If Muhammad Ali is the gretest

hey kid that first list is missing a baseball player that was kinda good.

willie mays. he actually played against players of all races not just white boys.
 
First of all...Sham was a superb horse and way underrated....he'd be a triple crown contender any year nowadays and Secretariat just broke him and some of Secretariats losses are wknown to have been when the horse was ill and when he should've scratched. i do give Onion his credit.

When Secretariat is on form though i don't see any horse beating him

PS...I do admit i'm a bit biased..Sec's my favourite alongside John Henry :)

Hey, I don't think I even mentioned Sham, but you're right, he was a superb horse and a very worthy challenger to Secretariat during that year, with maybe the exception being the Belmont when Secretariat ran him over when the two broke from the rest of the field and pretty much made it a match race that Sham couldn't keep up in. I would still consider the Good Doctor's main rival, Damascus, the better horse (and not slightly) over Secretariat's main rival, Sham, though.

Yeah, those stories about Secretariat being sick are known, but I don't know...All too often the trainers and/or jockeys have some excuse for the poor showings of the elite horses, but if giving weight to excuses such as those, maybe Sham had quite the excuse for running a fairly close second to Big Red in the Derby that year when he busted his face on the starting gate and I think ended up having some teeth knocked out as a result.

Onion was OK, I guess, but nothing special, although he did have a certain amount of success at the track he beat Secretariat on (Saratoga, was it?). Not much success anywhere else, though, from what I understand.

John Henry was another fantastic horse, who, due to his longevity and tremendous success over that length of his running career, would have to rank very highly on a ranking of the greatest horses of the more modern ages, and would likely end up just behind the likes of Dr. ***er and Secretariat in that department (as would Damascus, Buckpasser, Slew, The Bid, Affirmed, Alydar, the wonderful filly, Ruffian, etc., maybe Cigar).

P.S. The historical hype and silly comparisions of Big Brown to the likes of Secretariat bugs me to no end, and that's after only a few career starts against a pretty week field of three year-olds. While he is a sensational horse and may go on to win the Triple Crown this year, bah...I might give him a little more credit if he beats Casino Drive (though inexperienced, and maybe too inexperienced, seems like a quality horse and BB's toughest test all year), but I'd really like to see him prove his quality against the likes of Curlin before annointing him as something special beyond being the best of this year's crop of three year-olds.
 
i agree 100% on Big Brown with you...this crop of 3 year olds is disappointing...even if he manages to win the triple crown i refuse to aknowledge this horse as anything special until he atleast faces Curlin at the end of the year and manages to beat him which i don't think he is capable of.I fear that with his weak legs he'll be retired after the belmont.Curlin has won several of his last races against better competion in very powerful fashion.Defienately the best horse in the world at the moment.I give props to his owners for letting us see Curlin at 4.
 
i agree 100% on Big Brown with you...this crop of 3 year olds is disappointing...even if he manages to win the triple crown i refuse to aknowledge this horse as anything special until he atleast faces Curlin at the end of the year and manages to beat him which i don't think he is capable of.I fear that with his weak legs he'll be retired after the belmont.Curlin has won several of his last races against better competion in very powerful fashion.Defienately the best horse in the world at the moment.I give props to his owners for letting us see Curlin at 4.

Curlin vs. Big Brown might happen, and at least some track owners are sweetening the pot some;

Suffolk Offers Big Brown, Curlin $5M | bloodhorse.com

Not likely to happen, I don't think (his breeding rights being sold, on-again off-again foot problems, etc.) although that slimeball Dutrow has expressed plans to run Big Brown for the rest of the year, including the BC Classic, so if healthy, maybe Big Brown doesn't retire after the Belmont.
 
You are a pony dork?

Hmm, maybe, but whether it be cars motoring on the asphalt, ponies running on the dirt, or even rubber duckies floating down the river, I'm probably more of an all-around racing dork.
 
1. Muhammad Ali Most recognized person in world, three-time heavyweight champion.
2. Jim Thorpe Dominant baseball player, dominant football player, dominant decathlete.
3. Babe Ruth Made baseball America's game, biggest sports celebrity of first 50 years.
4. Babe Didrickson All-time Olympic female great, helped found LPGA, greatest female athlete in history.
5. Jackie Robinson Was great player, but his pioneering of civil rights puts him among elite.
6. Jesse Owens Olympic hero won gold in shadow of Nazis and Hitler in 36.
7. Sugar Ray Robinson Best fighter in history, had nearly 20-year career.
8. Jim Brown Most powerful runner in NFL history.
9. Michael Jordan Best offensive player in NBA history, baseball bust.
10. Wayne Gretzky Best offensive player in NHL history.
11. Wilt Chamberlain Kansas great, NBA great, could have been track and field and volleyball great,too.
12. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Could have scored more had he wanted to, UCLA great, all-time NBA leading scorer.
13. Joe Louis Held heavyweight title for more than a decade.
14. Hank Aaron All-time home run leader, had great all-around game, too.
15. Bill Russell Best defensive player in NBA history, did benefit from great supporting cast.
16. Martina Navritlova Nine-time Wimbledon champ, best womens tennis player in history.
17. Walter Payton NFL's all-time leading rusher, great blocker.
18. Jack Nicklaus After Palmer, became dominant golfer of generation.
19. Arnold Palmer Put golf on map in 60s, cleared way for huge purses.
20. Carl Lewis Nearly two decades of premier running in Olympics, international competition.
21. Pele Best soccer player ever, worldwide celebrity.
22. Ted Williams Possibly greatest pure hitter in game, never won a World Series.
23. Ty Cobb Horrid personality, lifetime stats hard to ignore.
24. Red Grange Established NFL, great running back at Illinois.
25. Gordie Howe Longevity helped his stats but most recognizable hockey star after Gretzky.
26. Johnny Unitas Best quarterback in NFL history.
27. Lou Gehrig Stamina, strength, class of Yankees.
28. Jackie Joyner Kersee Best female athlete of the last half of century.
29. Bobby Jones Best golfer of first half century.
30. Larry Bird Great collegian, great Celtic, possibly great coach.
31. Sandy Koufax Best left hander in history. Period.
32. Billie Jean King Transformed women's tennis, leader in women's rights movement.
33. Ben Hogan Would have established unbreakable records had it not been for auto accident.
34. Joe Dimaggio Higher on most other lists because he played in New York.
35. Bill Tilden May have been best men's tennis player ever.
36. Bobby Orr Premier defenseman in hockey history.
37. Mickey Mantle Icon of the 50s, would have been higher had it not been for bad knees.
38. Edwin Moses Went years without losing hurdles race.
39. Magic Johnson Redefined role of guard, helped build Laker champions.
40. Bob Gibson Dominant fast baller, also played on Harlem Globetrotters.
41. Julius Erving Michael Jordan of the 1980s.
42. Chris Evert Rivalry with Navritlova may have been best of any female duo.
43. Rocky Marciano Undefeated heavyweight champion.
44. Oscar Robertson Gets nod over West due to all-around aspects of game.
45. Stan Musial Cardinal great slugger, batted .330 on road and at home.
46. Jack Dempsey Great heavyweight champion, cultural icon of the 20s.
47. Joe Montana Established 49ers dynasty..
48. Elgin Baylor Before there was Dr. J., Baylor was acrobatic NBA star.
49. Greg Louganis All-time Olympic diving champion.
50. O.J. Simpson Based only on on-the-field results.
51. Walter Johnson Big train one of great early pitchers.
52. Satchel Paige Could have been dominant major leaguer had he been allowed to overcome racial bias.
53. Wilma Rudolph Overcame polio to become American speedster.
54. Jerry Rice All-time leading receiver, great in clutch.
55. Mario Lemieux Would have been more dominant had he not played when Gretzky did.
56. Jerry West One of the true great shooting guards in NBA history.
57. Roberto Clemente Could throw, hit, run.
58. Sammy Baugh Before Unitas, was NFL's greatest quarterback.
59. Bobby Hull Strongest slap shot in hockey history, helped establish WHA.
60. Eddie Arcaro A notch above Shoemaker for best all-time hockey.
61. Willie Shoemaker Held all-time race record till December, 99.
62. Gale Sayers Would have rivaled Jim Brown had Bears' star stayed healthy.
63. Althea Gibson First great black women's tennis champing.
64. Rafer Johnson Olympic decathlon champion.
65. Dick Butkus Defined role of mean, effective linebacker.
66. Otto Graham Actually starred for Northwestern, great pro QB.
67. Kathy Whitworth All-time leading women's golf champ with 88 victories.
68. Christy Mathewson Third all-time winningest pitcher, dominated before Babe Ruth.
69. Rod Laver Aussie tennis great, only one in history to win grand slam as pro and amateur.
70. Cy Young 511 wins may never be topped.
71. Mark Spitz Seven gold medals in one Olympics, America's greatest swimmer.
72. Pete Rose Love em or hate him baseball's all-time leader in hits, autographs.
73. Barry Sanders Would have broken Payton's rushing record had he stayed in game.
74. Rogers Hornsby Batted .426, great teacher of baseball after retirement.
75. Al Oerter Olympic discus champ in four Olympiads.
76. Honus Wagner First great shortstop, would ignite interest in old time trading cards.
77. Sergie Bubka Russian Olympian, only five-time world record holder in any event.
78. Josh Gibson Negro League slugger denied entry into Major Leagues.
79. Bob Beamon His long jump record lasted nearly three decades after Mexico City games
80. Richard Petty "The King" triggered NASCAR fever.
81. Patty Berg Golf's all-time leader in major championships won, 16, on women's side.
82. Lawrence Taylor Great linebacker on field, troubled off the field.
83. Bonnie Blair Five gold medals in Winter Olympics.
84. George Blanda Quarterbacked and punted well into 40s, helped launch AFL.
85. Sadaharu Oh Japanese home run champion.
86. Paavo Nurmi Flying Finn, first great distance runner of 20th century.
87. Jean Claude Killy Dominated downhill skiing and made it fashionable for Americans.
88. A.J. Foyt Four-time Indy 500 winner, drivers not great athletes but he was best of them.
89. Eric Heiden Five-time Olympic speedskate champion.
90. Don Budge Tennis champion from roaring 20s into the Depression.
91. Jack Johnson First great black heavyweight champion.
92. John Wooden UCLA coach won 10 of 12 NCAA tourneys, was all-American player at Purdue. Hey, coaches are athletes too!
93. Maurice Richard The Rocket was one of pro hockey's great pioneers.
94. Bob Mathias Two-time Olympic pole vault champion, helped Wheaties' sales with his picture on the box.
95. Bo Jackson First two-sport all-star, would have been higher had it not been for injuries.
96. Ernie Davis One of the great college backs of all time, died before he ever played a down in NFL.
97. John Elway Part of the great QB class of 1983 also drafted by baseball Yankees..
98. Jimmy Connors See No. 98 but lasted longer .
99. Pete Sampras Dominated men's tennis in 90s.
100. Dan Gable Greatest collegiate wrestler of all time at Iowa State, as coach built Iowa dynasty.
101. Maureen Connolly Tennis great, lost four matches over four years before injuries fell her.

I really don't understand that list. If it is claiming to be the top 100 North American athletes then fair enough, but it puts Pele at 21 and Bubka at 77. Any global list that omits Bradman from the top 100(!) and doesn't have Pele in the top 5 is completely redundant and doesn't have an ounce of credibility.

On the main question, most boxing pundits wouldn't have Ali as the best p4p boxer ever (most would go for Robinson). However, in general sports polls Ali often comes out as number 1. Work that one out.
 
Jim Thorpe followed by
Roman
 
mundine if you ask him. rugby and boxing, greastest athlete of all time in his own mind.
 
I really don't understand that list. If it is claiming to be the top 100 North American athletes then fair enough, but it puts Pele at 21 and Bubka at 77. Any global list that omits Bradman from the top 100(!) and doesn't have Pele in the top 5 is completely redundant and doesn't have an ounce of credibility.

On the main question, most boxing pundits wouldn't have Ali as the best p4p boxer ever (most would go for Robinson). However, in general sports polls Ali often comes out as number 1. Work that one out.

Dude, these lists are so culturally biased (as the poster stated) it's almost useless.

Just imagine, you think in the Soviet Union the Miracle on Ice is recognized as the greatest sporting ever?

It's probably as popular there as we appreciate their win over us in basketball in '72.


I try to keep this stuff pretty simple, 1) try to pick the most demanding and challenging sports out there, one's that require the most of athletic qualities (strength, conditioning, speed, endurance, coordination, dedication) and/or 2) the most popular games practiced by the most people. And out of those, pick who the best at it were.

Than the other factor is how many standard deviations an athlete is over his peers (and how qualified the peers are).

Maybe I'm biased but I think boxing is one of the most difficult sport so guys like Robinson belong at or near the top of the list. Also I would think arguments could be made for Pele or Maradona as they were the best on what's hands down the most popular sport on the face of this earth.

Lastly, an argument can be made for the likes of a Gretzky because he dominated a popular sport way more than others. Unlike Jordan, Ruth, etc his records DWARF his peers.

Mind you, someone will probably point out some cricketer or something who also dominates.
 
Jim Thorpe or Bo Jackson

I was going to say Bo Jackson has to be in the mix.
Deion Sanders, too.
Thorpe is high, and I'll agree with a few others that Michael Jordan is a hell of an all-around athlete.
Roy Jones Jr. was a semi-pro baller so I'll give him props, too.
 
i believe when its all said and done....tiger woods will be top 3 on all lists....when he is on top of his game no one else has a chance and they all aknowledge that...when sergio won a big tourney a few months ago first thing he said was i'd like to thank tiger for not coming out :icon_lol:...other than that i look for those who transcend the sport...jordan, ali
 
Best athlete of all time. Lets see another athlete from a different sport go 15 hard rounds What Ali and Fraizer did in the Thrilla in Manilla is a physical achievment, what heart these guys displayed.
 
Way to run, Big Brown, and congratulations go out to Dutrow on your last fucking place finish!

*hefty claps*
 
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