The tennis thread got me thinking...

[OOH! SHAUN TAYLOR]

Probably because it's been pretty much about current Champions bar the Schumacher debate. Right now, I reckon Audley Harrison might scrape a draw against Ali.

Well, Don Bradman was mentioned in the oiriginal post so that did rather sugges it was from all eras.

[walrus]

Hamilton is far too early in his sports career to be considered a great, and Formula One drivers are very difficult to compare...  they should just all bung them in the Lacetti and whoever gets the quickest lap is crowned world champion...  but then Martin Brundle would harp on about changing wind conditions or tyre wear.

Georgie Best has got to be another contender surely?  Especially given his off-the-field antics.

[Arriba]

the hamilton shout is laughable

[Barry Scott]

O'Sullivan clearly shows all the talent to be considered in the same class as Woods and Federer, but like someone else mentioned, mentally he appears to have all the strength of wet 1 ply tissue, so rules himself out.

Schumacher as well, he clearly owned the sport for years and was undisputed number 1.

I doubt anyone will mention him, but i will because my Dad used to talk about him alot when i was younger, Tomba la Bomba (Alberto Tomba). He was a god.

[Ben Wah Balls]

ugh. Schumacher was not undisputed number one when in the sport. I don't think he was better than Hakkinen or Alonso, obviously not Senna and probably not Button and saying the Hamilton shout is laughable is so stupid, he may not have been in the sport long but it's already obvious he is going to be an all time great, just wait and see.

[Arriba]

ifs, buts, maybes.he by no means dominates his sport, so his mention is a joke.

[DV]

Wayne Rooney!

[Ben Wah Balls]

ifs, buts, maybes.he by no means dominates his sport, so his mention is a joke.

How does he not dominate the sport? He has been in it 3 years and already won the championship once, came close a second time and been incredibly impressive last season in a terrible car. Before that he won Formula A, Formula 3, Formula Renault and GP2. He has been dominant in every form of motor racing he's ever been in. We have an incredibly talented English driver who looks capable of being the greatest ever and people don't even realise it. Such a shame.

Schumacher didn't win the title every year either, it's not possible unless you have the best car every year, you only have to compare Hamilton's record to his team-mate last year to see just how well he really did.

[Samdy Gray]

Valentino Rossi?

A worthwhile shout. I'm one of his biggest fans, but wouldn't say he is dominating the sport. Yes he's won plenty of world championships, but there's always been someone else running him close. He's undoubtedly a gifted motorcyclist and a complete mentalist to go with it, but he's done very well in a sport where winning has a lot to do with the machinery you're given.

John McGuinness would be my suggestion for his domination of TT racing.

[DV]

How does he not dominate the sport? He has been in it 3 years and already won the championship once.

I think you answered you're own question.

1 Championship win in 3 seasons isnt dominant.

[Ardiles]

O'Sullivan is very talented, but he's to darts what Gascoigne was to football.  If he better knew how to manage his emotions and apply his talent, he would be right up there with Davis and Hendry.  But he doesn't, and he's not.

And darts is a game, not a sport.

[Ben Wah Balls]

I think you answered you're own question.

1 Championship win in 3 seasons isnt dominant.

If you think that, you don't understand formula one. Senna, the greatest up till now, only won 3 championships in 11 seasons too. It does not mean he wasn't dominant.

[Arriba]

but this is about undisputed no1s in their sport.hamilton is arguably the best driver but it's not cut and dried.

[Ben Wah Balls]

but this is about u disputed no1s in their sport.hamilton is arguably the best driver but it's not cut and dried.

I really think it is. I don't even know who else you could argue for being the best.
Alonso? Hamilton beat him in the same car, in his first season in the sport. Button? Has has too many average seasons and not won enough races, even if not entirely his fault. Schumacher? He cannot have a claim to be the best when he's not raced for 4 years. Massa? Hamilton beat him in an inferior car and he doesn't look anything special unless he has the best car. Who else? I don't see how he can be anything other than the undisputed number one.

[Arriba]

 button would argue he's better i reckon.
we will find out soon enough.