Athlete Of The Century

[Busyman]

I listen to ESPN Radio all day at work and they were batting around their top 5 athletes of the past 25 years.

I figured to put it as the century.

Mine is Michael Jordan.

Even if one didn't like basketball (I sure didn't), to watch what he did was just simply amazing. Watching him actually made me start playing b-ball when I previously and absolutely hated it.

He showed finesse, leadership, undeniable talent, and charisma.

The sport itself allows you to see such things.

There is no helmet, no large arena, nor a better showcase of team and indivdual skills that would have allowed us to really see an athlete of this stature.

He da man.

[user123]

Yep, he gets my vote

The man quite simply defied gravity at times

A true genius of the game

A just don't know enough superlatives to do him justice

[guit_steel]

Chamberlain...Russell....Irving.....Johnson.....Bird???

Sorry, not quite convinced Jordon was the top basketball player, let alone the top athlete.

My pick would probably be someone whose excellence wasn't confined to a single sport. I'd have to give it a bit of thought, but my early short list would include folks like Jim Thorpe, Babe Didrikson, and Jackie Robinson.

[BigBank_Hank]

I think that Bo Jackson has to be up there. He was an amazing two-sport athlete in baseball and football. He was one of the most athletic players that I’ve ever seen play the game. If it wouldn’t have been for his injury I think that he would have been breaking all sorts of records in both sports.

[Busyman]

Originally posted by guit_steel@11 June 2004 - 07:35
Chamberlain...Russell....Irving.....Johnson.....Bird???

Sorry, not quite convinced Jordon was the top basketball player, let alone the top athlete.

My pick would probably be someone whose excellence wasn't confined to a single sport. I'd have to give it a bit of thought, but my early short list would include folks like Jim Thorpe, Babe Didrikson, and Jackie Robinson.

Chamberlain - horrible free throw shooter

Russell, Johnson, Bird - their respective teammates were too good. Jordan overshadows their individual performances.

Irving - Didn't bring his team to enough championships

I don't know what you mean about a single sport unless...

@Hank - very good pick.... Bo Jackson

[soopaman]

Don Bradman

Michael Jordan

Jack Nicklaus

Cassius Clay

Pele

Bjorn Borg

Michael Schumacher


The list could go on and on but if i was pressed I'd have to go with Michael Jordan. The finest player of his day, I watch a lot of sport and Jordan played Basketball better than Borg played Tennis, Pele played Football, etc. The ultimate exponent of his art.

[blitz]

Michael Jordon

Wayne Gretzky

Muhammad Ali

Walter Payton

Pete Sampras


...............I only like certain sports

[3rd gen noob]

Michael Schumacher

[Busyman]

Originally posted by soopaman@11 June 2004 - 17:57
I watch a lot of sport and Jordan played Basketball better than Borg played Tennis, Pele played Football, etc. The ultimate exponent of his art.

I never thought of it that way.

[volskid2002]

Hank Aaron