Greatest American Athlete

[Zudnic]

echoing Boston.com's list, curious what people around here think.

[walrus]

No Baseball player should ever be considered the best athlete, Ted Williams probably smoked 2 packs of cigs a day and couldn't run 100 yds without gagging

[Bob Gray]

I have to go with Jim Thorpe for my overall vote. A guy who lived in a time when his abilities weren't as highlighted as they would be today, but had success across a variety of endeavors including the Olympics, baseball, football, and basketball. You wonder what an athlete of Thorpe's quality would do with today's opportunities and lack of racial barriers.

A poll like this ought to at least have one hockey player mentioned, and I'd say Gordie Howe belongs in the mix.

As far as the greatest athlete I've watched myself, I'd have to go with Michael Jordan, whose athleticism in the recent modern era to me is unmatched.

[mookie1995]

terry bradshaw
larry bird

[Brenthoven]

Akebono.

[Sloe Gin]

as much as I might get flak for it, OJ Simpson

[Brenthoven]

as much as I might get flak for it, OJ Simpson

Well, he IS a cut above the rest.

[CollegeHockeyAddict]

Bo Jackson

[Dirty]

A poll like this ought to at least have one hockey player mentioned, and I'd say Gordie Howe belongs in the mix.

Who of course hailed from the great American city of Floral, Saskatchewan.

[XYZ]

I don't think I'd vote him #1, but Jesse Owens probably belongs in running.

[The Darkness]

Anybody who does not vote for Jim Thorpe in this poll obviously does not know very much about Jim Thorpe.

[Priceless]

William Katt

Believe it or not

[Bob Gray]

Who of course hailed from the great American city of Floral, Saskatchewan.

Good point. Forgot about that since he spend his career playing in the States. Did he stay a Canadian citizen or ever switch to U.S. citizenship? I have no idea. But, compared to some of these Olympic athletes who hop from country to country, Gordie is more American than someone who competes for a country where they have a great grandparent from or something.

[Kepler]

Jenna Jameson.

[dropthatpuck]

Pure sacrilege that no hockey players are listed in this poll (of all places), even out of courtesy :eek:

In no particular order, Richter, Leetch, Modano, Chelios, Lafontaine, Mullen, Coffey....and there must be more.

In this poll, have to give it to Armstrong. The strength, stamina and mental fortitude it takes to accomplish what he did puts him in a class all his own.

[Slap Shot]

I think Thorpe is a great choice (and probably the #1) but consider this for Jim Brown:

-In HS earned 13 letters playing football, lacrosse, baseball, basketball and track & field.
-In college earned letters in football, lacrosse, basketball and track & field.
-As a junior, he rushed for 666 yards (5.2 per carry), averaged 11.3 points in basketball and was named a second-team All-American in lacrosse. In his senior year, Brown was first-team All-American in both football and lacrosse (43 goals in 10 games to tie for the national scoring championship). He averaged 6.2 yards in running for 986 yards (3rd most in the country despite Syracuse playing only eight games) and scored 14 touchdowns.
-Considered by many the greatest NFL RB of all time
-Is in the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame

[MinnesotaNorthStar]

John Kruk. Thread over.

[Pirateasaurus]

awww man it's a poll. I was gonna say Wayne Gretzky to try to really chap some cabooses around here.

[MinnesotaNorthStar]

awww man it's a poll. I was gonna say Wayne Gretzky to try to really chap some cabooses around here.And you would have failed miserably....

[Priceless]

And you would have failed miserably....

He would have totally MNS'd it :D