I think Deion Sanders is because he was a great track star, football and baseball player. He won superbowls and a world series. Her made either 8 or 9 probowls. What do you think???
That's a tough call. I mean, is it simply defined by a multi-sport athlete? Or someone who excelled further than anyone in a specific sport? I mean, I'd vote for Michael Jordan over Bo Jackson any day.
And is one sport more athletic than another? I mean, who's the better athlete, a UFC champion or a baseball player? A basketballer or olympic sprinter or swimmer? A football player or cyclist? Are there different qualifications for men vs. women? Do triathalons count as one or 3 sports?
I don't have an answer. Though I think Jesse Owens as an answer has class.
I will tell you it's not Deion Sanders. The top athlete ever would be able to tackle. He was very good though, no doubt.
this is very hard why??? most are good at their chosen profession what ever that is??? jim thorpe football then track.... in later years danny ainge now part owner of the celtics played MLB and NBA..... lots of names being said i see....
Bo Jackson was unreal in his prime, Deion may have had more success with the teams he played for, but Bo was the better athelete. He was an All Pro running back in the NFL and made the All Star team in MLB...crazy.
Dave Winfield was drafted in 3 different pro sports (NBA, NFL & MLB) but chose baseball.
He WAS the first player to make a million dollars a year, so you can't really question his descision.
John Elway was one of the top NFL QBs of all time, but was also a top draft pick for the MLB. He went with football though...
Again, I think this is such a mixed bag.
2. Jim Brown - 12k yards in 9 seasons? Unbelievable.
3. Bo Jackson - Cut short in football but he did the same things as Deion Sanders, but was more willing to make and take the contact. Ask Bosworth!
4. Magic Johnson - He played all five positions on the court! Nothing against the other NBA greats or even those that are perceived the greatest ever, but I didn't see the others do that in their careers.
#1*****NEON DEON SANDERS ( PRIME TIME )
#2**** BO JACKSON
#3***JESSIE OWENS
#4** GORDY HOWE
#5 * JIM THROPE
CONSOLATION: DAVE WINFIELD, THE GREAT ONE, JORDAN.TIGER WOODS, MARK SPITZ AND BRUCE JENNER..........AND I KNOW BABE RUTH DIDN'T LOOK LIKE MUCH ,BUT WHEN HE HIT 60 HR'S THE NEAREST TO HIM WAS 18 HE HAD MORE HR'S THAN MOST TEAMS.....
Last edited by tigervidmar on July 21st at 11:16 AM.
gtcrane
First and foremost you've set no real criteria as to your argument. Other than to state who's the best athlete ever.
One could go from era to era over the last five decades at least and make a name for anyone of a number of athletes that'd all stand up with credence.
To cast a blanket over this topic would be a disservice to many of those that I for one could name.
MARTY WALKER. I KNOW WHAT I DID TO STAY IN TE SHAPE I ALWAYS WAS IN. YOU HAVE TO TO BE ABLE TO DO ALL THE THINGS 'VE DONE AND THE SPORTS I PLAYED. I WONDER WHO WILL THINK I'M BS-ING. I WAS A PRO ATHLETE TOO.
This post really got me thinking. I came up with the answer of no one. Michael Phelps won 8 gold medals in the olympics last year but could he hit a ball as well as Babe Ruth? Babe Ruth was a smoking pudgy guy could he have ran the NY marathon? Could the crazy Kenyans that run marathons swim and win 8 gold medals?
So the point is you would always have to declare someone the best athlete in their sport. There truely is no absolute best athletes in general.
