Forum Home Forum Home > Topics not related to music > General Polls
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - The best sportsman of all time!
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Topic ClosedThe best sportsman of all time!
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  123 4>
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%]
This topic is closed, no new votes accepted

Author
Message
  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
clarke2001 View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Honorary Collaborator

Joined: June 14 2006
Location: Croatia
Status: Offline
Points: 4160 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: The best sportsman of all time!
    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.
Back to Top
progkidjoel View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: March 02 2009
Location: Australia
Status: Offline
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
Back to Top
Easy Money View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin

Joined: August 11 2007
Location: Memphis
Status: Offline
Points: 10618 		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.
Back to Top
JJLehto View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: April 05 2006
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Status: Offline
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
Back to Top
Stooge View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: April 09 2009
Location: Toronto, Canada
Status: Offline
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
Back to Top
clarke2001 View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Honorary Collaborator

Joined: June 14 2006
Location: Croatia
Status: Offline
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.
Back to Top
Chris H View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: October 08 2006
Location: Charlotte, NC
Status: Offline
Points: 8191 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 14 2009 at 20:36
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.
Beauty will save the world.
Back to Top
Logan View Drop Down
Forum & Site Admin Group
Forum & Site Admin Group
Avatar
Site Admin

Joined: April 05 2006
Location: Vancouver, BC
Status: Offline
Points: 35886 		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.
Duos for fave acts
Back to Top
LinusW View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Honorary Collaborator

Joined: September 27 2007
Location: Sweden
Status: Offline
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
Back to Top
JJLehto View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: April 05 2006
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Status: Offline
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
Back to Top
Atkingani View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin

Joined: October 21 2005
Location: Terra Brasilis
Status: Offline
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
Guigo

~~~~~~
Back to Top
Chris H View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: October 08 2006
Location: Charlotte, NC
Status: Offline
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
Beauty will save the world.
Back to Top
OzzProg View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: January 02 2008
Location: Quebec
Status: Offline
Points: 540 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 14 2009 at 21:52
No mention of Phelps!?
Soundcloud
Back to Top
rileydog22 View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member


Joined: August 24 2005
Location: New Jersey
Status: Offline
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. 

Back to Top
A Person View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: November 10 2008
Location: __
Status: Offline
Points: 65760 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 14 2009 at 22:48
The Homestar Runner of course.
Back to Top
valravennz View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar
VIP Member

Joined: March 20 2005
Location: New Zealand
Status: Offline
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.

"Music is the Wine that fills the cup of Silence"
- Robert Fripp


Back to Top
The T View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Honorary Collaborator

Joined: October 16 2006
Location: FL, USA
Status: Offline
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...
Back to Top
TheProgtologist View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin

Joined: May 23 2005
Location: Baltimore,Md US
Status: Offline
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.


Back to Top
JJLehto View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: April 05 2006
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Status: Offline
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
Back to Top
Any Colour You Like View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: May 15 2009
Status: Offline
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
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  123 4>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down



This page was generated in 0.141 seconds.
Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.