Which sport league has the best athletes

Home Archive Pro Sports Which sport league has the best athletes
J

jmog

Senior Member

6,567 posts
Apr 27, 2010 4:50 PM
I Wear Pants wrote:
jmog wrote: It depends on how you define athleticism.

Some define it as insane hand eye coordination when it comes to athletics.

If that's your definition then MLB is your sport of best "athletes" as nothing is harder to do hand/eye wise than hitting a baseball.

If running/jumping/etc is your definition then I would agree that the NBA probably is.
Anyone suggesting that the MLB is full of the best athletes in professional sports is frankly an idiot.

But anyone suggesting that any one sport holds a monopoly on athleticism or conditioning or strength is equally misguided.
Did you read what I actually said?

I said the hardest single athletic "feat" or "act" is hitting a baseball, I didn't say they had the most "athletes".
Apr 27, 2010 4:50pm
Automatik's avatar

Automatik

Senior Member

14,632 posts
Apr 27, 2010 5:04 PM
When you talk overall athleticism IMO its NBA players. Pure cardio....soccer.
Apr 27, 2010 5:04pm
2quik4u's avatar

2quik4u

Senior Member

4,388 posts
Apr 27, 2010 5:37 PM
if were talking about over athleticism it has to be the nfl and its not close.
Apr 27, 2010 5:37pm
Automatik's avatar

Automatik

Senior Member

14,632 posts
Apr 27, 2010 9:55 PM
2quik4u wrote: if were talking about over athleticism it has to be the nfl and its not close.
What position?

Plays last how long? Lineman are in great shape?
Apr 27, 2010 9:55pm
SQ_Crazies's avatar

SQ_Crazies

The Godfather

7,977 posts
Apr 27, 2010 11:03 PM
I think LeBron is the best athlete in the world, so I'd have to say basketball has a good argument. But it's too hard to say because the sports are so different.
Apr 27, 2010 11:03pm
2quik4u's avatar

2quik4u

Senior Member

4,388 posts
Apr 27, 2010 11:36 PM
SQ_Crazies wrote: I think LeBron is the best athlete in the world, so I'd have to say basketball has a good argument. But it's too hard to say because the sports are so different.
lol 1 player stands for the whole league
Apr 27, 2010 11:36pm
2quik4u's avatar

2quik4u

Senior Member

4,388 posts
Apr 27, 2010 11:36 PM
Automatik wrote:
2quik4u wrote: if were talking about over athleticism it has to be the nfl and its not close.
What position?

Plays last how long? Lineman are in great shape?
most d ends and 3-4 outside linebackers are freaks of nature
Apr 27, 2010 11:36pm
Automatik's avatar

Automatik

Senior Member

14,632 posts
Apr 27, 2010 11:37 PM
I agree.....also safeties.

Some of the freak athletes in the NBA off the top of my head...Wade, Howard, Nate Robinson, Amare.
Apr 27, 2010 11:37pm
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

GOAT

29,506 posts
Apr 27, 2010 11:45 PM
Automatik wrote: I agree.....also safeties.

Some of the freak athletes in the NBA off the top of my head...Wade, Howard, Nate Robinson, Amare.
Lots of freaks in both sports. But to add to your list,

Marion, LeBron, Warrick, Tyrus Thomas, Vince, Josh Smith, Rose, Moon, etc. Per Capita (for lack of a better term) there are more "freaks" in the NBA.
Apr 27, 2010 11:45pm
2quik4u's avatar

2quik4u

Senior Member

4,388 posts
Apr 27, 2010 11:47 PM
so vert= freak then, cause that is almost every wr in the league
Apr 27, 2010 11:47pm
SQ_Crazies's avatar

SQ_Crazies

The Godfather

7,977 posts
Apr 27, 2010 11:49 PM
2quik4u wrote:
SQ_Crazies wrote: I think LeBron is the best athlete in the world, so I'd have to say basketball has a good argument. But it's too hard to say because the sports are so different.
lol 1 player stands for the whole league
SMH...not going to do this with you AGAIN. You are terrible at taking posts for what they are.
Apr 27, 2010 11:49pm
Automatik's avatar

Automatik

Senior Member

14,632 posts
Apr 27, 2010 11:51 PM
He gets off to being argumentative. I just go with it and post something with some actual insight.

I was basically going on overall athleticism. Speed, strength and vertical leep......also taking size into consideration.

Can't really think of any in soccer except Cristiano Ronaldo. His acceleration, cutting, control....all amazing.
Apr 27, 2010 11:51pm
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

GOAT

29,506 posts
Apr 27, 2010 11:53 PM
2quik4u wrote: so vert= freak then, cause that is almost every wr in the league
No. Its certainly a factor though.

I am just saying O-lineman and some D-lineman, TE's, QBs, arent of the "freak" nature.

In the NBA, its mostly just some Centers and a slim few PGs.

But certainly each sport has its fair share of "freak" athletes.
Apr 27, 2010 11:53pm
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

GOAT

29,506 posts
Apr 27, 2010 11:54 PM
Automatik wrote:
Can't really think of any in soccer except Cristiano Ronaldo. His acceleration, cutting, control....all amazing.
Yeah, soccer is gonna be mostly insane skill and hand eye (foot) coordination.
Apr 27, 2010 11:54pm
2quik4u's avatar

2quik4u

Senior Member

4,388 posts
Apr 27, 2010 11:54 PM
SQ_Crazies wrote:
2quik4u wrote:
SQ_Crazies wrote: I think LeBron is the best athlete in the world, so I'd have to say basketball has a good argument. But it's too hard to say because the sports are so different.
lol 1 player stands for the whole league
SMH...not going to do this with you AGAIN. You are terrible at taking posts for what they are.
u say lebron is the best athlete in the world so that makes the nba have the best athletes. What am i missing?
Apr 27, 2010 11:54pm
2quik4u's avatar

2quik4u

Senior Member

4,388 posts
Apr 27, 2010 11:55 PM
Laley23 wrote:
2quik4u wrote: so vert= freak then, cause that is almost every wr in the league
No. Its certainly a factor though.

I am just saying O-lineman and some D-lineman, TE's, QBs, arent of the "freak" nature.

In the NBA, its mostly just some Centers and a slim few PGs.

But certainly each sport has its fair share of "freak" athletes.
vernon davis is faster then most of the people in the league
Apr 27, 2010 11:55pm
SQ_Crazies's avatar

SQ_Crazies

The Godfather

7,977 posts
Apr 27, 2010 11:56 PM
Um, well when you have the #1 guy, you have a good argument. But that is all I said, basketball has a good argument. I then clearly never took a stance, because it's too hard to say across the different sports. They all require different things.
Apr 27, 2010 11:56pm
2quik4u's avatar

2quik4u

Senior Member

4,388 posts
Apr 27, 2010 11:57 PM
also o linemen have to have some of the best feet to be able to block those d ends who are 6-4 250-260 and running 4.5s
Apr 27, 2010 11:57pm
Automatik's avatar

Automatik

Senior Member

14,632 posts
Apr 27, 2010 11:58 PM
2quik4u wrote: also o linemen have to have some of the best feet to be able to block those d ends who are 6-4 250-260 and running 4.5s
Yeah and they would have trouble running a mile without stopping, but some lineman can make an argument. That Campbell guy who just got drafted out of Maryland is certainly a "freak"
Apr 27, 2010 11:58pm
2quik4u's avatar

2quik4u

Senior Member

4,388 posts
Apr 28, 2010 12:02 AM
Automatik wrote:
2quik4u wrote: also o linemen have to have some of the best feet to be able to block those d ends who are 6-4 250-260 and running 4.5s
Yeah and they would have trouble running a mile without stopping, but some lineman can make an argument. That Campbell guy who just got drafted out of Maryland is certainly a "freak"
A mile has nothing to do with football, soccer yea but football no
Apr 28, 2010 12:02am
NNN's avatar

NNN

Senior Member

902 posts
Apr 28, 2010 3:15 AM
How many NHLers can jog or sprint for extended periods of time?

And how many non-NHLers can even stand up on skates, let alone skate at a speed 1.5 to 2 times as fast as what even a top-level athlete can sprint?* **

*Mike Gartner holds the NHL record for fastest lap at 13.386 seconds. An NHL rink is 200 feet long and 85 feet wide, which would mean that he would have covered 570 feet in less than 14 seconds after beginning in a stopped position. This gives us a figure of 42.6 ft/s, which comes out to roughly 29 MPH. Obviously Gartner didn't skate along the outermost perimeter of the rink, but there are four turns that he had to make, so I don't think that you can knock him on that basis. Going straight ahead over a distance, he'd probably average 30 MPH.

**Usain Bolt holds the record in the 100 meters with a time of 9.58 seconds. This comes out to 34.24 ft/s (328 feet = 100 meters), which is roughly 23.3 MPH.***

***Even the most middling NHL skater could achieve a 16.6-second lap, which would equal Bolt's sprinting speed. Except, of course, it's done on a 1/4"-wide piece of metal.
Apr 28, 2010 3:15am
J

jmog

Senior Member

6,567 posts
Apr 28, 2010 9:52 AM
NNN wrote: How many NHLers can jog or sprint for extended periods of time?

And how many non-NHLers can even stand up on skates, let alone skate at a speed 1.5 to 2 times as fast as what even a top-level athlete can sprint?* **

*Mike Gartner holds the NHL record for fastest lap at 13.386 seconds. An NHL rink is 200 feet long and 85 feet wide, which would mean that he would have covered 570 feet in less than 14 seconds after beginning in a stopped position. This gives us a figure of 42.6 ft/s, which comes out to roughly 29 MPH. Obviously Gartner didn't skate along the outermost perimeter of the rink, but there are four turns that he had to make, so I don't think that you can knock him on that basis. Going straight ahead over a distance, he'd probably average 30 MPH.

**Usain Bolt holds the record in the 100 meters with a time of 9.58 seconds. This comes out to 34.24 ft/s (328 feet = 100 meters), which is roughly 23.3 MPH.***

***Even the most middling NHL skater could achieve a 16.6-second lap, which would equal Bolt's sprinting speed. Except, of course, it's done on a 1/4"-wide piece of metal.
You obviously don't understand physics if you are arguing that they are better athletes because they move faster on ice skates than people can run.

Um...the coefficient of friction on ice is much less than any other typical ground surface like grass, track, asphalt, etc.

So, it takes less physical energy or force to get someone moving faster on ice than on the ground.

So no crap sherlock, people can move faster on ice than on the ground. You aren't winning a Nobel Prize for that revelation.

I've always said that hockey players are amazing athletes being able to do their sport on skates, but the fact that the speed they move is faster than people can run has zero to do with their athleticism and more to do with physics.
Apr 28, 2010 9:52am
sleeper's avatar

sleeper

Legend

27,879 posts
Apr 28, 2010 10:26 AM
LOL @ this rape above me.
Apr 28, 2010 10:26am
lhslep134's avatar

lhslep134

why so serious?

9,774 posts
Apr 28, 2010 10:39 AM
I think, IMO...

Best conditioned: Hockey players, Soccer Players
Strongest and toughest: NFL
Most Freakish: NBA
Best suited for short bursts of pure athleticism (short bursts being 5-10 minutes straight): 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).
Apr 28, 2010 10:39am
J

jmog

Senior Member

6,567 posts
Apr 28, 2010 10:46 AM
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.
Apr 28, 2010 10:46am