Such profound ignorance...
Never know. Jordan didn't do any decathalons. I like real sports anyway. Fuck discus, pole vault, shot put & javelin bs.
Obviously spoken by a complete fool with no athletic ability. I'd be impressed if you could hang with one of my college decathletes for JUST two days of training, much less do all 10 events. Why do you think the Olympic Decathlon Champ holds the title of World's Best Athlete? Because they can do it ALL!
Having played on a Ca. state championship basketball team, competed with Bill Walton (we went to the same high school), trained with people like Russ Hodge, (former World Record Holder in the Decathlon) when I threw the javelin and the shot, in addition to strength training numerous field athletes, I can argue from authority.
One "plays" basketball, so skill development is reasonably pleasurable, the hard part's conditioning.
Mastering the 10 different events in the Decathlon requires not only the skills, put the power and muscular endurance to compete for two days. And the training is nothing but YEARS of HARD HARD WORK.
Not even a close contest IMHO.
Goodfella9783 - You are quite clueless, please keep your ignorance to yourself, the Decathlon's the original Olympic sport, show some respect.
Jordan couldn't carry Robert Zmelik's jock, much less begin to be competitive in the Decathlon. Jordan's insufficiently disciplined, just for starters. Zmelik won the Decathlon in '92 Barcelona, completely self coached and on a budget less than what Jordan tips his caddy for a day on the links. In addition, Zmelik came very close to repeating in '96. His performances in training right up to Atlanta had him on track to break the world record in the Decathlon. Unfortunately he got a tooth infection the week of the games and ended up 7th.
BILL TOOMEY is an obvious American choice that should be in the top 2 or 3. Toomey won the Gold in '68, still holds the record of 5 time US National Champion and he won 23 major Decathlon meets.
As for the all time best Athlete...tough call, but Toomey deserves to be right near the top.
Ubercoach