Fun discussion. And another rabbit hole to go down- how about the best pound-for-pound athlete of all time? Who is the most athletic with the least frame to work with?
For context, I’d rate myself a very good American football player, a good wrestler and rugby player and paintball competitor, and experienced but not great in multiple events in track and field (my favorite part of that sport was that it was co-ed). I have family members that are world champion rodeo cowboys, so I know what that life looks like, but never really went down that road myself other than roping a few steers and getting bucked off a few bulls and horses. I’ve tried my hand at any organized sport within my reach my entire life. I swim like a boulder. I enjoy racquet and bat sports and I love to play soccer and basketball at any opportunity, but experienced players in those disciples get the edge on me. It’s probably impossible for my hours spent hunting to ever pass up my hours spent in other sports, which is something I now regret.
All this to say I’m always most impressed by all around athletes that proved themselves in multiple sports. Bo Jackson and Jim Thorpe are hard to argue with in that regard. I like the Deon Sanders idea as he was incredible in multiple positions in American football and a good baseball player. Unfortunately we are now at least one or two generations in to predominantly single sport specialization, so we will never get to know what these specialists could do in other sports.
As a fellow short guy, I’ve enjoyed watching Messi, and it’s obvious he is on another level above even the other World Cup soccer players. It’s a level of excellence above what I saw in Michael Jordan on the court when compared to other allstars of his era (although Jordan might come away with #1 competitor / gamer of all time). Wayne Gretzky might exceed his peers to a greater level than either of those two.
Allen Iverson was LISTED as 6’ but probably was actually 5’10. He was 165lbs soaking wet, but was named an 11x NBA all star, and NBA MVP. He, however, believed he was better at football, and as a Junior was named the AP High School player of the year (nationwide) in both football and basketball.
I think if you put all of the world’s greatest athletes in the Roman colosseum and had them play a game of tag, Allen Iverson or Deon Sanders might emerge as the winner. Unless it was won by a rugby winger or a shifty soccer player or any number of NFL wide receivers or a super athlete who just happened pick cricket as his favorite sport and stick to it…
I’d never want to have to tackle Bo Jackson or Jonah Lomu. And I’d never, ever ever want to fight Jon Jones. And then for pure speed in their events, Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps were just flat out dominant. But 26 year old Stetson Wright will soon become the all-time money winningest rodeo cowboy of all time, and at 5’6 and 125 lbs he is a 10-time PRCA champion. All he does is ride a bronc and a bull at the same rodeo, several times per week, most weeks per year. I don’t even want to get on one of those for one second, one time, ever again.
As an ex scrum half in rugby, I really enjoy watching Antoine DuPont. He did an event change himself. After being named the men’s 15’s player of the year in 2021 and winning the European championship, the the 2022 Six Nations, and the 2023 Rugby World Cup, he transitioned to Sevens, and promptly won an Olympic gold medal for France.
I don’t think there’s a great answer to this question, but it’s sure fun to talk about. I suspect the true answer for the best athlete of all time is some unknown West African hunter that lived in 600 B.C. and died at the ripe old age of 24. Or will it be some Viking that did nothing his entire life but row, sail, fight and pillage?
I hope the afterlife offers the chance to view highlight reels. We’ll be in for a treat.
