Thread: Top 5 greatest athletes of all time?

Assuming we're talking NFL...

1. Lawrence Taylor
2. John Elway
3. Walter Payton
4. Reggie White
5. Jerry Rice

The other four are up for grabs, but I gotta agree with Bio. Jim Thorpe as no. 1.

We are not talking solely NFL. All sports are included. Anyone and everyone is open to discussion. I just happen to think that the most genetically gifted athletes wind up in the NFL. if you notice in my list those guys all made their names in the NFL, but were multi-sport athletes

Originally Posted by bio-chem

Who are/were the most genetically gifted athletes of all time. I wanna see everyones list. In order. Get going. For me I have to go with:

1. Jim Thorpe
2. Bo Jackson
3. Hershel Walker
4. Deion Sanders
5. yet to be decided

Maybe Jesse Owens for the last spot. Hard to argue with the rest.

Originally Posted by MDR

Maybe Jesse Owens for the last spot. Hard to argue with the rest.

nice one. I like that. he is totally in contention

Michael Vick.

Originally Posted by Doublebase

Michael Vick.

I did think about him, but i'm not ready to go top 5 of all time yet for that guy

c'mon people. there have to be more sport fans out there. I want to see your opinions on this

U had 3 of the 5 I woulda said. Bo Deion, Thorpe
Owens was a good one. Carl Lewis could have an argument too.
To the X Factor those guys were the most genetically gifted for their respective positions not overall.
Lance Armstrong did some big things in his time.
This is a really great question.
99 % of everybody will say Bo Deion and Thorpe but those last 2 spots are gonna take some thinkin

Originally Posted by Work IN Progress

U had 3 of the 5 I woulda said. Bo Deion, Thorpe
Owens was a good one. Carl Lewis could have an argument too.
To the X Factor those guys were the most genetically gifted for their respective positions not overall.
Lance Armstrong did some big things in his time.
This is a really great question.
99 % of everybody will say Bo Deion and Thorpe but those last 2 spots are gonna take some thinkin

genetically I really think hershal walker deserves a spot as well. I mean look at the dude at 48 years old. he has competed in like a million different sports at a high level.

I'm not 100% but I'm pretty sure Dave Winfield was drafted professionally in Baseball, Basketball, and Football. I'm also pretty sure he won a little league world series a college world series and a MLB world series. He may have earned the 4 spot.

Originally Posted by bio-chem

Who are/were the most genetically gifted athletes of all time. I wanna see everyones list. In order. Get going. For me I have to go with:

1. Jim Thorpe
2. Bo Jackson
3. Hershel Walker
4. Deion Sanders
5. yet to be decided

I am going by athletes who exceled at other sports with the exception of Walker but the man is a physical beast so he stays. Not sure if he played any other sport.

Dave Winfield would be my # 5

Originally Posted by Doublebase

Michael Vick.

Originally Posted by bio-chem

I did think about him, but i'm not ready to go top 5 of all time yet for that guy

No way. Randall Cunningham would then have to be placed..Rice, Brown..sanders..

Originally Posted by Work IN Progress

I'm not 100% but I'm pretty sure Dave Winfield was drafted professionally in Baseball, Basketball, and Football. I'm also pretty sure he won a little league world series a college world series and a MLB world series. He may have earned the 4 spot.

nice. thats a great potential top 5 guy. he was drafted in the NFL. by minessota in the 17th round even though he had not played any collegiate football.

I`m going back a bit here but I would put Bob Hayes on the list.Fastest man in the world.Won two olympic gold medals and in the pro football hall of fame.

Bo Jackson in my all time #1. I feel fortunate to have gotten to watch him play when he was in his prime. It'll be a long, long time, if ever, before another Bo Jackson comes along.

Also on my list in no particular order:

Michael Jordan
Lance Armstrong
Jim Thorpe
Jim Brown

On a side note on herschel walker, did you all hear he wants to make a comeback to football at 48. He said in an interview he is in the best shape of his life and is considering it. Heard that on Espn radio a few weeks back.

Hard to not think about Lawrence Taylor, too. His ability changed football on both sides of the ball. He could just take over a game.

Originally Posted by Work IN Progress

On a side note on herschel walker, did you all hear he wants to make a comeback to football at 48. He said in an interview he is in the best shape of his life and is considering it. Heard that on Espn radio a few weeks back.

it'll never happen, but it's a hell of an idea. I bet the guy still runs a 4.5 40yard dash

Originally Posted by I Are Baboon

Bo Jackson in my all time #1. I feel fortunate to have gotten to watch him play when he was in his prime. It'll be a long, long time, if ever, before another Bo Jackson comes along.

Also on my list in no particular order:

Michael Jordan
Lance Armstrong
Jim Thorpe
Jim Brown

Jordan's lack of ability in baseball takes him out of the top 5 in my opinion, but he is up there. Jim Brown is an interesting candidate. I often wonder how much more he would have accomplished had he not walked away so early

Originally Posted by bio-chem

Jordan's lack of ability in baseball takes him out of the top 5 in my opinion, but he is up there. Jim Brown is an interesting candidate. I often wonder how much more he would have accomplished had he not walked away so early

Forgot all about Jim Brown. Prototype for the modern running back. Very fast and very strong. Lot of great athletes to consider.

awesome job guys. keep the suggestions coming. This idea was kind of started somewhere else when I was asked what sport attracts the greatest athletes? I immediately thought football attracts the greatest athletes and started to think of a list of the greatest athletes out there. when i started listing my idea of who i thought were all time great athletes most all played football, but also excelled in other sports as well.

Originally Posted by bio-chem

Jordan's lack of ability in baseball takes him out of the top 5 in my opinion, but he is up there.

I hear ya, but in my opinion basketball takes more pure athletic ability than the other major sports (combination of speed, strength, endurance, skill), which is why I included MJ. He is one of the greatest scorers and defenders in league history...this coming from someone who really doesn't give more than two turds about the NBA.

Originally Posted by I Are Baboon

I hear ya, but in my opinion basketball takes more pure athletic ability than the other major sports (combination of speed, strength, endurance, skill), which is why I included MJ. He is one of the greatest scorers and defenders in league history...this coming from someone who really doesn't give more than two turds about the NBA.

basketball for sure gets high scores for endurance, same as soccer, but speed and strength are even in my mind with other major sports and skill actually gets rated lower than baseball in my mind. hitting a baseball in my mind takes more natural skill than shooting a basket in my opinion.

Originally Posted by I Are Baboon

Bo Jackson in my all time #1. I feel fortunate to have gotten to watch him play when he was in his prime. It'll be a long, long time, if ever, before another Bo Jackson comes along.

Also on my list in no particular order:

Michael Jordan
Lance Armstrong
Jim Thorpe
Jim Brown

I cant put Jim Brown or Michael Jordan in there for overall. They were definately the best at their sport for a chunk of time but Mike couldnt hit a baseball and Jim Brown was just a beast but similar to Walter Payton he was just a running back. I would never take away from the skill, and vision it takes to be a great running back but were talking about overall athleticism

Originally Posted by Work IN Progress

I cant put Jim Brown or Michael Jordan in there for overall. They were definately the best at their sport for a chunk of time but Mike couldnt hit a baseball and Jim Brown was just a beast but similar to Walter Payton he was just a running back. I would never take away from the skill, and vision it takes to be a great running back but were talking about overall athleticism

Jim Brown was also a college lacrose player

Im not about to put Lebron in the conversation but he is Dominating in the NBA and he was Mr. Ohio in football coming out of his senior season. Coulda went the footbball route or the basketball route in my opinion.

Originally Posted by Thunder46

Jim Brown was also a college lacrose player

Didnt know that. Quite a bit before my time