Best Athletes in ball sports.

[midnightpulp]

I say ball sports because obviously the best athlete would come from the Track and Field domain, namely a decathlete. But speaking of the decathlon, I think it is the best measure of total athleticism, testing sprinting, running plus jumping, two forms of jumping (high jump plus long jump), throwing (Javelin and Discus), core (shot put), and stamina (mile). These athletes might not necessarily be the best in their sport (some are), just the ones I feel would flourish in a test of total athleticism.

1. Mike Trout

I can already hear the grumblings from you know who (buy your Malaria nets yet?), but feel free to prove me wrong. Let's look at Trout's pure athletic metrics.

- Arm strength of 95+mph
- 21.50 MPH in game sprint speed over 90 feet (top NFL in game sprint speed was 22.09 MPH over 99 feet)
- (more sprint context) Trout's average time over 70 feet in game is 3.08, on loose dirt. The NBA combine tests 3/4 court sprint speed (70 feet), on a surface more conducive to maxing speed. The fastest PGs turn in similar times.
- 470 foot in game power, suggesting retard level core strength.
- Can dunk from a standing position, despite being 6'2" with relatively short arms. Standing box jump of 65". I'd put Trout's vert in the 38"-40" range.
- His off-season workouts are grueling. Should have no problem with the mile.

Trout actually isn't the fastest, strongest, or highest jumper in the MLB, and I looked hard at Byron Buxton (another freak), but for other players, speed comes at the expensive or size/strength. Strength at the expense of speed. Trout is the perfect size/speed package at 6'2" 240lb. I know of no other athlete more complete in ball sports.

2. Odell Beckham Jr.

I looked hard to find a football player that excels across those traits tested in the decathlon. Most NFL position players can't throw worth a shit, and the athletic QBs I looked at (Mahomes, etc) were surprisingly slow (Mahomes 4.8 40 yard) or low jumpers. And players like Tyreek Hill are vastly undersized. What sold me on Beckham was him being an elite HS high and long jumper. He seems to be the most complete NFL athlete.

- 4.43 40.
- 38 1/2" vertical
- 7 reps in the 225lb (admittedly a bit weak, but he's gained size since the combine)
- There's video of him pitching. His form is competent. I'd estimate his arm strength at about 80mph.
- 6 foot, 210lb package (JJ Watt might have the greatest size-to-athletic ratio in sports, but again, all that size comes at a sacrifice).
- Football isn't a stamina sport, but running a mile is nothing for NFL players.

3. Lebron James

Have to pick him, right? And I wasn't intending this to be a list that neatly conforms to the Big 3 sports. I don't have to go into detail. We know Lebron's athleticism intimately at this point.

To keep this from being long, I'll stop at 3, but here's a few honorable mentions: Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, JJ Watt, Cam Newton, Russell Westbrook, Giancarlo Stanton, Byron Buxton.

No, no. Not an implied burn at soccer or other foreign sports. Problem is soccer players specialize and only play one sport their entire lives. Their size/athlete ratio is also poor. American athletes grow up playing multiple sports and thus develop a more versatile athletic base. Perhaps there's an all-around Aussie athlete that grew up playing cricket, AFL, rugby, and similarly developed a range of athletic abilities that can transition to different sports. Haven't found him.

[DAF86]

There's a Spurs playoffs game going on, tbh.

[midnightpulp]

There's a Spurs playoffs game going on, tbh.

:lol today's NBA

[Chris Fall]

Aaron Donald
Aaon Judge
Cam Newton

maybe Kyler Murray already?

[FrostKing]

#1 and #2 contain no lateral movement

#3 is played on a court/field the size of a tennis court


Track and field: more brainless vertical movement.

My nominee for GOAT athlete under american viewpoint criteria
https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/121206062958-equine-massage-jumping-jack-horizontal-large-gallery.jpg

[MultiTroll]

Would like to see where Alabama QB is at. Tua.
Not suggesting he is a top 20 rather would just like to see.

[spurraider21]

lol comparing baseball sprinting to NFL when they're wearing much more gear and running on grass

[midnightpulp]

#1 and #2 contain no lateral movement

#3 is played on a court/field the size of a tennis court


Track and field: more brainless vertical movement.

My nominee for GOAT athlete under american viewpoint criteria
https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/121206062958-equine-massage-jumping-jack-horizontal-large-gallery.jpg

Football and baseball contain a lot of lateral movement. A wide receiver cutting to get open, a center fielder cutting to break on a flyball or a base stealer making his first move (it's a lateral move). If you think a floptrot player belongs, I can't agree. They're too undersized, can't throw, and aren't any faster than the bigger and stronger athletes in other sports.

[apalisoc_9]

You forgot to add their amazing gum muscles from all the seasame seed chewing while they sit on the bench 90% of the time.

Dem seasame seeds and tobaco chewing takes a lot of physical ability

[midnightpulp]

lol comparing baseball sprinting to NFL when they're wearing much more gear and running on grass

The fastest baseball players are about as fast as the fastest football players. Running on grass is easier than running on the loose dirt of a baseball infield. It's not a track surface. But in any event, let's look at raw times, sans gear.

Terrence Gore is probably the fastest player in baseball. Ran a 4.29 40.
Tyreek Hill could've probably been an Olympic sprinter. Ran a 4.24 40.

Let's look at bigger builds. Shaquem Griffin (6'0", 230lb) ran a 4.38 40 with a 20 yard split of 2.58s. Fastest LB time ever. (note, Griffin's HS weight was 188, so he probably wasn't 230lb at the combine).
Mike Trout (6'2", 240lb) has an in game average 60 foot split of 2.75s, which is ran on less speedy surface than the ideal combine conditions.

[midnightpulp]

You forgot to add their amazing gum muscles from all the seasame seed chewing while they sit on the bench 90% of the time.

Dem seasame seeds and tobaco chewing takes a lot of physical ability

Soccer is light jogging with a ball involved. They don't belong on a list with real athletes. The greatest soccer athlete in human history was laboratory tested in ideal conditions and discovered to basically have the same athletic ability as Prince Fielder :lol

Seriously, though. I'm not hating on soccer athletes. The problem is, from a pure athleticism point-of-view, is that game prioritizes stamina much, much more than other athletic traits. Builds more conducive to stamina have less muscle mass. Sure, there's some "shredded" outliers in the sport, but the majority of soccer players have bird-chested, girlie builds.

https://soccer-training-info.com/images/oscar_skinny.jpg

[spurraider21]

The fastest baseball players are about as fast as the fastest football players. Running on grass is easier than running on the loose dirt of a baseball infield. It's not a track surface. But in any event, let's look at raw times, sans gear.

Terrence Gore is probably the fastest player in baseball. Ran a 4.29 40.
Tyreek Hill could've probably been an Olympic sprinter. Ran a 4.24 40.

Let's look at bigger builds. Shaquem Griffin (6'0", 230lb) ran a 4.38 40 with a 20 yard split of 2.58s. Fastest LB time ever. (note, Griffin's HS weight was 188, so he probably wasn't 230lb at the combine).
Mike Trout (6'2", 240lb) has an in game average 60 foot split of 2.75s, which is ran on less speedy surface than the ideal combine conditions.
Shaquem Griffin measured 227 lb at the combine.

[midnightpulp]

Shaquem Griffin measured 227 lb at the combine.

And? Trout in ideal combine conditions would post a similar time. To reiterate, that 60 foot split is an average, not a top time, and ran on an infield.

[spurraider21]

And? Trout in ideal combine conditions would post a similar time. To reiterate, that 60 foot split is an average, not a top time, and ran on an infield.
what do you mean And?

That was in direct response to your post where you said Griffin weighed 188 in HS and therefore probably wasn't 230 at the combine. He was 227.

and no doubt that trout is an elite athlete

[FrostKing]

> "A BMI of greater than 30 is considered to be in the obese (over fat) category. In 2012, the average BMI in the NFL was 31.35"

Sure, there's some "shredded" outliers in the sport, but the majority of football players have round-belly, slob builds.

Not athletes

[apalisoc_9]

Soccer is light jogging with a ball involved. They don't belong on a list with real athletes. The greatest soccer athlete in human history was laboratory tested in ideal conditions and discovered to basically have the same athletic ability as Prince Fielder :lol

Seriously, though. I'm not hating on soccer athletes. The problem is, from a pure athleticism point-of-view, is that game prioritizes stamina much, much more than other athletic traits. Builds more conducive to stamina have less muscle mass. Sure, there's some "shredded" outliers in the sport, but the majority of soccer players have bird-chested, girlie builds.

https://soccer-training-info.com/images/oscar_skinny.jpg

Jogging :lmao

[midnightpulp]

what do you mean And?

That was in direct response to your post where you said Griffin weighed 188 in HS and therefore probably wasn't 230 at the combine. He was 227.

and no doubt that trout is an elite athlete

Your first post was a :lol implying baseball players aren't as fast as NFL players. And if you think players like Trout, Buxton, Hamilton, Gore etc are outliers and believe in the retarded fatball myth, just know that Ronaldo (GOAT soccer athlete) would rank in the 190-200 range in speed. His 82 foot time was 3.61 in an ideal setting. You can see MLB splits here:

https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/running_splits?type=raw&bats=&year=2018&position=&team=&min=10

A 3.61 80 foot time places in about 180-200 range.

[midnightpulp]

Jogging :lmao

A soccer player covers about 7 miles/10km in 90 minutes. Walking speed is 5mph. Do the math :lol. (furthermore, a 102 year old ran a 10km mini marathon in 1:34, and didn't get a half time break).

[apalisoc_9]

A soccer player covers about 7 miles/10km in 90 minutes. Walking speed is 5mph. Do the math :lol. (furthermore, a 102 year old ran a 10km mini marathon in 1:34, and didn't get a half time break).

Your reach knows no bounds :lmao

[spurraider21]

Your first post was a :lol implying baseball players aren't as fast as NFL players. And if you think players like Trout, Buxton, Hamilton, Gore etc are outliers and believe in the retarded fatball myth, just know that Ronaldo (GOAT soccer athlete) would rank in the 190-200 range in speed. His 82 foot time was 3.61 in an ideal setting. You can see MLB splits here:

https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/running_splits?type=raw&bats=&year=2018&position=&team=&min=10

A 3.61 80 foot time places in about 180-200 range.
i dont give a shit about soccer or baseball tbh, i dont care who wins that pissing contest

[FrostKing]

I'll mention that the average Boxer and MMA fighter more closely resembles a Soccer physique than NFL.

Athletes make mental mistakes when they physically tire. This crucial aspect of athletics doesn't exist in NFL. Is it really a sport?

[midnightpulp]

I'll mention that the average Boxer and MMA fighter more closely resembles a Soccer physique than NFL.

Athletes make mental mistakes when they physically tire. This crucial aspect of athletics doesn't exist in NFL. Is it really a sport?

What? You're cheating here, as the build totally depends on weight class.

The HW division fighters are built more like linebackers than anything else. Here's the thing I find puzzling when soccer fans try to play up the stamina demands of the sport. A soccer player covers about 7 miles over 90 minutes with a 15 min half-time break. There is absolutely nothing exceptional about that. See my reply to Apa. A 102 year old ran that distance in 1:34. Sure, soccer features some sprinting, but they're not in a constant sprint the entire game and have plenty of time to recover in-game for their next sprints (the stats show this. Soccer players average walking speed over the match, meaning they balance their sprints with walking, lightly jogging, etc). Jerry Rice's off-season training regimen was world's more demanding than that.

No ball sport is really a stamina sport. Stamina sports are triathlons, marathons, crossfit, etc.

[midnightpulp]

i dont give a shit about soccer or baseball tbh, i dont care who wins that pissing contest

Good for you. So what was the point of your first reply? Are you denying NFL and MLB players don't have similar sprinting abilities?

[spurraider21]

Good for you. So what was the point of your first reply? Are you denying NFL and MLB players don't have similar sprinting abilities?
you compared trout's in-game speed to NFL in-game speed. thats disingenuous.

then for some reason you were skeptical of shaquem griffin's weight at the combine. i told you that he indeed weighed in at 227 and then you changed the subject to how amazing trout is.

then you turned it into baseball vs soccer

[midnightpulp]

> "A BMI of greater than 30 is considered to be in the obese (over fat) category. In 2012, the average BMI in the NFL was 31.35"

Sure, there's some "shredded" outliers in the sport, but the majority of football players have round-belly, slob builds.

Not athletes

BMI is a poor indicator of fitness.

http://images.tmz.com/2015/11/16/1116-jjwatt-launch-3.jpg

^BMI of 35.

I do agree that football features the fattest athletes in all of ball sports, but even those 360lb monsters are uber-athletic, running 5.0 40 times.

[midnightpulp]

you compared trout's in-game speed to NFL in-game speed. thats disingenuous.

then for some reason you were skeptical of shaquem griffin's weight at the combine. i told you that he indeed weighed in at 227 and then you changed the subject to how amazing trout is.

then you turned it into baseball vs soccer

It's also disingenuous to compare grass to baseball infield dirt (you didn't play both sports, so you wouldn't know. Fun fact. The fastest MPH ever in baseball were achieved on grass by outfielders). It's also disingenuous to not consider that top speeds aren't reached until about 60m running in a straight line. Many of the top speeds in the NFL were reached via 50, 60, 70 yard plays. Even in my OP example, the top NFL speed was reached at 99 feet. Trout's 21.50mph speed came via a stolen base, which actually isn't 90 feet and more like 78 feet (12 foot lead off). So again, do you deny the fastest baseball players aren't as fast as the fastest NFL players? Deion Sanders is still one of the top 10 fastest NFL players to live, and Billy Hamilton beat his home-to-third time.

Seems like you're Philo'ing just to Philo.

[spurraider21]

It's also disingenuous to compare grass to baseball infield dirt (you didn't play both sports, so you wouldn't know. Fun fact. The fastest MPH ever in baseball were achieved on grass by outfielders). It's also disingenuous to not consider that top speeds aren't reached until about 60m running in a straight line. Many of the top speeds in the NFL were reached via 50, 60, 70 yard plays. Even in my OP example, the top NFL speed was reached at 99 feet. Trout's 21.50mph speed came via a stolen base, which actually isn't 90 feet and more like 78 feet (12 foot lead off). So again, do you deny the fastest baseball players aren't as fast as the fastest NFL players? Deion Sanders is still one of the top 10 fastest NFL players to live, and Billy Hamilton beat his home-to-third time.

Seems like you're Philo'ing just to Philo.
i agree that dirt is not optimal for running... when you have those soccer/football fields with baseball diamonds in them, you can always notice the difference in speed when they pass over a dirt region. i experienced that playing soccer growing up, and its very noticeable for raiders home games

im not philo-ing. you compared baseball on-field times to football on-field times. the gear has more effect than the surface. in baseball you only have to run exactly in a straight line and dont have to check your periphery to see if you have to make somebody miss, or if somebody is chasing you down, etc.

i never denied that baseball players are as fast as football players. dont know where you got that from. but trout is among the outliers as far as having an athletic build. im sure guys like juan pierre and jose reyes could outrun NFL guys.

[midnightpulp]

i agree that dirt is not optimal for running... when you have those soccer/football fields with baseball diamonds in them, you can always notice the difference in speed when they pass over a dirt region. i experienced that playing soccer growing up, and its very noticeable for raiders home games

im not philo-ing. you compared baseball on-field times to football on-field times. the gear has more effect than the surface. in baseball you only have to run exactly in a straight line and dont have to check your periphery to see if you have to make somebody miss, or if somebody is chasing you down, etc.

i never denied that baseball players are as fast as football players. dont know where you got that from. but trout is among the outliers as far as having an athletic build. im sure guys like juan pierre and jose reyes could outrun NFL guys.

Yeah, but baseball players don't get to run in a straight line as far as football players do. They only get about 80 to 90 feet of head down straight ahead sprinting. Furthermore, many of the +22mph feats were in the outfield. Keeping your head up to track a fly ball affects speed as much checking your periphery. I felt you were Philo'ing (Philo'ing is splitting insignificant hairs, as we know) because 21.50 over 78 feet on dirt vs. 22.09 mph on grass over 99 feet plus football gear is basically a wash. That said, I don't think Trout is faster than the top NFL speedsters. Tyreek Hill has Olympic level speed, I was just putting Trout's speed in context vs. NFL players, who are undoubtedly the fastest athletes (at the skill positions) in all of ball sports.

Not sure what you mean by Trout being an outlier of having an "athletic build?' Do you mean +220lb guys that also have elite speed? Most outfielders and shortstops are built like wide receivers, having the 6' 200lb build. Many of them were elite HS WRs and CBs as well.

[Benoit]

All time: Aaron Rodgers, Lebron James, Mike Trout

Current: Pat Mahomes, Steph, Mike Trout

[140]

https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--lG6tVMnU--/f_auto/pjronnnkhpdvjgkdbi5v.jpg

[apalisoc_9]

https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--lG6tVMnU--/f_auto/pjronnnkhpdvjgkdbi5v.jpg

:lmao

[Will Hunting]

> "A BMI of greater than 30 is considered to be in the obese (over fat) category. In 2012, the average BMI in the NFL was 31.35"

Sure, there's some "shredded" outliers in the sport, but the majority of football players have round-belly, slob builds.

Not athletes
So you think OBJ has a BMI over 30 :lol