SageAgainstTheMachine Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 Since it's a total different body type - fast-twitch vs. slow-twitch muscles - anybody who could dominate the 100 and the marathon would be the greatest athlete of all time. Swimmers seem to all be built the same. Never heard these terms before. Looks like I have some reading to do. 1) Known for baseball 2) All American in Football at UCLA 3) National Champion in Track at UCLA 4) Played on the basketball team Jackie Robinson.... Wow, what an oversight by the rest of us. All of this, not to mention the most important athlete ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbb Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 Yeah, Jackie Robinson is a great pick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hazed and Amuzed Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 1) Known for baseball 2) All American in Football at UCLA 3) National Champion in Track at UCLA 4) Played on the basketball team Jackie Robinson.... Dave Winfield was drafted by the NBA, MLB and the NFL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeF Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 Dave Winfield was drafted by the NBA, MLB and the NFL Another very good pick... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miyagi-Do Karate Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 No hockey players? There was a school of thought that the most athletically demanding sport with the best athletes is hockey. (I don't know if I necessarily subscribe to that idea, but I've heard that a lot). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajzepp Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 When I think of the best athlete ever, I think it should be a combination of athletic greatness but also epic achievement. One can possess all the athleticism in the world, but it's those who use it to attain greatness that are at the top of my list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SageAgainstTheMachine Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 Me. I won a darts tournament a couple years ago. When I think of the best athlete ever, I think it should be a combination of athletic greatness but also epic achievement. One can possess all the athleticism in the world, but it's those who use it to attain greatness that are at the top of my list. Thank you for your support. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajzepp Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 Thank you for your support. I got your back, brother...as previously noted, you're already ranked above Danny Ainge on my list. Keep up the good work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billsfan89 Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 No hockey players? There was a school of thought that the most athletically demanding sport with the best athletes is hockey. (I don't know if I necessarily subscribe to that idea, but I've heard that a lot). I think its because hockey is played on ice a lot of people have a hard time extrapolating the skills and athleticism needed in hockey to other areas of athleticism. But I agree hockey players are some of the most gifted pure athletes out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fixxxer Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 This guy was a monster when he played http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsXTa7UCGlk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajzepp Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 Daaaaaang, that guy would have gone apeshiit in the NFL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boyst Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 I will add Kurt Angle to this, as well. Angle must be considered one of the top wrestlers by everyone and many say he is the best. What he did, his athletic performance was beyond what anyone can comprehend without watching his matches. His style of wrestling was unheard of and has never been duplicated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fixxxer Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 Daaaaaang, that guy would have gone apeshiit in the NFL. There were rumors about him wanting to try out for the NFL but I don't know if they were true. He could have been a nasty TE (provided he learned the game) As a rugby fan I always think about certain NFL players translating their games to rugby. Gronk, Vernon Davis, Ray Lewis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim in Anchorage Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 (edited) When I think of the best athlete ever, I think it should be a combination of athletic greatness but also epic achievement. One can possess all the athleticism in the world, but it's those who use it to attain greatness that are at the top of my list. First person I thought of was Gretzky. Edited June 10, 2012 by Jim in Anchorage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajzepp Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 First person I thought of was Gretzky. I only saw Gretzky toward the 2nd half of his career with the Kings since I didn't pay much attention to hockey until the late 80s, but I always seem to pair him with Joe Montana. Two guys who were so damn talented and mentally tough that they could transcend any physical limitations they may have had and just plain dominate. To me, those are the greatest champions of all. You pass either one of them on the street not knowing anything about sports, you'd just never guess that they were the absolute best of their generation at what they did. There were rumors about him wanting to try out for the NFL but I don't know if they were true. He could have been a nasty TE (provided he learned the game) As a rugby fan I always think about certain NFL players translating their games to rugby. Gronk, Vernon Davis, Ray Lewis. That guy's top gear is just NUTS! He looks like he's at least a good 230 lb, yet he can just break away from the pack like he's got a turbo charger up his arse. Very impressive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HopsGuy Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 Dave Winfield was drafted by the NBA, MLB and the NFL Thank you for paying attention. (See Post #50). These kids today... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbb Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 Has anybody mentioned Dave Winfield? I think he was drafted in three sports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tcali Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 Shaq??? i put him in the top 500,000,000 OJ,Jim Brown,Jim Thorpe,Dr J,Lebron,Jordan,Willie Mays. I count guys that could do awesome things that others just couldnt do. Not some overall kinda guy(altho that guy could qualify if one of his talents had the wow factor-Thorpe). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob's House Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 Has anyone mentioned John Kruk? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SageAgainstTheMachine Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 Has anyone mentioned John Kruk? Wow, that's another oversight. Guy was a good baseball player, but imagine if he had gotten into sumo wrestling or hot dog eating contests! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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