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Topic ClosedThe best sportsman of all time!
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Poll Question: Which one is the best/most influential?
Poll Choice Votes Poll Statistics
3 [11.54%]
4 [15.38%]
6 [23.08%]
0 [0.00%]
1 [3.85%]
0 [0.00%]
1 [3.85%]
0 [0.00%]
0 [0.00%]
0 [0.00%]
11 [42.31%]
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clarke2001 View Drop Down
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    Posted: August 14 2009 at 20:16

I know it's like comparing apples and oranges, but surely you have an opinion. Also, you'll probably disagree with those listed here..but I was trying to be as objective as possible - they're not necessary my favourite ones. Otherwise I would put Dražen Petrović and Goran Ivanišević thereWink.
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Points: 19643 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 14 2009 at 20:17
Way too hard of a choice - I won't be voting, sorry
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Points: 10652 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 14 2009 at 20:19
If Ali wasn't here I was going to close the thread, ha ha. Second Michael Jordon and third Joe Montana.
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Points: 34550 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 14 2009 at 20:20
Impossible to determine.
But since this is for fun:

Babe Ruth
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Points: 1003 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 14 2009 at 20:26
I'll choose Ali.  Since you left off a hockey player, I'll say Mario Lemieux is the most influential hockey player.  He didn't quite put up Gretzky's record point totals, but he didn't shy away from physical play, and his battle with Hodgkins was truly inspiring.  I remember watching his first game after coming out of retirement when he scored twice against my Leafs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ziRI1uemCk&feature=fvst


Edited by Stooge - August 14 2009 at 20:29
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clarke2001 View Drop Down
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Points: 4160 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 14 2009 at 20:31
Hm...speaking of most influential sportsmen perhaps I should mention both Jesse Owens and Lutz Long, for the achievements and true sporting spirit.

Or going even further, up to Pheidippides.
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I'm for sure alone on this thought, but it has to be Tim Richmond. He was really the first person that made it "cool" to be an auto racer. He commanded just as much respect as Petty and Pearson and Allison and was really putting up the numbers before his career ended short. He could have been one of the greatset drivers in the sport. Not only was he exceptionally gifted behind the wheel, like I said before, he really pioneered the social aspect of auto racing in America, he wasn't just another "grease monkey".
 
And also, yesterday was the anniversary of his death. He succumbed to the AIDS virus  in 1989.
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Points: 36152 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 14 2009 at 20:39
In hockey, I would have said Rocket Richard.  Jason Leonard would be worth noting in Rugby.  And I would have included Roger Bannister (first man to break the four minute mile).

But I have to go with Hercules! LOL

Actually, I'll go with Pele.
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Points: 10665 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 14 2009 at 20:43
It would be illegal for me not to vote for Stenmark Wink
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Points: 34550 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 14 2009 at 20:45
Originally posted by Chris H Chris H wrote:

I'm for sure alone on this thought, but it has to be Tim Richmond. He was really the first person that made it "cool" to be an auto racer. He commanded just as much respect as Petty and Pearson and Allison and was really putting up the numbers before his career ended short. He could have been one of the greatset drivers in the sport. Not only was he exceptionally gifted behind the wheel, like I said before, he really pioneered the social aspect of auto racing in America, he wasn't just another "grease monkey".
 
And also, yesterday was the anniversary of his death. He succumbed to the AIDS virus  in 1989.


That is a very interesting pick alright.
When it comes to influential he was without a doubt a big influence in NASCAR.
He went from open wheel to stock car......and we see how that trend is playing out.
He also brought a touch of "hollywood" to NASCAR.
Truly a big influence and a great driver, too bad his career ended so soon.
Even worse is how he was completely ignored by NASCAR due to his having AIDS. We know how misunderstood it was at the time especially among those old NASCAR fans....

Even now he's hardly spoken of
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Points: 12288 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 14 2009 at 20:53
I think some guys in the past are the best candidates: Jim Thorpe, Jesse Owens, Emil Zatopek, Paavo Nurmi, ect. I'll go with others and vote for Abebe Bikila, the giant Ethiopian marathon winner (2 Olympic gold medals).
 
PS: should we open a poll for the sportswomen too? Smile
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Points: 8191 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 14 2009 at 21:03
No need for a poll there Guigo, it wouldn't be fair if Babe Zaharas didn't win!

Edited by Chris H - August 14 2009 at 22:08
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Points: 540 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 14 2009 at 21:52
No mention of Phelps!?
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Points: 8844 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 14 2009 at 22:06
I gotta go with Jim Brown.  Not only was the guy arguably the greatest football player of all time, he was almost certainly the greatest lacrosse player of all time! 

As far as I'm concerned, there's no way in hell that the greatest athlete ever is Babe Ruth or Tiger Woods or any other one-sport juggernaut.  There's too many Jesse Owens, Bo Jacksons, and Jim Browns in the world for that. 

However, if you take only the "influential" part of the question, it's gotta be a boxer, probably Ali.  If you go with most influential athlete in team sports, it's probably the Babe, who more or less turned professional sports from an occasional weekend distraction to a big-money business.  Honorable mention to Jackie Robinson, for reasons that should be apparent. 

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Points: 65760 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 14 2009 at 22:48
The Homestar Runner of course.
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Points: 2546 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 14 2009 at 23:13
I have to go with "Other" - that being, Roger Federer, closely followed by Tiger Woods and Lance Armstrong.

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Points: 17493 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 14 2009 at 23:15
I jjust hope nobody chooses a golf player as best sportsman of all time (?!)
 
Pele or Schumacher or Jordan...
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Points: 27802 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 14 2009 at 23:23
Originally posted by Stooge Stooge wrote:

I'll choose Ali.  Since you left off a hockey player, I'll say Mario Lemieux is the most influential hockey player.  He didn't quite put up Gretzky's record point totals, but he didn't shy away from physical play, and his battle with Hodgkins was truly inspiring.  I remember watching his first game after coming out of retirement when he scored twice against my Leafs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ziRI1uemCk&feature=fvst
 
HUGE Pens fan here and I totally agree with what you wrote.Mario would be my second choice though.I am a Baltimore resident and die hard Orioles fan and my pick goes to the Iron Man himself Cal Ripken Jr.I met this man many,many times and his sportsmanship and class is almost unparalled in professional sports.


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Points: 34550 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 15 2009 at 00:08
Jim Brown was pretty beastly....AND a multi sport athlete...

I might have to rescind my answer and go with him
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Points: 12294 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 15 2009 at 00:34
Sir Donald Bradman.

So far ahead of any other Cricketer ever, it is almost ridiculous.

http://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/27/sports/sir-donald-bradman-92-cricket-legend-dies.html


Edited by Any Colour You Like - August 15 2009 at 00:57
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