USCHO Fan Forum
This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
-
The USCHO Fan Forum has migrated to a new plaform, xenForo. Most of the function of the forum should work in familiar ways. Please note that you can switch between light and dark modes by clicking on the gear icon in the upper right of the main menu bar. We are hoping that this new platform will prove to be faster and more reliable. Please feel free to explore its features.
The Greatest Athlete of All-time
- Thread starter bigblue_dl
- Start date
Re: The Greatest Athlete of All-time
I wouldn't classify A. J. Foyt as an athlete. But he was something special in his racing days. It was worth it to watch the broadcasts of Indy just to see what he'd say to Chris Economaki when he left the race. Generally, A. J. had two answers to the question: "what went wrong (or its variants)" A. "The G*d d*amned thing broke." or B. "How the ***** should I know?" More than once IIRC, he offered to stick Economaki's mike somewhere painful.
If bbdl is considering horse racing, golf, and auto racing "sports," then yes.
I wouldn't classify A. J. Foyt as an athlete. But he was something special in his racing days. It was worth it to watch the broadcasts of Indy just to see what he'd say to Chris Economaki when he left the race. Generally, A. J. had two answers to the question: "what went wrong (or its variants)" A. "The G*d d*amned thing broke." or B. "How the ***** should I know?" More than once IIRC, he offered to stick Economaki's mike somewhere painful.
manurespreader
Still upright
Re: The Greatest Athlete of All-time
here's my vote. I used to think thorpe was the man but i've changed my mind. This guy make everyone else look like slugs. imho the greatest ever. BTW he can fill a 50,000 seat stadium all by himself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u18_-87Pb6U
here's my vote. I used to think thorpe was the man but i've changed my mind. This guy make everyone else look like slugs. imho the greatest ever. BTW he can fill a 50,000 seat stadium all by himself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u18_-87Pb6U
Re: The Greatest Athlete of All-time
I don't know if he's the greatest of all time, but ever since I saw him compete in 1977 at the Division III NCAAs at little Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI, I have thought that the great track star Edwin Moses was quite the example of the scholar-athlete-olympian-citizen. Edwin Moses
I don't know if he's the greatest of all time, but ever since I saw him compete in 1977 at the Division III NCAAs at little Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI, I have thought that the great track star Edwin Moses was quite the example of the scholar-athlete-olympian-citizen. Edwin Moses
UMDbulldogs#1
Finally
Re: The Greatest Athlete of All-time
Those were also the first two names that popped into my head. Carl Lewis, Prefontaine, Spitz, Phelps, Hicham El Guerrouj (world record holder for the mile run), and a handful of alpine skiers were others. Regardless, anyone who excelled in multiple disciplines would have a leg up on a one sport athlete IMO.
Those were also the first two names that popped into my head. Carl Lewis, Prefontaine, Spitz, Phelps, Hicham El Guerrouj (world record holder for the mile run), and a handful of alpine skiers were others. Regardless, anyone who excelled in multiple disciplines would have a leg up on a one sport athlete IMO.
Last edited:
MavHockey14
New member
bigblue_dl
Armed
Re: The Greatest Athlete of All-time
What I consider "the greatest athlete" to be would be someone who combines many aspects of being an athlete. An athlete that excels at one thing, like endurance, for example or even mental toughness isn't good enough. The best endurance athlete would probably be the best triathlete ever, someone who is the most mental tough can stand strong in any pressure situations. You can have someone with great hand-eye coordination with no endurance. The best ever should combine all of these, IMO.
What I consider "the greatest athlete" to be would be someone who combines many aspects of being an athlete. An athlete that excels at one thing, like endurance, for example or even mental toughness isn't good enough. The best endurance athlete would probably be the best triathlete ever, someone who is the most mental tough can stand strong in any pressure situations. You can have someone with great hand-eye coordination with no endurance. The best ever should combine all of these, IMO.
Re: The Greatest Athlete of All-time
The late Toni Sailer and Jean Claude Killy come quickly to mind when you mention Alpine skiiers.
The late Toni Sailer and Jean Claude Killy come quickly to mind when you mention Alpine skiiers.
bigblue_dl
Armed
Re: The Greatest Athlete of All-time
I guess I would say that I would consider the greatest athlete ever to be the best ever, at the most difficult sport that there is. Meaning I'd go with Muhammad Ali.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/sportSkills
I have Secretariat on the list.Kyle Rau? (wait, that's another thread)
does Secretariat count? true he was a one trick pony ... endurance ... but he also had a pretty fabulous follow up career that could count as "sport"
I guess I would say that I would consider the greatest athlete ever to be the best ever, at the most difficult sport that there is. Meaning I'd go with Muhammad Ali.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/sportSkills
Re: The Greatest Athlete of All-time
Is it entirely correct to say Secretariat was "just" endurance? Each quarter mile he ran in the Derby was faster than the last. And that run in the Belmont stakes was one of the most stunning performances ever. And the record he set that day has never been approached in the 30 years since. So it's a bit more than just endurance, isn't it?
Kyle Rau? (wait, that's another thread)
does Secretariat count? true he was a one trick pony ... endurance ... but he also had a pretty fabulous follow up career that could count as "sport"
Is it entirely correct to say Secretariat was "just" endurance? Each quarter mile he ran in the Derby was faster than the last. And that run in the Belmont stakes was one of the most stunning performances ever. And the record he set that day has never been approached in the 30 years since. So it's a bit more than just endurance, isn't it?
bigblue_dl
Armed
Re: The Greatest Athlete of All-time
Secretariat is not endurance, Secretariat had pure speed, I don't consider it endurance when the race lasts 2 minutes.
Re: The Greatest Athlete of All-time
Yup. Look at the archival video of the young Ali. Most guys would sell their souls to look like he did for an hour. He looked like that every day.
Yup. Look at the archival video of the young Ali. Most guys would sell their souls to look like he did for an hour. He looked like that every day.
state of hockey
He fixes the cable?
Re: The Greatest Athlete of All-time
Secretariat was speed AND endurance. That's what made him special. His time and margin of victory at the Belmont are absolutely nuts.
Secretariat was speed AND endurance. That's what made him special. His time and margin of victory at the Belmont are absolutely nuts.
huskyfan
New member
Re: The Greatest Athlete of All-time
of course of course. I just wanted to get the "one trick pony" line in. speed and endurance - for thoroughbreds 2:00 is a long time.
of course of course. I just wanted to get the "one trick pony" line in. speed and endurance - for thoroughbreds 2:00 is a long time.
state of hockey
He fixes the cable?
Running as hard as you can for two minutes and still be accelerating is impressive for any animal.
Re: The Greatest Athlete of All-time
Animals are not athletes. Sorry, but they are not.
What's next? Let's find some greyhound racing champion! Woo hoo!
Back to horses, what about dressage (basically horse dancing)? Horse racing : skating races = dressage : ice dancing
Animals are not athletes. Sorry, but they are not.
What's next? Let's find some greyhound racing champion! Woo hoo!
Back to horses, what about dressage (basically horse dancing)? Horse racing : skating races = dressage : ice dancing