Greatest Athlete "at his peak"?

• rydawg5

  It seems like it's hard for people to have this discussion "greatest athlete" without making it a "greatest player" argument.
  
  For some reason, we can't separate the two.
  
  97.1thefan was discussing Bo Jackson (being in the top 10) but then all of a sudden he was below Babe Ruth in rank of "greatest athlete"
  
  You just can't talk about going for "most skilled athletic ability" without going to "how many championships" "stats" "longevity" examples - then all of a sudden you aren't seeing who was the best skilled athlete..
  
  My Logic...
  
  Line up ALL athletes in the PEAK of their prime.. Who do you pick if you want the best athlete on your team in his PEAK versus ALL OTHER ATHLETES.
  
  
  Bo Jackson (Skilled athlete - can dominate anything he wants) - raw speed, power, skill
  
  Basketball is a hard sport to define the athletes. Because you have to be tall to dominate, that doesn't necessarily mean Rajon isn't the best "athlete" - In fact his "athletic" ability probably has to be greater than Lebron James since he is so much shorter. The smaller athletes almost have to have more athletic ability to maintain their presence in a league filled with good athletes who are taller.
  
  
  You have Raw Athletes - Line them up to run (they fast) but not skilled (havent yet learned the skill)
  
  If you put Bo out on a soccer field on day 1 with no practice. He wouldnt be good at all, but he'd still be the best athlete out there.
  
  Some guy on the bench in the NFL or NBA MAY be the best athlete period. We wouldn't even know.
• september63

  

  Mt thoughts are the topic is in the wrong forum?
• rydawg5

  september63;1340755 wrote:Mt thoughts are the topic is in the wrong forum?

  If this isn't serious business I dont know what is? Why are you so concerned about what forum it's in? Do you need the rule & order to feel good inside? You think the forum police are going to leave a quarter under your pillow at night? I got news for you, and I've seen it a hundred times. First, you want rule & order, next thing you know you have marshall law, and you're being "banned for life" with "comments that are unbecoming". Is that the world you wanna live in?
• justincredible

  

  rydawg5;1340758 wrote:If this isn't serious business I dont know what is? Why are you so concerned about what forum it's in? Do you need the rule & order to feel good inside? You think the forum police are going to leave a quarter under your pillow at night? I got news for you, and I've seen it a hundred times. First, you want rule & order, next thing you know you have marshall law, and you're being "banned for life" with "comments that are unbecoming". Is that the world you wanna live in?

  I lol'd.
• Hb31187

  

  Jim Brown certainly has to be up there, along with Bo, Deion, ect ect
• Rotinaj

  

  Luke Harangody.
• Sonofanump

  I guess I tend to lean toward great multi sport athletes because I view the versatility as being extreme athletic:
  
  1) Thorpe
  2) Brown
  3) Jackson
  4) Zaharius
  5) J Robinson
• sleeper

  

  Calvin Johnson
  Lebron James
• hasbeen

  

  David Wells
• captvern

  ashton eaton
• Ironman92

  

  Russell Westbrook
  Ted Ginn
  
  Bo is way up there. Young Dave Winfield drafted in all 3 sports. Herschel Walker.
• cat_lover

  Jesse Owens
  Bo Jackson
• Laley23

  

  First 3 that come to mind:
  
  Jim Thorpe
  Bo Jackson
  Deion Sanders
  
  Under the radar guy is Antwaan Randle El. Not many know he played basketball for Bobby Knight at Indiana and was drafted into the MLB by the Cubs. What he did at Indiana as a dual threat QB was pretty rare at the time and then converted to WR in the NFL.
• Pick6

  

  Laley23;1340905 wrote:First 3 that come to mind:
  
  Jim Thorpe
  Bo Jackson
  Deion Sanders
  
  Under the radar guy is Antwaan Randle El. Not many know he played basketball for Bobby Knight at Indiana and was drafted into the MLB by the Cubs. What he did at Indiana as a dual threat QB was pretty rare at the time and then converted to WR in the NFL.

  Did not know that.
  
  I think I have to add Lebron. I really think he could be a stud in football, even know we will never see him play.
• GOONx19

  

  Baseball was Jackie Robinson's worst sport at UCLA. He played football and basketball and ran track. Also won the long jump one year, I think.
  
  Also, Kenny Lofton.
• Laley23

  

  Pick6;1340917 wrote:Did not know that.
  
  I think I have to add Lebron. I really think he could be a stud in football, even know we will never see him play.

  I assume you mean the Basketball and MLB part?? He is a freak athlete, as are all those mentioned on here.
  
  I believe Randle El was the first ever 40-40 guy in NCAA. 40 rushing and passing TDs, but not sure. At Indiana, thats remarkable lol. Think he was 5th in the Heisman voting as a SR.
• pmoney25

  

  Carl Lewis
  
  Other than the obvious. He was drafted by both the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bulls.
• Commander of Awesome

  

  Jim Brown /thread.
  
  He's in three sport HoFs
• ernest_t_bass

  

  Lebron James
  
  I honestly feel that 2nd place is a long way away.
• Ghmothwdwhso

  Jesse Owens, no doubt.
  
  Read up on this guy, if you haven't already.
• Classyposter58

  

  ernest_t_bass;1340951 wrote:Lebron James
  
  I honestly feel that 2nd place is a long way away.

  6'8" 270 lbs and possibly one of the fastest, most agile people in sports today. Scary to think about really
• ernest_t_bass

  

  Classyposter58;1340955 wrote:6'8" 270 lbs and possibly one of the fastest, most agile people in sports today. Scary to think about really

  
  Would have LOVED to see what he could have done in the NFL.
• wildcats20

  

  ernest_t_bass;1340956 wrote:Would have LOVED to see what he could have done in the NFL.

  
  Based on his pussiness in the NBA, probably not much.
• Commander of Awesome

  

  wildcats20;1340957 wrote:Based on his pussiness in the NBA, probably not much.

  Boom! Reps
• said_aouita

  

  Can't believe nobody has mentioned one of the most obvious GOAT athlete nominations- Aston Eaton
  WR holder Decathlon.
  
  
  
  Reminds me of a funny Bruce Jenner meets Tiger Woods story. Tiger asked Bruce, "hows your golf game?" Jenner replied, "better than your pole vault"