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Greatest Athletes of all-time

Discussion in 'Sports and News' started by MagoIL, Jul 23, 2015.

  1. Batman

    Batman Well-Known Member

    Herschel Walker might be the answer, or at least in the top five, based on the sheer number of different sports attempted at a high level.
    We all know what he did in football. Almost 14,000 rushing yards and 115 touchdowns, plus another 6,000 or so receiving yards if you combine his USFL and NFL stats. Just in the NFL he's ninth all-time in all-purpose yards. He and Brian Mitchell are the only two in the top 12 not in the Hall of Fame (excluding LaDainian Tomlinson, who's not eligible until 2016, and Steve Smith who is still active). Even if you say he never lived up to his potential, he was still a competent NFL player for 11 seasons.
    He was also a world record holder in the 55-meter sprint at one time, ran a 10.10 100-meter dash in college and a two-time All-American.
    After football, he competed in the winter Olympics in two-man bobsled and finished seventh; had a pro MMA career; famously took up ballet during his playing days; and had the no-weight, 1,000-push up a day training regimen.
    Bo was a shooting star people remember fondly, but Herschel was the prototype.
     
  2. Starman

    Starman Well-Known Member

    Wilt wasn't a "champion" high jumper in college; he won the event in a few dual meets. Wilts career best in the HJ was 6-6 whie the world record was pushing 7-0. His 440 times were OK but not jaw-dropping in Big 8 college competition.

    The story that he out-threw Oerter in practice is based on the same evidence as the "20,000" figure: his own say-so.

    It's certain that Wilt had incredible athletic talent. Whether or not he was actually world class in any other pro sport besides basketball remains in the realm of locker room mythology.
     
  3. cyclingwriter2

    cyclingwriter2 Well-Known Member

    I always wonder why gene conley never gets mentioned. Four time mlb all star and six years in the nba.
     
  4. Jake_Taylor

    Jake_Taylor Well-Known Member

    He won the Big 7 championship in the high jump and it looks like his PR in the 880 was 1:58. Oerter and Bill Easton also told the shot put story.
     
  5. Jake_Taylor

    Jake_Taylor Well-Known Member

    Also, Chamberlain's best times, heights and distances from high school and college in events such as high jump, long jump, 400, 100, shot put (and if you take his 800 time you can assume he could easily go sub 4:45 in the mile) would have been good enough for medal contention at the 1960 Olympic decathlon.
     
  6. heyabbott

    heyabbott Well-Known Member

    Caitlyn Jenner is the first woman to win an Olympic gold medal in a men's athletic event
     
  7. franticscribe

    franticscribe Well-Known Member

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