Greatest Sportsperson Of The Last 100 Years? - The Orange Mane

frerottenextelway · 06-26-2009, 04:18 PM

I hope I didn't leave out anyone obvious...

Criteria is whatever you think the criteria should be...

Haroldthebarrel · 06-26-2009, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frerottenextelway

I hope I didn't leave out anyone obvious...

Criteria is whatever you think the criteria should be...

Great list if your definition is Greatest American athlete over the last 100 years.
If the list is of the worlds finest you might want to add(on top of my head):
Sergey Bubka
Alexander Karelin
Paavo Nurmi
Wayne Gretzky
Eddy Merckx
Lance Armstrong
Pele
Maradona
And of course the winter athletes (since I am norwegian and follow them)
Ole Einar Bjørndalen
Bjørn Dæhlie
Ingemar Stenmark

and many more.

To me the critera is being that much better than his peers and taking his sport to another level.
So I would land with either Karelin or Michael Jordan. And how Michael Jordan became a fix hold name in places where they didnt even follow basketball probably make him my choice. Even though Barkley was my favorite player

watermock · 06-26-2009, 04:47 PM

frerottenextelway · 06-26-2009, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haroldthebarrel

Great list if your definition is Greatest American athlete over the last 100 years.
If the list is of the worlds finest you might want to add(on top of my head):
Sergey Bubka
Alexander Karelin
Paavo Nurmi
Wayne Gretzky
Eddy Merckx
Lance Armstrong
Pele
Maradona
And of course the winter athletes (since I am norwegian and follow them)
Ole Einar Bjørndalen
Bjørn Dæhlie
Ingemar Stenmark

and many more.

To me the critera is being that much better than his peers and taking his sport to another level.
So I would land with either Karelin or Michael Jordan. And how Michael Jordan became a fix hold name in places where they didnt even follow basketball probably make him my choice. Even though Barkley was my favorite player

Gretz is on there. Can't believe I forgot the soccer ones!

elsid13 · 06-26-2009, 04:55 PM

You put on Wilt Chamberlain and not Bill Russell

watermock · 06-26-2009, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elsid13

You put on Wilt Chamberlain and not Bill Russell

'cause he played for Boston.

Haroldthebarrel · 06-26-2009, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frerottenextelway

Gretz is on there. Can't believe I forgot the soccer ones!

My bad then.

One point. If the criteria is being the most entertaining player to watch, regardless if you like the sport or not, I know a lot of people watching Lions game with Barry Sanders even though they didnt really like the sport.
I remember often watching Lions games just to see what he would do.
He alone justified the Lions having a thanksgiving game even though they probably didnt deserve for anything but traditions.

TheReverend · 06-26-2009, 05:01 PM

I despise Basketball with a burning passion.

That being said, how could it NOT be Jordan...?

maher_tyler · 06-26-2009, 05:04 PM

Jordan...if i second and third pick it'd be Jackie Robinson and Ali in that order!!

good poll btw!!

gyldenlove · 06-26-2009, 05:06 PM

Rod Laver - Tennis
Rocky Marciano - Boxing
Pele - Soccer
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - Basketball
Jerry Rice - Football
Sergei Bubka - Athletics
Annika Sorenstam - Female sports
Bobby Orr - Hockey

Los Broncos · 06-26-2009, 05:07 PM

Otto Graham should be on that list.

Punisher · 06-26-2009, 05:16 PM

Jordan

El Minion · 06-26-2009, 05:35 PM

Any of these four will do:

Quote:

Originally Posted by El Minion

FADERPROOF · 06-26-2009, 06:49 PM

Jackie Robinson, hands down.

BroncoMan4ever · 06-26-2009, 06:54 PM

i'd love to be a homer and say Elway. but in the NFL, every 10 years, there is a new guy who is just as good, as the generation before. So I had to go with Jordan. basketball still has not found a guy who can do what he did. I mean Kobe and Lebron, Wade, Anthony, and guys like that are all great players, but Jordan was in a league all by himself.

DHallblows · 06-26-2009, 06:57 PM

gunns · 06-26-2009, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elsid13

You put on Wilt Chamberlain and not Bill Russell

OMG! Noticed that when I saw the "hype" at the top of the list. If you are talking Greatest Athlete it's definitely Jim Thorpe. Oh excuse me, slykinky or whatever might be around, IMO, he's the Greatest Athlete (as if anyone thought this was anything but my opinion). Elway would be second good as he was at other sports also. And IMO, Russell is the greatest basketball player. Sports figure means media sports figure to me and that would answer why Jordan is leading.

BroncoMan4ever · 06-26-2009, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gunns

OMG! Noticed that when I saw the "hype" at the top of the list. If you are talking Greatest Athlete it's definitely Jim Thorpe. Oh excuse me, slykinky or whatever might be around, IMO, he's the Greatest Athlete (as if anyone thought this was anything but my opinion). Elway would be second good as he was at other sports also. Sports figure means media sports figure to me and that would answer why Jordan is leading.

Carl Lewis would have to go ahead of Thorpe in terms of greatest athlete.

BroncoBuff · 06-26-2009, 07:08 PM

Joe Louis
Jackie Robinson
Babe Ruth
Muhammad Ali
Pele
Joe Montana
Michael Jordan
Jim Thorpe
Wayne Gretzky

Tiger needs a couple more years.

gunns · 06-26-2009, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BroncoMan4ever

Carl Lewis would have to go ahead of Thorpe in terms of greatest athlete.

Why? When I think athlete I think someone who is well rounded in other sports than just the one they excelled in. Thorpe won gold medals at the Olympics in the decathlon and pentathlon, played professional football, baseball, basketball.

Pseudofool · 06-26-2009, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gunns

Why?

Ability to throw out the first pitch?

Rock Chalk · 06-26-2009, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BroncoMan4ever

i'd love to be a homer and say Elway. but in the NFL, every 10 years, there is a new guy who is just as good, as the generation before. So I had to go with Jordan. basketball still has not found a guy who can do what he did. I mean Kobe and Lebron, Wade, Anthony, and guys like that are all great players, but Jordan was in a league all by himself.

Jordan was great but considering that he only became great after the truly great ones that played during his tenure retired.

Magic, Bird, English, Isiah, Kareem.

Jordan wasnt even mentioned when those guys were playing and they were on the downside of their careers.

WHen they all retired, Jordan became a superstar thanks to Spike Lee aka Mars. Nike made Jordan SEEM to be the greatest ever, but he really wasnt. Jordan won 6 titles in an era devoid of true superstars like those in the 60s, 70s and 80s. Jordan now, with that same team, in his prime, would not win 6 titles in the NBA with the competition of the teams there is.

The 90s were a horrible time for superstars in basketball. It was a drought of a decade IMO and thus the reason Jordan was made to be greater than he was. Great yes, all-time great? Probably up there, but greatest ever? No.

atomicbloke · 06-26-2009, 08:28 PM

Pele.

No other other athlete caused a temporary suspension of a war so that soldiers on the battlefield from both sides could watch him play.

Gcver2ver3 · 06-26-2009, 08:43 PM

Mj...

loborugger · 06-26-2009, 08:57 PM

View Poll Results: Greatest Sports Person Of The Last 100 Years
Michael Jordan	24	32.43%
Wilt Chamberlain	0	0%
Babe Ruth	5	6.76%
John Elway	10	13.51%
Michael Phelps	1	1.35%
Wayne Gretzky	1	1.35%
Joe Montana	0	0%
Jackie Robinson	4	5.41%
Ted Williams	0	0%
Muhammad Ali	7	9.46%
Tiger Woods	6	8.11%
Jim Brown	0	0%
Jesse Owens	2	2.70%
Tom Brady	1	1.35%
Jerry Rice	0	0%
Roger Federer	0	0%
Jim Thorpe	7	9.46%
Jack Nicklaus	1	1.35%
Carl Lewis	0	0%
Hank Aaron	0	0%
Martina Navratilova	0	0%
Joe DiMaggio	1	1.35%
Mark Spitz	0	0%
Walter Payton	0	0%
Michael Johnson	0	0%
Other	4	5.41%
Voters: 74. You may not vote on this poll

06-26-2009, 04:18 PM	#1
frerottenextelway █████ █████ Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: █████ Posts: 7,888 Adopt-a-Bronco: ██	Greatest Sportsperson Of The Last 100 Years? I hope I didn't leave out anyone obvious... Criteria is whatever you think the criteria should be... Last edited by frerottenextelway; 06-26-2009 at 04:24 PM..

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06-26-2009, 04:47 PM	#3
watermock "Hoodie Jr" "Hug me!" Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Hot Springs, Ouachitah Posts: 77,090

06-26-2009, 04:55 PM	#5
elsid13 Lost In Space Bóg, Honor, Ojczyzna Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: DC Posts: 19,080	You put on Wilt Chamberlain and not Bill Russell

06-26-2009, 05:01 PM	#8
TheReverend www.PatrickTurley.org ^ buy this... twice Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 32,966 Adopt-a-Bronco: Mike Shanahan	I despise Basketball with a burning passion. That being said, how could it NOT be Jordan...?

06-26-2009, 05:04 PM	#9
maher_tyler Ring of Famer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: AZ Posts: 5,663 Adopt-a-Bronco: Champ Bailey	Jordan...if i second and third pick it'd be Jackie Robinson and Ali in that order!! good poll btw!!

06-26-2009, 05:06 PM	#10
gyldenlove Ring of Famer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: London, ON Posts: 10,015 Adopt-a-Bronco: Spencer Larsen	Rod Laver - Tennis Rocky Marciano - Boxing Pele - Soccer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - Basketball Jerry Rice - Football Sergei Bubka - Athletics Annika Sorenstam - Female sports Bobby Orr - Hockey

06-26-2009, 05:07 PM	#11
Los Broncos Ring of farmers Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Anaheim Hills, Santa Ana Mountains CA Posts: 18,766 Adopt-a-Bronco: Ryan Clady	Otto Graham should be on that list.

06-26-2009, 05:16 PM	#12
Punisher ® You Tell The NFL! We're coming for That Belt! WOOOOO® Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Broncos Video Vault Posts: 6,628 Adopt-a-Bronco: i4jelway7	Jordan

06-26-2009, 06:49 PM	#14
FADERPROOF Bucknuts Colossus Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Eastlake OH Posts: 17,338	Jackie Robinson, hands down.

06-26-2009, 06:54 PM	#15
BroncoMan4ever Ring of Famer Here to chew bubblegum and kick ass Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Denver Posts: 11,555 Adopt-a-Bronco: VIRGIL GREEN!!!	i'd love to be a homer and say Elway. but in the NFL, every 10 years, there is a new guy who is just as good, as the generation before. So I had to go with Jordan. basketball still has not found a guy who can do what he did. I mean Kobe and Lebron, Wade, Anthony, and guys like that are all great players, but Jordan was in a league all by himself.

06-26-2009, 06:57 PM	#16
DHallblows Ring of Famer Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Norman, OK Posts: 2,513

06-26-2009, 07:08 PM	#19
BroncoBuff *************** Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 25,433 Adopt-a-Bronco: QUANTERUS SMITH	Joe Louis Jackie Robinson Babe Ruth Muhammad Ali Pele Joe Montana Michael Jordan Jim Thorpe Wayne Gretzky Tiger needs a couple more years.

06-26-2009, 08:28 PM	#23
atomicbloke Ring of Famer La 12 Boca Juniors Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 2,347 Adopt-a-Bronco: Offensive Line	Pele. No other other athlete caused a temporary suspension of a war so that soldiers on the battlefield from both sides could watch him play.

06-26-2009, 08:43 PM	#24
Gcver2ver3 Ring of Famer Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Tampa Bay, FL Posts: 6,629 Adopt-a-Bronco: not Lance Ball	Mj...

06-26-2009, 08:57 PM	#25
loborugger lost in the ether Did we finally get a FB??? Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: The 'cuse Posts: 5,783 Adopt-a-Bronco: Peyton Hillis