Tough question. Depends what greatest means to you. Dominance of their sport, longevity, perceived technical style, personality, influence on their sport, influence outside their sport....etc.
I'll go for a mix of cultural importance to people as a whole (or my best estimate of that), and go for the obvious answer Ali - even though I'm not a boxing fan. I also know next to nothing about baseball, american football, basketball and ice hockey so it's probably worth disregarding my vote on this subject since they are the traditional big american sports!
[QUOTE=Bingo_;76760222be gentle. Some people don't find out until their 30s.[/QUOTE]
Made me laugh that. Now have a mental image of it being discussed in the pub only for a small voice to pipe up at the back, "what about Hulk Hogan?". Everyone turns around expecting to see a small boy sitting with his parents only to see a fully grown thirty year old instead. Funny but it would never happen!
Michael Phelps (Swimming)
Don Schollander (Swimming)
Mark Spitz (Swimming)
Greg Louganis (Diving)
Jim Thorpe (Athletics)
Carl Lewis (Athletics)
Michael Johnson (Athletics)
Edwin Moses (Athletics)
Al Oerter (Athletics)
Bob Mathias (Athletics)
Muhammad Ali (Boxing)
Sugar Ray Robinson (Boxing)
Michael Jordan (Basketball)
Wilt Chamberlain (Basketball)
Joe Montana (Gridiron)
Pete Sampras (Tennis)
Jack Nicklaus (Golf)
Tiger Woods (Golf)
Kelly Slater (Surfing)
Women
Janet Evans (Swimming)
Mary T. Meagher (Swimming)
Pat McCormick (Diving)
Wyomia Tyus (Athletics)
Babe Didrikson (Athletics/Basketball/Golf)
Serena Williams (Tennis)
Chris Evert (Tennis)
Lindsey Vonn (Alpine Skiing)
Comments
Willie Mays
Derek Jeter
Asked my son, he thought for a minute then said "Hulk Hogan"
Think I need to sit him down and have a chat.
Be gentle. Some people don't find out until their 30s.
I'll go for a mix of cultural importance to people as a whole (or my best estimate of that), and go for the obvious answer Ali - even though I'm not a boxing fan. I also know next to nothing about baseball, american football, basketball and ice hockey so it's probably worth disregarding my vote on this subject since they are the traditional big american sports!
Edit - Actually...it is Hulk Hogan.
Ali
Michael Jordan
If you'd asked me a few years ago I'd have said Lance Armstrong.......
Skiing
Lindsey Vonn, apparently
Bode Miller
Swimming
Mark Spitz/Michael Phelps
Bocers
lots of boxers. Rocky Marciano, Joe Louis etc
Track and Field
Jesse Owens, Carl Lewis
A shout for Al Oerter
Bruce Jenner. who knew?
Steve Prefontaine. Go Pre
Golf
Jack Nicklaus
Ben Hogan
Bobby Jones
Tiger Woods
Extreme Sports
Tony Hawk
Shaun White
Cycling
Greg Lemond - I do not believe Greg doped. Just a wonderful cyclist.
Made me laugh that. Now have a mental image of it being discussed in the pub only for a small voice to pipe up at the back, "what about Hulk Hogan?". Everyone turns around expecting to see a small boy sitting with his parents only to see a fully grown thirty year old instead. Funny but it would never happen!
Michael Phelps (Swimming)
Don Schollander (Swimming)
Mark Spitz (Swimming)
Greg Louganis (Diving)
Jim Thorpe (Athletics)
Carl Lewis (Athletics)
Michael Johnson (Athletics)
Edwin Moses (Athletics)
Al Oerter (Athletics)
Bob Mathias (Athletics)
Muhammad Ali (Boxing)
Sugar Ray Robinson (Boxing)
Michael Jordan (Basketball)
Wilt Chamberlain (Basketball)
Joe Montana (Gridiron)
Pete Sampras (Tennis)
Jack Nicklaus (Golf)
Tiger Woods (Golf)
Kelly Slater (Surfing)
Women
Janet Evans (Swimming)
Mary T. Meagher (Swimming)
Pat McCormick (Diving)
Wyomia Tyus (Athletics)
Babe Didrikson (Athletics/Basketball/Golf)
Serena Williams (Tennis)
Chris Evert (Tennis)
Lindsey Vonn (Alpine Skiing)
Jerry Rice
Steve Young
Ronnie Lott
Tiger Woods,
Babe Ruth
Serena Williams
How is Tiger better than Nicklaus? Tiger's period of dominance came at a period when his opponents were relatively weak.
I really hope you are being sarcastic.
I think he was, we all know the Undertaker's now 21-1.