The greatest ever sportsman?

[tans]

Linfords lunchbox or Graham Rix

[alanmayes]

Mohammed Ali was the greatest showman i've seen,but in terms of sportsman i'd go

for Jessie Owens.You have to remember the time in which Owens rose to the top of

athletics and the impact that he must have had within the sporting,political and social

arenas.He was also very humble of his achievements.I know that Ali also faced huge

obstacles from the US Establishment,but in a different era.

[Rich Pullen]

Although his achievements were impressive and did breakdown alot of walls he faced in Germany but a lot of Berlin '36 was myth and media spin.

For example, Owens only got his 4th gold in the relay because Avery Brundage (Chairman of the US Olympic Commitee) withdrew Marty Glickman & Sam Stoller from the final because they were Jewish. Both Brundage and coach Dean Cromwell belonged to America First who were essentially filled by folks who were into the whole Nazi thang.

[alanmayes]

For example, Owens only got his 4th gold in the relay because Avery Brundage (Chairman of the US Olympic Commitee) withdrew Marty Glickman & Sam Stoller from the final because they were Jewish. Both Brundage and coach Dean Cromwell belonged to America First who were essentially filled by folks who were into the whole Nazi thang.

Avery Brundage was still around in the 70's,i think he became IOC Chairman.

[Rich Pullen]

Avery Brundage was still around in the 70's,i think he became IOC Chairman.

He was pretty active right until his death, he was the one that told U.S. athletes to compete after the BSO murdered the Israeli athletes.

He was a pretty interesting character that's for sure - he opposed the Black Power salutes in Mexico and didn't want those pesky ladies competing either. Basically anything that we, well most of us, considered wrong - he felt the opposite!

Alas, he was an old head struggling to come to terms with changing times.

[dell boy]

For Britain - Daly Thompson

For The World - Michael Johnson

[herthab]

Good shout with Daley Thompson.

Overall though I'd go with Ali. Not just the best heavyweight (Imho) the World's ever seen, but also the most influential sportsman ever.

He shook up the World!!!

[Bogus Dave]

Steve redgrave

[herthab]

Steve redgrave

No.

[Bogus Dave]

Why? He's definatley the best ever athlete ever imho. To compete at the top of the most physically demanding sport for over 20 years, with diabetes is a hell of an acheivment. Of course it wasn't just him in the boat, but i doubt he was being carried along all the time.

[herthab]

Why? He's definatley the best ever athlete ever imho. To compete at the top of the most physically demanding sport for over 20 years, with diabetes is a hell of an acheivment. Of course it wasn't just him in the boat, but i doubt he was being carried along all the time.

Dave. He's not even the greatest ever Olympian! A great sportsman? Yes. The Greatest? No.

[Bogus Dave]

Whose better then?

[Bob's Orange]

Although his achievements were impressive and did breakdown alot of walls he faced in Germany but a lot of Berlin '36 was myth and media spin.

For example, Owens only got his 4th gold in the relay because Avery Brundage (Chairman of the US Olympic Commitee) withdrew Marty Glickman & Sam Stoller from the final because they were Jewish. Both Brundage and coach Dean Cromwell belonged to America First who were essentially filled by folks who were into the whole Nazi thang.

He was definately jew a win.

[Rich Pullen]

He was definately jew a win.

Huzzah.

For decades, Brundage resented and envied the greatest American athlete of his sporting career, Jim Thorpe, who used to destory Brundage in the pentathlon. When Thorpe was stripped of accolades due to playing pro-baseball (I think), Brundage refused to reverse the decision decades later when he was calling the shots, as there was a big movement to end the punishment. THE SWINE.

[suttonred]

Have to go with Don Bradman, no one will ever get within a mile of his acheivements.