Who is the greatest sportsman of the 20th century?

[Alexander's Horse]

My pick would be Muhammad Ali, whose probably more popular outside of the United States than at home. Other contenders in boxing would be Joe Lewis and Rocky Marciano.

I'm not making this a poll because I don't want to limit the choices but maybe we could make a poll after getting nominations here.

Other greats that spring to mind would be Pele in soccer and Jack Niclaus in golf.

There must be a few Olympians who would be contenders - Mark Spitz in mens swimming for example or Dawn Fraser in women's swimming.

Tennis star's - Martina Navratilova? Steffi Graf? Margaret Court? Rod Laver? Bjorn Borg?

We're looking for people here who were unbeatable and totally dominated their sport.

But who is the greatest of the greatest? I think we should mark them on ability and character too. People who you thought were heroes.

[Faboba]

Either Muhammad Ali or that old guy from veterans tennis who does all the ... tricks.

If you've ever seen him you'll know who I mean....

[Imran Siddiqui]

Pele is a great pick.

Beckenbauer can be added to the list as well, I think, and Maradona would have if he hadn't gotten into drugs.

[finbar]

As the most aggressive, take-no-prisoners Civ player ... Hydey.

[Grandpa Troll]

I would say from hockey..either Gordie Howe or Jean Beliveau, may take some of you younguns out of this, had to see them to know them.

Troll

[Alexander's Horse]

Originally posted by Troll
you younguns

That's the problem with a topic like this - most of the posters here spent the 20th century watching Sesame Street.

I guess this is a topic for the old farts who actually saw Ali box or Nicklaus win a major or 5.

[Grandpa Troll]

Originally posted by Alexander's Horse


That's the problem with a topic like this - most of the posters here spent the 20th century watching Sesame Street.

I guess this is a topic for the old farts who actually saw Ali box or Nicklaus win a major or 5.

I agree..perhaps some folks know what Lady Byng means?..it would help quantify Jean Beliveau..

Troll

[Alexander's Horse]

Modern players can be so machine like. The 20th century had some incredible natural talents, mostly not drug enhanced.

I grew up living near an old guy who was a great cyclist - he was heroe, a living legend in France but virtually unknown in Australia. Another old guy retired near my childhood home was a Grand Prix racer in Europe in the early days but hardly had a cent to his name because there wasn't much money in sport in those days. Both of them were really dapper old gents, adventurers basically. You could see their wives would have been real beauties in their day. Neither had any children and were just living quietly in the burbs.

[MattHiggs]

Other contenders in boxing would be Joe Lewis and Rocky Marciano.

Rocky Balboa was by far the best.

[Zylka]

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER

[Alexander's Horse]

Originally posted by Zylka
MICHAEL SCHUMACHER

He reminds of the Red Baron of villainy fame. A king of anti heroe, win at all costs, kind of guy.

[Patashu]

cheese?

[Alexander's Horse]

Originally posted by MattHiggs


Rocky Balboa was by far the best.

That character was based on a guy that Ali beat the crap out of.

[MattHiggs]

He beat Mr T. The toughest man in the world. Do you know nothing?

[DinoDoc]

Ted Williams