PromoTheRobot Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 The phrase is "all-around", not "all-round." If you're asking for the best "all-round" athletes I'd nominate some Sumo wrestlers. PTR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koosh Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 And this is based on that commercial where he's dreaming I suppose? The greatest basketball player ever tried to switch professions to baseball and never made it even in triple-A. Just because someone is a great athlete in their sport doesn't mean the skills transfer at all. You have no idea if LeBron could deliver and take consistent NFL hits. You have no idea if he has the heart to catch balls in traffic or if he would avoid being buried in the pile. You also have no idea if he could memorize a playbook and read offenses and defenses. I vote Bo. He was amazing and though it happened in Rich Stadium in one of the best parties to ever take place in Buffalo, I wish he'd not been hurt. Bo was hurt the previous week, not in Buffalo. He does however, get my vote for best pro athlete. Deion was a horrific tackler and an average, at best, baseball player. Bo excelled in both sports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest dog14787 Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 In there perspective sports you could go with folks like Micheal Jordon, Tiger Woods, Babe Ruth, Wayne Gretzky, Muhammed Ali, Jim Brown, or Jerry Rice, I mean are we talking best all around athletic ability or versatility? Can we say Dion Sanders or Bo Jackson is a better all around athlete then Michael Jordon? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dean Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 It all depends on your definition of athletic. I think physicality and strength should be a factor in judging athletes. Lawrence Taylor just came to mind. I'd agree. I guess, since he rarely displayed his physicality, you'd have to question Deon on that. I'm guessing with him it was more a lack of will, than ability, but who knows. IMO, Bo was a guy who showed contact was not a factor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miyagi-Do Karate Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 I've heard some folks claim that hockey players are some of the best pure athletes in the world. Don't know if that's true or not--but thought it was interesting. Usually, I think of football and basketball players--i.e., the guys running, jumping, diving, etc.--as the greatest athletes, not hockey players. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest dog14787 Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 I've heard some folks claim that hockey players are some of the best pure athletes in the world. Don't know if that's true or not--but thought it was interesting. Usually, I think of football and basketball players--i.e., the guys running, jumping, diving, etc.--as the greatest athletes, not hockey players. Ive seen some crazy good hand to eye coordination and pin point timing while watching hockey and when you mix that with the skating skills needed and hard hitting, it very well could be true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billybob Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 Wilt Chamberlain deserves some consideration - most dominate basketball player of his time, world class volleyball player, and participated at a high level in multiple track and field events in college. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KD in CA Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 Yes I understand but Bo Jackson only played 3 NFL seasons You didn't ask who had the longest or most accomplished career, you asked who the best ahlete was. Sanders couldn't carry Bo's jock. Jim Brown deserves strong consideration for this title too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dean Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 I've heard some folks claim that hockey players are some of the best pure athletes in the world. Don't know if that's true or not--but thought it was interesting. Usually, I think of football and basketball players--i.e., the guys running, jumping, diving, etc.--as the greatest athletes, not hockey players. I'd throw soccer players into the mix, too. They have to do all of the things we traditionally think of as "athletic" (running, jumping, hand-eye/foot coordination, etc) and they have to have incredible stamina. Of course decathletes shouldn't be dismissed, either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C.Biscuit97 Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 I've heard some folks claim that hockey players are some of the best pure athletes in the world. Don't know if that's true or not--but thought it was interesting. Usually, I think of football and basketball players--i.e., the guys running, jumping, diving, etc.--as the greatest athletes, not hockey players. The thing about hockey is that it draws from such a limited pool. It would be interesting to see if the sport was popular in inner-cities, what the league would look like. Supposedly, Jason Richardson (Phoenix Suns, former dunk contest winner) was a really good hockey player until he outgrew skates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PushthePile Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 I've heard some folks claim that hockey players are some of the best pure athletes in the world. Don't know if that's true or not--but thought it was interesting. Usually, I think of football and basketball players--i.e., the guys running, jumping, diving, etc.--as the greatest athletes, not hockey players. I think all sports have great athletes in them. Some sports are just more geared to athletes. In general the average MLB player doesn't compare to an NFL or NBA player. It is a game that requires specific skill sets and eye hand coordination. This is not to say that MLB doesn't have great athletes in it, because it does. Players like BJ Upton, Grady Sizemore, Ichiro Suzuki, and Jose Reyes are phenominal athletes. I've never played hockey but I would have to believe that it's a game that requires alot of athleticism, as does soccer or boxing. If your a tremendous athlete you can find a place in alot of different sports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOBILLS78 Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 Adding to the Bo Jackson stories, I was watching an interview with -- I believe -- one of Bo's high school coaches. He said Bo once stood in waist-high water, burst out, did a flip in the air and landed back on his feet in the water. That's mythic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuckincincy Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 Wilt Chamberlain deserves some consideration - most dominate basketball player of his time, world class volleyball player, and participated at a high level in multiple track and field events in college. Yes he does deserve consideration. He was incredibly fast - I recall seeing old Kansas college footage with him outracing guards down the court. Wilt was unique. I can't think of an athlete quite like him. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilt_Chamberlain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. ChumChums Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 Anybody want to throw Mike Vick's name in this pool? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest dog14787 Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 Anybody want to throw Mike Vick's name in this pool? Michael Vick would have to be thrown in the mix somewhere because athletically speaking, Vick is a very gifted individual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuckincincy Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 Anybody want to throw Mike Vick's name in this pool? I suspect many would be pleased to throw Mike Vick's name into a pool... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thurman#1 Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 Jim Thorpe and Babe Didrickson Zaharias. Also, they say that Jim Brown may have been the greatest football player to ever play the game. They also say that Brown may have been the greatest lacrosse player to ever play the game. That's something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deep2evans Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 Jackie Robinson I guess Tiger Woods is a pretty sick athlete too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BUFFALOTONE Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 Roy Munson, got to the championship match against Ern or Big Ern with a prosthetic hand. CONTEST OVER!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKOOBY Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 Barry Sanders could outrun a cheetah on crack. Deion Sanders was untouchably fast, that 4.16 caught him on the turn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atlbillsfan1975 Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 And Tim McCarver called him "selfish" for whatever reason. Sanders got him back with a post-series Champagne shower. Loved that too. McCarver has a great voice, only problem is he knows it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PushthePile Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 Barry Sanders could outrun a cheetah on crack. Deion Sanders was untouchably fast, that 4.16 caught him on the turn. Barry Sanders was an awesome athlete and deserves to be in consideration but he wasn't astonishingly fast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dean Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 Roy Munson, got to the championship match against Ern or Big Ern with a prosthetic hand. CONTEST OVER!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WellDressed Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 I suspect many would be pleased to throw Mike Vick's name into a pool... Maybe he could solve uncle john's pool problems. Dave Winfield!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewEra Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 Agreed, Federer is still far and away the best. However, I don't think you've watched enough basketball this season if you don't think Lebron is the best player in the NBA. Apparantly you haven't watched that much basketball either. The best player is currently about to win his 4th title. While lebron is easily the best athlete in the NBA, Kobe is still the best player. In a couple years, lebron may be the best, but he isn't yet. Lebron physically, I'd the guard version of shaquille oneal. His combination of speed and power is scary, but he's still lacking in the mentality, footwork, man defense and jumpshot departments. His jumper is decent. His help defense is great, but for someone to have natural abilities, he should be much better of a one on one defender....like kobe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billsfan89 Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 Well Bo Jackson Represented Both Baseball and Football and the Pro Stars Cartoon so I am going to go with Bo. Bo played one of the most skilled sports in baseball and had the raw Physical skills needed to be a running back in the NFL. Lebron is a freak but he doesn't have the special talent required to play baseball. Another guy worth mentioning is Jackie Robinson not only a great baseball player but he was a track superstar, a basketball superstar, football, and basically did everything when he was in college at an all American level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billsfan89 Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 Apparantly you haven't watched that much basketball either. The best player is currently about to win his 4th title. While lebron is easily the best athlete in the NBA, Kobe is still the best player. In a couple years, lebron may be the best, but he isn't yet. Lebron physically, I'd the guard version of shaquille oneal. His combination of speed and power is scary, but he's still lacking in the mentality, footwork, man defense and jumpshot departments. His jumper is decent. His help defense is great, but for someone to have natural abilities, he should be much better of a one on one defender....like kobe. I am not a big basketball fan but I think Lebron is a much better player than Kobe. If you take a look at efficiency rating, defense, and surrounding cast Lebron is much better than Kobe. Kobe has Pau Gasol who is better than anyone on Cleveland except Lebron, as well as Andrew Bynum, Lemar Odom and Derrick Fisher who are better than anyone on Cleveland except Lebron and Mo Williams. Look at what Kobe did before Pau got there he couldn't carry the team by himself and got shutdown by the better defensive teams. Lebron is a better passer, defender, and a more efficient player than Kobe. You can say 4th ring all you want but if you put Kobe on the Cavs and Lebron on the Lackers Lebron is about to win a title and Kobe is staying home. Kobe's first three rings were with Shaq and Shaq could have had any second tier superstar (Tracy McGrady or Scottie Pipin like guys) and taken them to at least two titles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murra Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 I am not a big basketball fan but I think Lebron is a much better player than Kobe. Kobe wins. He is a much better pure shooter, and defensively has better positioning than Lebron. I dont know who is better. I tend to be on Kobe's side because he's a winner, but I get angry when people just claim out-right that Lebron is the greatest player in the NBA. IMO he is the greatest person at grabbing a basketball, taking 4 steps and leaping towards an object suspended ten feet in the air, but that surely doesn't make you a tremendous athlete, just someone born with the correct frame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buftex Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 Kobe wins. He is a much better pure shooter, and defensively has better positioning than Lebron. I dont know who is better. I tend to be on Kobe's side because he's a winner, but I get angry when people just claim out-right that Lebron is the greatest player in the NBA. IMO he is the greatest person at grabbing a basketball, taking 4 steps and leaping towards an object suspended ten feet in the air, but that surely doesn't make you a tremendous athlete, just someone born with the correct frame. You don't see James play all that much do you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billsfan89 Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 Kobe wins. He is a much better pure shooter, and defensively has better positioning than Lebron. I dont know who is better. I tend to be on Kobe's side because he's a winner, but I get angry when people just claim out-right that Lebron is the greatest player in the NBA. IMO he is the greatest person at grabbing a basketball, taking 4 steps and leaping towards an object suspended ten feet in the air, but that surely doesn't make you a tremendous athlete, just someone born with the correct frame. The only thing Kobe does better than Lebron is shoot. Lebron overall defensively is better than Kobe. Rebounding, passing, defense and efficiency Lebron is better. As for Kobe being a winner he did need Shaq and a rigged game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference finals to win three rings. Also how far did Kobe get when had Lamar Odom and no one else? Answer he got bounced in the second round. Everyone needs help and Kobe only made his recent runs to the finals when Derrick Fisher and Pau Gasol were added to the roster as well as the emergence of Andrew Bynum. So Its not like Kobe willed his team to the finals these last two seasons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billsrhody Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 If we're talking about pure athleticism why don't we look at a guy like Bryan Clay. He won the decathlon at last years Olympics. 100 meter dash, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400 meter, 110 meter hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and the 1500 meter. I would say that is a better measure of the best athlete then one or two professional sports Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPicc2114 Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 I hear John Smoltz is a great golfer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StupidNation Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 The greatest athelete ever was Wilt Chamberlain. He had an over 40" vertical, was as strong as a bull (he could do sit-ups with over 200 lbs behind his head), averaged over 50 points a game with 20 rebounds and over 10 blocks (but they didn't count those) in a season and he could hang off the top of the backboard. He also played in a game where you couldn't run into people and draw a foul like the NBA's new rules for Jordan, Shaq, and the "new" superstars. And no one, I mean no one will break his record with women. 2nd I'd give to Deion Sanders, and 3rd to Bo Jackson. I say Jackson 3rd because he wasn't a good ballplayer. He was good defensively, but his hitting skills left a lot to be desired with his lack of discipline at the plate. He left guys on base way too often when a sacrifice would be sufficient. Deion was a better player at baseball and probably the best ever at CB. Deion had to be accounted for anytime he made it on-base. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faderphreak Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 I don't recall him getting run over that often, if at all. Hard to get run over when you are getting out of the way Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faderphreak Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 Anyone remember the blowout game against the Falcons at Rich when just before the half, trailing 38-zip, Deion ran one back for a touchdown on what I seem to recall being a lateral. He was celebrating and talking all kinds of smack. Steve Tasker just looked at him, pointed at the scoreboard, smiled and walked away. I'll never forget that one. I was laughing my a$$ off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly the Dog Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 IMO, it totally depends on the definition of best athlete. There are better "athletes" than Sanders or Bo Jackson that weren't nearly as good at two sports as those two. Decathaletes and Triathletes come to mind. As well as just sick athletes like Lebron that may not play multiple sports but as far as running, jumping, strength, hand-eye coordination, ability under pressure, etc, may be better than Sanders or Jackson, too. Dave Winfield mentioned above was drafted in three sports. The late great Randy Smith, a tremendous athlete, was an All-American in college in three separate sports, which is extraordinary. Even guys like Danny Ainge should probably be considered, and I've read sportswriters making a case for him as he was an all-star basketball player, a pretty good major league baseball player, was an outstanding high school football player, a great high jumper, is a scratch golfer, and rumored to be virtually unbeatable in ping-pong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BearNorth Posted June 14, 2009 Share Posted June 14, 2009 I still vote for Jim Brown. Unmatched combination of speed, power, skill and attitude. Just reading his background on the SU website, Three Hall of Fames, Unmatched at his position, and probably the most durable running back of all time (never missed a play in 9 years in the league). He was a decathlete, finished 5th in the 1954 national championship with a couple of guys named Bob Mathias and Rafer Johnson ahead of him. I believe he still holds the all-time HS basketball scoring average record for Long Island, nearly 60 years later. This link says it all http://www.orangehoops.org/jbrown.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billsfreak Posted June 14, 2009 Share Posted June 14, 2009 If you are talking about pure athletic ability and talent and not career numbers, nobody compares to Bo Jackson. He was a superstar in both sports, one of the best in the league in baseball and football. I belive he played in the Pro Bowl and the baseball All-Star game in the same season. Not even close, Bo was magical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowery4 Posted June 14, 2009 Share Posted June 14, 2009 Thorp and Brown in the past, Jackson in the recent past with Brown being #1 IMO Oh and Randy and Wilt get consideration. Randy RIP you were great, I'll never forget the NBA allstar game you took over, one of my best boyhood sports memiories. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shamrock Posted June 15, 2009 Share Posted June 15, 2009 As an alternate source: Jonah Lomu- Rugby Union. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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