Jon Jones Makes #18 On ESPN's "2012 Cross-Sports Athletes Of The Year" (LIST INSIDE)

[youngsteinel]

Its far more universal. The most competitive event on the planet with an attribute used in virtually every sport on the planet.

Shit list.

Regardless, it is a straight line. I don't see Bolt using that speed to do anything but winning a race. Still, he has accomplished an amazing feat and deserves a spot on the list.

 

[The Zuskan]

Should've just made the article 2012 power rankings would clear all this up.

 

[mcclarse]

Lol exactly.

Can't we agree it's a good thing for mma that he isn't though? Jones's ranking is one thing I prefer to be out of place on this list. I still think they were making up for his 2011 campaign though.

 

[JonesBones]

Again, the false argument that soccer is the most popular sport in the world. Not by players it isn't. More people play basketball on this planet than soccer.

Sources:

The meteoric rise of basketball in China almost certainly means basketball has now surpassed football as the world's leading sport, in terms of the number of active players. The international football body, Fifa, estimates there are 270 million people around the world playing football. Its basketball equivalent boasts 450 million. That again may be an exaggeration, but even conservative estimates put the number at 300 million. The demographics suggest that dominance is likely to grow. One in three Chinese youths plays the sport.

Julian Borger: Why football is set to be the loser as the globalisation of sport gathers pace | Football | The Guardian

FIFA itself confirms those numbers here:

http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/fifafacts/bcoffsurv/emaga_9384_10704.pdf

Source on 300 million playing basketball in China alone:

http://www.mastercardcenter.com.cn/templet/Enwukesongdl/Our_team.jsp?id=1241

 

[JayElectra]

Yes I think Lebron James should be in front of him. Lebron James is the best athlete in the world. He could dominate at pretty much any sport he played. Messi would suck at American football, baseball, or basketball. Lebron could go pro in at least 3 of the sports (soccer, football, baseball, basketball). He is a much better athlete, it really isn't even close. I am not sure if Lebron could play soccer, but he would dominate in any of the other 3 sports.

I know he couldn't dominate soccer or baseball.

 

[mcclarse]

Again, the false argument that soccer is the most popular sport in the world. Not by players it isn't. More people play basketball on this planet than soccer.

Sources:



Julian Borger: Why football is set to be the loser as the globalisation of sport gathers pace | Football | The Guardian

FIFA itself confirms those numbers here:

http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/fifafacts/bcoffsurv/emaga_9384_10704.pdf

Source on 300 million playing basketball in China alone:

http://www.mastercardcenter.com.cn/templet/Enwukesongdl/Our_team.jsp?id=1241

 

[milkywaygalxee**]

Again, the false argument that soccer is the most popular sport in the world. Not by players it isn't. More people play basketball on this planet than soccer.

Sources:



Julian Borger: Why football is set to be the loser as the globalisation of sport gathers pace | Football | The Guardian

FIFA itself confirms those numbers here:

http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/fifafacts/bcoffsurv/emaga_9384_10704.pdf

Source on 300 million playing basketball in China alone:

http://www.mastercardcenter.com.cn/templet/Enwukesongdl/Our_team.jsp?id=1241

 

[justblaze717]

it made so angry i want to kill all of them because they did that, assholes of death rawr.

Yea that makes no sense Usain had an exceptional 2012.

 

[youngsteinel]

I am a huge fan of both guys but I believe Messi is a better athlete. But, it is all an opinion of course.



Lol, an opinion again but lets look at it this way.
Vitor almost subbed Jones and Jones could not finish Bonnar when they first fought. Silva beat both even though Chael was caught using TRT and Bonnar had uses steroids as well.

Yes, but it shows that the win over Vitor wasn't all that great. Jones almost got subbed by an older Vitor. Props to Jones for finishing Vitor, but the guy who you replied to is trying to say that Silva has done better against fighters who Jones has fought.

We are talking about wins in 2012. Vitor and Rashad > Chael and Bonnar. Bottom line. Silva did have two TKOs, but I think Jones' wins are more impressive. But I wouldn't have a problem with AS being on the list either. Either way there is an MMA fighter on the list, which is a good thing.

 

[Trollinator]

Regardless, it is a straight line. I don't see Bolt using that speed to do anything but winning a race. Still, he has accomplished an amazing feat and deserves a spot on the list.

The problem is, they said cross sports athletes, not sportsman. Pure athleticism he wins easily due to the fact that he has the greatest measurable attribute to athleticism of all time.

Plus they put Phelps higher. Facepalm espn/

 

[mcclarse]

I know he couldn't dominate soccer or baseball.

The thing is, soccer is a funny sport. Touch is so important, and it is said that a player truly develops their touch at a very young age. If you aren't playing soccer by grade school you will never be world class, just because of touch. Baseball is all about absolutely insane hand eye coordination. Hitting major league pitches is arguably the hardest thing to do in any sport.

 

[JayElectra]

Again, the false argument that soccer is the most popular sport in the world. Not by players it isn't. More people play basketball on this planet than soccer.

Sources:



Julian Borger: Why football is set to be the loser as the globalisation of sport gathers pace | Football | The Guardian

FIFA itself confirms those numbers here:

http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/fifafacts/bcoffsurv/emaga_9384_10704.pdf

Source on 300 million playing basketball in China alone:

http://www.mastercardcenter.com.cn/templet/Enwukesongdl/Our_team.jsp?id=1241

 

[justblaze717]

Can't we agree it's a good thing for mma that he isn't though? Jones's ranking is one thing I prefer to be out of place on this list. I still think they were making up for his 2011 campaign though.

Yea its good for Jones/MMA and shows a little bit about Jones popularity in the media.

 

[youngsteinel]

Again, the false argument that soccer is the most popular sport in the world. Not by players it isn't. More people play basketball on this planet than soccer.

Sources:



Julian Borger: Why football is set to be the loser as the globalisation of sport gathers pace | Football | The Guardian

FIFA itself confirms those numbers here:

http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/fifafacts/bcoffsurv/emaga_9384_10704.pdf

Source on 300 million playing basketball in China alone:

http://www.mastercardcenter.com.cn/templet/Enwukesongdl/Our_team.jsp?id=1241

 

[JonesBones]

There are a massive amount of people that play field hockey, too. The level at which they play and the overall popularity of the sport isn't even contestable. Football is a way of life. Basketball is a fad in China.

Not as many who play basketball. Soccer is declining.

Most importantly of all, the Chinese government declared its intention two years ago to turn basketball into the national game by building a court in every single one of China's 800,000 villages - part of the "sunshine policy" of making its increasingly sedentary population take some exercise. This unprecedented building campaign is transforming the country. In remote and impoverished villages, new hoops and backboards can be seen held aloft by sky-blue steel poles. By way of comparison, in Beijing, a city of 17 million people, there are just 30 football pitches.

That's some fad.

 

[The Zuskan]

There ya go soccer fans.

But! But... Soccer is the most popular sport in the world!

 

[EmeliankoFan1]

Jones getting his credit

Good to see Jones making waves.

How did Gabby make the list.

 

[youngsteinel]

I know he couldn't dominate soccer or baseball.

I never said "dominate", I said go pro. Soccer is a stretch, but I am pretty sure Lebron James would at least make the minors if he had choosen to play basketball. We digress though, Lebron is a better athlete and depending on who you ask him or Messi is the number 1 athlete so no need to go over this further.

 

[DrDune]

Again, the false argument that soccer is the most popular sport in the world. Not by players it isn't. More people play basketball on this planet than soccer.

Sources:



Julian Borger: Why football is set to be the loser as the globalisation of sport gathers pace | Football | The Guardian

FIFA itself confirms those numbers here:

http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/fifafacts/bcoffsurv/emaga_9384_10704.pdf

Source on 300 million playing basketball in China alone:

http://www.mastercardcenter.com.cn/templet/Enwukesongdl/Our_team.jsp?id=1241

 

[JayElectra]

The thing is, soccer is a funny sport. Touch is so important, and it is said that a player truly develops their touch at a very young age. If you aren't playing soccer by grade school you will never be world class, just because of touch. Baseball is all about absolutely insane hand eye coordination. Hitting major league pitches is arguably the hardest thing to do in any sport.

We all saw how Jordan did playing baseball. Football is a sport where size can be often be overcome (in pretty much any position). Even at central defender, players like Fabio Cannavaro can be dominant (only 5' 9'') if they possess the skill, smarts and athleticism. Even pure athleticism (though, very important) isn't necessarily paramount. Andrea Pirlo is small and not particularly fast even but his skill and smarts overcome all of this. Zizou near the end of his career is another example. By far the most important attribute in football is your mind.