampras & Martina Navratilova...
Mario Lemieux.
Jack Nicklaus.
Valentino Rosi.
and of course: la mano de Dios, Diego
(the hand of God, Diego Maradona, who lost almost 60kg)

This isn't fair, it should be at least a top 10 list.

Although Maradona was a great player, I can't find it in my three-lion'd heart to put that lying, cheating, obese druggy in my list!! ;)

Sad but true... (but he's not fat anymore (http://www.clarin.com/diario/2005/09/20/espectaculos/c-00201.htm), and he also is becoming a 'good healthy trusting' man)

Beckham is also a liar and a cheater, now all we have to do is wait until he starts smoking crack, then maybe he'll be on the same level as Diego. :D

Pray tell, why is Beckham a liar and a cheater? ;)
You'll be telling me he#s over-rated next! :lol:

His wife told me Barmy. :D

Victoria Beckham can speak English? Or did you take her in your Dutch mouth? :lol: ;)

1. Gretzky-He changed the face of the NHL. He holds 61 records, no athelete even comes close to that.

2. Mario Lemiex- He was always just one step behind Gretzky he was my childhood idol so of course I'm includeing him on the list.

3. Gordie Howe-Gretzky before Gretzky. But with a little attitude.

4. Bobby Orr- No defensemen will ever come close to what No.4 did. And in such a short career.

5. Maurice Richard-Just a class act.

Yeah, I'm Canadian, play hockey and it's the sport that I care the most about. I like football and I can respect others devotion to other sports and the legends of those games, but hokcey is what matters to me.

Hmm, rugby and cricket are the two main sports I care about. Maybe I should have had more than just one player from those sports in my top five, like our ice hockey fans here have.

I'm surprised that Jonah Lomu didn't make yours when I'm honest, HB. What about Chris Cairns or danny Vettori? :D

Hmm, well Barmy, honestly, Jonah Lomu was a bit of a phenomenon, but only for a handful of years and whilst he was exciting to watch, I’d question whether he would even be in the top 10 NZ rugby players of all time, let alone the top 5 sportsmen of all time.

Chris Cairns? Far too disappointing. Dan Vettori? He has a test bowling average of over 30. That’s not world class, even if he is playing quite well at the moment.

The only NZ cricketer I would have put on my list would have been Sir Richard Hadlee. Now HE was the man. Easily the most successful NZ cricketer by some distance and I think still the only person to be knighted for services to cricket whilst still playing.

To all of you who have chosen that Gordie Howe character, I am stunned to learn that he is (or was) actually a real person! I have always known him only as a picture that Bart Simpson cut out to use as his own in that episode where he sent love letters to Edna Krabappel. Now I finally know what he meant when he said “Strap your skates on Gordie, you’re going in!”

Every day, I learn something new on SP.

Freddie averages over 33 with the ball I think and around the same with the bat. They're hardly world-class figures, but no-one doubts he is a world class player. I think Vettori is world class. Plus, he is the only cricketer I know to wear glasses. That gives him a 'geek-sportsman' factor.

Andrew Flintoff is playing well at the moment, but that does not make him one of the greatest sportsmen of all time either. If he keeps playing this well over the rest of his career then his averages will end up reflecting that. But at the moment, they don't look so great because of the inconsistency he showed when he was younger.

:lol: Same was said about Robinho when signed for Real Madrid: 'the successor of Pele', he played 2 games and did 2 or 3 tricks and people said 'he's the best ever' :lol:
Now he heats bench.

1) Don Badman - No explanation needed
2) Larry Bird - greates basketballer ever IMHO - he could do anything! Far too underated, apart from me BOC has been the only one to mention him.
3) Michael Jordon - No one can dunk like him!
4) Pele - Greatest in his field, I don't watch soccer and he was a bit before my time, but his effect on the game was undenyable.
5) Mohomad Ali - ditto, but with boxing instead of soccer

@grillen - its spelt Fata1ity :D . Although computer games aren't really a sport he does have a nice range of Mobos!

Talking about spelling....MohOmad ? JordOn ? Had a little too much to drink had we ? :D

Jim Thorpe accomplished arguably what no other athlete in history has. (http://www.alphacdc.com/necona/jimthorp.html)

Barry Sanders Would hold a ton of NFL rushing records if he hadn't got pissed at the Lions. Also, at less than 5'7" tall, he could dunk a basketball from a flat-footed jump (I know, I have seen him do it in person). So it is a homer pick!

Cassius Clay Incredible personality, revolutionized boxing, now lets revolutionize boxing into the history books. He would have been an incredible athlete at whatever sport he decided to take up.

Lance Armstrong Another sport I could care less about, but given what he went through, an amazing individual.

Pete Rose Charlie hustle. Here is a guy with a marginal physic and dubious skills who played 100% all most 100% of the time. Too bad he couldn't resist the gambling bug. Should have been a unanimous first ballot hall of famer, instead he will always be a member of the hall of infamy. :(

One more to make up for my homer pick above.

Pele Can't think of anything that wasn't already said above.

OUT!

1. Muhammad Ali - the perfect blend of sportsman. Strong, smart, charismatic, fast, competitive, enduring. He was a role model for many African American youngsters, adults and known the world over. What he managed to do outside the ring, as well as his great legacy inside it, is what sets him apart from every other athlete.

2. Michael Jordan - the same as Muhammed Ali but without the natural charisma Ali had. Still what he accomplished playing basketball, his presence on the court and what he did for the game of basketball is legendary. He turned himself into a corporation and a role model for every aspiring basketball player out there in his era.

3. Wayne Gretzky - Arguably may have not been the greatest hockey player ever (Bobby Orr or Mario Lemieux), but his style of hockey turned it into a game of grace and sportsmanship. Outside of the fact of holding so many records, he was the leader on probably on the greatest hockey team put together ever. He is a legend here in Canada.

4. Lance Armstrong - his wins non-withstanding, to survive his ordeal and manage to accomplish what he has reveals the true heart of a champion. If he participated in a better known sport, I would rate him higher.

5. Jesse Owens - Not only for his accomplishments in Track and Field, but for smacking Hitler in the face with his idea of the Aryan race.

[ October 18, 2005, 07:30: Message edited by: Newfie ]

I'm with Rally on Babe Didrickson Zaharis (1). She was simply the most dominating athlete of all time -- in three sports.

Beyond that:

Track: Jesse Owens (2). Shamed the Nazi's singlehandedly.

Boxing: Mohammed Ali (3). Simply the greatest of all time.

Baseball: Henry Aaron (4). No question. Add his bases up and he traveled TWELVE MILES more than anyone else in baseball.

And all the rest that belong here (tied for 5)

Basketball: Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell. The NBA changed the rules because of Wilt. And Bill was the only one who could stop him.

Football: Johnny Unitas and Roger Staubach. Unitas was the most dominant player in football -- picture Manning AND his offensive coordinator in one person. Staubach because he was Navy ( :) ) and was the heir apparent to Unitas as the premier QB in football. No one has been able to call an entire game from the QB spot as effectively since.

Golf: Ben Hogan. Dominated the circuit. Was nearly killed in an accident and told he would never walk again. He did. And won. A lot.

Hockey: It doesn't have a ball, who cares.

NASCAR: Is this even a sport?

Soccer: Too boring to care -- although Pele was amazing.

1. Roberto Clemente: Great sports player, an even better human. He died doing what he loved (helping people), and IMO is one of the greatest role models as well as sportsplayer.

2. Jackie Robinson: Integrated a once racist game into a sport that is now dominated (not majority of people, but majority of skill) by people of other races and nationalities than White Americans.

3. Ted Williams: One of the best hitters of all time, and was very patriotic. Went to fight in WWII during his prime years as a player. If he hadn't, he would have had so much better numbers, made more money, and become more famous. Instead, he did something he believed in.

4. Tiger Woods: Set a new standard of golf. One of the most fun to watch as well as one of the best (obviously, there are others that are great too).

5. Billy Bean(e?): IMO, and in my way of playing baseball, one of the greatest managers ever. Makes teams that play smallball, are fast, and don't cost alot of money. I would love to meet him and discuss his strategies. He is one of the greatest masterminds of the current game of baseball (i'm not going to say greatest masterminds ever, because I am not too sure of the managers in the past).


EDIT: Curses, I forgot Lance Armstrong! Well, he is up there, too. Can't forget about the Lance...

George Best - Football

Phil "The Power" Taylor - Darts

Steven Hendry - Snooker

Lenox Lewis - Boxing

Tiger Woods - Golf

I think it would be easier if we ranked the best guy in every sport instead of just having to pick 5 people, since most of us dont follow all sports...

Anyway...

Michael Jordan- Perhaps the most fierce compeditor ever, did things on the court that werent even concidered possible.

Wayne Gretzky- Followed hockey more when I was a little kid, but from what I remember he was the best.

Pele- Dont realy follow soccer either, but from what I know, this guy was simply amazing.

Mohammad Ali- Obvious reasons

Lance Armstrong- -||-

...

Björn Borg- Tennis legend, plus he's swedish ;)

Sir Donald Bradman- Sounds like one helluva cricket player, but I dont get that sport

Babe Ruth- Baseball... Dont know anything about it

There are so many others...