Greatest Athlete "at his peak"?

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rydawg5

Senior Member

2,639 posts
Dec 11, 2012 7:48 PM
It seems like it's hard for people to have this discussion "greatest athlete" without making it a "greatest player" argument.

For some reason, we can't separate the two.

97.1thefan was discussing Bo Jackson (being in the top 10) but then all of a sudden he was below Babe Ruth in rank of "greatest athlete"

You just can't talk about going for "most skilled athletic ability" without going to "how many championships" "stats" "longevity" examples - then all of a sudden you aren't seeing who was the best skilled athlete..

My Logic...

Line up ALL athletes in the PEAK of their prime.. Who do you pick if you want the best athlete on your team in his PEAK versus ALL OTHER ATHLETES.


Bo Jackson (Skilled athlete - can dominate anything he wants) - raw speed, power, skill

Basketball is a hard sport to define the athletes. Because you have to be tall to dominate, that doesn't necessarily mean Rajon isn't the best "athlete" - In fact his "athletic" ability probably has to be greater than Lebron James since he is so much shorter. The smaller athletes almost have to have more athletic ability to maintain their presence in a league filled with good athletes who are taller.


You have Raw Athletes - Line them up to run (they fast) but not skilled (havent yet learned the skill)

If you put Bo out on a soccer field on day 1 with no practice. He wouldnt be good at all, but he'd still be the best athlete out there.

Some guy on the bench in the NFL or NBA MAY be the best athlete period. We wouldn't even know.
Dec 11, 2012 7:48pm
september63's avatar

september63

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5,789 posts
Dec 11, 2012 7:58 PM
Mt thoughts are the topic is in the wrong forum?
Dec 11, 2012 7:58pm
R

rydawg5

Senior Member

2,639 posts
Dec 11, 2012 8:01 PM
september63;1340755 wrote:Mt thoughts are the topic is in the wrong forum?
If this isn't serious business I dont know what is? Why are you so concerned about what forum it's in? Do you need the rule & order to feel good inside? You think the forum police are going to leave a quarter under your pillow at night? I got news for you, and I've seen it a hundred times. First, you want rule & order, next thing you know you have marshall law, and you're being "banned for life" with "comments that are unbecoming". Is that the world you wanna live in?
Dec 11, 2012 8:01pm
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Dec 11, 2012 8:08 PM
rydawg5;1340758 wrote:If this isn't serious business I dont know what is? Why are you so concerned about what forum it's in? Do you need the rule & order to feel good inside? You think the forum police are going to leave a quarter under your pillow at night? I got news for you, and I've seen it a hundred times. First, you want rule & order, next thing you know you have marshall law, and you're being "banned for life" with "comments that are unbecoming". Is that the world you wanna live in?
I lol'd.
Dec 11, 2012 8:08pm
Hb31187's avatar

Hb31187

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8,534 posts
Dec 11, 2012 8:10 PM
Jim Brown certainly has to be up there, along with Bo, Deion, ect ect
Dec 11, 2012 8:10pm
Rotinaj's avatar

Rotinaj

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7,699 posts
Dec 11, 2012 8:12 PM
Luke Harangody.
Dec 11, 2012 8:12pm
S

Sonofanump

Dec 11, 2012 8:37 PM
I guess I tend to lean toward great multi sport athletes because I view the versatility as being extreme athletic:

1) Thorpe
2) Brown
3) Jackson
4) Zaharius
5) J Robinson
Dec 11, 2012 8:37pm
sleeper's avatar

sleeper

Legend

27,879 posts
Dec 11, 2012 8:40 PM
Calvin Johnson
Lebron James
Dec 11, 2012 8:40pm
hasbeen's avatar

hasbeen

Excuse me, Flo?

6,504 posts
Dec 11, 2012 9:21 PM
David Wells
Dec 11, 2012 9:21pm
C

captvern

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833 posts
Dec 11, 2012 10:17 PM
ashton eaton
Dec 11, 2012 10:17pm
Ironman92's avatar

Ironman92

Administrator

49,363 posts
Dec 11, 2012 10:18 PM
Russell Westbrook
Ted Ginn

Bo is way up there. Young Dave Winfield drafted in all 3 sports. Herschel Walker.
Dec 11, 2012 10:18pm
C

cat_lover

Senior Member

2,388 posts
Dec 11, 2012 10:22 PM
Jesse Owens
Bo Jackson
Dec 11, 2012 10:22pm
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

GOAT

29,506 posts
Dec 11, 2012 10:30 PM
First 3 that come to mind:

Jim Thorpe
Bo Jackson
Deion Sanders

Under the radar guy is Antwaan Randle El. Not many know he played basketball for Bobby Knight at Indiana and was drafted into the MLB by the Cubs. What he did at Indiana as a dual threat QB was pretty rare at the time and then converted to WR in the NFL.
Dec 11, 2012 10:30pm
Pick6's avatar

Pick6

A USA American

14,946 posts
Dec 11, 2012 10:36 PM
Laley23;1340905 wrote:First 3 that come to mind:

Jim Thorpe
Bo Jackson
Deion Sanders

Under the radar guy is Antwaan Randle El. Not many know he played basketball for Bobby Knight at Indiana and was drafted into the MLB by the Cubs. What he did at Indiana as a dual threat QB was pretty rare at the time and then converted to WR in the NFL.
Did not know that.

I think I have to add Lebron. I really think he could be a stud in football, even know we will never see him play.
Dec 11, 2012 10:36pm
GOONx19's avatar

GOONx19

An exceptional poster.

7,147 posts
Dec 11, 2012 10:45 PM
Baseball was Jackie Robinson's worst sport at UCLA. He played football and basketball and ran track. Also won the long jump one year, I think.

Also, Kenny Lofton.
Dec 11, 2012 10:45pm
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

GOAT

29,506 posts
Dec 11, 2012 10:46 PM
Pick6;1340917 wrote:Did not know that.

I think I have to add Lebron. I really think he could be a stud in football, even know we will never see him play.
I assume you mean the Basketball and MLB part?? He is a freak athlete, as are all those mentioned on here.

I believe Randle El was the first ever 40-40 guy in NCAA. 40 rushing and passing TDs, but not sure. At Indiana, thats remarkable lol. Think he was 5th in the Heisman voting as a SR.
Dec 11, 2012 10:46pm
pmoney25's avatar

pmoney25

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1,787 posts
Dec 11, 2012 10:52 PM
Carl Lewis

Other than the obvious. He was drafted by both the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bulls.
Dec 11, 2012 10:52pm
Commander of Awesome's avatar

Commander of Awesome

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23,151 posts
Dec 11, 2012 11:12 PM
Jim Brown /thread.

He's in three sport HoFs
Dec 11, 2012 11:12pm
ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

24,984 posts
Dec 11, 2012 11:21 PM
Lebron James

I honestly feel that 2nd place is a long way away.
Dec 11, 2012 11:21pm
G

Ghmothwdwhso

Senior Member

534 posts
Dec 11, 2012 11:40 PM
Jesse Owens, no doubt.

Read up on this guy, if you haven't already.
Dec 11, 2012 11:40pm
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Classyposter58

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6,321 posts
Dec 11, 2012 11:41 PM
ernest_t_bass;1340951 wrote:Lebron James

I honestly feel that 2nd place is a long way away.
6'8" 270 lbs and possibly one of the fastest, most agile people in sports today. Scary to think about really
Dec 11, 2012 11:41pm
ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

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Dec 11, 2012 11:53 PM
Classyposter58;1340955 wrote:6'8" 270 lbs and possibly one of the fastest, most agile people in sports today. Scary to think about really

Would have LOVED to see what he could have done in the NFL.
Dec 11, 2012 11:53pm
wildcats20's avatar

wildcats20

In ROY I Trust!!

27,794 posts
Dec 11, 2012 11:58 PM
ernest_t_bass;1340956 wrote:Would have LOVED to see what he could have done in the NFL.

Based on his pussiness in the NBA, probably not much.
Dec 11, 2012 11:58pm
Commander of Awesome's avatar

Commander of Awesome

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Dec 12, 2012 12:41 AM
wildcats20;1340957 wrote:Based on his pussiness in the NBA, probably not much.
Boom! Reps
Dec 12, 2012 12:41am
said_aouita's avatar

said_aouita

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8,532 posts
Dec 12, 2012 2:55 AM
Can't believe nobody has mentioned one of the most obvious GOAT athlete nominations- Aston Eaton
WR holder Decathlon.



Reminds me of a funny Bruce Jenner meets Tiger Woods story. Tiger asked Bruce, "hows your golf game?" Jenner replied, "better than your pole vault"
Dec 12, 2012 2:55am