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- November 06, 2007 09:17 PM ET
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5 Greatest Athletes of All Time
Esco: Done w/ FN said 11/06, 09:17 PM
I'm going to make this rather simple
1. Jesse Owens, the "Buckeye Bullet", gave a big middle finger to the **** in 1936
2. Pele, brought even more soccer hype than David Beckham did.
3. Walter Payton, greatest football player ever
4. Michael Jordan, duh
5. Josh Gibson, the Black Babe Ruth hit more home runs than anyone in history, allegedly over 1,000. Would have been the first African American in the major leagues, but died too soon.
awc1230 said 11/06, 09:26 PM
The title states the greatest athletes, not the most successful ones. So, on that basis, Im going to say Muhhamad Ali was a better athlete than Josh Gibson. Josh Gibson was a truly gifted athlete, but if you go by statistics, no one knows exactly how well he did. In the HOF it says he hit somewhere around 800, while others say around 1000. Regardless, Josh Gibson can not be compared to Muhhamed Ali. The guy was at the top of BOXING, not BASEBALL. Boxers are in a lot better shape than baseball players, and especially when Gibson played, which is what makes a great athlete.
Esco: Done w/ FN said 11/06, 09:32 PM
That is true, however, and Ali is with out a doubt one of the best of all time. I just needed to show some love for Josh Gibson, because many kids, and not just kids, but sports fans in general don't know about him and how amazing of a player he was.... Who are your other four players?
awc1230 said 11/06, 09:51 PM
I agree that some love is needed for Josh Gibson. Not that many people know about him.But love is also needed for people like Pat Tillman. You shouldnt overrate him just because no one knows about him. Top 5 is too high for Gibson. I would also include Thorpe, Pele, Jesse Owens, and Michael Jordan. Thorpe is arguably a top 3 athlete, he was rediculous. That leaves off Walter Payton, which is hard for me to do. But I would ddefinately take thorpe over payton.
Esco: Done w/ FN said 11/06, 10:01 PM
Okay. But besides Gibson, you've got Pele who was the athlete century so named by Time. MJ is simply the best. I'll admit I may have overrated Josh Gibson a bit, but he was put by SI on the all-time roster and come on, even if we don't know the exact number, he still hit more than Ruth, Aaron, Bonds, etc. I picked Sweetness over Thorpe because I don't want to sit up here and cap like I know what I am talking about with Jim Thorpe because I really don't know enough to make an argument for him. Walter was the best, could run, catch, block and even pass with the best. The original L.T. or Adrian Peterson. Name a RB who can say they never saw Walter and wanted to be like him.
awc1230 said 11/06, 10:25 PM
Just because Pele popularized the sport doesnt make him the most athletic. Im saying Thorpe is more athletic. Payton was a beast, who many many Running Backs looked up to. But idolizing someone doesnt make them one of the best athletes. Arguements could be made for players like Bo Jackson, who wasnot the greatest of all time at his sports, but he was definately the most athletic. Yao Ming is a good example. He is a great center, top 3 if not top 1. But that does not make him the most athletic. Same thing does for Prince FIelder. One of the best younger players in this generation. But he is not by any means extremely athletic. BASICALLY, IM STATING THAT YOU CAN BE THE BEST AND NOT BE THE MOST ATHLETIC. YOUR LIST STATES THE BEST PLAYERS, NOT THE MOST ATHLETIC, which is what your arguement asks for.
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Comments (45) Add A Comment
ahh i had this one
awc1230
Houston , TX
Total Comments (404)
Thanks for the accept, Basketball Jesus
Esco: Done w/ FN
Youngstown , OH
Total Comments (12122)
You can't say N.....a.....z......i?
Esco: Done w/ FN
Youngstown , OH
Total Comments (12122)
where's Jim Thrope?
thejetstolehome:…
Cos Cob/Storrs, CT
Total Comments (3031)
carl lewis
LO603
Mount Pleasant , MI
Total Comments (1803)
mj is higher than 4...
stecky: pirate…
Total Comments (1654)
little more decorated than owens and did it against stiffer competition
LO603
Mount Pleasant , MI
Total Comments (1803)
Payton isn't the best player of all time...
And Jim Thorpe should be on here, I agree with jet. What an amazing guy
EagleHater: Goodbye,…
Total Comments (5604)
the great one
MaxH
Mankato, MN
Total Comments (179)
fu*k i forgot about thorpe
awc1230
Houston , TX
Total Comments (404)
so....where's Jim Thrope?
thejetstolehome:…
Cos Cob/Storrs, CT
Total Comments (3031)
I chose Owens over Carl Lewis because the Olympics were in Berlin, at the height of ****'s reign, and Jesse went over and wiped the floor with the competition. Apparently, **** refused to shake his hand because he was black. The courage Owens displayed puts him up for me.
Esco: Done w/ FN
Youngstown , OH
Total Comments (12122)
Why is MJ so low?? He should be 3rd or 2nd. I agree that Muhammad Ali is better than Josh Gibson. I also agree with thejetstolehome, Jim Thrope should be on there.
Dyhard: Big 10/ACC…
Germantown, WI
Total Comments (40011)
Owens really did open up a can of whoopass on der fuhrer.
speaking of the 1936 Olympics, if you can find a copy, go pick up "Olympia" directed by Leni Riefencshtal (sp?). it is a video record of the 1936 games and is absolutely fantastic. there's no nationalism and no favoritism--it is just sports at its absolute best and purest.
thejetstolehome:…
Cos Cob/Storrs, CT
Total Comments (3031)
Babe Ruth and Jim Brown should be in the top 5.
TradeAngelos
Lutherville, MD
Total Comments (2063)
I agree that I'd like to see the addition of Jim Thorpe and quite possibly Bo Jackson. If we're talking who is the BEST athlete, there have been VERY few that can parallel what he was capable of. My definition of an athlete is someone that could be successful at other sports.
I think Tiger Woods (despite being a golfer) could very well deserve a mention by the end of his career.
All that said, there are GREAT athletes that may never pan out as a great sports stars. Anyone ever heard of Lloyd Archie? I didn't think so.
Mouth of the South
College Station , TX
Total Comments (113)
i understand that one time but what about the four seperate olympics that carl lewis won a gold medal in and his 9 gold medals overall
LO603
Mount Pleasant , MI
Total Comments (1803)
I CAN'T SAY H..I..T..L..E..R..?! GOLLY!
Esco: Done w/ FN
Youngstown , OH
Total Comments (12122)
Carl Lewis is great, period point blank, but do you think he'd even be around without Jesse Owens? The Bullet paved the way for every black track star.
Esco: Done w/ FN
Youngstown , OH
Total Comments (12122)
vote to awc his choice of attacking gibson with ali was a nice one, also thorpe, jim brown, carl lewis, that swimmer kid who wins all the time, sugar ray leonard, heck most successful boxers, and wrestlers were better "athletes" then gibson
B0mb3rs (HoF)
Total Comments (4752)
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