24-04-2004 22:50									#31
	Support Apolyton, buy GURPS/ Alpha Centauri

quote: Originally posted by Sava Impossible to answer. What are we basing this on? Success? Domination in one's sport? Statistical achievement? Pure athletic skill (running, jumping, etc)?

agreed.

having said that, my answer is jordan.

	24-04-2004 23:09									#32
	Support Apolyton, buy Alpha Centauri

Jim Thorpe

	25-04-2004 01:38									#33
	Tired of ads?

quote: Originally posted by Drogue Also, being the Brit that I am, I can't help but mention Steve Redgrave. 4 Olympic Golds is no small feat.

He got 5. 84, 88, 92, 96 and 2000.

	25-04-2004 01:45									#34
	Remove this text

Sorry, my mistake

	25-04-2004 06:45									#35
	Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

Heracles, Son of Zeus.

	25-04-2004 06:48									#36
	Increase the size of your Attachments

O.J. Simson. He is real good with knives from what I have heard...

	25-04-2004 07:13									#37
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization III: Complete

A tie between Muhammad Ali and Lance Armstrong.

Who else do you know that kicked the crap out of cancer, then won the Tour de France more than once?

	25-04-2004 08:03									#38
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization: The Boardgame

quote: Originally posted by St Leo Heracles, Son of Zeus.

Don't you mean Hercules?

	25-04-2004 08:49									#39
	Inflate your Upload Space

quote: Originally posted by Shogun Gunner Is Schumaker a jockey? A guy that rides the athlete (the horse)....certainly he wouldn't be considered, would he?

You're thinking of Willie Shoemaker. And jockey's are atheletes (as are the horses, yes, but a great horse with a middlin' jockey is more likely to lose than a middlin' horse with a great jockey).

	25-04-2004 08:57									#40
	Support Apolyton, pre-order Civilization IV

I was thinking of Willie...

Well, I've never raced on a horse before, so I'll assume it takes a lot of skill.

What about sailing then? Dennis Connor?

	25-04-2004 10:27									#41
	Remove this text

I'd have to say that it is a man who only goes by the name of Dash Suds, he was the greatest hackey sacker of all time.

Or you could also pick the almighty Lenin!

	25-04-2004 10:30									#42
	Remove this text

quote: So who's the greatest athlete of all time?

Forest Gump.

	25-04-2004 11:48									#43
	Get a bigger avatar today!

It's real tempting to say Michael Jordan.

but we can't get over the fact he has never scored 100 points in a game. And I believe Wilt Chamberlin has. That's not to say Wilt Chamberlin is better than Michael Jordon . that's far from the truth.

You have to admit basketball in the 80's and 90's is far different than in Chamberilin's days. I suspect back in his day, defense was almost non-existant.

but yet, because Jordon didn't score 100 points, I have trouble nominating him.

I'm more tempted to say Walter Peyton or Barry Sanders. Emitt is good, but he took a few too many carries to break the record.

although perhaps I should choose a QB? They require more skill and intelligence. They have to think on the fly. there are so many great QB's to choose from. I wouldn't know where to start. Steve Young has always been one of my favourite's. His accuracy rating was impressive. Same with Dan Marino. Joe Montana was no slouch. I'm still a big Peyton Manning fan (his career is still ongoing).

let's not forget Ryan Leaf

	25-04-2004 11:59									#44
	Remove this text

Ryan Leaf


My vote goes for Carl Lewis

What about Bo Jackson though?

	25-04-2004 12:26									#45
	Got spare money?

What's the name of that porn star guy who is in his 50s and still making movies?

	25-04-2004 12:33									#46
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations

Sergei Bubka also deserves a honorable mention. He has bettered his own WR 35 times. He totaly dominated pole vault and it is very likely that the record will remain his in the near future.

	25-04-2004 12:38									#47
	Increase the size of your Attachments

It can be really difficult to compare between sports.

One way to look at it is to determine how many different movements and thought processes the position requires. This is why I choose Quarterbacks over Running backs (despite Walter Peyton being one amazing althlete). And why I can't say Michael Jordan is the best. Jordon does have a lot of moves. But really, it's all about running, jumping, shooting, and good ball handling. I think a Quarterback requires more skill and definately more intelligence. A Quarterback has to run, jump, throw more accurately than a shooter in basketball, read defenses, memorize playbooks, call audibles, and face terrifying lineman, and linbackers.

And for the same reason I would choose american football over most sports (I'm not familiar with all of them though). Bowling- crap. Golf- crap. Baseball- steroid crap. Basketball (mentioned above). Hockey- that's just beathing the **** out of each other , high jump- jumping high, running- well that's just running , bycycling- that's just rotating a gear with your feat and making minor steering adjustments, darts- that's a game you play when you're drunk

	25-04-2004 14:00									#48
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

quote: Originally posted by Frankychan A tie between Muhammad Ali and Lance Armstrong. Who else do you know that kicked the crap out of cancer, then won the Tour de France more than once?

Cancer Shmancer. Greg LeMond got shot.

	26-04-2004 08:13									#49
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

Damn, Laz beat me to it...

	26-04-2004 09:44									#50
	Inflate your Upload Space

Jim Thorpe

	26-04-2004 10:20									#51
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization III: Complete

quote: Originally posted by Kucinich Don't you mean Hercules?

Same person. Hercules is the Roman name, Heracles is the Greek Name.

	26-04-2004 10:36									#52
	Suffering from ads?

The man who went back to Auburn and got his degree the same quarter I started there...

Vincent Edward "Bo" Jackson.

There's something extremely satisfying about seeing a guy you've had a beer with mentioned in a "greatest athlete" thread on 'Poly.

Greatest non-athlete athlete would have to be another Auburn product I've had a beer with (just a couple of months ago here in Birmingham), Charles Barkley. Even with my obvious bias, I'm tempted to name John Kruk, though, for his classic line "Lady, I'm no athlete. I'm a baseball player."

	26-04-2004 10:41									#53
	Suffering from ads?

quote: Originally posted by mactbone Real athletes play multiple sprts UR. Like Jim Thorpe the greatest guy athlete ever.

That would make decatheon'ers the greatest athletes.

	26-04-2004 10:43									#54
	Support Apolyton, pre-order Civilization IV

http://espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00014147.html

"The first to prove a girl could be a stud athlete, Babe Didrikson began as a muscular phenomenon who mastered many sports and ended as a brilliant golfer. An exuberant tomboy whose life was athletics, she was accomplished in just about every sport - basketball, track, golf, baseball, tennis, swimming, diving, boxing, volleyball, handball, bowling, billiards, skating and cycling. When asked if there was anything she didn't play, she said, "Yeah, dolls." "


Fanny Blankers-Koen:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/siforwomen/top_100/26/

First woman to win four golds at a single Olympics

Francina Koen was 18 when at the 1936 Berlin Games she experienced her first Olympic highlight: approaching U.S. legend Jesse Owens and asking for an autograph.

	26-04-2004 10:51									#55
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization: The Boardgame

I think that all of you selfish ba****ds are forgetting who the real hero is....


Christopher Reeve!

Really though I think that you have to rule out any nascar driver, especially that stupid arsed earnhardt moron.

To judge best athlete, I think it has to be someone who puts up with considerable pain, or at least has to use most of their muscles. But body Builders don't count, b/c the governator can't be considered for this list.
Maybe a gladiator, or an AMerican Galdiator,

I guess I'll nominate Arnold Palmer. He was the greatest. And yes I am serious about htta one.

	26-04-2004 11:33									#56
	Way to prove the man's point... Tired of ads?

quote: That would make decatheon'ers the greatest athletes.

Exactly, which is why 1912 Olympic gold-medal decathlete Jim Thorpe is the greatest athlete of all time.

	26-04-2004 11:47									#57
	Enter the AD-FREE zone

quote: Originally posted by cinch Gretz.

Worship in the face of your one, true God!

	26-04-2004 11:53									#58
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

1. Ted Striker
2. Jim Thorpe
3. Michael Jordan

	26-04-2004 11:59									#59
	Inflate your Upload Space

Gretzky is better at baseball than Ted Striker, and Michael Jordan most likely.

	26-04-2004 11:59									#60
	Support Apolyton, pre-order Civilization IV

1. The tiny japanese guy who can eat more than 50 hot dogs (+ buns) in 12 minutes. (link)
2. Ted Striker (link)
3. Robocop (link)