Who or What would you Declare the Best Athlete?

Gotta respectfully disagree on one thing, Doc! race care driving is a physically demanding sport. You gotta be in pretty good shape to do that...

Gotta respectfully disagree on one thing, Doc! race care driving is a physically demanding sport. You gotta be in pretty good shape to do that...

That is fine. I do understand Nascar (and F1) fans.  So you agree with Tiger?

(Yes, I am a failed southern boy!  Not a nascar fan! )

Well, strength would definately be the main thing, of course depending on the sport. Although to me a combination of the three would be necessary!

However to answer your question, strength would be important and I would look at the sports I like best. Soccer and Track and Field. I won't name who I think is the best because those who I consider the best were those in my childhood days. Example, Pele for Soccer and in Track and Field, it would be a Jamaican athelete who dominated the sport in her days, Merlene Ottey. In soccer again would be Maradonna and Track and Field, Jackie Joyner Kersee.

and Track and Field, Jackie Joyner Kersee.

See?  That is where I am at (her and Carl Lewis).  One that has it all, and is the best.  But that is just my opinion, and I know not shared by many.  Actually, there is no right or wrong answer, I am just curious as to what people use in the mix of things to say who was the greatest.

Watching that sham of a game with my Raiders last night (it was a sham as they were so lousy), one of the talking heads quoted a Charger player who Boxes as a training tool.  In that, he was quoted as saying, that sure Football was tough.  But it was not 60 minutes of tough.  it was 30 seconds, followed by a respite.  Whereas Boxing was 3 solid minutes of tough!  followed by 60 seconds of rest, and then another 3 minutes.  As much as I hate to agree with a mauler of my team, I found that very profound, and accurate.

nah guys you got it wrong - it is

jennifer1 - best couch potato! takes immense stamina to stick it out, the physical and mental endurance is nigh on impossible to maintain for any length of time! heheheh   

jennifer1 - best couch potato! takes immense stamina to stick it out, the physical and mental endurance is nigh on impossible to maintain for any length of time! heheheh

Ok, but do you really want to win that title?

Ok, but do you really want to win that title?

I already have!   

I already have!

Or is it a Mouse Potato?

Or is it a Mouse Potato?

Now doc I am lost! hehehe

I consider Lance Armstrong to be one of the best athletes of all time, because distance cycling requires speed AND incredible stamina. While race car drivers get some time to rest between races, there is very little rest on a lengthy race such as the Tour de France.

The best athletes, though, would be those who need to apply physical ability, stamina AND mental toughness. For that reason, I tend to believe pitchers and catchers to be the better athletes on baseball teams, as their positions require greater mental awareness than other positions. Offensive and defensive linemen in football, similarly would qualify as great athletes. Sadly, those are the ones we give the least recognition.

Now doc I am lost! hehehe

It is a new term for someone that surfs the internet instead of watch TV.  Not that you do!

Offensive and defensive linemen in football, similarly would qualify as great athletes. Sadly, those are the ones we give the least recognition.

You must love John Madden!

As for Lance Armstrong, hard to argue with that choice.  A man who dominated his chosen sport like no other.

I am on Shovel's side on this, Doc. Car racing is a very physically demanding sport, particularly F1 racing where the drivers have to be as fit as fighter pilots in order to cope with the G's they pull going around the tight tracks they race. I'm not so sure about golf, though. I think Tiger is probably better defined as a sportsman rather than an athlete. Michael Schumacher, on the other hand, is a champion athlete, as far as I'm concerned.

I am always impressed by people who make triatholons look easy. Bastards...

I am always impressed by people who make triatholons look easy. Bastards...

Now, now!  This is not an envy match.

I'd have to say Lance Armstrong as well.

I think calling a golfer an athlete is an insult to those who participate in real sports. It's a friggin game, not a sport.

It's a friggin game, not a sport.

Well, so is Basketball and football, but they call them sports as well.  And while not technically a loner sport (Cycling does have teams who help draft the leader), Cycling is one of the sports, like boxing, and track and field, where the athlete is basically going mano y mano with others.

Michael Beckham - he's quickly ousting out Pele as the king of soccer. I got to see him when Real Madrid was in Salt Lake playing an exhibition game against Real Salt Lake . . . the man is a soccer god.

Michael Jordan - I can't believe nobody's mentioned him yet. I'm almost ashamed, even though I'm not a Jordan fan . . .



A lot of people I know, when talking about great athletes, say, "He's the Michael Jordan of (sport)." I however, am more apt to say, "He/She's the Wayne Gretsky!" Don't forget the Great One! Go Gretsky!

I however, am more apt to say, "He/She's the Wayne Gretsky!" Don't forget the Great One! Go Gretsky!

I read recently that he holds like 66 scoring records?  He definitely was the defining athlete in Hockey.

Peter Griffin of course... WWW Link

Watch it...you know you want to.

~Zoo

Peter Griffin of course

More like the 6 million dollar can.

Are you talking about all-time or best athlete NOW?

Michael Jordan was probably the best basketball player ever, but he sucked at baseball. So is he the best athlete?

Could Tiger Woods or Wayne Gretzky play any sports other than their perspective sports?

Lance Armstrong doesn't dominate cycling he dominates one event. He only cares about winning that one event. Granted it's the most prestigious, but what if a tennis player or golfer only played Wimbledon or the Masters each year. Their whole year was geared towards winning that tournament. Now even if they won those championships I don't think it would make them the best.

I always thought soccer players were amazing athletes. Some great stars of other sports grew up playing soccer.

Then there is other "minor" sports. What about the best water polo player in the world? Not only do they have to swim and tread water, but also bang with other players like you would in a basketball game and you have to be able to throw a ball 70 miles an hour while doing it.

If you meant who most dominates their sport, then I would say Michael Schumacher, Tiger Woods or Roger Federer.

If you meant who is the best all-around athlete then it's probably some extreme sports athlete who probably could excel at any sport he wanted.

Are you talking about all-time or best athlete NOW?

I was actally asking in the context that Tiger Woods answered it. So that would be now. But you can state of all time, either one is fine.

Michael Beckham

Do you mean David Beckham? He went to the states I believe to try to make a name for himself, no one knew who he was, poor bugger. His wife did the same, went for screen tests etc to no avail. They failed to win the Amercians over I believe.

He is considered a football god over in the Uk, one of the reasons he was shipped out to Real Madrid, he was getting just too big over here.

very good soccer player though

He is considered a football god

That's the problem. American football is GOD, and he does not play it.

Do you mean David Beckham?

yeah, that's the one. My mistake. I was writing that post, and I totally know his name, but I couldn't think of it at that moment. what a stud. Gotta love real football!