Who is the most talented pro athlete of all time?

[Parch]

Jim Thorpe. Won the decathlon and pentathlon in the 1912 Olympics and played pro baseball, football and basketball afterwards.

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Decathletes should probably be getting more recognition in here. They've proven to be multi-talented at a variety of different skills.
If somebody is going claim their favorite is the most talented, there should at least be some evidence that the player is multi-skilled and not just dominant in their particular sport.

 

[stuckpixel]

If you're asking who is the greatest talent, that will vary by sport. The greatest athlete of all time? Muhammad Ali, no question.

 

[Menx64]

There is no correct way to answer that question. Even within the same sport of a difficult question.

 

[DiceyRobot]

Talented? In terms of athletic ability or technical skill?

Athletic ability: Bo (the easy answer for me)
Technical ability: Federer (he makes precision and skill under extreme duress look so effortless and graceful)
Combination: MJ (he's lightning and grace all-in-one. Can perform amazing feats of athleticism, but it's his detailed technique/footwork/etc. that makes him the GOAT)

 

[skipgo]

I'm Brazilian, so I kinda have to say Pelé.
But also i've seen many of his clips over the years in sports shows and the guy was something else.

 

[Shooter]

Bartolo Colon. I mean just look at this peak, physical specimen.

 

[Parch]

The 10 general physical skills...
Strength, power, coordination, flexibility, balance, agility, cardiovascular, speed, accuracy, and stamina.

9 mental skills of successful athletes...
Choose and maintain a positive attitude.
Maintain a high level of self-motivation
Set high, realistic goals.
Deal effectively with people.
Use positive self-talk
Use positive mental imagery.
Manage anxiety effectively.
Manage their emotions effectively.
Maintain concentration.

Most pro athletes have all the mental skills but not necessarily all the physical skills. That depends on the sport.

 

[Vestal]

If we are only talking humans then Bo Jackson.. If not then Secretariat literal FREAK OF NATURE.

 

[Mikarza]

Don Bradman, easily. Guy was a freak.

 

[Pomerlaw]

Bo Jackson

Vincent Edward "Bo" Jackson (born November 30, 1962) is a former baseball and American football player. He is the only athlete in history to be named an All-Star in both baseball and football, and one of few to do so in two major sports.[1] He is widely considered one of the greatest athletes of all time.

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[oggob]

Don Bradman is the GOAT of GOATers

Standard Deviation represents how far above the average player in their field they were. (data compiled in 2009)

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You were doing fine with that first pic, but that comparison with David Warner's T20 career... who the fuck thought that was a comparison to make, whilst a basic runs/ave vs innings can highlight a difference, T20 is tip and run and in no way compatible to Test Cricket.

I can't fathom a publication that thought this was a good comparison to make, lol

 

[Kill3r7]

Jim Brown

He is in the Football and Lacrosse HOF. Played four sports in college.

 

[Riskbreaker]

Bo Jackson.

Being at the pro level in 2 sports is difficult.

Pity about the injuries.

 

[Big-E]

Bartolo Colon. I mean just look at this peak, physical specimen.

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This is an argument I have made in the past. People like Colon, Prince/Cecil Fielder, David Wells, Phil Kessel, Iniesta, are some of the greatest athletes as they are able to perform at the highest level despite looking like out of shape bums. Like imagine if any of these guys were cut and able to lose like 30 plus pounds of fat.

 

[Deleted member 2834]

Messi is likely the best player in the most popular (and therefore probably most contested?) discipline. I think I'll go with him.

 

[perfectchaos007]

Usain Bolt

 

[M4xim1l1ano]

FIrst, we have to separate talent from records.
Just because you are the most talented, does not mean you will break all the records... there are also other circumstances that affect as well.

I dont know.. but pure pure talent.. I say Mario Lemieux over Gretzky any day of the week.
Lemieux was far more complete.. he could pass, he could dribble, had a great accurate shot and was more physical than Gretzky.

I mean, last year before coming to NHL Lemieux made 282 points in 70 (ish) games.
Between Lemieux and Gretzky, guess who has the highest goal scoring average?

I can go on.. but on pure talent, Lemieux beats Gretzky.. and a healthy Lemieux would have erased some of Gretzkys records. Gretzky was amazing but its crazy to think that Lemieux was actually the better player..

 

[Golden]

This is an argument I have made in the past. People like Colon, Prince/Cecil Fielder, David Wells, Phil Kessel, Iniesta, are some of the greatest athletes as they are able to perform at the highest level despite looking like out of shape bums. Like imagine if any of these guys were cut and able to lose like 30 plus pounds of fat.

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Iniesta is /was as skinny as fuck. What are you talking about?

 

[baron doggystyle von woof]

Messi
Roger Federer
Schumacher
Michael Jordan
Usain bolt
Christiano Ronaldo
Pele
Michael Phelps

There are too many.

 

[YawZah]

Messi.

He's the greatest player the most popular sport in the world has ever seen. He's been the best player in the world for a decade plus. Watching him is just magic. His stats are insane but so is his style. He makes even world class players look like amateurs and he does it day in day out for years on end and continues to add to his game even past 30.

Even Ronaldinho said this about Messi when he won his Ballon d'Or:

"This award says I'm the best player in the world, but I'm not even the best player at Barcelona."

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[Big-E]

Iniesta is /was as skinny as fuck. What are you talking about?

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There was a photo of him on the beach with a ponch.

 

[TheHunter]

This post was almost certainly written by someone who's never golfed

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Golf sucks.

 

[Sephzilla]

Golf sucks.

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[gully state]

Bo Jackson

/thread

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[MrRob]

There is way way too much of a difference between various sports to even attempt to lump them all together and try to come up with a "most talented athlete" amoung all of them.

It's simply not possible. Things like this absolutely MUST be broken down by sport.

 

[Mahonay]

Scott Steiner

 

[HomokHarcos]

Johan Cruijff. Not just because he was talented on the field, but off too.

 

[Yams]

Dieon Sander was playing two sports at one time

 

[27 Burritos]

I say Bo Jackson.

 

[Captain of Industry]

Mr. Perfect

 

[Deleted member 35011]

Vezzali was a monster foil fencer and I don't think anyone in the modern game can be as dominant as she was. Could also make a case for Kolobkov, the Epee fencer responsible for the Namek bout where he scored like five hits in five seconds. God he was amazing.

 

[Kalel114]

Athlete? Jim Thorpe.

 

[jacket]

Tiger

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Get out.

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Nobody was as dominant at their sport, and for such a long time

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Hitting a small ball far away isn't a talent.

It's a leisure hobby for old people. When a back spasm takes you out it's not a sport.

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lmfao

 

[Psamtik]

This is an argument I have made in the past. People like Colon, Prince/Cecil Fielder, David Wells, Phil Kessel, Iniesta, are some of the greatest athletes as they are able to perform at the highest level despite looking like out of shape bums. Like imagine if any of these guys were cut and able to lose like 30 plus pounds of fat.

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One of the things I love about baseball (and football, for that matter) is that it has a place for a wide range of body types. CC Sabathia wouldn't have a prayer as an outfielder, but there's a niche in which he can be productive. Ryan Howard didn't steal many bases, but he didn't need to.

 

[Thunder11]

Hitting a small ball far away isn't a talent.

It's a leisure hobby for old people. When a back spasm takes you out it's not a sport.

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Not funny

 

[Strangelove_77]

Daigo.

 

[Prototype Viktor]

Mugsy

Marino

Sue Bird

 

[Hamchan]

Don Bradman.

His stats are still so far ahead of everyone in Cricket.

 

[Zetta]

Bo Jackson.

Honorary mentions

Wilt the Stilt
Gretzky.
Barry Sanders.
MJ

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Should add this to the OP so this thread could be closed.

 

[Damerman]

If we are talking pure talent, Ronaldinho is the GOAT. He was magical when he was in form.

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agreed... only player i can think that had the ability to control a game through sheer will was Zidane. Ronaldinho just had that style edge over Zidane.

 

[TheXbox]

I don't know shit about cricket but the stats on Don Bradman are just ludicrous. Either no one else has ever been good at cricket or he is the best dude at a sport ever.

 

[Slappy White]

Play Tecmo Super Bowl and try to tell me it's not Bo Jackson.

 

[ShutterMunster]

I feel like this thread is made for guys like Bo Jackson & Dieon Sanders. It's one thing to be good at a singular sport, but to be dope in multiple? Phew. I also think NFL players tend to be more athletic than other sports because certain positions in American football require you to be great at multiple disciplines.

 

[capitalCORN]

Even with all the Skeev ass shit, Diego Maradona.

 

[Prototype Viktor]

Don Bradman is the GOAT of GOATers

Standard Deviation represents how far above the average player in their field they were. (data compiled in 2009)

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Wait til Cubans start dominating the sport

 

[NHarmonic.]

AND HIS NAME IS JOHN CEEENNAAAAAAA

1. WWE Championship - 13 times
2. World Heavyweight Championship - 3 times
3. WWE Tag Team Championship - 2 times
4. WWE United States Championship - 5 times
5. World Tag Team Championship - 2 times
6. 2012 Money in the Bank winner
7. 2 time Royal Rumble Winner
8. 3 time Super Star of the Year Slammy Award winner
9. OVW Heavyweight Championship - 1 time
10. OVW Southern Tag Team Championship - 1 time
11. UPW Heavyweight Championship - 1 time

And that's not even counting his PWI awards. No other person has ever been so dominant.

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Do you know this shit is fake... right?

 

[Chrome Hyena]

Bo Jackson for me, with Serena Williams as a close second. She was just so... dominant in her sport.

Also lets not forget what Bo did to poor Bosworth.

 

[Deleted member 2533]

I like this Tiger anecdote:

Marshall got his golf clubs at one point and asked Tiger to sign his TaylorMade bag. Tiger refused, sheepishly, saying he couldn't sign a competing brand. So Marshall challenged him to a driving contest for the signature. Both Marshall and Brown confirmed what happened next: Tiger grinned and agreed. Some other guys gathered around a raised area overlooking the shooting range. Marshall went first and hit a solid drive, around 260 or 270 yards. Tiger looked at him and teed up a ball, gripping the TaylorMade driver.

Then he got down on his knees.

He swung the club like a baseball bat and crushed one out past Marshall's drive. Tiger started laughing, and then all the SEALs started laughing, and eventually Marshall was laughing too.

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[GeorgePBurdell]

Either Tiger or Federer.

 

[Slim]

Messi and Ronaldo #7.