I think you can pick out any of the major players that dominated their game and are considered the greatest. Gretsky, Payton, Ruth, Maradona, Bradman etc...
I'd have to give it to Michael Jordan though. Not only was he far and away the best basketball player of his generation, he also played professional baseball for the Chicago White Sox. OK, it wasn't at major league level, I think he played AA or something. But that still gives him the edge for me.
This. he wasn't the biggest, he wasn't the strongest, he wasn't the fastest and wasn't from a big school. it was all heart.Originally Posted by Colonel Angus
Deon Sanders and Bo Jackson both played in the NFL and MLB.
Last edited by escobert; 01-08-2015 at 12:48 AM.
Ayrton Senna.
Gotta go with Michael Jordan as well, not only was he the best player of all time in his sport, but the pulling power he had to draw in fans that would otherwise never watch the game is rivalled by probably only Tiger Woods.
True! But neither of those would be considered the greatest in either sport.
Sanders is pretty much considered best all time in his position in the NFL (as much as anyone can reach consensus about things like that in NFL at least), I know nothing about his MLB career though.
OK, so I've just had a look through Deion Sanders career and I've changed my mind. HE is the greatest sportsman of all time.
He is the only person to hit a Major League home run and score an NFL touchdown IN THE SAME WEEK. Also, he played in a Superbowl AND a World Series.
Smurf off, Michael Jordan. You are small time.
It's even more impressive considering that he was a defensive player.
I know of a few people that switched sports and excelled in both of them. In said sports, though, it was simply not possible for them to do both because of modern sport contracts.
Sonny Bill Williams is probably the standout of players in sports that I know.
His record...
Rugby Union: 81 test matches, 22 tries.
Rugby League: 12 test matches, 5 tries.
Heavyweight Boxing: 6 fights, 6 wins, 3 via KO.
...and his titles...
Rugby Union: 2010 NPC Champion with Canterbury, Rugby World Cup winner with the All Blacks, Super Rugby winner with the Chiefs. Essentially he has won everything there is to win in NZ rugby at all senior levels.
Rugby League: 2004 NRL Champion (Premier) with the Bulldogs, 2013 NRL Champion (Premier) with the Roosters, World Club Challenge winner with the Roosters. Two time world cup finalist, unfortunately missing the one time the Kiwis actually won it inbetween those two finals!
Heavyweight Boxing: New Zealand Professional Boxing Association (NZPBA) Heavyweight Champion
Other worthy mentions...
Rebecca Romero, who was a world champion and Olympic champion in rowing, switched to track cycling and became world champion and Olympic champion for that, too.
Zanardi never won Formula One despite racing in it, but he did win the ChampCar title. After that, he lost his legs in an accident and went on to win two golds in hand cycling at the London Olympics. Nice!
More great mentions on this list.
Bow before the mighty Javoo!
Thought of another one: Wilt Chamberlain. I mean I know guys like Jordan and James are seriously good but damn son some of Chamberlain's records still stand decades later and he's the only person in history to score a 100-point NBA game.
Let me bare your offspring, so we can birth an army of individuals with superior opinions to the common man.
By the metric with which I'd judge (superiority over his peers), of the sports I am familiar with I would lean toward Gretzky. His statistics are utterly staggering. It would be like if you took Babe Ruth, removed all his home runs, and he still had the most hits in baseball history; or if you took Michael Jordan and remove all his dunks and 3-pointers and he still had the most points.
I don't know who is the best but I admire people like Nikki Lauda, who get back up, push through the fear, and keep going with all their heart.
Gordie Howe!
Pirlo!
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