15-07-2002 04:54									#1
	Who is the greatest sportsman of the 20th century? Avatar Enlargement: We've got the solution

My pick would be Muhammad Ali, whose probably more popular outside of the United States than at home. Other contenders in boxing would be Joe Lewis and Rocky Marciano.

I'm not making this a poll because I don't want to limit the choices but maybe we could make a poll after getting nominations here.

Other greats that spring to mind would be Pele in soccer and Jack Niclaus in golf.

There must be a few Olympians who would be contenders - Mark Spitz in mens swimming for example or Dawn Fraser in women's swimming.

Tennis star's - Martina Navratilova? Steffi Graf? Margaret Court? Rod Laver? Bjorn Borg?

We're looking for people here who were unbeatable and totally dominated their sport.

But who is the greatest of the greatest? I think we should mark them on ability and character too. People who you thought were heroes.

	15-07-2002 05:01									#2
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Either Muhammad Ali or that old guy from veterans tennis who does all the ... tricks.

If you've ever seen him you'll know who I mean....

	15-07-2002 05:04									#3
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Pele is a great pick.

Beckenbauer can be added to the list as well, I think, and Maradona would have if he hadn't gotten into drugs.

	15-07-2002 05:08									#4
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As the most aggressive, take-no-prisoners Civ player ... Hydey.

	15-07-2002 05:39									#5
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I would say from hockey..either Gordie Howe or Jean Beliveau, may take some of you younguns out of this, had to see them to know them.

Troll

	15-07-2002 05:43									#6
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quote: Originally posted by Troll you younguns

That's the problem with a topic like this - most of the posters here spent the 20th century watching Sesame Street.

I guess this is a topic for the old farts who actually saw Ali box or Nicklaus win a major or 5.

	15-07-2002 05:52									#7
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quote: Originally posted by Alexander's Horse That's the problem with a topic like this - most of the posters here spent the 20th century watching Sesame Street. I guess this is a topic for the old farts who actually saw Ali box or Nicklaus win a major or 5.

I agree..perhaps some folks know what Lady Byng means?..it would help quantify Jean Beliveau..

Troll

	15-07-2002 05:59									#8
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Modern players can be so machine like. The 20th century had some incredible natural talents, mostly not drug enhanced.

I grew up living near an old guy who was a great cyclist - he was heroe, a living legend in France but virtually unknown in Australia. Another old guy retired near my childhood home was a Grand Prix racer in Europe in the early days but hardly had a cent to his name because there wasn't much money in sport in those days. Both of them were really dapper old gents, adventurers basically. You could see their wives would have been real beauties in their day. Neither had any children and were just living quietly in the burbs.

	15-07-2002 06:20									#9
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quote: Other contenders in boxing would be Joe Lewis and Rocky Marciano.

Rocky Balboa was by far the best.

	15-07-2002 06:22									#10
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MICHAEL SCHUMACHER

	15-07-2002 06:28									#11
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quote: Originally posted by Zylka MICHAEL SCHUMACHER

He reminds of the Red Baron of villainy fame. A king of anti heroe, win at all costs, kind of guy.

	15-07-2002 06:30									#12
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cheese?

	15-07-2002 06:34									#13
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quote: Originally posted by MattHiggs Rocky Balboa was by far the best.

That character was based on a guy that Ali beat the crap out of.

	15-07-2002 06:36									#14
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He beat Mr T. The toughest man in the world. Do you know nothing?

	15-07-2002 06:38									#15
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Ted Williams

	15-07-2002 06:41									#16
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And then there's Jim Thorpe or Babe Didrickson (Zaharias), although I'm pretty sure noone here has seen either of them in action.

	15-07-2002 06:43									#17
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I think it would help others if people could say what sport and what they did which made them great.

	15-07-2002 06:46									#18
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Gordie Howe, Rocket Richard, Bobby Orr, Patrique Roy from hockey...

	15-07-2002 06:57									#19
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What sort of Aussie are you who doesn't mention Don Bradman in the same sentence as "greatest sportsperson of the 20th century"?!!! AH, how could you?!!

Other Aussie nominations are;

Dawn Fraser - gold in 3 consecutive olympics in the 100 yards freestyle (could have won four if allowed to swim )

Heather Mackay - NEVER beaten in squash! EVER!!!

Also, i agree with Rod Laver Grand Slams before and after his peak with the potential for a few more if he wasn't banned for being professional puts him as perhaps the greatest tennis player. LEGEND!

As for non-Aussies, definitely Jim Thorpe - apparently unbeatable at just about everything!

Oh, that reminds me - Ian Thorpe is on the way to becoming perhaps the greatest male swimmer ever as well, and he's still a teenager!

	15-07-2002 06:59									#20
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Jesse Owens could be considered. Baseball players can't apply as the game is played in only a handful of countries, though many Americans would nominate Babe Ruth.

	15-07-2002 06:59									#21
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Shane fat-pie-eating-bastard Warne.

is not a contender

	15-07-2002 06:59									#22
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double post

	15-07-2002 07:00									#23
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quote: Originally posted by Lung What sort of Aussie are you who doesn't mention Don Bradman in the same sentence as "greatest sportsperson of the 20th century"?!!!

a. I'm an Irish Catholic so I hate Bradman for his sectarianism.

b. Cricket is a bit obscure for the greatest of the century.

	15-07-2002 07:05									#24
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quote: Originally posted by Alexander's Horse a. I'm an Irish Catholic so I hate Bradman for his sectarianism.

How? By being sectarian? To say that the catholic sectarians in the Australian team were just as bad is putting it as nicely as possible. Sounds like the pot calling the kettle black BTW, i thought you were Australian!

quote: b. Cricket is a bit obscure for the greatest of the century.

Just how many sports are played by all countries?

	15-07-2002 07:06									#25
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Is sex a sport?

	15-07-2002 07:09									#26
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quote: Originally posted by Lung How? By being sectarian? To say that the catholic sectarians in the Australian team were just as bad is putting it as nicely as possible. Sounds like the pot calling the kettle black BTW, i thought you were Australian!

Bradman was a prize c*nt. That's all been glossed over in recent years. He wouldn't even stay in the same hotel as the team. Thought he was God.

He's a villain like Schumacher.

And since when did it become un Australian to dislike Bradman? In his playing days he was widely disliked.

	15-07-2002 07:14									#27
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Maradona.
Pele sucks.

	15-07-2002 07:19									#28
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quote: Originally posted by Alexander's Horse Bradman was a prize c*nt. That's all been glossed over in recent years. He wouldn't even stay in the same hotel as the team. Thought he was God. He's a villain like Schumacher. And since when did it become un Australian to dislike Bradman? In his playing days he was widely disliked.

Boo! Hiss!! If i was religious, i would call it blasphemy

Disrespectful swine

	15-07-2002 07:20									#29
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quote: Originally posted by MattHiggs Shane fat-pie-eating-bastard Warne. is not a contender

What? Not even for pie-eating?

	15-07-2002 09:04									#30
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quote: Originally posted by Lung Boo! Hiss!! If i was religious, i would call it blasphemy Disrespectful swine

Stories of Bradman's sociopathic behaviour and misanthropy are legendary. You have been completely duped. He's about as admirable as Mussolini.