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YOUR TOP 5 SPORTSMEN OR WOMEN OF ALL TIME
Mine are, in no particular order:
Ed Moses
Muhammed Ali
Usain Bolt
Franz Beckenbauer
Rivelino
Being a big athletics fan I was tempted to include Lynn Davies, Jonathan Edwards or even Seb Coe as my last pick but in the end I went for Rivelino, who I was enthralled by during the 1970 World Cup and just couldn't leave him out.
Unless their personality appealed to me, I dismissed certain sportsmen, no matter how dominant they are/were in their field. Both Tiger Woods and Lewis Hamilton come into this category.
It will be interesting to see who your personal favourites are.
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Re: YOUR TOP 5 SPORTSMEN OR WOMEN OF ALL TIME
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Moodybluebird
Mine are, in no particular order:
Ed Moses
Muhammed Ali
Usain Bolt
Franz Beckenbauer
Rivelino
Being a big athletics fan I was tempted to include Lynn Davies, Jonathan Edwards or even Seb Coe as my last pick but in the end I went for Rivelino, who I was enthralled by during the 1970 World Cup and just couldn't leave him out.
Unless their personality appealed to me, I dismissed certain sportsmen, no matter how dominant they are/were in their field. Both Tiger Woods and Lewis Hamilton come into this category.
It will be interesting to see who your personal favourites are.
The heading should probably read Top 5 FAVOURITE Sportsmen/Women
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Re: YOUR TOP 5 SPORTSMEN OR WOMEN OF ALL TIME
Cassius Clay
Usain Bolt
Pele
Jack Nicklaus
Michael Phelps
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Re: YOUR TOP 5 SPORTSMEN OR WOMEN OF ALL TIME
Not the best, but my favourites. (Can't decide on the fifth)
Muhammed Ali
Cathy Freeman
Johah Lomu
Malcolm Marshall
Clive Sullivan or Socrates
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Re: YOUR TOP 5 SPORTSMEN OR WOMEN OF ALL TIME
These are my favourites but I'd put a case forward for each of them to be considered one of the greatest sportsmen of all time.
Football - C Ronaldo
Rugby - Lomu
Boxing - Calzaghe
Athletics - Bolt
Golf - Woods
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Re: YOUR TOP 5 SPORTSMEN OR WOMEN OF ALL TIME
Quote:
Originally Posted by
jon1959
Not the best, but my favourites. (Can't decide on the fifth)
Muhammed Ali
Cathy Freeman
Johah Lomu
Malcolm Marshall
Clive Sullivan or Socrates
Personally I would have put Plato ahead of Socrates.....sorry !
I do feel guilty about not including any women but Cathy Freeman is a good choice, especially as she represented the Aboriginal people of her country with such dignity.
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Re: YOUR TOP 5 SPORTSMEN OR WOMEN OF ALL TIME
Quote:
Originally Posted by
UNDERHILL1927
These are my favourites but I'd put a case forward for each of them to be considered one of the greatest sportsmen of all time.
Football - C Ronaldo
Rugby - Lomu
Boxing - Calzaghe
Athletics - Bolt
Golf - Woods
This thread is all about personal favourites, which I regret not making clearer in my original heading, so your list is spot on.👍
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Re: YOUR TOP 5 SPORTSMEN OR WOMEN OF ALL TIME
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Moodybluebird
This thread is all about personal favourites, which I regret not making clearer in my original heading, so your list is spot on.👍
✌️
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Re: YOUR TOP 5 SPORTSMEN OR WOMEN OF ALL TIME
I tried to think of sportspersons who absolutely demanded your attention, hair on the back of your neck stuff.
I was about to put Chris Hoy, his races in the Olympics were just so exciting.
but then I thought that outside of a few Olympic cycling events I happened to be watching, I've made literally no effort to see any of his other races - so can I really have him as one of my top 5?
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Re: YOUR TOP 5 SPORTSMEN OR WOMEN OF ALL TIME
Ali
Maradona
Duran
Daley Thompson
Calzaghe
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Re: YOUR TOP 5 SPORTSMEN OR WOMEN OF ALL TIME
Victoria Pendleton comes very close barking mad.
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Re: YOUR TOP 5 SPORTSMEN OR WOMEN OF ALL TIME
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Rjk
I tried to think of sportspersons who absolutely demanded your attention, hair on the back of your neck stuff.
I was about to put Chris Hoy, his races in the Olympics were just so exciting.
but then I thought that outside of a few Olympic cycling events I happened to be watching, I've made literally no effort to see any of his other races - so can I really have him as one of my top 5?
Fine I think. The Olympics is all about becoming an expert in a sport for a few days. The things I could have told you about the omnium...
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Re: YOUR TOP 5 SPORTSMEN OR WOMEN OF ALL TIME
Steve Lynex
Rocky
Rowdy Roddy Piper
Giant Haystacks
Leighton Rees
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Re: YOUR TOP 5 SPORTSMEN OR WOMEN OF ALL TIME
Mark Cavendish
Brett Favre
Mohammed Ali
Kev Sinfield
Arnold Palmer
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Re: YOUR TOP 5 SPORTSMEN OR WOMEN OF ALL TIME
- Ronnie O'Sullivan
- Federer
- Christiano Ronaldo
- Tyson Fury
- Usain Bolt
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Re: YOUR TOP 5 SPORTSMEN OR WOMEN OF ALL TIME
Jessie Owens ( before my time but essential to mention )
Michael Phelps
Floyd Mayweather
Steve Redgrave
Chris Hoy.
Ronaldo
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Re: YOUR TOP 5 SPORTSMEN OR WOMEN OF ALL TIME
Quote:
Originally Posted by
chris lee
- Ronnie O'Sullivan
- Federer
- Christiano Ronaldo
- Tyson Fury
- Usain Bolt
I forgot all about Federer, probably because he's still playing but if I had a 6th pick it would be him.
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Re: YOUR TOP 5 SPORTSMEN OR WOMEN OF ALL TIME
C Ronaldo
LeBron James
Tyson Fury
Whitts
Patrick Kane
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Re: YOUR TOP 5 SPORTSMEN OR WOMEN OF ALL TIME
Bit of a tough one but these are those who I've probably most enjoyed watching over the years.
Roger Federer
Usain Bolt
Ian Botham
Ronaldo
Greg Lemond
Not far off the list are Viv Richards, Geraint Thomas, Michael Johnson, Lionel Messi, Shane Warne amongst others
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Re: YOUR TOP 5 SPORTSMEN OR WOMEN OF ALL TIME
Quote:
Originally Posted by
The Bloop
Bit of a tough one but these are those who I've probably most enjoyed watching over the years.
Roger Federer
Usain Bolt
Ian Botham
Ronaldo
Greg Lemond
Not far off the list are Viv Richards, Geraint Thomas, Michael Johnson, Lionel Messi, Shane Warne amongst others
Lord Botham if you don't mind ! Viv and Lionel were on my shortlist too. The more you think about it the more difficult it gets so I just thought of those sportsmen that over the years meant something to me personally and more importantly they were people I took a liking to for whatever reason. Hence no Tiger or Hamilton, who I just couldn't take to.
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Re: YOUR TOP 5 SPORTSMEN OR WOMEN OF ALL TIME
Original Ronaldo
Joe Calzaghe
LeBron James - Not a massive basketball fan but the guy's a powerhouse of a talent, and gives a lot back too
Aaron Ramsey
Geraint Thomas - Not a massive cycling fan but I love seeing normal Welsh lads being world class
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Re: YOUR TOP 5 SPORTSMEN OR WOMEN OF ALL TIME
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Moodybluebird
Lord Botham if you don't mind ! Viv and Lionel were on my shortlist too. The more you think about it the more difficult it gets so I just thought of those sportsmen that over the years meant something to me personally and more importantly they were people I took a liking to for whatever reason. Hence no Tiger or Hamilton, who I just couldn't take to.
For me Jim Clarke and Jackie Stewart Well are ahead of Hamilton , the tracks and cars Clarke and Stewart had to apply and use were remarkable , modern cars are almost computers ,safer , and the modern technology is of a great assistance for today's driver compared to the old days , in my humble view
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Re: YOUR TOP 5 SPORTSMEN OR WOMEN OF ALL TIME
Quote:
Originally Posted by
life on mars
For me Jim Clarke and Jackie Stewart Well are ahead of Hamilton , the tracks and cars Clarke and Stewart had to apply and use were remarkable , modern cars are almost computers ,safer , and the modern technology is of a great assistance for today's driver compared to the old days , in my humble view
not disagreeing with everything you say but those cars were also a lot slower and they had to think about far less than today's F1 drivers have to. I think the best "pure racers" of the modern crop - Hamilton, Alonso, Verstappen and others would do just fine in that era
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Re: YOUR TOP 5 SPORTSMEN OR WOMEN OF ALL TIME
Quote:
Originally Posted by
life on mars
For me Jim Clarke and Jackie Stewart Well are ahead of Hamilton , the tracks and cars Clarke and Stewart had to apply and use were remarkable , modern cars are almost computers ,safer , and the modern technology is of a great assistance for today's driver compared to the old days , in my humble view
F1 has never been a sport I got into. Rightly or wrongly it seemed that by and large whoever had the best car won. I know this is simplifying matters and there are exceptionally good drivers, but would they win if they drove an inferior car. No they wouldn't. I did like Nigel Mansell mind and his tussles with Schumacher.
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Re: YOUR TOP 5 SPORTSMEN OR WOMEN OF ALL TIME
Brian Lara
Shane Warne
Pele
Muhammad Ali
Tiger Woods
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Re: YOUR TOP 5 SPORTSMEN OR WOMEN OF ALL TIME
George Best
Muhammed Ali
John McEnroe
Daley Thompson
Anna Kournikova
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Re: YOUR TOP 5 SPORTSMEN OR WOMEN OF ALL TIME
For cricket if it was best of all time then Don Bradman tops the best batsman and Shane Warne as a bowler. I could never have 2 convicts in my 5 though.
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Re: YOUR TOP 5 SPORTSMEN OR WOMEN OF ALL TIME
Ali.
C B Fry
Daley Thompson
Martina Navratilova
Tiger Woods
It's an impossible question really. I tried to be as dispassionate as possible rather than just go for favourites - I'd only call one of them a favourite of mine and there's one there I don't like much at all.
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Re: YOUR TOP 5 SPORTSMEN OR WOMEN OF ALL TIME
Muhammed Ali by a country mile. Boxing and his Vietnam stance.
George Best, despite the flaws.
Ian Woosnam, 5' 4", world number one for ages.
Sebastian Coe, despite being a Tory, when he accelerated off the final bend...
Jesse Owens, take that Adolf.
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Re: YOUR TOP 5 SPORTSMEN OR WOMEN OF ALL TIME
Willie Boland
Kelly Sotherton
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Re: YOUR TOP 5 SPORTSMEN OR WOMEN OF ALL TIME
Quote:
Originally Posted by
elytillidie
Muhammed Ali by a country mile. Boxing and his Vietnam stance.
George Best, despite the flaws.
Ian Woosnam, 5' 4", world number one for ages.
Sebastian Coe, despite being a Tory, when he accelerated off the final bend...
Jesse Owens, take that Adolf.
ali was a great man , up there with the best
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Re: YOUR TOP 5 SPORTSMEN OR WOMEN OF ALL TIME
Quote:
Originally Posted by
the other bob wilson
Ali.
C B Fry
Daley Thompson
Martina Navratilova
Tiger Woods
It's an impossible question really. I tried to be as dispassionate as possible rather than just go for favourites - I'd only call one of them a favourite of mine and there's one there I don't like much at all.
Bob as I said earlier, it should be your personal favourites, not the best in any given sport. Even if they were second raters or perennial runners-up it doesn't matter. As long as you had an affinity with them is all that counts.
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Re: YOUR TOP 5 SPORTSMEN OR WOMEN OF ALL TIME
Quote:
Originally Posted by
SLUDGE FACTORY
ali was a great man , up there with the best
That is quite amusing Sludge because when I gave an honourable mention to Seb Coe in my original post, I thought I know somebody who's going to kick my a**e for naming a Tory. Never in a million years did I think he would pop up in your list lol
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Re: YOUR TOP 5 SPORTSMEN OR WOMEN OF ALL TIME
Ali
Jesse Owens
CB Fry
Messi
Hughie Ferguson
Fictional... William Wilson by a mile
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Re: YOUR TOP 5 SPORTSMEN OR WOMEN OF ALL TIME
Bugger I forgot Roy of the Rovers
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Re: YOUR TOP 5 SPORTSMEN OR WOMEN OF ALL TIME
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Moodybluebird
That is quite amusing Sludge because when I gave an honourable mention to Seb Coe in my original post, I thought I know somebody who's going to kick my a**e for naming a Tory. Never in a million years did I think he would pop up in your list lol
My bad, Coe appeared on Elytillidie's list not Sludge's. Thought that would never happen !
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Re: YOUR TOP 5 SPORTSMEN OR WOMEN OF ALL TIME
I guess a lot of this depends on your age. Muhammed Ali and Pele will be on most older people's lists, but younger folks will choose Messi or Tyson, perhaps. Ali has to be the greatest boxer. Footballer? Well, take your choice from a long list. Gareth Edwards is considered by many (older) people to be the greatest ever rugby player, but young people will close Lomu, or someone similar. It's all subjective. But Chris Pike has got to be in there somewhere.
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Re: YOUR TOP 5 SPORTSMEN OR WOMEN OF ALL TIME
Quote:
Originally Posted by
life on mars
Bugger I forgot Roy of the Rovers
Nothing without Blackie Gray and Arnold Tabbs pulling the strings behind him!
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Re: YOUR TOP 5 SPORTSMEN OR WOMEN OF ALL TIME
Quote:
Originally Posted by
splott parker
Nothing without Blackie Gray and Arnold Tabbs pulling the strings behind him!
Where's Limp Along Leslie ????
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Re: YOUR TOP 5 SPORTSMEN OR WOMEN OF ALL TIME
If we're talking fictional, what about Alf Tupper who won fifty gold medals on a diet of fish and chips? Robert Redford was pretty good in The Natural as well.