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Greatest sportsman of our generation

AFKABartramAFKABartram
edited August 2006 in Other Football and Sports
well, the last 10 years.

I think when it comes to excellence, individual sports completely overwrite team sports in this instance. Roy Jones was the best pound for pound boxer in this periodbut has spoilt it by going on for so long. Michael Johnson was probably the most naturally gifted athlete there has been for decades, while Michael Schumaker is indeed the very best, how much impact does the technical side have ?

For me, it boild down to two men. Federer didn't just end Pete Sampras' dominance, he has taken it too another level, but Tiger Woods is so far and away of everyone in his sport its astounding. Woods for me.

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Comments

  • LoOkOuTLoOkOuT
    For sheer determination and utter bullishness, with a healthy does of celebrity cult status, it has to be our man Kish.
  • Charlton DanCharlton Dan
    Matt Holland
  • carlingaddickcarlingaddick
    technology has played too much of a role in getting sport to where it is today..
    Give federer a wooden racket against conners or Borg & he'd lose
    If Woods play with a set of clubs 20/30 yrs old, would he be able to drive the ball the same distance or accuracy he can now?
  • AFKABartramAFKABartram
    But every other player has access to the same equipment that Woods and Federer use, yet they are still streets ahead of their opponents.

    I always find the comparisons to yesteryear irrelevent; the modern day player will always walk over the yesterday star due to the level of fitness that is needed today.
  • carlingaddickcarlingaddick
    buts its all down to technology.. how do they get the fitness now that wasnt there 10 years ago?? modern technology.

    look at snooker for an example.. ok apart from higgins & co who used to get pissed while at the table, the game IMO hasnt changed that dramtically compared to football, golf, tennis etc
  • Charlton DanCharlton Dan
    [cite]Posted By: carlingaddick[/cite]buts its all down to technology.. how do they get the fitness now that wasnt there 10 years ago?? modern technology.

    look at snooker for an example.. ok apart from higgins & co who used to get pissed while at the table, the game IMO hasnt changed that dramtically compared to football, golf, tennis etc

    What about swimming or track events?
  • carlingaddickcarlingaddick
    [cite]Posted By: CharltonDan[/cite]
    [cite]Posted By: carlingaddick[/cite]buts its all down to technology.. how do they get the fitness now that wasnt there 10 years ago?? modern technology.

    look at snooker for an example.. ok apart from higgins & co who used to get pissed while at the table, the game IMO hasnt changed that dramtically compared to football, golf, tennis etc

    What about swimming or track events?

    er... i'll get back to you on that Dan!
  • StoneStone
    [quote][cite]Posted By: AFKA Bartram[/cite]well, the last 10 years.

    I think when it comes to excellence, individual sports completely overwrite team sports in this instance. Roy Jones was the best pound for pound boxer in this periodbut has spoilt it by going on for so long. Michael Johnson was probably the most naturally gifted athlete there has been for decades, while Michael Schumaker is indeed the very best, how much impact does the technical side have ?

    For me, it boild down to two men. Federer didn't just end Pete Sampras' dominance, he has taken it too another level, but Tiger Woods is so far and away of everyone in his sport its astounding. Woods for me.

    Views ?[/quote]

    [quote][cite]Posted By: AFKA Bartram[/cite]well, the last 10 years.

    I think when it comes to excellence, individual sports completely overwrite team sports in this instance. Roy Jones was the best pound for pound boxer in this periodbut has spoilt it by going on for so long. Michael Johnson was probably the most naturally gifted athlete there has been for decades, while Michael Schumaker is indeed the very best, how much impact does the technical side have ?

    For me, it boild down to two men. Federer didn't just end Pete Sampras' dominance, he has taken it too another level, but Tiger Woods is so far and away of everyone in his sport its astounding. Woods for me.

    Views ?[/quote]

    [quote][cite]Posted By: AFKA Bartram[/cite]well, the last 10 years.

    I think when it comes to excellence, individual sports completely overwrite team sports in this instance. Roy Jones was the best pound for pound boxer in this periodbut has spoilt it by going on for so long. Michael Johnson was probably the most naturally gifted athlete there has been for decades, while Michael Schumaker is indeed the very best, how much impact does the technical side have ?

    For me, it boild down to two men. Federer didn't just end Pete Sampras' dominance, he has taken it too another level, but Tiger Woods is so far and away of everyone in his sport its astounding. Woods for me.

    Views ?[/quote]

    [quote][cite]Posted By: AFKA Bartram[/cite]well, the last 10 years.

    I think when it comes to excellence, individual sports completely overwrite team sports in this instance. Roy Jones was the best pound for pound boxer in this periodbut has spoilt it by going on for so long. Michael Johnson was probably the most naturally gifted athlete there has been for decades, while Michael Schumaker is indeed the very best, how much impact does the technical side have ?

    For me, it boild down to two men. Federer didn't just end Pete Sampras' dominance, he has taken it too another level, but Tiger Woods is so far and away of everyone in his sport its astounding. Woods for me.

    Views ?[/quote]
  • Charlton DanCharlton Dan
    Can you say that again Stone I didnt catch you
  • StoneStone
    I know it's a minoroty sport in this country, but what Lance Armstrong has done on and off a bike in the last ten years is second to none.
    You can argue all you like about drugs in the sport but despite all year round monitoring (read his books) he's always been clean.

    Live Strong
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  • AFKABartramAFKABartram
    a fair point on Armstrong, its sad if he was clean that he will always be dogged by speculation.

    Armstrong, Woods and Federer. Building a top three here. Anyone else who could possibly be thrown into the mix. Maradona maybe ?
  • LoOkOuTLoOkOuT
    Max Woosman? Haven't read the book, but by the synopsis, sounds he was an all-round all-rounder.
  • StoneStone
    well, lets say he was always within the legal limits. The two main drugs that are abused are those that are found naturally in the body, EPO and testosterone. I would say a lot of athletes will bring their levels up to the limit that the body can naturally produce, which is where the authorities normally pitch their limit I would think.
  • Henry IrvingHenry Irving
    Max Woosman was hardly of our generation as he was at his peak in about 1920.

    For someone dominating his sport then Tyson but can't be called great because of what came after. Clay/Ali perhaps too long ago.

    From football I would say Maldini as he played at the top for so long. Shame he never won the world cup.
  • ForeverredForeverred
    Phil "The Power" Taylor.
  • cafcpolocafcpolo
    edited August 2006
    I wouldnt say Federer really...Streets ahead on a grass court maybe, but Nadal tends to beat him on other surfaces. Def Armstrong & Woods though.
    How about Michael Jordan?
  • henrythecathenrythecat
    why no women in the list?
  • suzisausagesuzisausage
    pauline cope
  • AFKABartramAFKABartram
    For women, then Martina Navaratlova.

    If she was...
  • LenGloverLenGlover
    edited August 2006
    [cite]Posted By: AFKA Bartram[/cite]But every other player has access to the same equipment that Woods and Federer use, yet they are still streets ahead of their opponents.

    I always find the comparisons to yesteryear irrelevent; the modern day player will always walk over the yesterday star due to the level of fitness that is needed today.

    I largely agree with you on the fitness point.

    I wonder though how far Tiger Woods would drive with an old hickory driver like Bobby Jones would have used years ago or how high Sergei Bubka could pole vault with a wooden pole and sandpit like they used in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.

    Bobby Charlton would be devastating shooting with the footballs of today. He was spectacular enough with the old leather lace up jobs years ago.
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  • AFKABartramAFKABartram
    Fair point on Charlton, him and Lorimer from 30 yards would be deadly.

    Scholes has been for me the best consistent striker of the ball from outside the box in the last few years.
  • kigeliakigelia
    I would agree with Lance Armstrong but for one thing. He only raced once a year. His whole career was based around that one event. He was also backed up by a team that were far and away better than anyone else out there. The domestiques shielded him for the majority of each stage.

    My money would be on Haile Gabrsellasie, the happiest man in distance running.

    kigelia
  • OaksterOakster
    Mick McManus

    Only defeated twice in his career

    A New Cross boy as well
  • LoOkOuTLoOkOuT
    LOL! Did he hone his craft in The Venue or the Amersham Arms?
  • StoneStone
    edited August 2006
    [cite]Posted By: kigelia[/cite]I would agree with Lance Armstrong but for one thing. He only raced once a year. His whole career was based around that one event. He was also backed up by a team that were far and away better than anyone else out there. The domestiques shielded him for the majority of each stage.

    Is that not a bit like saying Michael Schumacher only races once a year in the World Championships? Le Tour is 21 races in 23 days. Anyway, I take your point about it being more of a team effort than many realise.
  • LenGloverLenGlover
    Shane Warne has got to be up there.
  • AddicktedAddickted
    Well I'm going to be awkward for my first post and go back more than 10 years for both of my nominations.

    My two personal favourites are Ian Botham and Daley Thompson.

    Both were fantastic sportsmen not just in their own specialist areas and both excelled in their relevant sports with the just right amount of anti-establishment outlook that makes people sit up and watch.

    You can keep your goody goody boring sportsmen/women who do nothing but focus on their chosen profession and excel. Give me a 'character' who comes second than a bland professional like Schumacher.
  • suzisausagesuzisausage
    nigel mansell
  • AddicktedAddickted
    Mansell?

    Now there IS bland.
  • Charlton DanCharlton Dan
    [cite]Posted By: Addickted[/cite]Well I'm going to be awkward for my first post and go back more than 10 years for both of my nominations.

    My two personal favourites are Ian Botham and Daley Thompson.

    Both were fantastic sportsmen not just in their own specialist areas and both excelled in their relevant sports with the just right amount of anti-establishment outlook that makes people sit up and watch.

    You can keep your goody goody boring sportsmen/women who do nothing but focus on their chosen profession and excel. Give me a 'character' who comes second than a bland professional like Schumacher.

    Agreed! Daley Thompson winning Gold in LA is my first real sporting memory (aged 11) so he should be in that list for the backflip alone!
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