Greatest Athlete Ever? - Nubblies.net Forums

Beebs · 08-09-2012, 10:49 PM

Who we going with here? Is it Bolt? Ali (I would say Robinson, but Ali is a common one), Pele/Maradona? Phelps? Carl Lewis?

I offer up Aleksandr Karelin into evidence.

Aleksandr Karelin Intro - YouTube

3 Gold Medals, 9 World Titles, 13 years unbeaten, most of those unscored upon.

Beebs · 08-09-2012, 11:23 PM

A friend brought up Bo fucking Jackson on twitter. Does raise the issue of pure athletic ability vs accomplishment.

SittinOnDubsWGW · 08-09-2012, 11:25 PM

Lance Armstrong would probably be on a list with that title.

f3lix · 08-09-2012, 11:46 PM

So many things to consider:

How great they were for their time
Do their records/times/marks still hold compared to today's athletes
Is it based on talent or awards/medals/titles
Was their competition of noteworthiness

Consider this - the greatest composers and films have stood the test of time, so how do athletes measure up in that sense? Yes, athletes are trained better now, but aren't the youth in both music and film? Why do athletic marks keep falling year after year, yet talent in the arts does not? Just something to consider when looking across the fields of other disciplines when discussing the greatest athlete ever.

Orgazmo · 08-10-2012, 01:09 AM

Simply put, athletics is objective and arts are subjective.

Objectively, it seems like the dude that has the world record in the decathlon is probably the best athlete. He kicks the most ass in some well-rounded athletics. I realize that's not an exciting answer, but it's hard to say no to that.

thekremlin · 08-10-2012, 01:51 AM

+1 Karelin. If he was American, he would be a household name like Jordan or Ali.

DJ FC · 08-10-2012, 01:55 AM

Michael Jordan or Wayne Gretzky.

Beebs · 08-10-2012, 07:27 AM

My friend is sticking to Bo Jackson, I'm flabbergasted.

Mike Tyson, Bill Kazmeir, either Ronaldo, that New Zealand Rugby player who's name I forget?

Beebs · 08-10-2012, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orgazmo

Simply put, athletics is objective and arts are subjective.

Objectively, it seems like the dude that has the world record in the decathlon is probably the best athlete. He kicks the most ass in some well-rounded athletics. I realize that's not an exciting answer, but it's hard to say no to that.

It's not an unreasonable answer.

Beebs · 08-10-2012, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by f3lix

So many things to consider:

How great they were for their time
Do their records/times/marks still hold compared to today's athletes
Is it based on talent or awards/medals/titles
Was their competition of noteworthiness

Consider this - the greatest composers and films have stood the test of time, so how do athletes measure up in that sense? Yes, athletes are trained better now, but aren't the youth in both music and film? Why do athletic marks keep falling year after year, yet talent in the arts does not? Just something to consider when looking across the fields of other disciplines when discussing the greatest athlete ever.

Diet and drugs play a part. Also the inherently creative roles in sports don't improve the same way as the pure athletic roles; Xavi is no great athlete all time, but he's the best midfielder ever.

Beebs · 08-10-2012, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SittinOnDubsWGW

Lance Armstrong would probably be on a list with that title.

I like him for pure single minded competitiveness.

Beebs · 08-10-2012, 01:11 PM

This video is just great

Muhammad Ali I am The Greatest - YouTube

angry pancake · 08-10-2012, 06:17 PM

Chuck Engle or Frank Shorter. Most people have never heard of neither.

Frank Shorter - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Charles Engle - WikiRun

DJ FC · 08-11-2012, 06:20 AM

Wayne Gretzky has more assists than any other player has points.

Ugly Bastard · 08-11-2012, 09:27 AM

'Bron

Orgazmo · 08-11-2012, 02:20 PM

Megatron over LeBron maybe?

DDTempest · 08-11-2012, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orgazmo

Megatron over LeBron maybe?

Yeah but Optimus Prime fucks up Megatron's shit on the daily ... so I have to go with Optimus Prime on this one.

08-10-2012, 01:55 AM	#7 (permalink)
DJ FC MURICAN Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Virginia Posts: 5,136 Internets: 253094	Michael Jordan or Wayne Gretzky.
	The basis of our governments being the opinion of the people, the very first object should be to keep that right; and were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter. But I should mean that every man should receive those papers and be capable of reading them.

08-11-2012, 06:20 AM	#14 (permalink)
DJ FC MURICAN Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Virginia Posts: 5,136 Internets: 253094	Wayne Gretzky has more assists than any other player has points.
	The basis of our governments being the opinion of the people, the very first object should be to keep that right; and were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter. But I should mean that every man should receive those papers and be capable of reading them.

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08-09-2012, 11:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
Beebs Poor Sport Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Indianapolis / Middlebury / Long Lake Posts: 5,306 Internets: 127341	A friend brought up Bo fucking Jackson on twitter. Does raise the issue of pure athletic ability vs accomplishment.

08-09-2012, 11:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
SittinOnDubsWGW I make bad decisions. Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Desert Posts: 3,018 Internets: 108015	Lance Armstrong would probably be on a list with that title.

08-09-2012, 11:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
f3lix Gangnam Style Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: DH's Massage Parlor Posts: 6,383 Internets: 213510	So many things to consider: How great they were for their time Do their records/times/marks still hold compared to today's athletes Is it based on talent or awards/medals/titles Was their competition of noteworthiness Consider this - the greatest composers and films have stood the test of time, so how do athletes measure up in that sense? Yes, athletes are trained better now, but aren't the youth in both music and film? Why do athletic marks keep falling year after year, yet talent in the arts does not? Just something to consider when looking across the fields of other disciplines when discussing the greatest athlete ever.

08-10-2012, 01:09 AM	#5 (permalink)
Orgazmo COME ON YOU YANKS Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Indiana Posts: 15,725 Internets: 311447	Simply put, athletics is objective and arts are subjective. Objectively, it seems like the dude that has the world record in the decathlon is probably the best athlete. He kicks the most ass in some well-rounded athletics. I realize that's not an exciting answer, but it's hard to say no to that.

08-10-2012, 07:27 AM	#8 (permalink)
Beebs Poor Sport Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Indianapolis / Middlebury / Long Lake Posts: 5,306 Internets: 127341	My friend is sticking to Bo Jackson, I'm flabbergasted. Mike Tyson, Bill Kazmeir, either Ronaldo, that New Zealand Rugby player who's name I forget?

08-11-2012, 09:27 AM	#15 (permalink)
Ugly Bastard Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 13,643 Internets: 247330	'Bron

08-11-2012, 02:20 PM	#16 (permalink)
Orgazmo COME ON YOU YANKS Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Indiana Posts: 15,725 Internets: 311447	Megatron over LeBron maybe?