lhslep134 wrote:
I think, IMO...
Best conditioned: Hockey players, Soccer Players
Strongest and toughest: NFL
Most Freakish: NBA
Best suited for short bursts of pure athleticism: MMA/Wrestling
Most skilled athletes: Baseball players. Try hitting a 91 MPH Mo Rivera Cutter. Ain't happening for anyone not in MLB. Anyone who's played baseball on a level higher than high school can attest that it's really fucking hard, even just to get to Single A.
Edit: I don't like how hockey players only play for a few minutes at a time, and when I say I don't like, I mean in terms of this debate. Skating fast and changing directions all the time requires a ton of stamina, but to see a player play for maybe 10 minutes straight would be something incredible to behold. I'm sure someone who is a much bigger hockey fan than I can tell me if there's any players that do this (stay out for extended periods of time).
I will still argue that wrestling/MMA is the best conditioned, but also agree with you on the most "skilled".
Until someone plays baseball on a college+ level, you can't understand the level of skill involved in hitting.
I batted well over .400 in HS, one year nearly .470. I played college ball for 2 years before I blew out my shoulder and couldn't sniff .300. I was typically around .250-.275.
Even in college summer leagues that I still played in for 2 more years after I quit college ball, the average was lucky to be close to .300 (.290-.305).
HS pitching is a joke compared to college, and I'm sure the college pitching is a joke compared to the pros.
I'd bet that someone who could really hit like me in HS, wouldn't bat .100 against a pro pitcher, and the .100 (1 hit in 10 ABs) would probably be luck.