Most Dominant Athlete in Sports Today

[Testing]

Across all sports, who would you say is the most dominate ATHLETE??

Kobe
Duncan
Tiger
Federer

etc.

[urunobili]

Federer :wakeup

[FromWayDowntown]

I think it has to be Federer. Only one guy -- Nadal on certain surfaces -- is even close to Federer. Tiger doesn't win every week (though he is undoubtedly in the conversation because he wins enough to be considered dominant in his game) and I think that's the thing that separates Federer from the rest. If Federer is in a tournament, he's the odds-on favorite to win. He's 52-6 in matches this year, with 3 of those losses coming in tournament finals.

[sandman]

Rocketfan votes Scola

[polandprzem]

malysz

[Testing]

I think it has to be Federer. Only one guy -- Nadal on certain surfaces -- is even close to Federer. Tiger doesn't win every week (though he is undoubtedly in the conversation because he wins enough to be considered dominant in his game) and I think that's the thing that separates Federer from the rest. If Federer is in a tournament, he's the odds-on favorite to win. He's 52-6 in matches this year, with 3 of those losses coming in tournament finals.



I was thinking the same thing. I mean, he has been #1 for 3 years now.......straight. That alone is insane. As for his TOTAL losses in the past 3 years...14.

The argument I have against Woods is as you said, he's not consistently good...Federer though prevails even when he's not playing his best against competition who is giving their 110% because they want to be the one who finally beats him. It's not easy going against people like that every match.

I started this thread in light of his US Open win yesterday.

[duncan228]

I'm all Duncan, but he doesn't belong in this conversation.

Federer gets my vote, hands down. For reasons already stated here.

[Magic_Johnson]

kobe????
why did you put kobe in your list?
lakers fans are so blind

[tlongII]

It's Tiger. No doubt about it. Tiger didn't miss a cut for more than 7 years. Nobody has ever done what he's doing on the tour. Until Federer wins the French I don't think you can put him in the conversation.

[Medvedenko]

If you take business away from the equation...then you have to say Roger...but if you include overall immersion of culture and sport, than you need to say Tiger....Now a better athlete...I'll go with Kobe on the list.

[JamStone]

Federer and I don't think it's close.

[Ellinaras]

Roger rules.

[Demo Dick Marcinko]

Lance Armstrong has to be in the conversation, I know that the question was about the most dominant athlete today but winning the Tour de France 7 consecutive times from '99 to '05 is just huge. In the world of professional road racing cycling that has to the equivalent of what Federer is doing in men's tennis and what Tiger is doing in the golf world. At the very least he deserves an honorable mention.

[PM5K]

Walsh/May-Treanor

[sandman]

Walsh/May-Treanor

And very easy on the eyes as well...

Of course, we could argue the collective athlete known as the US Womens Soccer Team that has not lost in over 2 years. Ditto on the easy on the eyes thing...

[remingtonbo2001]

How about the most dominant player never to win a professional championship.....


Nolan Ryan?

[vander]

its hard to compare individual sports to team sports, how could a football player possibly dominate the 11 opposing players as federer dominates his ONE opponent.

I'll take LT, the best defense in football focused all their power on stopping him yesterday, and he still came through when he had to to get the chargers the victory.

no one player changes a game like LT, he runs with power, speed, and elusiveness. he catches as well as any receiver and throws better than many QB's, he blocks, reads defenses, he's as cerebral as manning and as good a leader as Duncan.

federer is the most dominant in individual sports

[FromWayDowntown]

If you take business away from the equation...then you have to say Roger...but if you include overall immersion of culture and sport, than you need to say Tiger....Now a better athlete...I'll go with Kobe on the list.

I'm not sure what the business side of things has to do with comparing the relative dominance of athletes. Anna Kournikova killed on the business side of things, but was only an okay singles player and a pretty good doubles player. Does her business success somehow elevate her career into a conversation comparing her career against Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, or even Justine Henin? I can't imagine why it would.

You seem to admit that Federer is the best on his court or field of play, but I just don't get why the latter part of your post has any relevance to this discussion. It's like that ridiculous ESPN poll this summer -- my appreciation (and I'd hope most other people feel this way) of a great athlete doesn't depend in any part on how marketable or how popular in our culture that person is; the person's feats in the arena of competition are the sole thing that drive my view of that person's athletic dominance.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Andy Roddick

[resistanze]

Roger and Tiger are very close IMO. Tennis is 1-on-1 while golf is against the entire field; sometimes I think it's more impressive to win consistently against an entire field than 1-on-1 and vice versa.

Tiger's only played in 15 events all year and has the most top 10 finishes (11, second place is 9). Everyone else of the top 10 played between 20-24 events. He''s also first in scoring average, most tourney wins and most cash earned (2nd place not even close in any of these categories).

I'm just gonna say they're about equal in their respective dominance of their sports.

[wildchild]

Rocketfan votes Scola

You don't wake up them. :lol

I say, Roger.

[JamStone]

no one player changes a game like LT, he runs with power, speed, and elusiveness. he catches as well as any receiver and throws better than many QB's, he blocks, reads defenses, he's as cerebral as manning and as good a leader as Duncan.


That's taking it a little too far. Only reason he is efficient thrower is because it happens so rarely, and when he gets the football in the backfield, backers, safeties and even corners are forced to come up to help stop the potential of the run. It almost always leads to one-on-one coverage to his intended targets, if not makes them completely wide open. It's not like he has a great spiral or he could run an offense if he was QB the majority of the game.

In reality, he doesn't throw better than any NFL QB.

[ShoogarBear]

James White!

[L.I.T]

Federer, no doubt.

[vander]

That's taking it a little too far. Only reason he is efficient thrower is because it happens so rarely, and when he gets the football in the backfield, backers, safeties and even corners are forced to come up to help stop the potential of the run. It almost always leads to one-on-one coverage to his intended targets, if not makes them completely wide open. It's not like he has a great spiral or he could run an offense if he was QB the majority of the game.

In reality, he doesn't throw better than any NFL QB.


well he's the throwingest RB ever, so it isn't that rare, defenses shouldn't be caught off guard by him throwing anymore. we really can't know if he could run an offense as a QB or not unless he actually tries it someday, I would love to see that.

[FromWayDowntown]

That's taking it a little too far. Only reason he is efficient thrower is because it happens so rarely, and when he gets the football in the backfield, backers, safeties and even corners are forced to come up to help stop the potential of the run. It almost always leads to one-on-one coverage to his intended targets, if not makes them completely wide open. It's not like he has a great spiral or he could run an offense if he was QB the majority of the game.

In reality, he doesn't throw better than any NFL QB.

I agree with that. LT has open targets to throw to (and thus, is an effective QB) because he's such an effective runner. When you give him the ball near the goalline and force db's to sell out to stop the run, you create very easy passing opportunities for the guy. That his ability to throw is frequently used strikes me as a testament to good coaching rather than a ringing endorsement of his competency as a passer. Like most running back throws, LT's passes are single-route plays that don't require much in the way of reading coverage and finding open receivers -- he looks to see if his target is open and passes only if that guy is open. Being a QB requires a substantially different skill-set than just determining if the X, Y, or Z receiver is uncovered.

I'd take any NFL QB over Tomlinson in a passing skills competition.

[ShoogarBear]

I'd take any NFL QB over Tomlinson in a passing skills competition.Except Rex Grossman during an actual game. :p:

[Cry Havoc]

It's Tiger. No doubt about it. Tiger didn't miss a cut for more than 7 years. Nobody has ever done what he's doing on the tour. Until Federer wins the French I don't think you can put him in the conversation.

What Federer is doing has never been done before. It's hard to compare because golf is a fickle sport. But look at the winning %'s, and it's Federer going away by a mile.

[sandman]

well he's the throwingest RB ever, so it isn't that rare, defenses shouldn't be caught off guard by him throwing anymore. we really can't know if he could run an offense as a QB or not unless he actually tries it someday, I would love to see that.

Actually he still trails Walter Payton for the most TD passes by a non-QB.

[ashrafabdeljaber]

Federer's skill in Golf > Duncan's Skill in Basketball

[ambchang]

People forget about Pete Sampras this soon? I have no problems saying Federer is the most dominant in sports today, in fact, I would vote for him and there aren't even any close seconds, but during his heyday, Sampras was just as impressive for as long a time.
Agassi was dominant for a very short period of time. Then there was Bjorg, McEnroe and Lendl, who were all dominant for an extended period of time in tennis. Of course, nobody can even touch Navratilova when it comes to dominance in tennis.

[L.I.T]

Federer's skill in Golf > Duncan's Skill in Basketball

So, yah watch sports much eh?

[L.I.T]

People forget about Pete Sampras this soon? I have no problems saying Federer is the most dominant in sports today, in fact, I would vote for him and there aren't even any close seconds, but during his heyday, Sampras was just as impressive for as long a time.
Agassi was dominant for a very short period of time. Then there was Bjorg, McEnroe and Lendl, who were all dominant for an extended period of time in tennis. Of course, nobody can even touch Navratilova when it comes to dominance in tennis.

Except for Rod Laver.

[tlongII]

People forget about Pete Sampras this soon? I have no problems saying Federer is the most dominant in sports today, in fact, I would vote for him and there aren't even any close seconds, but during his heyday, Sampras was just as impressive for as long a time.
Agassi was dominant for a very short period of time. Then there was Bjorg, McEnroe and Lendl, who were all dominant for an extended period of time in tennis. Of course, nobody can even touch Navratilova when it comes to dominance in tennis.

This is partially why I have to go with Tiger. In tennis it's common to have one dominant player that stays on top for a considerable amount of time. That just doesn't happen in golf. Tiger is a freak of nature.

[sandman]

Except for Rod Laver.

Rannulph Junuh owned the game of golf before he went off to The War To End All Wars...

[incansables]

Yelena Isinbayeva

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yelena_Isinbayeva

[L.I.T]

Rannulph Junuh owned the game of golf before he went off to The War To End All Wars...

Yeah, but he was a scrub until Krishna (aka Krishna) helped him along.

[sandman]

Yeah, but he was a scrub until Krishna (aka Krishna) helped him along.

True. But then going back to the Sanskrit original, Junuh was a prince on the battlefield. Obviously they changed the analogy to golf to make it seem harder!

[Amuseddaysleeper]

People forget about Pete Sampras this soon? I have no problems saying Federer is the most dominant in sports today, in fact, I would vote for him and there aren't even any close seconds, but during his heyday, Sampras was just as impressive for as long a time.
Agassi was dominant for a very short period of time. Then there was Bjorg, McEnroe and Lendl, who were all dominant for an extended period of time in tennis. Of course, nobody can even touch Navratilova when it comes to dominance in tennis.

Sampras was amazing, and certainly played with much tougher competition, but jesus christ, 12 grand slams in 4 years....I don't even know what to say about that.


Roger Federer has a chance at finishing with as many as 18 grand slams when all is said and done.

[planaria]

http://e.i.uol.com.br/retro/2005/img_retro_vela.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Scheidt

[L.I.T]

True. But then going back to the Sanskrit original, Junuh was a prince on the battlefield. Obviously they changed the analogy to golf to make it seem harder!

Aha! But Junuh was wracked by indecision and needed Will Smith to show him the true path!

I will agree with you, post-Krishna talking to, Junuh is the most-dominant golfer/holy warrior/prince of warfare of all time.

[lefty]

Federer is already the best tennisman in the history; and he still has 10 years left in his career; scary....

[barbacoataco]

Federer over Tiger. Golf is not a sport. Neither is race car driving, or figure skating.

[magic]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEpvZUqkTss

[mathbzh]

Michael Phelps:
- 8 olympics medals (6gold),
- 18 gold medal in world championships (+3 silver)
- Hold 6 world record (has set 23)

And he is only 22yo

Other names:
Kenenisa Bekele (broke the Gebreselassie domination)
Rafael Nadal on clay (81 games winning streak)
Jeremy Wariner (still behind Michael Johnson)

[mountainballer]

Michael Phelps:
- 8 olympics medals (6gold),
- 18 gold medal in world championships (+3 silver)
- Hold 6 world record (has set 23)

And he is only 22yo


I was just going to also mention Phelps.
in a discussion between Tiger and Federer, he has also to be the mentioned.

we are taliking about "most dominant athlete today"

2007 swimming world championships: 7 gold medals (5 single, 2 relay) 5 of thoses wins with a new world record.
this was likely the most dominant performance in a swimming championship ever. (Mark Spitz won 1972 4 singles and 3 relay, if a single title is ranked higher than a relay title, Phelps has set an all time record)

[romain.star]

each all blacks... no contest here...

[Dalhoop]

each all blacks... no contest here...

Federer is black ??? He must have had the same skin disorder as Jackson. :)

Right now its Federer, the guy doesn't loose. Tiger would be #2 because he does loose, finished second this last week.

Dominance throughout their career would be much tougher. The "Body of worth" argument could include Golf, but then it still would not be Tiger because he has not completed his career.

Lance and Sampras would be very close in my mind, both were the very best at their sport for long periods of time, Lance sat on top for seven years. Sampress was only "dominate" from '93-'97 with ten grand slam wins in that four year span time.

The problem with Lance, if he is always at the top, just how good was his competition? The same can be said for Sampras.

In my mind ... All time, Lance ... Now, Federer

[mathbzh]

Federer is black ??? He must have had the same skin disorder as Jackson. :)

Right now its Federer, the guy doesn't loose. Tiger would be #2 because he does loose, finished second this last week.

Dominance throughout their career would be much tougher. The "Body of worth" argument could include Golf, but then it still would not be Tiger because he has not completed his career.

Lance and Sampras would be very close in my mind, both were the very best at their sport for long periods of time, Lance sat on top for seven years. Sampress was only "dominate" from '93-'97 with ten grand slam wins in that four year span time.

The problem with Lance, if he is always at the top, just how good was his competition? The same can be said for Sampras.

In my mind ... All time, Lance ... Now, Federer

The problem with Lance (regardless of doping allegations because most if not all of his competitors used drugs) is that he only won the "Tour de France" and one world championship when he was younger.
This means that he dominated 4 weeks a year. As a comparison Eddy Mercks won 525 races in his career, 54 in is best season, 5 Tour de France, 5 Giro d'Italia, 1 Vuelta a España.

[Testing]

This is partially why I have to go with Tiger. In tennis it's common to have one dominant player that stays on top for a considerable amount of time. That just doesn't happen in golf. Tiger is a freak of nature.


What are you talking about? NO one in the history of tennis has stayed at #1 for as long as Federer. And the last time someone did....it wasn't even close to the # of weeks Federer has been #1.

Federer is a freak of nature....more so than anything because he has amazing Mental Strength to back up his game. Also, I'd argue that to consistently play at the #1 level in tennis after so many matches is a lot harder or the body and mind than golf. You have to be in way greater physical shape and mental.

[resistanze]

Federer is black ??? He must have had the same skin disorder as Jackson. :)

Right now its Federer, the guy doesn't loose. Tiger would be #2 because he does loose, finished second this last week.

Dominance throughout their career would be much tougher. The "Body of worth" argument could include Golf, but then it still would not be Tiger because he has not completed his career.

Didn't Tiger win this past week? That's the reason my local news sportscast began comparing the two...

Anyways like I said, I don't think the two can be directly compared based on a win/lose basis, since winning in tennis is completely different from winning in golf. Personally, I think winning consecutive tournaments in golf is harder than winning consecutive tournaments in tennis. I think it's just that what Tiger's doing seems so normal now after all these years.

[romain.star]

Federer is black ??? He must have had the same skin disorder as Jackson. :)

Right now its Federer, the guy doesn't loose. Tiger would be #2 because he does loose, finished second this last week.

Dominance throughout their career would be much tougher. The "Body of worth" argument could include Golf, but then it still would not be Tiger because he has not completed his career.

Lance and Sampras would be very close in my mind, both were the very best at their sport for long periods of time, Lance sat on top for seven years. Sampress was only "dominate" from '93-'97 with ten grand slam wins in that four year span time.

The problem with Lance, if he is always at the top, just how good was his competition? The same can be said for Sampras.

In my mind ... All time, Lance ... Now, Federer

The All Blacks come from New Zeland and are today the most dominant team sport History has ever known...

As for Lance......
He is a fucking junky just like all the Tour de France riders... wake up boys... this guy is a joke... you've got great champions in the US but don't come up with junkies like lance armstrong, Georges Hincapie, Tyler Hamilton or Floyd Landis... Riders doped from the first one to the last one :dizzy

[mathbzh]

The All Blacks come from New Zeland and are today the most dominant team sport History has ever known...

That is why they only won one world cup in 1987.

[mathbzh]

As for Lance......
He is a fucking junky just like all the Tour de France riders... wake up boys... this SPORT is a joke... you've got great champions in the US but don't come up with junkies like lance armstrong, Georges Hincapie, Tyler Hamilton or Floyd Landis... Riders doped from the first one to the last one :dizzy
fixed

[sandman]

The All Blacks come from New Zeland and are today the most dominant team sport History has ever known...

As for Lance......
He is a fucking junky just like all the Tour de France riders... wake up boys... the PRO SPORT is a joke... you've got great champions in the US but don't come up with junkies like lance armstrong, Georges Hincapie, Tyler Hamilton or Floyd Landis... Riders doped from the first one to the last one :dizzy

fixed better.

[ShoogarBear]

Dominance throughout their career would be much tougher. Actually, I think it's pretty easy:

http://images.encarta.msn.com/xrefmedia/sharemed/targets/images/pho/t039/T039926A.jpg

Didn't lose a race in 10 years.

[romain.star]

That is why they only won one world cup in 1987.


i'm talking about the 2007 All Blacks... You can't do much better in sport nowadays...

as for your suspicion towards PRO SPORT, i can tell you that Pro Curling players are 100% clean... :downspin:

[sandman]

i'm talking about the 2007 All Blacks... You can't do much better in sport nowadays...

as for your suspicion towards PRO SPORT, i can tell you that Pro Curling players are 100% clean... :downspin:

I was referring to the Professional Cycling Circuit.

My sons cycles on a Jr Development team and even as teenagers they are some of the best people you could ever be around. Amatuers are the heart and soul of the sport.

[mathbzh]

I was referring to the Professional Cycling Circuit.

My sons cycles on a Jr Development team and even as teenagers they are some of the best people you could ever be around. Amatuers are the heart and soul of the sport.
I agree.
I don't want to be too hard on cycling. At least they try to fight doping (not like most other pro sports).

[barbacoataco]

How can people complain about cycling and doping when the NFL is full of dopers and everyone knows it. My personal opinion is that athletes in all sports are using HGH and other synthetic enhancers.

[phxspurfan]

Tiger

[romain.star]

How can people complain about cycling and doping when the NFL is full of dopers and everyone knows it. My personal opinion is that athletes in all sports are using HGH and other synthetic enhancers.


anyway, who cares about NFL outside North America?

[spursjustice]

Federer gets my vote... he's so good it annoys me... and he doesn't even have a coach... the guy is a genius on a tennis court...

[E20]

E20, I'll see anybody, anywhere, any sport, any time, and I'll walk away with a W.

[spursjustice]

i'm talking about the 2007 All Blacks... You can't do much better in sport nowadays...



With all due respect, I think the 2007 All Blacks are still beatable... their win over Italy (though it was a blowout) wasn't as convincing... the 2007 All Blacks don't have the aura like Dream Team 1... with that said.. they are still a good team, just not the most dominant...

[Booharv]

With all due respect, I think the 2007 All Blacks are still beatable... their win over Italy (though it was a blowout) wasn't as convincing... the 2007 All Blacks don't have the aura like Dream Team 1... with that said.. they are still a good team, just not the most dominant...

Why are we wasting time with this rugby team? It says a-t-h-l-e-t-e, as in singular, as in one person. I'd take Tiger since Federer is owned by Nadal on clay. Can't go wrong with either one though.

[Switchman]

Roger.

I REFUSE to name any golfer an athlete. /flame suit

[kskonn]

two things I have an opionion on.

1) if you compare sampras and Fed at this point in their career, when they were both 26 they are almost identical. Grand slams are the same matches won are very close and tournaments won they are seperated by only one tournament. However Rogers run at #1 has been amazing and never seen before, his nine straight finals appearances in Majors has been unreal. I think the difference between Fed and Pete was that Pete forced players to play below what they were capable thus appearing less dominant. Federer has the ability to impose his will. He does not care what the other guy does he just plays his game and wins, see Roddick vs Federer US Open 07. he took his best shot and one.

2) I think it is hard to compare Tiger to Roger. In tennis you can physically effect the other player. In golf you have no control over the other players performance physically, but tiger is great at making people mentally crater by proving he can play Mistake free golf when he has a lead. Thus forcing other players to take risks they would normally not take.

Still as a Tennis fan my vote goes to Federer, his play the last 3-4 years has been unbelievable and unprecidented.

Tim duncan would get my vote of Most dominant player in the four major team sports.

[Deimosfobos]

Federer... ez

I love sampras and i consider him one of the best in history... but Federer it's just unreal. Nadal, an incredibly good player, would be number 1 on any era, but he was unlucky enough to live on the Federer era.

Tiger is also by far the best golfer that ever lived, no dout, and he's still too young... tho, as many here, its hard for me to give golf the same level of importance i would give tennis or any "real" sport. You can play golf and be great with a beer belly... Nalvandian is a great tennis player, who is considered "fat" by tennis standars, but he probably has less body fat than 99.9% of current pro golf players.

[T Park]

You can play golf and be great with a beer belly.


Not true anymore.

[Deimosfobos]

Not true anymore.

Guess im watching another sport called golf... since the one Tiger plays, i see many "beer bellys", not necesary fat, but not even close to the fisical condition pro tennis players have.

[romain.star]

Golf is a good thing for my grandpa

[TheAuthority]

Golf isn't a fucking sport and they sure as hell aren't athletes. ROFL That's hilarious. :lmao

[mountainballer]

Guess im watching another sport called golf... since the one Tiger plays, i see many "beer bellys", not necesary fat, but not even close to the fisical condition pro tennis players have.

I agree that the top golf player look more athletic today.
but it still is one of the few sports where you can carry some extra pounds and still be top 3 of the world, like Mickelson and Els prove.
http://i.a.cnn.net/si/2004/writers/gary_van_sickle/09/13/underground.golfer/p1_els_si.jpg
http://www.thesportstruth.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/mickelson_phil.jpg

[Testing]

yes, i definitely don't consider golf to be a sport. You try playing basketball for 48 minutes, or football with players pounding you, or tennis in a 2.5 hour match where you are constantly moving and exerting physical strength every minute and then tell me that golf demands a high level of athleticism.

[romain.star]

is sport only based on athleticism?

The answer is hell yes !! Otherwise, let's consider Poker or Monopoly as sports... Sorry but Tiger Woods is not a sportman, he is a golf player... quite not the same

[polandprzem]

is sport only based on athleticism?

The answer is hell yes !! Otherwise, let's consider Poker or Monopoly as sports... Sorry but Tiger Woods is not a sportman, he is a golf player... quite not the same

Poker is considered as sport as the chess

[mathbzh]

Body control, fluidity, flexibility... a lot of physical qualities are required to be a high level golf player.
I am not a golf fan and don't even know how great Tiger really is. But I have little doubt it is a sport.

[polandprzem]

Golf is clasified as sport

[romain.star]

Body control, fluidity, flexibility... a lot of physical qualities are required to be a high level golfer.
I am not a golf fan and don't even know how great Tiger really is. But I have little doubt it is a sport.

Body control, fluidity, flexibility... a lot of physical qualities are required to be a high level PORN STAR
I am not a PORN fan and don't even know how great TERA PATRICK really is. But I have little doubt it is a sport...

[phxspurfan]

I remind you that the title of the thread is 'Most Dominant Athlete in Sports Today.' Golf is classified as a sport, and athletes are known to play sports, so this much is implied. Tiger Woods is the most dominant athlete in sports today because he has won more of the measurable quantities (majors, tournaments, prize money) combined than Federer has to date. That can change, of coruse, but to date, Tiger has been dominant for a longer time period and thus earns the title...

[smrattler]

I don't think it's even close: Federer

You could make a case for Tiger maybe, but nobody else close to Federer.

Pete Sampras has the record of 14 Grand Slam titles and is condiered the GOAT by most people. Federer just won his 12th Grand Slam a month after his 26th birthday and is just starting to play at his peek now. He will rewrite the record and if he plays longer than Sampras, it won't even be close.

But aside from the titles, his level of play is higher than anyone ever probably.

[Man In Black]

That's taking it a little too far. Only reason he is efficient thrower is because it happens so rarely, and when he gets the football in the backfield, backers, safeties and even corners are forced to come up to help stop the potential of the run. It almost always leads to one-on-one coverage to his intended targets, if not makes them completely wide open. It's not like he has a great spiral or he could run an offense if he was QB the majority of the game.

In reality, he doesn't throw better than any NFL QB.
It's not that he throws any better than any NFL QB, it's that he warrants that much attention so those backers, safeties, and even corners are forced to come help and then he does what he does. UNREAL and I see it every Sunday here in Daygo.

[Rummpd]

Kobe does not even belong on this list - he has won nothing without another (very dominant) superstar on his team.

Woods = Federer* = Duncan - the best in their sport and each can make case for being the greatest ever in their sport or at least at their position in a team game. (Again, Kobe not even in that discussion)

Federer needs to win on Clay to really be on the same plane with Woods by the way as the potential GOAT, and a guy named Nicklaus playing with today's equipment could have given Woods everything he wanted head to head.

[Rummpd]

Those who don't think golf is a sport are inane - it is harder to be a top five golfer (which takes a very athletic move and hand to eye coordination beyond that of almost any other sport) in the world than a top five anything else - better competition, and look at those like Jordan and others who as good as athlete's as they are supposed to be cannot put it all together on the golf course!

[ShoogarBear]

Tiddlywinks requires hand/eye coordination, and Michael Jordan and other top athletes might have a tough time with it. That doesn't make it a sport.

Is bowling any more or less a sport than golf?

[planaria]

I don't think it's even close: Federer

You could make a case for Tiger maybe, but nobody else close to Federer.



You dont believe, but I have told already: Robert Scheidt. The guy is one of the best athlets ever and still winning.

Last year, he simply have changed his class from Laser to Star (two opposites classes) and he is already the world champion in the new class.

Olympic Games:

Gold 2004 Atenas Laser
Gold 1996 Atlanta Laser
Silver 2000 Sidney Laser

World Championships:

Bronze N. Zelândia 1993 Laser
Silver França 1994 Laser
Gold Espanha 1995 Laser
Gold África do Sul 1996 Laser
Gold Chile 1997 Laser
Silver Austrália 1999 Laser
Gold México 2000 Laser
Gold Irlanda 2001 Laser
Gold EUA 2002 Laser
Silver Espanha 2003 Laser
Gold Turquia 2004 Laser
Gold Brasil 2005 Laser
Silver EUA 2006 Star
Gold Portugal 2007 Star

[romain.star]

You dont believe, but I have told already: Robert Scheidt. The guy is one of the best athlets ever and still winning.

Last year, he simply have changed his class from Laser to Star (two opposites classes) and he is already the world champion in the new class.

Olympic Games:

Gold 2004 Atenas Laser
Gold 1996 Atlanta Laser
Silver 2000 Sidney Laser

World Championships:

Bronze N. Zelândia 1993 Laser
Silver França 1994 Laser
Gold Espanha 1995 Laser
Gold África do Sul 1996 Laser
Gold Chile 1997 Laser
Silver Austrália 1999 Laser
Gold México 2000 Laser
Gold Irlanda 2001 Laser
Gold EUA 2002 Laser
Silver Espanha 2003 Laser
Gold Turquia 2004 Laser
Gold Brasil 2005 Laser
Silver EUA 2006 Star
Gold Portugal 2007 Star



Man... you're so dam right to come up with Robert Scheidt... I've been sailing in Laser for a while and qualified for many world championships and therefore I was lucky enought to sail against Scheidt (never beat him of course)... This guy is a legend. He dominated the most competitive sailing class (Laser) for years and no one (except Ben Ainsley in his prime) could beat him (no matter how strong or light the wind was). Too bad sailing is poorly considered in the Media...

[Trainwreck2100]

Oh please Federer has the luxury of everyone in Tennis sucking ass.

[sandman]

Per Webster's Online Dictionary:

sport /spɔrt, spoʊrt/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[spawrt, spohrt] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun 1. an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature, as racing, baseball, tennis, golf, bowling, wrestling, boxing, hunting, fishing, etc.
2. a particular form of this, esp. in the out of doors.
3. diversion; recreation; pleasant pastime.


Especially when considering #3, it is no wonder that poker tournaments and spelling bees have gotten air time on ESPN...

[mathbzh]

He is retired now, but what about Steve Redgrave 5 Olympics gold medal in 5 Olympics games (1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000)?

[Phenomanul]

People's minds have always had a split on the interpretation of the word "athlete".... And each faction cannot see eye to eye with the other.

This is no disrespect to Tiger, who was able to draw millions to Golf, where others hadn't. I'm a big fan of his and can dish out all sorts of Tiger statistics with the best of them. To me however, Tiger is a normal athlete with a great mental command of his game. The fact that he is a winner does not make him a great athlete... especially when one considers that his field of competition is filled with other normal to marginal athletes.

Winning just means Tiger is dominating his field. His skills and talent are what place him in the GOAT conversation for golf... not his athletic ability.

To me:
Athletes must excel in at least 5 of 6 basic areas to be considered such.

1) Endurance and Stamina,
2) Speed and Agility
3) Power and Strength
4) Coordination and Balance
6) Finesse and Grace
7) Mental willpower, fortitude and courage

Such that when coupled with:

7) Skill and Talent

That person can then excel in the 'sport' of their choosing.

Put this way, if you consider Tiger the World's greatest athlete, then that would mean that any chubby golfer (not unprecedented) who managed to string together several wins on the PGA Tour, the Masters etc.... would also have to be considered for that title.

Golf is a glorified game played outdoors. It is not a true sport.

Plus, last time I checked, all the heavy lifting for the guys on tour is done by the Caddies.

Under the above classifications... Guys like Federer, Armstrong, Ronaldinho, and Phelps, would have to be considered way before Tiger (or any other golfers for that matter).

Alas, people will forever argue the semantical meaning of an athlete.

[Switchman]

Oh please Federer has the luxury of everyone in Tennis sucking ass.

They don't all have beer guts and fuel themselves with alcohol and nicotine do they? :smokin

CRUSH THE COMPETITION TIGER!


Plus last time I checked all the heavy lifting for the guys on tour is done by Caddies.

haha pwnt.

[mathbzh]

Winning just means Tiger is dominating his field. His skills and talent are what place him in the GOAT conversation for golf... not his athletic ability.


Put Duncan instead of Tiger and NBA instead of golf... and your sentence is still true :p:

[romain.star]

He is retired now, but what about Steve Redgrave 5 Olympics gold medal in 5 Olympics games (1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000)?


doped....

[Rummpd]

Duncan as the dominant player on his team has led his team to the highest winning percentage over a least a 10 year period in the History of professional sports*. Pretty darn dominant. Belongs in conversation!


That was from an article by Sam Smith I could not find but I found this allusion on the NBA cite and a lot more about Duncan and his Spurs:

Spurs: By the Numbers
By John Hareas and Andrew Pearson
Posted Jun 6 2007 8:52PM
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Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images
Tim Duncan and the Spurs are looking to add to their list of impressive numbers.

The Spurs have won three NBA titles since they selected Tim Duncan No. 1 overall in 1997. For more numbers concerning San Antonio's impressive playoff resume, check out the in-depth list below.

1 Tim Duncan is the lone internationally-born player to appear in four NBA Finals.

1 Tim Duncan, No. 1 overall pick in the 1997 NBA Draft.

3 (now 4!) Number of championships Spurs have won since joining the NBA in 1976-77.

3 Number of Finals MVPs for Tim Duncan.

3 (now 4) Number of titles for head coach Gregg Popovich who trails John Kundla (5), Pat Riley (5), Phil Jackson (9) and Red Auerbach (9) for most NBA championships as head coach.

3 Robert Horry (Houston, '94, '95, Lakers, '00, '01, '02) is one of only three players, along with Ron Harper (Chicago ’96-98) and Dennis Rodman (Detroit ’89-90, Chicago ’96-98) to have won back-to-back championships with two different teams in NBA history.

3 The number of big men - Karl Malone (11), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10) and Bob Pettit (10) - in NBA history to have appeared on the All-NBA First Team more times than Tim Duncan, who has been selected nine times.

6 (now 7)Number of rings Robert Horry owns. Horry’s six (7!) titles are the most of any active player and he is one of only 12 players all time with six-or-more titles (Bill Russell Boston 11, Sam Jones Boston 10, Tom Heinsohn Boston 8, K.C. Jones Boston 8, John Havlicek Boston 8, Tom Sanders Boston 8, Frank Ramsey Boston 7, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Milwaukee/L.A. Lakers 6, Bob Cousy Boston 6, Robert Horry Houston/LA Lakers/San Antonio 6, Michael Jordan Chicago 6, Scottie Pippen Chicago 6.

6 Number of international players currently on the Spurs roster - Tim Duncan (Virgin Islands), Francisco Elson (Netherlands), Manu Ginobili (Argentina), Fabricio Oberto (Argentina), Tony Parker (France) and Beno Udrih (Slovenia).

10-1 Spurs record in the 2007 playoffs when Manu Ginobili scores in double-figures.

12-2 Spurs in playoff series in last five years.

12 Games Robert Horry needs to play in order to tie Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record of 237 playoff games played, the most in NBA history.

15 Robert Horry has appeared in the playoffs all 15 seasons and has never been knocked out of the first round.

15-2 Spurs record the '99 playoffs, the second highest winning percentage for a playoff run in NBA history, which included a playoff record 12 straight wins.

17 Number of rings on current Spurs roster.

27 The number of times that the Spurs have appeared in the playoffs since joining the NBA in 1976-77, including 17 appearances over the last 18 seasons.

28 Tony Parker, first round pick in 2001 NBA Draft, 28th overall.

32 Number of blocked shots by Tim Duncan during the 2003 Finals, a record for the most blocks in a six-game series, which also included a Finals record eight blocks in the series-clinching win.

50 Tim Duncan, points career playoff high (two times, latest vs. Dallas, May 22, 2006).

53 Number of three-point field goals made by Robert Horry, the most in Finals history.

57 Manu Ginobili, second round pick in 1999 NBA Draft, 57th overall.

58 Number of blocked shots by Tim Duncan in the NBA Finals, third all-time behind Shaquille O'Neal (62) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (116).

134 Tim Duncan, Spurs playoff career leader in games played.

322 Manu Ginobili, Spurs Career Playoff Leader in 3-Point Field Goals attempted.

371 Tim Duncan, Spurs playoff career leader in blocks.

.556 Spurs road winning percentage in The Finals, one of three teams to have a road winning percentage in Finals history, trailing only the Chicago Bulls at .667 (12-6) and the Milwaukee Bucks at .800 (4-1).

559-229 Spurs record since Tim Duncan joined the team, the best in the NBA over that span.
.633 Gregg Popovich (88-51) playoff winning percentage, third all time behind Butch van Breda Kolff .636 (21-12) and Phil Jackson .699 (179-77).

.667 Winning percentage of Gregg Popovich in the NBA Finals, the best winning percentage of coaches to have won three or more NBA titles.

.709 Spurs winning percentage over the last 10 years, the best winning percentage of any team in professional sports over that span. .734 Spurs winning percentage during the Tim Duncan era in games played after the All-Star break (does not include games played during the 1998-99 shortened season).

840 Tim Duncan, Spurs career playoff leader in free throws made.

946 Playoff game experience on Spurs roster.

1,183 Tim Duncan, Spurs career playoff leader in field goals made.

1,203 Tim Duncan, Spurs Career playoff leader in free throws attempted.

1,682 Tim Duncan, Spurs career playoff leader in rebounds.

2,325 Tim Duncan, Spurs career playoff leader in field goals attempted.

3,209 Tim Duncan, Spurs career playoff leader in points.




http://www.nba.com/finals2007/sprs_numbers_070606.html

[polandprzem]

Michael Phelps?

[mathbzh]

Michael Phelps?
Funny... It seems that only European fans think about him :rolleyes

[StoneCutter]

IMHO Federer has been more dominant within the last 3 years.

A few posters have questioned whether golf is a sport or not. Here's my take...You can classify physical activities three ways. The first is a race. Doesn't matter if it's on foot, in a car, or a sled being pulled by dogs. How quickly can you get from here to there. Second is what I call a competition. You or a team performs the required physical activity...roll a bowling ball, high jump, gymnastics. You earn a score. While you are taking your turn the other competitors can not do anything to effect your perfomance. When you are done the next person goes. Your final scores are compared to get a winner. The last category covers physical activities that have you and your opponent on the playing surface at the same time. While you are trying to score the opponent is actively trying to prevent you from scoring. Baseball, football, basketball, tennis, boxing are all sports.

Looking at it this way, golf is not a sport. It is a competition. All of the activities mentioned require varying degree's of physical skill. It's not how physically demanding or how difficult an activity is that determines whether it is a sport or not. It is the nature of the event.

[Martin R]

Asafa Powell
100m World Record : 9.74s

[SenorSpur]

Federer - without question

[chaco]

http://thingsgodtaughtme.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/fedex-logo.jpeg

[duncan228]

Rummpd-Thanks for posting the "Spurs: By The Numbers."
There was so much stuff coming out through the Finals, I missed this.
I like stuff like this, so again, thanks.

[Deimosfobos]

You dont believe, but I have told already: Robert Scheidt. The guy is one of the best athlets ever and still winning.

Last year, he simply have changed his class from Laser to Star (two opposites classes) and he is already the world champion in the new class.

Olympic Games:

Gold 2004 Atenas Laser
Gold 1996 Atlanta Laser
Silver 2000 Sidney Laser

World Championships:

Bronze N. Zelândia 1993 Laser
Silver França 1994 Laser
Gold Espanha 1995 Laser
Gold África do Sul 1996 Laser
Gold Chile 1997 Laser
Silver Austrália 1999 Laser
Gold México 2000 Laser
Gold Irlanda 2001 Laser
Gold EUA 2002 Laser
Silver Espanha 2003 Laser
Gold Turquia 2004 Laser
Gold Brasil 2005 Laser
Silver EUA 2006 Star
Gold Portugal 2007 Star


So... a sailor... it's a joke?

How many people sail on the word as a sport? Now, how many people play Tennis, Soccer, Football, Basquetball, ect, ect, ect?

Unless the sport is very popular, i consider "elite" or "uncommon" sports out of the question, is a lot easier to dominate a sport only a few people even gets to play.

[TheAuthority]

I would vote Federer as well. The guy is a living legend.

[romain.star]

So... a sailor... it's a joke?

How many people sail on the word as a sport? Now, how many people play Tennis, Soccer, Football, Basquetball, ect, ect, ect?

Unless the sport is very popular, i consider "elite" or "uncommon" sports out of the question, is a lot easier to dominate a sport only a few people even gets to play.


You don't even know what you're talking about... STFU

[mavs>spurs2]

Federer

[Deimosfobos]

You don't even know what you're talking about... STFU

I know there must be 1000 more soccer players in the world than sailors... if not more.

And "STFU"? What are you, 12?

[spurster]

Actually, I think it's pretty easy:

http://images.encarta.msn.com/xrefmedia/sharemed/targets/images/pho/t039/T039926A.jpg

Didn't lose a race in 10 years.
Track and field doesn't count because EPSN doesn't cover it.

[WalterBenitez]

Roger

[planaria]

I know there must be 1000 more soccer players in the world than sailors... if not more.

And "STFU"? What are you, 12?

So, sailing itsnt a sport because there are less professsional practicers than soccer?

WTF? Every sport in the world is less practiced than soccer.

If it was so easy to be in the Scheidt level, why in the hell more people doesnt practice sailing to win gold medals?

Laser is the cheaper class of sailing, BTW. Even in Brazil (a poor country), there are thousands and thousands of lasers practicers.

[planaria]

And very easy on the eyes as well...

Of course, we could argue the collective athlete known as the US Womens Soccer Team that has not lost in over 2 years. Ditto on the easy on the eyes thing...

Marta is God :p:

[planaria]

Link to the WTF Goal:

http://video.globo.com/Videos/Player/Esportes/0,,GIM735799-7824-GOLACO+DO+BRASIL+MARTA+DA+UM+DRIBLE+ESPETACULAR+IN VADE+A+AREA+E+MARCA+AOS+DO,00.html

[Duncan21]

Dan Carter.

[mathbzh]

Dan Carter.
Once again the All blacks choked... So much for the "Most Dominant" label.

[SAGambler]

I have to think it is Tiger Woods. Who else has been at the pinnacle of his sport for what? 10, 12 years running? Tiger was a force before he turned pro and once he did..well, as Nicklaus once said "I am not familiar with the game he plays". And quit frankly, no one else is either. Tiger will still be nbr 1 in the world in his sport after all the tennis players have hung up their rackets for good. By the time he decides to call it quits, he will own every record there is to own in golf.