Greatest athlete of modern times

shark_za said:
I write from a point of view that the hardest sports in the world are Waterpolo and Rugby.

Peter Steff Du Tiot = Male
Maggie Steffans - Female
Click to expand...
I’ll go with that observation of Rugby. I admire the game and players because foolish, “looky me” dances and demos and political statements don’t come at the end of every play or during anthems/cetemonies. Recent, stupid traditions that had killed my interest in American pro football and many sports years ago.
 
RSL said:
Juan Manuel Fangio was a 4 time Formula 1 driving champion at an age most drivers had retired. Considered by many the GOAT of F1.
Fangio drove in the era (1950-1960) before
rollbars, seat belts, fireproof uniforms or any other modern day safety devices. Consider racing drivers athletes or not, Fangio was at the pinnacle of his sport.

View attachment 778679
Click to expand...

IMG_3563.jpeg
 
@Altitude sickness that was a mic drop closing post if I ever saw one! Excellent!

This has been a fun thread. Even though my answer is the correctest one (my opinion), there are no wrong answers and the only guardrail needed was that specified by the OP... your opinion. I've learned a lot about folks and disciplines I've never thought about. I'm most surprised by the number of votes for mountain climbers- athletes for sure.
 
steve white said:
Maybe we could have a sub-category of "GREATEST ATHLETIC MOMENTS" of all time. What did they do at the top of their game?
Then I would vote for Franz Klamer of Austria in downhill skiing.
Click to expand...

For any Canadian, Paul Henderson’s winning goal in the 1972 Summit Series vs the Russians.
 
RR 314 said:
I think Bo was actually faster. Unofficial 4.13 40. I recall an interview with Sanders conceding the same as well. I saw Thorpe listed below. The new series on him was excellent!
Click to expand...
@RR314 - Bo had unmatched speed for a man over 200lbs but few believe he ever ran a 4.13 for the 40 yrd dash and the fact it’s ‘Hand Timed’ AND Refered to as “UNofficial” makes it tough for me to believe it. In NCAA track meets @ 100 meters where times were electronically captured and “official” Dion’s best time was considerably faster: Dion/10.26 vs Bo/10.39….and Dion’s best “Official” 40 time was “only” 4.27. SInce ALL these were HAND TIMED add .2 to .3 seconds to each to replicate the accuracy of electronic timing (not used at NFL Combine until after early 1990s). That would put both Men well over 4.3. SO does that detract from either man’s SPEED? I don’t believe so because they were still FASTER then everyone else they ever ran against and could carry their speed while wearing Football gear, carrying a football, and running on turf = IMPRESSIVE
 
HankBuck said:
@RR314 - Bo had unmatched speed for a man over 200lbs but few believe he ever ran a 4.13 for the 40 yrd dash and the fact it’s ‘Hand Timed’ AND Refered to as “UNofficial” makes it tough for me to believe it. In NCAA track meets @ 100 meters where times were electronically captured and “official” Dion’s best time was considerably faster: Dion/10.26 vs Bo/10.39….and Dion’s best “Official” 40 time was “only” 4.27. SInce ALL these were HAND TIMED add .2 to .3 seconds to each to replicate the accuracy of electronic timing (not used at NFL Combine until after early 1990s). That would put both Men well over 4.3. SO does that detract from either man’s SPEED? I don’t believe so because they were still FASTER then everyone else they ever ran against and could carry their speed while wearing Football gear, carrying a football, and running on turf = IMPRESSIVE
Click to expand...
Bo and others there at Auburn claim it was FAT. Hand times of same run were purportedly under 4.0. I don't know what his time actually was, but I do know he was fast. :-).
 
Gomer said:
Ever try to hit a 100 mph fastball?
Click to expand...
Who said, "The hardest thing in the world to do is to hit a round ball with a round bat, squarely." It was Ted Williams, but I think he said it was the hardest thing to do in baseball...?
 
Since we have gone to Digweed with a shotgun, how about Jerry Mikulek vs Bob Munden on the draw?

If we are going to include race car drivers, I don't see how anyone could ever beat Nikki Lauda! I was privileged to watch live when he got back in the seat after his crash and burn. Indomitable.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RSL
steve white said:
Since we have gone to Digweed with a shotgun, how about Jerry Mikulek vs Bob Munden on the draw?

If we are going to include race car drivers, I don't see how anyone could ever beat Nikki Lauda! I was privileged to watch live when he got back in the seat after his crash and burn. Indomitable.
Click to expand...
Nikki was very courageous and is certainly a contender for the best driver in F1.
 
Gomer said:
I would contend it is the hardest thing to do in sports, period.
Click to expand...

In every era. Hitting that time period of pitchers is the hardest single aspect of any sport. The batter has to decide to swing or not as soon as the ball leaves the fingers of the picture. Then as they have decided to swing the ball drops 6 inches from where it was when they started their swing as it goes over the plate

Compare that to a 7’ tall man throwing a basketball at a 10’ rim that isn’t moving.

Baseball is why Bo Jackson was named so many times. If he played basketball and football. It wouldn’t be nearly as impressive.
 
Red Leg said:
Not even close - Jesse Owens - the greatest performance on the most meaningful stage imaginable over the last century and a half.

Click to expand...
Jesse Qwens' times are now common high school times.
 
Altitude sickness said:
In every era. Hitting that time period of pitchers is the hardest single aspect of any sport. The batter has to decide to swing or not as soon as the ball leaves the fingers of the picture. Then as they have decided to swing the ball drops 6 inches from where it was when they started their swing as it goes over the plate

Compare that to a 7’ tall man throwing a basketball at a 10’ rim that isn’t moving.

Baseball is why Bo Jackson was named so many times. If he played basketball and football. It wouldn’t be nearly as impressive.
Click to expand...
If Bo Jackson played football?!?!?
 
Tanks said:
I'd dare any football player to run as much as those pro soccer players do in a game without passing out.
Click to expand...
oh I guess without getting hit too
 
Enjoyed reading all the comments. Surprised that I did not see Babe Ruth. He dominated his sport during his time like no other athlete ever dominated their sport.
 
I am going to change my vote.

I knew Jim Thorpe was a great athlete.
But I must admit. I thought he played football and track ( Olympic decathlon and pentathlon) and was a very average baseball player. Which is true early on. He struggled with hitting a baseball.

I didn’t know he stuck with pro ball. after years of working on his swing. He was eventually hitting the same numbers as Ty Cobb in that year.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

... and 1172 more.
Total: 259,881 (members: 1,222, guests: 258,659)

Forum statistics

Threads
69,332
Messages
1,545,200
Members
161,059
Latest member
bonathere1987
 

 

 

Proudly sponsored by

Latest posts

Latest profile posts

N
Nomosendero wrote on gregrn43's profile.
Between Blak Rock and Pocahontas, I did not want to say that on the forum. That's a nice Cat!
•••
curt672
curt672 wrote on WoodencrossIII's profile.
just making sure my message went threw
•••
30-06Ken
30-06Ken wrote on ftothfadd's profile.
I'll take the Vortex scope cover you have listed in the Pay it Forward thread.

Ken [redacted]
•••
Scott CWO
Scott CWO wrote on mark-hunter's profile.
Hi Mark. My email is [redacted]
•••
T
TheRookie
Selling real estate in dchum’s head
•••

Share this page

 
Top