OT: Greatest athlete ever?
- Thread starter tom1944
- Start date
Brock Lesnar is also one to consider. 2-time NCAA heavyweight wrestling champion, dominant as hell UFC Champion before diverticulitis, and even though pro wrestling is choreographed, you can see his absolutely insane athleticism given his sheer power, explosion, speed, leaping ability, and agility throughout his career at his size. The guy also tried NFL and was unblockable throughout practice and preseason despite having almost no experience in the sport (he chose not to continue pursuing since the Vikings wanted to send him to NFL Europe for some seasoning before signing him to a full contract). His combine numbers were 4.7 40, 35 in vertical, 10ft standing long jump, 30 reps of 225lbs at 280+ lbs. so he had freak numbers.
As great an athlete as you were did you ever just shake your head at how great someone was as an overall athlete? I am sure there were guys in professional baseball that were off the charts great in most every sport they did
Did you compete at the same time as Willie Wilson for example
I’m a better hockey player than Willie I know that.😀
Once I got to the minor leagues and saw kids from every part of the country and Latin America, I never stopped being amazed at the things I saw.
What do you mean by athletic stuff?
I’m taking about incredible arms, speed, power and explosiveness
I was making a joke about the things you saw. (crazy behavior) I am sure there were things beyond athletics that left you shaking your head
In 1950, the Associated Press voted Jim Thorpe as both the Greatest American Football Player and the Greatest Overall Male Athlete. His Canadian counterpart would be Lionel Pretoria “The Big Train” Conacher. He is in the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame and Canadian Football Hall of Fame (both in 1955); the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame (1966) and the Hockey Hall of Fame (1994). He also played for rugby’s Toronto Argonauts and the Detroit Tigers wanted to sign him in baseball. He once fought Jack Dempsey in an exhibition match for charity and also held political office.
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, after a trade to the NHL New York Americans, he was also added to the Rutgers football staff as a backfield coach for the 1927 spring practice. The September 16, 1929 New York Times reported, “For two years Lionel Conacher, newly appointed manager of the New York Americans hockey team, taught Rutgers players how to throw laterals. Conacher, hailing from Canada, where lateral passing and rugby football are inseparable, gave the local team a thorough schooling in this phase of the game. Conacher is no longer on the coaching staff but the seed he implanted is sure to bloom this season.”
Caitlyn Jenner. Decathlon winner and able to wear pumps. Case closed.
4 touchdowns in one game, all city at Polk High. HA HA HA
I think Willie was a better basketball player though.☺All Union County in baseball, basketball and football. Had signed a letter of intent to be a tailback at Maryland before KC dangled that signing bonus.
Played against him in summer ball in the old Intra-County League. He actually played catcher at Summit. NY Times article about his signing.
New Jersey Sports (Published 1974)
No match for former Russian super heavyweight wrestler Alexsandr Karelin.
Olympics- 3 Gold, 1 Silver
World Championships - 9 Gold
Undefeated in international competition for 13 years. Six years in a row when he didn't give up a point.
Lifetime international won/lost record - 882-2 (Both loses by 1-0 scores) retired in 2000 after losing Olympic finals.
No person ever dominated a sport like he did.
I played legion ball against him, he was 195 pound catcherI think Willie was a better basketball player though.☺All Union County in baseball, basketball and football. Had signed a letter of intent to be a tailback at Maryland before KC dangled that signing bonus.
Played against him in summer ball in the old Intra-County League. He actually played catcher at Summit. NY Times article about his signing.
New Jersey Sports (Published 1974)
www.nytimes.com
Not saying they're the best at all because of some of the names mentioned above, but Dave Winfield and Charlie Ward were both phenomenal athletes. Winfield was drafted in 3 sports. Ward was drafted by MLB teams twice, won a Heisman, and played about 10 years in the NBA. Apparently he was a very good amateur tennis player as well and played in the Arthur Ashe Amateur.
thanks, never knew this
I would still give it to Thorpe given his accomplishments but this wrestler sounds impressive
Read somewhere that part of his workout would be to bear hug a refrigerator and walk up 8 flights of stairs
Jim Thorpe - read his biography when I was a kid. Sad what was done to him.
Pele gets honorable mention his goal scoring record is a sports record that will never be broken and playing soccer at that level for that long requires amazing athletic ability. No other sport requires the same amount of stamina with almost no stopping for 45 minutes .
Pele gets honorable mention his goal scoring record is a sports record that will never be broken and playing soccer at that level for that long requires amazing athletic ability. No other sport requires the same amount of stamina with almost no stopping for 45 minutes .
Have to agree since he is the only one who made it with more ladies than Wilt.
Can’t give Carl Lewis a nod, ability to run doesn’t always translate into great hand and eye or athletic prowess.
You have to be a multi sport guy imo!
Similar threads
