is Usain Bolt a top 5 athlete of all time?

[Saintsfan1992]

I mean if we are talking about pure athleticism, no media,impact, or anything else of that matter.

I think that bitch Lebron might have a fight or two in that top 5 athlete of all time???????

I mean he is a better athlete than Mj was.

More skilled **** no
better player No.







I mean a thrill nigga jus sayin.

[LJJ]

That is a crazy way to judge a boxer, though. Overall, Gerry Cooney would probably mess SRR up in an actual boxing match, because he was seven inches taller and 100 pounds bigger. Does that mean Cooney>>>SRR?

Doesn't work that way.

And, even if we are looking at it that way, I have both Jack Johnson and Joe Louis above Ali in terms of heavyweights.

He was a fantastic fighter, but this is a very old sport with an incredible history of greats.

I agree with you that Ali isn't the greatest heavyweight of all time, but that's not the argument I'm making.

I'm just saying that although this way of thinking has become ingrained in fighting disciplines over the years, this whole pound for pound way of judging fighters is silly and not based in reality. If a boxer is better pound for pound, but not better face to face: that means he's not a better fighter.

Of course the only reason SRR isn't a better fighter than Ali are his physical limitations, but that goes for every other sport too though. Maybe my sprinting technique is better than Bolt's, but my physical limitations prevent me from competing with him. Does that mean I'm a greater runner than Bolt? No. Silly way of thinking.

[JtotheIzzo]

in track, yes, all sports? You'd have to make exceptions.

You have all these people, some more a sure thing than others:

Gretzky (re-wrote the records, most dominant team sport athlete ever, but sport is not played globally).

Pele (generally considered GOAT in the world's most popular sport, but GOATness is not as separated from the pack as others).

Jordan (ISH is a hoop site, we know the drill).

Ruth (generally considered the GOAT in baseball because of pitching and hitting exploits as well as cultural impact, but baseball is played in very few countries).

Ali (more iconic a nominee as he lost a few times, but like Ruth captured the world's attention).

Federer (has he separated himself from Sampras, Laver etc..?)

Tiger Woods (still has not passed Nicklaus)

Carl Lewis (no, won in '84 against watered down competition, lost to Ben Johnson in '88 and also failed several drug tests)

Jesse Owens (impactful, but strong bias against his era, Bolt could replace him as the greatest sprinter ever).

[dunksby]

1- Maradona: Face of football
2- Ali: He is boxing.
3- Jordan: Same case
4- Federer: synonymous with his sport
5- Rezazadeh: strongest man on earth.

[dude77]

1- Maradona: Face of football
2- Ali: He is boxing.
3- Jordan: Same case
4- Federer: synonymous with his sport
5- Rezazadeh: strongest man on earth.

he says hi

[dunksby]

he says hi

Rezazadeh a better weightlifter than both Taraneko and Krastev.

[dude77]

Rezazadeh a better weightlifter than both Taraneko and Krastev.

Rezazadeh's resume speaks for itself .. but you said strongest on earth .. Taraneko has lifted the heaviest ever in competition

[alenleomessi]

jordan should be first one everyones list because he is the unanimous goat in the 2nd most important sport in the world
however, messi will surpass him when its all said and done ( football more important and popular )

[raiderfan19]

jordan should be first one everyones list because he is the unanimous goat in the 2nd most important sport in the world
however, messi will surpass him when its all said and done ( football more important and popular )

Basketball isn't the second most important sport in the world

[GOBB]

Prime Mike Tyson wouldve shattered Jack Johnson's jaw.

No he wouldnt have.

[chains5000]

Robert Korzeniowski
Hicham El Guerrouj
Emil Z

[PistonsFan#21]

[QUOTE=chains5000]Robert Korzeniowski
Hicham El Guerrouj
[B]Emil Z

[lakers_forever]

jordan should be first one everyones list because he is the unanimous goat in the 2nd most important sport in the world
however, messi will surpass him when its all said and done ( football more important and popular )

Jordan isn't the unanimous goat and Messi is no Pele.

[lakers_forever]

1- Maradona: Face of football

[Jackass18]

jordan should be first one everyones list because he is the unanimous goat in the 2nd most important sport in the world
however, messi will surpass him when its all said and done ( football more important and popular )

What do you mean "most important sport"? Also, I don't get why people use popularity as a criteria either. The more popular/well known person is the better athlete?