Here's one most people forgot...

[Comanche County]

His name is Jim Thorpe.

 

Now after the close of the Olympics...no one can take anything away from Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt, or any other modern athlete. But there are rumblings of them possibly being greatest athlete ever. Bolt set a record and is pumping his chest, and Phelps has the most medals...that's something no one can taken away from them ever, just like Buster Douglas has the honor of being the first to defeat Mike Tyson, no one else could do that. But do those accomplishments bestow the right to be called the "best athlete ever"? I don't think so.

 

There are few greats,,,anyone remember a guy from Alabama named Bo Jackson? For that matter Deion Sanders? Deion was great too despite what you think about him....they were both absolutely great....but they were all specialists in their sports.

 

In pure toughness and endurance, there's Dean Karnazes and a few other serious ultra-marathoners who could run for days on end. Does anyone remember the name Terry Fox? But they're still single sport athletes, runners.

 

Anyway....guess I'm writing this to give a shout out for an Olympic decathlete and pentathlete champion, some of the toughest overall athletic tests, but he was also a professional football and baseball player, and even a basketball player,,,then he served in WWII....

 

No one in the media remembers an American native named Jim Thorpe anymore....shame. He's a guy American Indians and all Americans should shout out next time someone claims to be the best athlete ever. There's no living athlete that can hold a candle next to Jim Thorpe.

[86customanche]

I agree with all you said. There is an event fromt he Olympics where the winner is pronounced 'the greatest athlete in the world'. Ashton Eaton won that this year and holds the world record in the decathalon. Any and all past decathalon champions are instantly in that conversation of best athlete ever. I can't imagine doing those 10 events in 2 days at that level.

But really, aren't all (or at least most) Oylmpians extrememly talented athletes regardless of the event?

[HOrnbrod]

There are few greats,,,anyone remember a guy from Alabama named Bo Jackson?

I admire anyone who can compete on a world class level in any sport, even obscure stuff I'm not particularly crazy about like table tennis, synchronized swimming, or archery. But for me the best all-around athlete was Bo. He excelled in baseball and football in both college and the pros (Heisman, MVP, Allstar, stolen base record, five consecutive home runs, etc.), had the 100 yd., 40 yd. dash and 100 m. hurdles records for a time, and lots more. The guy could do it all. Just wish he had taken up boxing too, then he would have been the first to beat Tyson. I like Bo though mainly because of his longevity and versatility.

 

Jim Thorpe and Jesse Owens were the greatest in their eras, but all their records have been beaten. And all the records being set today will soon fall to the next generations.

[Dadinator]

You can go on and on about different ones. What about Muhammad Ali? He was decent.

 

And in my opinion, Buster Douglas didn't beat Mike Tyson, Mike Tyson beat Mike Tyson. That dude was crazy and he lost his edge. Ali would have beaten Iron Mike when they both were in their prime.

 

How About Sugar Ray Leonard? Olympic Gold and World Champion in several different weight classes.

My favorite all time boxer by the way.

 

Michael Jordan was a pretty good athlete also.

 

You can dig up all kinds of athletes that could be greatest if you think long enough. I don't think you can call any one greatest athlete.

 

Just greatest in their sport. :dunno:

[Comanche County]

You can go on and on about different ones. What about Muhammad Ali? He was decent.

 

And in my opinion, Buster Douglas didn't beat Mike Tyson, Mike Tyson beat Mike Tyson. That dude was crazy and he lost his edge. Ali would have beaten Iron Mike when they both were in their prime.

 

How About Sugar Ray Leonard? Olympic Gold and World Champion in several different weight classes.

My favorite all time boxer by the way.

 

Michael Jordan was a pretty good athlete also.

 

You can dig up all kinds of athletes that could be greatest if you think long enough. I don't think you can call any one greatest athlete.

 

Just greatest in their sport. :dunno:

 

Good Points.

 

Muhammad Ali was great at convincing people he was the greatest. He never took a dive and fought every contender in the highly talented 1970s heavyweight division, unlike a guy he fought that I believe was better...Sonny Liston. Sonny was a bad, bad man, but he obviously took a dive, after destroying Floyd Patterson he was still game.... there's a reason its called the "phantom punch". On that note, some of the guys Ali fought would have murdered Tyson, like Ken Norton, George Foreman, heck, I'd even put my money on Tex Cobb in that one.

 

Sugar Ray Leonard was good, but he never lived up to his namesake Sugar Ray Robinson. None the less he was one of our greatest fighters for sure.

 

I guess I posted this after being frustrated watching these sportscasters who don't know a lick of history interview these new athletes and allow them to boast without checking their egos. For all around athleticism there are only a few who achieved world class levels of success. I didn't know about Bo Jackson's track records but it doesn't surprise me. He and Jim Thorpe have got to be in the top five holy grail-esque athlete club if there ever is one.

 

Here's my top five, taken from a shade tree poll of an audience in my backyard that consisted of only me, based on the following criteria: 1. Most sports played successfully at the highest level. 2. Because I like them.

1. Jim Thorpe

2. Bo Jackson, only because he never went to the Olympics, or he'd be first,,,,most definitely the best in modern times.

3. Dione Sanders

4. Jack Johnson, the prototypical modern heavy weight fighter....never would have been defeated but he took a dive for Jess Willard in the 26th round of a 45 round fight in 1915.

5. Babe Ruth, if he never hit a home run, he still would have been elected to the hall of fame for his pitching. No other pitcher has even come close to what he did.

 

Honorable Mentions in no particular order:

Michael Jordan

Lance Armstrong

...and because I'm partial to boxing and the level of fitness required:

Jack Dempsey

Rocky Marciano

Roberto Duran

Sugar Ray Robinson

Willie Pep

Ali

Joe Louis

Emile Griffith, he actually killed opponents in the ring.

[Dadinator]

Tex Cobb. Hadn't heard that name in quite awhile.

Dude could take a punch like no other.

 

Larry Holmes beat him like an unwanted stepchild for 15 rounds and the dude kept coming after him.

Afterwards, he was on the tonight show and told Johnny Carson that he wanted to fight Holmes again, but the next time in a phone booth. He was a funny guy.

[HOrnbrod]

Boxing is my favorite sport, even with all the controversy going on today. Leonard, the little Ali wannabee, couldn't hold a candle to the real Sugar Ray. Too much pitty-pat and running. The style of guys like him, Ali, Mayweather, etc. I never cared for, although the Ali - Frazier fights were all great. Nothing made me happier back in the day than seeing Leonard trying to slug it out with Duran and lose a 15 round UD unanimously. My son and I saw that fight live at the Hampton Coliseum, PPV at the time, and we had to be the only Duran fans in the house. We both went bananas and were glad to get out of there in one piece. Leonard never went toe-to-toe with a big puncher again. :D Some of my all-time favorites who never failed to put on a great show are/were:

 

Smokin Joe - Little HW, big left hook with heartus maximus

Ernie Shavers - No defense, but a monstrous one punch KO artist

Alexis Arguello - One of the best boxer/punchers ever until he ran into Pryor

Salvador Sánchez - I think he could have been the greatest Mexican fighter ever had he not died young

Danny "Little Red" Lopez - An absolute joy to watch

Larry Holmes - Great heavyweight who fought in the wrong era, dominated everyone

Julio Cesar Chavez - Senior. His kid is okay, but will never catch up to Dad

Marvin Hagler - One tough SOB. My dad knew him well

Wilfred Benitez - Best fighter ever from Puerto Rico

Rafael Márquez and Israel Vázquez - Their trilogy was the best ever.

 

I could go on and on. There really aren't many fighters today who turn me on like the above, except for one; Manny Pacquiao. When's the last time Pacman ever gave a bad fight? Although lately he appears to be slowing down a bit. I don't give a dayem anymore if he ever fights Mayweather, the ultimate jerk.

[carnuck]

His name is Jim Thorpe.

 

Now after the close of the Olympics...no one can take anything away from Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt, or any other modern athlete. But there are rumblings of them possibly being greatest athlete ever. Bolt set a record and is pumping his chest, and Phelps has the most medals...that's something no one can taken away from them ever, just like Buster Douglas has the honor of being the first to defeat Mike Tyson, no one else could do that. But do those accomplishments bestow the right to be called the "best athlete ever"? I don't think so.

 

There are few greats,,,anyone remember a guy from Alabama named Bo Jackson? For that matter Deion Sanders? Deion was great too despite what you think about him....they were both absolutely great....but they were all specialists in their sports.

 

In pure toughness and endurance, there's Dean Karnazes and a few other serious ultra-marathoners who could run for days on end. Does anyone remember the name Terry Fox? But they're still single sport athletes, runners.

 

Anyway....guess I'm writing this to give a shout out for an Olympic decathlete and pentathlete champion, some of the toughest overall athletic tests, but he was also a professional football and baseball player, and even a basketball player,,,then he served in WWII....

 

No one in the media remembers an American native named Jim Thorpe anymore....shame. He's a guy American Indians and all Americans should shout out next time someone claims to be the best athlete ever. There's no living athlete that can hold a candle next to Jim Thorpe.

 

There's rumblings that Michael Phelps may lose his medals due to ad photos leaked before the Olympics were over.

[Dadinator]

Boxing is my favorite sport, even with all the controversy going on today. Leonard, the little Ali wannabee, couldn't hold a candle to the real Sugar Ray. Too much pitty-pat and running. The style of guys like him, Ali, Mayweather, etc. I never cared for, although the Ali - Frazier fights were all great. Nothing made me happier back in the day than seeing Leonard trying to slug it out with Duran and lose a 15 round UD unanimously. My son and I saw that fight live at the Hampton Coliseum, PPV at the time, and we had to be the only Duran fans in the house. We both went bananas and were glad to get out of there in one piece. Leonard never went toe-to-toe with a big puncher again. :D Some of my all-time favorites who never failed to put on a great show are/were:

 

Smokin Joe - Little HW, big left hook with heartus maximus

Ernie Shavers - No defense, but a monstrous one punch KO artist

Alexis Arguello - One of the best boxer/punchers ever until he ran into Pryor

Salvador Sánchez - I think he could have been the greatest Mexican fighter ever had he not died young

Danny "Little Red" Lopez - An absolute joy to watch

Larry Holmes - Great heavyweight who fought in the wrong era, dominated everyone

Julio Cesar Chavez - Senior. His kid is okay, but will never catch up to Dad

Marvin Hagler - One tough SOB. My dad knew him well

Wilfred Benitez - Best fighter ever from Puerto Rico

Rafael Márquez and Israel Vázquez - Their trilogy was the best ever.

 

I could go on and on. There really aren't many fighters today who turn me on like the above, except for one; Manny Pacquiao. When's the last time Pacman ever gave a bad fight? Although lately he appears to be slowing down a bit. I don't give a dayem anymore if he ever fights Mayweather, the ultimate jerk.

 

Leonard had more punch than people gave him credit for. Loved that fight with Duran. Even though he lost.

 

Leonard came back and beat Duran with the famous "No Mas" fight. Smart enough not to slug it out with him again.

He also took the title from Wilfred "the bible of boxing" Benitez and Hagler. Though it pissed Hagler off so much that he retired.

A lot of people thought he didn't do enough to take Haglers title. I disagree. I watched it over and over. If Marvin hadn't pissed away the first 4 rounds thinking he would knock SR out, he would probably have won because the rest of the fight was pretty even.

 

I Like most people on your list as well. My all time favorite fight was the 3 round blitz between Marvelous Marvin and Tommy Hearns. Over 180 punches thrown in the first round. Hearns breaks his hand on Haglers Head. Hagler Knocks him loopy in the third. Great fight. Do you remember the Pizza Hut commercial Hagler did right after that fight. It was hilarious.

 

I believe that Ali said that Shavers hit him harder than anyone.

 

I was a big fan of Holmes as well. Agree with everything you said about him. Great jab!

[Incommando]

Meh. Boxing is and always has been about one step above wrasslin' for legitimacy. Paid dives occur far more often than anyone wants to admit throughout the many different levels of boxing. Any sport that hides the "score" until the very end to keep down crowd outrage and then they surprise you with a winner is pretty suspect. If they posted the scores after every round it would prevent some of the shenanigans...so they don't. It would be extremely easy to post scores after every round yet they refuse to do it. If a POS like Don King can thrive in the field you know it is less than pure...