OT: top 10 athletes in recent history

[IllegalContact]

this guy

 

[BobDigital]

This is really two very different questions, are you talking athlete which is just pure God given ability or player which adds in drive, willpower, and intangibles. For example Lebron is probably 2-3 times the athlete MJ is yet I would take prime MJ 11 out of 10 times in a game. Prime Pay me a Ton could do things with a football few have ever seen. I still want Brady when the shots are real. Brady is somewhere around 10,000th best athlete but HAS to be top ten of any player list. For the question of top 10 athletes I think you have to throw out the results like Super Bowl wins etc and just look at the OMG did you see THAT moments. I admit to not watching enough sports besides football to have a list of my own.

It is hard to separate the 2. Where does talent end and hard work begin. When i say athlete i don't mean just pure talent. I mean who is the best finished product from both talent and hard work shaping their body and skills. It is a mix of both. Some people who are great all time athletes had more talent than others and some worked harder and smarter to get there. But my main point is where do you end up at the end of the day.

To take your point MJ was a better athlete than Lebron. Was he more talented? Maybe not but if not he made himself a better athlete.

 

[BobDigital]

Strongmen sportsman are amazing of course but when i think "athletic" that is not where i go. When i think athletic I think what are the chances you can pick up a random sporting activity and be really good with it.

Like if Michael Jordan at 25 was asked to run track would he do well? Well he would not set records but he would be able to instantly do better than 99.9% of the population. What about Jumping? Yep. What about a pull up competition? Probably pretty amazing for his size. What about asked to play WR in football? Could do that pretty well instantly. Bo Jackson is a great example of this though he had an extensive back round in both football and baseball he was able to do both and could do a lot of other athletic things well.

These strong men are great at strength I do think of them in the same way. Incredibly hard to do what they do and i have them respect for it but it I don't think I could be talked into putting one up.

 

[IllegalContact]

Strongmen sportsman are amazing of course but when i think "athletic" that is not where i go. When i think athletic I think what are the chances you can pick up a random sporting activity and be really good with it.

Like if Michael Jordan at 25 was asked to run track would he do well? Well he would not set records but he would be able to instantly do better than 99.9% of the population. What about Jumping? Yep. What about a pull up competition? Probably pretty amazing for his size. What about asked to play WR in football? Could do that pretty well instantly. Bo Jackson is a great example of this though he had an extensive back round in both football and baseball he was able to do both and could do a lot of other athletic things well.

These strong men are great at strength I do think of them in the same way. Incredibly hard to do what they do and i have them respect for it but it I don't think I could be talked into putting one up.

In that case, it's Rafer Johnson and Bob Mathias

Decathletes have to be the best athletes

 

[SalemPats]

Here's the thing about short distance track, our best athletes are not going into track because we have the option of football and basketball. i.e. could chris johnson, AP win the 100 yard dash with elite short distance training, probably. could Vince Carter being the best high jumper, most likely. Also how do you compare a swimmer to a runner.

Anyway my top 5 athletes

1. Jordan
2. AP
3. Deion
4. Hasek
5. Randy Moss

 

[randomk1]

I won't do a top-10 list because I don't think I can make an accurate assessment of all the sports out there. But in terms of football players I do believe that Cristiano Ronaldo certainly belongs in the conversation. He is just one phenomenal athlete. Power, speed, jumping ability. He has the complete package.

You must be kidding. He doesn't even compare to some of the freaks in the NFL. Nvm the fact that he is about as tough as my niece.

 

[IllegalContact]

Here's the thing about short distance track, our best athletes are not going into track because we have the option of football and basketball. i.e. could chris johnson, AP win the 100 yard dash with elite short distance training, probably. could Vince Carter being the best high jumper, most likely. Also how do you compare a swimmer to a runner.

Anyway my top 5 athletes

1. Jordan
2. AP
3. Deion
4. Hasek
5. Randy Moss

your probablies and most likelies have little merit......AP isn't even the fastest guy in the NFL

why would you assume all the best athletes pursue team sports? because its what you watch?

try Lee Riley......the dude rean a 4hr marathon with a 40lb pack on his back.......ran a mile with a 40lb pack in 5 min...I doubt any of who you mention would ever have the mental toughness to get there

just making a point

 

[Ring 6]

Strongmen sportsman are amazing of course but when i think "athletic" that is not where i go. When i think athletic I think what are the chances you can pick up a random sporting activity and be really good with it.

Like if Michael Jordan at 25 was asked to run track would he do well? Well he would not set records but he would be able to instantly do better than 99.9% of the population. What about Jumping? Yep. What about a pull up competition? Probably pretty amazing for his size. What about asked to play WR in football? Could do that pretty well instantly. Bo Jackson is a great example of this though he had an extensive back round in both football and baseball he was able to do both and could do a lot of other athletic things well.

These strong men are great at strength I do think of them in the same way. Incredibly hard to do what they do and i have them respect for it but it I don't think I could be talked into putting one up.

This conflicts with your op where you babe Michael phelps number 1 and all he does is swim.

 

[IllegalContact]

This conflicts with your op where you babe Michael phelps number 1 and all he does is swim.

the problem with the whole topic is what is required by each sport......one difference is team versus individual...the other is the athleticism vs coordination balance and the broadness of that required for any particular activity....

at the end of the day, I would think the best proof would be something like the decathlon since it combines the highest level of speed with the highest level of strength

the whole argument is subjective and circular....which is why half of my answers weren't serious

who is the better athlete? micheal jordan or dominique wilkins? jordan had more skill, that's for sure, but wilkins was bigger, faster, and could jump higher

even a better comparison is larry bird versus dominique wilkins.......which one was the better athlete and which one was the better basketball player?

 

[BobDigital]

This conflicts with your op where you babe Michael Phelps number 1 and all he does is swim.

His athleticism would clearly transfer well over to other activities. Every athlete tends to specialize their bodies to do a few things particularly well being an athlete does not just equal being strong. It is a balance of good speed, agility, quickness, strength, endurance, ect. Phelps has all those things in spades. Body builders don't. They are strength specialist. While impressive I don't think it is unfair to make a distinction.

However as another poster said this is more for speculation and fun. There will never be an official list of who are clearly the best athletes but it is interesting to talk about.

 

[A man named Brady]

People are confusing best athlete and most dominant in his particular sport.

 

[RobertWeathers]

His athleticism would clearly transfer well over to other activities. Every athlete tends to specialize their bodies to do a few things particularly well being being an athlete does not just equal being strong. It is a balance of good speed, agility, quickness, strength, endurance, ect. Phelps has all those things in spades. Body builders don't. They are strength specialist. While impressive I don't think it is unfair to make a distinction.

However as another poster said this is more for speculation and fun. There will never be an official list of who are clearly the best athletes but it is interesting to talk about.

He'd be a very, very good golfer. Hes been on the Hank Haney Project.

He'd be a 1 HDP easy.

 

[BritPat]

If you're including a footballer (ours, not yours), then Pele's not the one you would pick.

I can't stand him but Plastic Ronaldo is virtually the perfect specimen when it comes to the game. He's an incredible player and athlete. Messi's better, mind.

 

[Jackson 2]

In that case, it's Rafer Johnson and Bob Mathias

Decathletes have to be the best athletes

In that case, here's one that will surely piss off all of the macho men around here: Bruce Jenner.

 

[bbobbo]

this guy

sergei akmudov

 

[ausbacker]

People are confusing best athlete and most dominant in his particular sport.

I made mention to @BobDigital that given my objection his list, if I had time the other day, I'd provide him with a list of my top 10. I'm having real difficulty narrowing it down to a top 10 but if your qualification is true, then the top 10 is going to be the most physically gifted athlete in every sport ever. I can't agree with that because even though you may laugh, Phil Taylor has been one of the most dominant sportsman of all time in his chosen profession of darts. He's not particularly athletic but he's incredible in a highly competitive sport.

@BobDigital, my apologies. The Olympics have taken over the past few days.

 

[BobDigital]

I made mention to @BobDigital that given my objection his list, if I had time the other day, I'd provide him with a list of my top 10. I'm having real difficulty narrowing it down to a top 10 but if your qualification is true, then the top 10 is going to be the most physically gifted athlete in every sport ever. I can't agree with that because even though you may laugh, Phil Taylor has been one of the most dominant sportsman of all time in his chosen profession of darts. He's not particularly athletic but he's incredible in a highly competitive sport.

@BobDigital, my apologies. The Olympics have taken over the past few days.

Well dear sir.. I am afraid you have lost all honor. The only honorable action left is Huri Kuri i am afraid

No worries I was just honestly curious to see what you would put. There is no rush and if you never do it that is fine too. No pressure. I am just glad if you found anything to enjoy or learn about in this thread. I know i found a lot so it was well worth it for me

 

[TB12TheGoat]

1. Tom Brady
2. Rob Gronkowski


3-10 don't matter

 

[1960Pats]

View attachment 13754

 

[1960Pats]

Russell deserves to be on there, Olympic gold medalist, 11 time NBA champ, 2x NCAA champ, 1(?) time high school state champ.

Finally. I can't believe it took 35 posts before the true number one was mentioned.