|
|
|
|
|
| |
| who is the number 1 sporting legend?
Posted: 6/20/2006 8:57:31 AM | Interesting picks, Marathonman....however I must address your golf comments. I won't tell you that I think golf requires some superior athletic prowess, that would be silly. but it is a sport. Especially w/ the component of walking the course as pros do. Granted they don't have to carry their bags(all the rest of us that play do carry our own bags), but it's roughly a 3-4 mile walk around a golf course. You must have exceptional hand eye coordination and the strength to generate clubhead speed. You must possess some stamina and there is at least as much physical activity as baseball, gymnastics, or some of the more sedentary track and field events(shotput, hammer throw, discus, high jump...etc.) Some people even play speed golf where you run to your next shot.
There are as many fat assed relief pichers in baseball as there are fat golfers. Play a round sometime carrying your own bag and afterwards tell me if you don't think it requires some athletic ability. I'm not saying its soccer or the NBA...but it is a sport. | |
|
| who is the number 1 sporting legend?
Posted: 6/20/2006 10:23:52 AM |  We're all forgetting the Legend that is Wade Boggs...anyone who can "allegedly" drink 64 beers on a flight from Boston to LA deserves to be mentioned | |
|
| who is the number 1 sporting legend?
Posted: 6/25/2006 10:40:42 PM | Jim Brown if my favorite sporting legend. Many consider him the best football player of all time.
But I'd have to say Lance Armstrong, for all he's faced and done. | |
|
Sidmo
|
Joined: 5/16/2006
Msg: 130 | |
| |
| who is the number 1 sporting legend?
Posted: 6/26/2006 1:45:36 AM | ok i'm going to go with a weird one that isn't well know but was at his time.
harvey pulford
-captained the silver seven to 3 stanley cups from 1903-1906, won canadian football titles 1898, 1899 and 1990, won the eastern canada light-heavy weight and heavy weight boxing championships,, key member of the ottawa capitals lacross team, won numours international honers in paddleing and rowing, and don't forget his ottawa championship in squash 1922-1923 and you have the best unheard of athlete to say the least.
ok but really i don't think there can be a alltime one best, there is 2 many sports. thats why i did that cause you can't really say anyone else has won that much different stuff ever before or again.
i don't think there is a right answer for a single player, for team sports you might be able to build a team of legands that would be the best. where would grezky have been without his linemates and team? if montana had no wide recivers to cacth the ball what would have happend? same with any team sport one guy can't win it all, that being said great players make players around them better so its a "six in one a half dozen in the other" kind of thing.
so i'll go with
Rocky Marciano 49w 0L 43ko
Lance (i love my bike) Armstrong
Royce Gracie (won 3 of first 4 ufc's, no one has ever made him tap out)
i'm to tired to think of more but not even going to try with team sports enless i could pick a whole team. | |
|
red5
|
Joined: 4/11/2006
Msg: 132 | |
| who is the number 1 sporting legend?
Posted: 6/26/2006 5:34:52 AM | To qualify as a legend, you have to be known worldwide and acknowledged as a great, or the greatest in your sport...
So... Mohamed Ali must be in with a shout
As are Pele, Maradona, Shane Warne, Jack Nichols, Michael Shumacher, Martina Navratilova and Carl Lewis.
Babe Ruth or Ty Cobb
Johnny Unitas or Jim Brown
Wilt Chamberlin or Michael Jordan
AJ Foyt or Richard Petty
I've never heard of most of these people... So by definition, their legendary status is pretty low..
A true legend would get mobbed in Calcutta, Sydney, Beijing and London..
I think Ali is the only one to qualify here.. followed a close second by Pele
I don't think you could say the same about "Johnny Unitas" (is he even a real person), Wilt Chamberlain and Aj Foyt (who the hell?!!) | |
|
| who is the number 1 sporting legend?
Posted: 6/26/2006 7:03:16 AM | "Shane Warne, Jack Nichols"
And you think anyone knows who the hell these two are? I can understand your not recognizing most on the list you quoted but you are way off on Jordan(think I saw you run him down in another post). You may not recognize him on the street but because of a 20yr marketing relationship w/ Nike(you have heard of them right?) and his being unquestionably the greatest basketball player on the planet, his is one of the most recognizable faces in the world. Foyt and Petty are racers and if you think Schumacher should be included, how can you not know who Foyt is? Great open wheel racer(won Indy 500) who also won the Daytona 500 in stock car racing(NASCAR).
Their "legendary" status is low because you have never heard of them? Who the hell made you the authority. You really need to familiarize yourself w/ the phrase "in my opinion".
"A true legend would get mobbed in Calcutta, Sydney, Beijing and London"
.....and New York, Red. By your own definition, a "true legend" would be recognized there as well.
Noone from tennis is really recognized as a legend here and many would say Jesse Owens is more of a track and field legend than that preening sissy Carl Lewis | |
|
red5
|
Joined: 4/11/2006
Msg: 134 | |
| who is the number 1 sporting legend?
Posted: 6/26/2006 7:22:21 AM | I agree about Jesse Owens.. his achievements were sporting, political and cultural..
Jack Nicklaus is a golfer (I spelt his name wrong the first time) and Warne is recognised as possibly the greatest cricketer of the last 100 years.. and that includes recognition by over a billion people - who cannot be discounted (remember.. on a global scale, cricket is more popular than basketball, baseball and gridiron combined)
Michael Jordon doesn't cut the mustard because, as you say, he is famous for being a walking shoe commercial - no one outside of the US knows much about him as a sportsman
You might as well say OJ Simpson is a legend.. he's certainly well known... but take away the magic gloves and no one really knows much about him
Indy 500 et al are not viewed outside the US.. Formula One is a global event. So Schumacher trumps them all
You see - the thread asks "who is the number 1 sporting legend" - and that means GLOBAL status.. not just status in one country.. so most American sportsmen are excluded because the rest of the world is not interested in the sports they play..
However, Ali (and American) probably holds the title as he is a true legend, known by billions for what he has done in his life. You just can't say that about Jordon
________
People like "Bobby Orr" and "Royce Gracie" (who sounds like his name was made up by an internet name generator) will never be anything more than local, provincial heroes.. greats in their field - but we are dealing with a limited field.
I mean.. no one knows who they are!! | |
|
| who is the number 1 sporting legend?
Posted: 6/26/2006 9:07:18 AM | I agree....must have global impact. I disagree about Jordan though. Ask around. Must be a lot of pressure you deal w/ speaking for the world. Would it be fair to say Red, that even though you know nothing about Jordan, others might? I don't believe there is any documentation designating you the sports authority for the entire world. I'm shocked you even acknowledged Ali.........Yet boxing and futbol are probably the only two sports w/ true worldwide followings(including the US) so it is natural that those two would top the list.
Just as the US should not ignore the popularity worldwide of futbol, it would be unwise to disregard American sports as regional or "quaint". There is not an aspect of our culture(for good or bad)that doesn't get exported and devoured by the rest of the world(movies, fast food, tv, music, etc........). I'm not saying that to be arrogant...just think all your preconcieved notions about Americans and our sports have caused you discount us w/out proper consideration. You make judgements on our sports as though we want to replace yours w/ them. We do not.
"so most American sportsmen are excluded because the rest of the world is not interested in the sports they play.."
Just stop it. You have no idea what people in Russia, China, Brazil, or anywhere else but in the UK(or other loser countries where they play cricket)enjoy. You speak for you and that's it.
| |
|
| who is the number 1 sporting legend?
Posted: 6/26/2006 10:45:37 AM | it depends on the sport.
basketball: Michael Jordan
car racing: Michael Shumacher
american football. i do not know any name
baseball: one man called Baby Ruth as some european newspaper have stated that he is the highest top in baseball as Pele is the highest in football.
football: most of people say Pele but i do disagree,yes Pele is very famous,even he has talked to Clinton and even to Jimmy Cater,however i would say D'istefano,well he was a player of the old mighty Real Madrid and won many european cups in the 50's.Joseph Blatter who is FIFA's chairman always say that D'istefano has been the greatest footballer that he has ever watched and my grandfather DID agree. | |
|
| who is the number 1 sporting legend?
Posted: 6/26/2006 10:54:50 AM | sorry i meant "distefano"
you can know more about him at: http://www.geocities.com/colosseum/bleachers/7429/distefano.htm | |
|
| who is the number 1 sporting legend?
Posted: 6/26/2006 11:00:39 AM | | I do not doubt the futbol prowess of D'istefano, only his impact outside sports. Pele and Ali have spoken w/ kings and heads of state, had global cultural impact, and both addressed the social issues of the day. | |
|
| who is the number 1 sporting legend?
Posted: 6/26/2006 12:36:21 PM | sorry this is the right link: http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Bleachers/7429/DiStefano.htm
if you visit it you will see the best footballer of history | |
|
| who is the number 1 sporting legend?
Posted: 6/26/2006 2:35:12 PM | Pat Robertson: the man who leg pressed TWO THOUSAND POUNDS!!! 
(OR Steve Dalkowski, who threw a 128 mph fastball through a CHAIN LINK FENCE!)
... or maybe Satchel Paige, who was said to have thrown a baseball from home plate through a square foot hole in the centerfield fence... 400 feet...
Or maybe wilma Rudolph, who; it was once said on the Wide World of Sports... once threw a football one hundred yards...
This last one puzzled me as I watched the NFL quarterbacks compete on that day and Doug Williams who was 6'6" and about 250 lbs, only threw out 57 yards...
Wonder why Wilma never played pro ball?
oh well.... | |
|
red5
|
Joined: 4/11/2006
Msg: 141 | |
| who is the number 1 sporting legend?
Posted: 6/26/2006 3:45:29 PM |
Just as the US should not ignore the popularity worldwide of futbol, it would be unwise to disregard American sports as regional or "quaint". There is not an aspect of our culture(for good or bad)that doesn't get exported and devoured by the rest of the world(movies, fast food, tv, music, etc........).
Sport is one massive example of the total absence of US impact on world affairs. Believe it or not, both rugby and cricket enjoy a greater global impact that (ice) hockey, gridiron, baseball or basketball..
so by that definition alone, rugby and cricket greats are going to get a higher "legend" status than anyone from the US sports.
Someone mentioned Lance Armstrong earlier and though I care little for cycling (the sport - not the activity), I can certainly agree he has legendary status (and does a nifty turn in dodgeball)... On the subject of dodgeball, most people I know think it is a made up sport, created for the purposes of the film.. Until I watched southpark the other day, I had no idea it was actually real - we play a similar game involving booting a football against kids standing against a wall..
Pat Robertson: the man who leg pressed TWO THOUSAND POUNDS!!!
It's great that local legends like Pat Robertson get a mention here.. just because they have a tiny global presence, it does not mean that they should not be recognised.. but that recognition only stretches as far as the lower echelons of the league of legends. Still. It's nice to see them there
(what sport does he compete in btw?) | |
|
| who is the number 1 sporting legend?
Posted: 6/26/2006 5:07:50 PM | i guess this question is being answered by fans of one sport or another, but the truly greatest sport legend of all time is got to be a no brainer. MJ sorry not even close,Armstrong no no no, Ali doesn't hold a candle. George Herman Ruth, the babe,the bambino,the sultan of swat.he invented the terms "out in left field" "ruthain" durin world war II japanese yelled "to hell with Babe Ruth at US troops. Before the 1927 WS Ruth and Gehrig won the series in batting practice with their monster bombs. the Pole Ground keeper had to add the foul poles so the umps could tell if ruths massive shots were fair or foul. Dead for over sixty years and every one who knows anything about baseball knows Ruth. that not even talkin about his records him hittin 60 Hrs is like MJ scorin 150 in a game, Ali knockin out ten guys in one night, armstrong winnin 7 straight and nobody else even finishin those races,Tiger would have to make 20 hole in ones.thats what it would be like,when Ruth hit 60 | |
|
| who is the number 1 sporting legend?
Posted: 6/26/2006 8:08:40 PM | I would have to say hands down it would be Jesse Owens
Just one of his feats is listed below:
In a span of 45 minutes on May 25, 1935 at the Big Ten meet in Ann Arbor, Michigan, he tied the record for the 100 yard (91 m) dash and set world records in the long jump, 220 yard (201 m) dash, and the 220 yard (201 m) low hurdles. This incredible feat is widely considered one of the most amazing athletic achievements of all time.
For more on this legend check out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Owens
All this during a time when blacks were not recognized...
A true hero, and the best athlete of all time... | |
|
| who is the number 1 sporting legend?
Posted: 6/27/2006 5:38:59 AM | Red,
"Sport is one massive example of the total absence of US impact on world affairs."
Read that again Red. That is the dumbest thing you've ever said on here. I feel dumber for just having read it.
"It's great that local legends like Pat Robertson get a mention here.. just because they have a tiny global presence, it does not mean that they should not be recognised.. but that recognition only stretches as far as the lower echelons of the league of legends"
Your ignorance exposed again. Robertson is not an athlete. He a Republican extremist who claims to speak w/ God. Thought you were an expert on Republicans. You invoke them in your posts so often.
And I'm tired of you pulling all these inflated numbers for cricket. Yes India and Pakistan play.
Yes thay have large populations. Most of which is probably close to poverty level. The TV's per capita i'm sure is nowhere near the US or UK. Give me some numbers. You are so often wrong in your posts i'm not taking your word for it anymore. Don't just give me populations of nations that play because to assume every person in a nation of a billion is a fan of cricket is stupid. And many of them are more worried about their next meal than a test match. | |
|
red5
|
Joined: 4/11/2006
Msg: 145 | |
| who is the number 1 sporting legend?
Posted: 6/27/2006 10:30:44 AM | Well... as you say, it's always best to put your money where your mouth is.. so I checked out "global sports popularity" on the internet.. guess what I found right at the top of the list.. an American news article on just this subject..
http://www.arc.org/C_Lines/CLArchive/story3_2_05.html
here are a few sample quotes...
Amid the predictable exaggerations and omissions, there was one claim in particular that strayed most egregiously from reality. "Sports may be America's most successful export to the world," the editors wrote. "Whatever the world thinks of us, it loves our games. Major League Baseball is increasingly dominated by Latin players, and there is a growing infusion of talent from Japan and South Korea. Basketball is popular on every continent. And in Europe they now play our football along with their own."
When I shared this last sentence with students in London, they burst out laughing. What is known in the rest of the world as "American football" is a very minor sport in Europe, viewed by many as a testosterone-fuelled freak show.
Michael Jordan's fame outside his native land rests more on his role as a shill for the world's biggest sports shoe company than his achievements on the basketball court
""Sport is one massive example of the total absence of US impact on world affairs."
Read that again Red. That is the dumbest thing you've ever said on here. I feel dumber for just having read it."
Say that again.....
Contrary to the Newsweek dictum, sports are actually one of the U.S.'s least successful exports. Other products of American popular culture--Hollywood films, TV sitcoms, rock-n-roll, rhythm-n-blues, soul, funk, hip-hop, fashion--have all travelled further and penetrated deeper into foreign cultures than the games of baseball, American football, or even basketball.
"And I'm tired of you pulling all these inflated numbers for cricket. Yes India and Pakistan play.
Yes thay have large populations. Most of which is probably close to poverty level. The TV's per capita i'm sure is nowhere near the US or UK. Give me some numbers. You are so often wrong in your posts i'm not taking your word for it anymore. Don't just give me populations of nations that play because to assume every person in a nation of a billion is a fan of cricket is stupid. And many of them are more worried about their next meal than a test match."
I hear yah buddy!!.. but ....
Take, for example, cricket in South Asia, a sport with a fan base of many hundreds of millions. The right to exploit this huge audience via television has recently been divided up between Rupert Murdoch's Star TV and Disney's ESPN. The principal sponsors of the Indian and Pakistani cricket teams--whose stars are household names across one-fifth of humanity--are Pepsi and Coca Cola. | |
|
| who is the number 1 sporting legend?
Posted: 6/27/2006 1:55:39 PM | OK.....first...maybe an american site yet authors name is Tram Nguyen. Very American.
Second...no citing of his sources other than the Newsweek(which by the way is a magazine someone might have heard of)in which the article ran that this guy is refuting.
So do I buy the article by one of the most well-respected US news magazines or do I believe the one written by an Asian living in California for a magazine that noone even knew existed.
It's a good start but you'll have to come up w/ a little better source.
""Sport is one massive example of the total absence of US impact on world affairs."
Read that again Red. That is the dumbest thing you've ever said on here. I feel dumber for just having read it."
Say that again.....
"Contrary to the Newsweek dictum, sports are actually one of the U.S.'s least successful exports. Other products of American popular culture--Hollywood films, TV sitcoms, rock-n-roll, rhythm-n-blues, soul, funk, hip-hop, fashion--have all travelled further and penetrated deeper into foreign cultures than the games of baseball, American football, or even basketball."
Forget the sports part of the sentence.
It was dumb comment to say that there is a total absence of US impact on world affairs and you know it.
But I do not doubt Coke and Pepsi are involved. They and Budwieser are the biggest corporate whores on the planet.
Now show me how enlightened you are. Go read the Newsweek article he mentions too. You wouldn't want to just have one side of the story would you?.......Yeah...i'm sure you would. | |
|
red5
|
Joined: 4/11/2006
Msg: 147 | |
| who is the number 1 sporting legend?
Posted: 6/27/2006 4:58:23 PM | ""Sport is one massive example of the total absence of US impact on world affairs."
Yeah - that's a****up on my behalf. Obviously the US has a bigger impact on world affairs than any other nation
I meant to say that sport was one area where it has very little impact. | |
|
| |
| who is the number 1 sporting legend?
Posted: 7/4/2006 4:20:49 PM | | Bill Russell. There''s no one of even close in comaparison. Walked side by side at Equal Rights movements with the likes of Dr.Martin Luther King Jr., and Malcom X. While a player in the N.B.A. Technically the very first African American coach in the NBA. Part of the Green Machine that won 8 straight N.B.A. championships(a record that will never fall now,compliments of Michael Jordan''''s first retirement). Lance Armstrong retired too early too! Bill Russell won 13 N.B.A. championships overall! More titles for one sport player period. Gretzky doesn''t have those(team) credentials. Bill Russell only played for one team! Not Gretzky. While trying to change the worlds opinion, that black people have equal rights too.(I Agree) Including refusing to play his great sport, when the Hotel the Celtics were staying in, wouldn''t serve colored people. The man who took over for arguably the greatest N.B.A. coach ever (Red Arbach). Bill russell wasn''t regarded as what he should be. He didn''t like the media, like Ali or Michael Jordan. And, he wasn''t as selfish as Ruth (who is a joke). He beat his wife(automatic expulsion from voting) If your going to use Ali''s fighting credentials...only Rocky Marciano finished as an undefeated champ.49 wins-0 losses-43 knockouts. Not Ali. Russell thought the spotlight, should be on the less fortunate peoples of the world. You want to show someone attention...feed some hungry children in Africa, and get the camera out of his face. The Greatest Unknown Legend, in sports history. Hands down. | |
|
| who is the number 1 sporting legend?
Posted: 7/5/2006 7:15:28 AM | Ali then Pele
As for all the rest, no one outside North America gives a flying shite as to who they are if they'd ever heard of them, and as such aren't in the same class. | |
|
|
| Page 6 of 17
|
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 |
|
Home
login 
