Baller thager Posted February 20, 2022 Baller Share Posted February 20, 2022 LOL! I'm a great guy, just ask me... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Jmoski Posted February 20, 2022 Baller Share Posted February 20, 2022 @MillerTime38 - are you referring to honnold or LeClerc? LeClerc wasn’t even well known in the climbing circuit until the documentary called “the alpinist” came out, another must watch it you want to see insane athletic achievements that will probably never be repeated. That said, if I made a list of objective criteria to try and rank athletes (speed, endurance, agility, strength, pain tolerance/mental toughness, intelligence, cleverness, etc) the one criteria that would not be on my list is “popularity”. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller thager Posted February 20, 2022 Baller Share Posted February 20, 2022 Lets not forget that David was one heaven of a marksman!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller skibrain Posted February 20, 2022 Baller Share Posted February 20, 2022 Had to dig a little, but found the poster I still have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ lpskier Posted February 20, 2022 Baller_ Share Posted February 20, 2022 Correct me if I’m wrong, but that’s an EP X2 tunnel concave. Wayne’s regular ride was the full concave Comp 1. Lpskier Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Taynton Posted February 20, 2022 Baller Share Posted February 20, 2022 Obviously you could debate this a million different ways but as the question was who is the greatest athlete, so naturally we would differ to the most physically and mentally demanding sport so if there was an individual who is considered the GOAT of the most physically demanding sport of all (outdoor motocross) (according to google) Im going to award Ricky Carmichael as the winner of greatest athlete of all time. Please feel free to submit your rebuttals ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller bigtex2011 Posted February 20, 2022 Baller Share Posted February 20, 2022 or Ricky Bobby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller thager Posted February 20, 2022 Baller Share Posted February 20, 2022 Who? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ski6jones Posted February 21, 2022 Baller Share Posted February 21, 2022 Well the first "athlete" submitted for consideration was a horse, so yes we are lacking a criteria at a minimum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller jjackkrash Posted February 21, 2022 Baller Share Posted February 21, 2022 Zydrunas Savickas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ lpskier Posted February 21, 2022 Baller_ Share Posted February 21, 2022 Olympic gold and silver medalists in ski racing Phil and Steve Maher rode MotoCross in the Summer. Said it was the key to their success. Lpskier Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller FSSPCat Posted February 21, 2022 Baller Share Posted February 21, 2022 Kerri Walsh Jennings’ name has got to be on the list. Had two kids in between Olympics 2 and 3 (2 golds prior) and won a third Olympic Gold while pregnant with kid number three. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller 6balls Posted February 21, 2022 Baller Share Posted February 21, 2022 If you are throwing a wrestler out there--Dan Gable. For strongman--I go with the steroid-laden Marius Pudzianowski Beyond that sticking with "it's gotta be the shoes" "Air Jordan Air Jordan Air Jordan". Just ask Spike Lee. Steph Curry after that crazy all star game--50 points, 16 threes many from super deep. Some he shot from near half court and while the ball was in the air was already running back the other way knowing it was going in. Crazy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Jmoski Posted February 21, 2022 Baller Share Posted February 21, 2022 @6balls - Dan Gable gets the award for the most impactful person on a sport as a competitor and coach IMHO. more world and Olympic champs came through the Iowa program he built, the dynasty of college wrestling programs. But as mentioned earlier, the Russian Greco-Roman wrestler Aleksandr Karelin won 3 worlds and 3 gold medals, and only lost a single match in 12 years of international competition, when he was upset by American Rulon Gardner while going for his 4th gold medal. So given Gable only won a single gold I think the clear winner is Karelin. My favorite quote is from Gable: “Gold medals aren’t really made of gold. They are made from sweat, determination and a hard to find alloy called guts.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller BraceMaker Posted February 21, 2022 Baller Share Posted February 21, 2022 Bring that the winter olympics are ending no love for Ole Einar Bjørndalen? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ MISkier Posted February 21, 2022 Baller_ Share Posted February 21, 2022 After this weekend, I would think Remi Lindholm would get honorable mention. Talk about perseverance. The worst slalom equipment I own is between my ears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller morfoot Posted February 21, 2022 Baller Share Posted February 21, 2022 Gotta Go with Michael Phelps. He is in a class all by himself. 28 Olympic Medals in all with 23 of them being Gold. Broke SEVEN World Records in one Olympics alone. To be THAT good in the four disciplines of swimming is a freak of Nature. To be the best in the world that many times over the time he swam is untouchable. In all games involving a ball, ...talent and the gift of the game goes along with Athleticism but to be the GOAT based on Athletics alone...... Phelps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Stevie Boy Posted February 21, 2022 Baller Share Posted February 21, 2022 The Greatest Athlete That Ever Lived ? Is the person who keeps coming back time and time again, until they get that Number One spot on the Podium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller klindy Posted February 21, 2022 Baller Share Posted February 21, 2022 My vote has to be Michael Jordan. His amazing talent and unstoppable will to win made him literally invincible. Averaging 30.5pts per game over a 15 year career (33+ ppg in the playoffs). 6 NBA titles (with him winking MVP each tome). Scoring champ 11 times (winning defensive player of the year in 1989 along with scoring title - only player ever). 10 triple-doubles over an 11 game run (scoring 40pts, 14 rebounds and 7 assists in the 11th game). Never losing a finals series when he played a full season. Only fouled out 11 times (all on a second technical foul, I believe). And the only player to have his number retired by a team he didn’t even play for (the first jersey number ever retired by the Miami Heat). And for those of you who said Bo Jackson or Wayne Gretzky, MJ played along with Bo and Wayne in a cartoon series called ProStars in the 90s. MJ did his own voice where Bo and Wayne didn’t. Maybe ProStars all their connection to the waterski world. For waterski athlete, I have to pick a different Wayne - Wayne Grimditch. Incredible all around athlete who would be amazing to watch today with todays technology. Wayne reminds me of Joel Poland now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller 6balls Posted February 21, 2022 Baller Share Posted February 21, 2022 @Jmoski I went to Iowa for 8 years and am a huge Hawkeye fan in all sports. I agree Gable is hugely impactful as an athlete and coach. One loss in his entire career and what 9 straight titles as a coach? He used that one loss as fuel. He used to have his kids running up/down the steps of Kinnick stadium with another wrestler piggy-back. I also got to watch him in practice absolutely own some of his own, top-ranked wrestlers as a 50 plus year old man with a hip replacement. I nearly got in a tangle at a bar with one of his heavies--sure glad my Iowa football playing buddy stepped in-between and calmed it all down. Wes Hand would have kicked my ass--it was lucky but I watched him beat Lesnar in Iowa City. I digress. Lots of good athletes here. Phelps is a mighty strong candidate for sports domination--if he isn't the GOAT in swimming--I don't know who is. I'm still a Jordan guy b/c the skill set basketball takes to do it like he did. Swimming a bit more mechanical--but holy moly Phelps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller BraceMaker Posted February 21, 2022 Baller Share Posted February 21, 2022 @6balls what are you a doctor or something! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller 6balls Posted February 22, 2022 Baller Share Posted February 22, 2022 @bracemaker no I was really dumb--it took 8 years :) So dumb after residency I subjected myself to another 3 years to get my MBA. Now I'm done with school--I promise. Maybe rosetta stone--pick up a language :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Cooper_Trelawney Posted February 22, 2022 Baller Share Posted February 22, 2022 I haven't seen Jesse Owens name come up on this thread but he was pretty darn incredible in the Berlin Olympics. Add Ussain Bolt, Babe Ruth and David, who took down Goliath, to the list of contenders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members harrison_343 Posted February 22, 2022 Members Share Posted February 22, 2022 John Horton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller jipster43 Posted February 23, 2022 Baller Share Posted February 23, 2022 Kelly Slater won the world surf championship 11 times and the Billabong Pipe Masters 8 times. His most recent win was this year - 30 years after his first win and a week before his 50th birthday. Has anyone else remained at the top of an extreme sport for 30 years? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ Bruce_Butterfield Posted February 23, 2022 Baller_ Share Posted February 23, 2022 For longest career at the elite level, KLP has to be at or near the top of the list. Set first world record at age 13 and still competitive at the world class level through his early 50's. If it was easy, they would call it Wakeboarding Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller adkh2oskier Posted February 23, 2022 Baller Share Posted February 23, 2022 Late to the conversation, so back to the original starting point w a horse. I vote for Sea Biscuit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller brody Posted February 23, 2022 Baller Share Posted February 23, 2022 Kelly Slater, 50 years old and still competing pro and winning Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Vernon Reeve Posted February 23, 2022 Baller Share Posted February 23, 2022 I don't know about greatest athlete, but most athletic would be Michael Jordan. Basketball takes a lot of coordination, accuracy, mental and quickness/jumping/physical skills that are difficult to acquire. He also tried baseball, and did very well at that also, considering his lack of experience. I'm guessing he'd be good at anything he tried. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ The_MS Posted February 23, 2022 Baller_ Share Posted February 23, 2022 Jordan can’t skate but I would bet Gretzky could play hoops. Dave Winfield. Drafted in 3 sports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller brody Posted February 23, 2022 Baller Share Posted February 23, 2022 You could make arguments for multi pro sports people like Bo Jackson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ForrestGump Posted February 23, 2022 Baller Share Posted February 23, 2022 @DangerBoy You been puffing on the wacky tabacky? While Secretariat is certainly at the top of the thoroughbred world, he's not even the consensus # 1. He trades off with Man o' War for the top spot. ESPN did put him in the top 50 athletes of all time. But at 35, that's far from the numero uno. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller jimbrake Posted February 23, 2022 Baller Share Posted February 23, 2022 @brody - agree, but that is a huge understatement. Slater just won the Billabong Pipe Pro (the former Pipe Masters) in frickin' legit pipe conditions against the best in the world and the best pipe specialists. Pipe is a place that kills people and it is the Super Bowl of the WSL. Oh, and I almost forgot, his first Pipe Masters win was in '92. 30 years, 11 World titles, and I don't even know how many Pipe victories. He is the GOAT of GOATs because of his longevity, the playing field he competes on, he does it on his own, and he's done it for 30+ years. Edit: Sorry, @jipster43 - just saw your post and I'm repeating (but emphasizing) it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller andjules Posted February 24, 2022 Baller Share Posted February 24, 2022 how do Brett Wing and Chuck Stearns always get forgotten in these conversations? I don't know enough about Stearns, but Brett Wing was SOOO good at EVERYTHING. Barefoot, show skiing, 3-event, hot-dogging… everything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller jnan66 Posted February 24, 2022 Baller Share Posted February 24, 2022 Think outside the box Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller skidawg Posted February 24, 2022 Baller Share Posted February 24, 2022 On the grand stage definitely Bo Jackson (if his career wasn't cut short due to hip injuries) I don't recall anyone playing at that level in 2 different sports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller 6balls Posted February 24, 2022 Baller Share Posted February 24, 2022 @skidawg my guess is he was pretty fair at a number of others, too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller aupatking Posted February 24, 2022 Baller Share Posted February 24, 2022 Y’all should see Bo bow hunt. Super nice guy too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller igkya Posted February 24, 2022 Baller Share Posted February 24, 2022 @MS Not sure if Gretzky plays basketball as good as Jordon could skate. They need to play one-on-one basketball on ice skates :D Basketball players, in general, are considered some of the best athletes due to speed, stamina, strength, jumping and hand-eye coordination. Bill Russell won 11 NBA championships... 5 more than Jordon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ lpskier Posted February 25, 2022 Baller_ Share Posted February 25, 2022 Mickey Mantle could handle a fast ball, a curve ball and several high balls. Lpskier Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller rayn Posted February 25, 2022 Baller Share Posted February 25, 2022 Mantle was a scratch golfer from both sides also. With and without high balls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Jordan Posted February 26, 2022 Baller Share Posted February 26, 2022 Edwin Moses: Edwin Corley Moses is an American former track and field athlete who won gold medals in the 400 m hurdles at the 1976 and 1984 Olympics (U.S.A boycotted 1980). Between 1977 and 1987, Moses won 107 consecutive finals and set the world record in the event four times. 10 years without a loss in track! Unheard of dominance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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