[quote]WhiteFlash wrote:
Usmc, you really need to go back and watch young Jordan clips. I think you’re remembering him in his later years. I was being serious when I recommended Come Fly With Me. That shit still gives me goose bumps.[/quote]
The acrobatic shot he had against the Nets still amazes me.
Although, i do cringe at your mention of D-Rose being a version of franchise but less explosive.
IMO Rose has a way better skill set and is way more explosive in first step and leaping ability than francis was. Maybe his attitude won’t let me put them on the same plane of existence but i don’t know i always felt steve was a 2 and i see Rose as a more natural scoring PG.
I keep hoping Rose will do the dunk contest but as plagued as he is when it comes to injuries i don’t blame him for not wanting to but he would win easy i think.
[quote]DBCooper wrote:
Here’s a novel concept: what an athlete looks like has absolutely NO bearing on how athletic he/she is. Justin Verlander doesn’t “look” like a great athlete, but I would put him pretty far up anyone’s list.
[/quote]
Absolutely. It’s the same reason people shouldn’t be so dismissive of Babe Ruth as a potential candidate for greatest athlete. A pitcher breaking hitting records would be unheard of today, but that’s what he did. And a high quality pitcher at that. It’d be like if, say, Verlander knocked 50 out of the park in a season. Ridic.
Or how about some of the top bull riders? Talk about athletes with some fucking bottle to them. Strength, agility/balance, endurance (multiple rides per event) and a complete lack of fear.
I think it should
be noted that athletes who perform the best under pressure situations should be bumped up the list as well. It demands a heightened amount of athleticism and mental strength to succeed in high-pressure situations. I remember there was an article on here a couple years back about why athletes “choke”. Basically, the increased heart rate that normally comes with a big game or whatever can lead to a decrease in neuromuscular coordination. If I remember correctly, most people have trouble even tying their shoes with a heart rate at about 175 or so. Navy SEALS were part of this study and they excel with heart rates that most would crumble under.
In fact, why not include the SEALS on this list? Why aren’t they considered athletes? Is competition all that matters? I’d say those fuckers are in a WAY bigger competition than anything any athlete will ever face and they do pretty damn well.
[quote]mbdix wrote:
I also think that Deon could guard Jordan in a basketball game. Granted Jordan could post up on Deon and score, but Deon would be making some steals and Jordan woudn’t be able to catch Deon going the other way before he made a layup. I also think Deon could walk in the gym and done this to Jordan without practice. I think if Jordan walked on the football field, he would not catch a pass on Deon, and wouldn’t be able to cover or stop Deon from scoring every time Deon touched the ball. Just my honest opinion, and no way of knowing for sure.[/quote]
This is so incredibly ridiculous I don’t know where to start. You’re telling me that a guy who made his living playing football could successfully guard a basketball player with the highest scoring average of all time?[/quote]
What I am saying Jordan in his prime, and Primetime in his jerry curl prime, hold a competition. the first part is full-court one on one. Jordan will be scoring yes, but Prime will be making steals and scoring as well. Then they walk over to a football field, and Jordan doesnt catch a pass, and Deon is catching passes left and right, and intercepting passes and scoring TDs on Jordan all day. Basically I think that Deon’s football coverage abilty would transfer to the bball court with some success and Jordan wouldn’t be able to stop Deon. That’s where I come to my decision of Jordan < Primetime Neon Deon Sanders. BTW I like Air Jordan more than Sanders. I hated Primetime when he played for San Fran, and thought he was to arragant and cocky in his attitude. But, the dude was one hell of an athlete. Maybe the best. This doesn’t even go into what we have actual video on of them playing a different and mutual sport…baseball
[quote]WhiteFlash wrote:
Usmc, you really need to go back and watch young Jordan clips. I think you’re remembering him in his later years. I was being serious when I recommended Come Fly With Me. That shit still gives me goose bumps.[/quote]
The acrobatic shot he had against the Nets still amazes me.
Although, i do cringe at your mention of D-Rose being a version of franchise but less explosive.
IMO Rose has a way better skill set and is way more explosive in first step and leaping ability than francis was. Maybe his attitude won’t let me put them on the same plane of existence but i don’t know i always felt steve was a 2 and i see Rose as a more natural scoring PG.
I keep hoping Rose will do the dunk contest but as plagued as he is when it comes to injuries i don’t blame him for not wanting to but he would win easy i think.
[/quote]
Unfortunately cfwm came about before that shot, but that might be the single most ridiculous shot in basketball history.
Rose is faster and may even jump a little higher, but he doesn’t explode in traffic the way Francis did. Francis had a way better crossover and mid-range jumper, but he was too much of a knucklehead to ever make the must our of his gifts. Don’t get me started on who should be in the dunk contest, I’ll go on for days haha.
[quote]DBCooper wrote:
How about Lindsey Vonn? The athleticism required to fly down a mountain on skis at up to 80 mph or so is pretty impressive. Lots of eye-hand-leg coordination, lots of power and strength to stay tucked and tight through all that shit and at that high of a speed, lots of endurance, etc.[/quote]
Great point! Speed skiers are animals for sure. They can usually squat a shit load and have legs that can take the worst beatings.
[quote]DBCooper wrote:
Here’s a novel concept: what an athlete looks like has absolutely NO bearing on how athletic he/she is. Justin Verlander doesn’t “look” like a great athlete, but I would put him pretty far up anyone’s list.
[/quote]
Absolutely. It’s the same reason people shouldn’t be so dismissive of Babe Ruth as a potential candidate for greatest athlete. A pitcher breaking hitting records would be unheard of today, but that’s what he did. And a high quality pitcher at that. It’d be like if, say, Verlander knocked 50 out of the park in a season. Ridic.[/quote]
I would put Babe Ruth squarely at the top of any list. Actually, I would put Ali at the top, but that is based more on the impact he had outside of sports. He transcended sports in a way no one else really has, and for me that makes him great.
But if we look strictly at their sporting accomplishments, no one can approach Ruth. The guy was more dominant within his sport at the time than anyone has been in any sport since. He hit more home runs by himself than many teams were hitting. He may have been fat, but he clearly had strength and power. He was also pretty agile since he was a damn good pitcher for a while and anyone who has had to pitch at a fairly high level knows that it takes some serious body control and agility to repeat a successful pitching motion over and over and over.
No other athlete has ever been so clearly better than everyone else in his sport and no athlete changed the way their sport is played the way he did. Think about it: none of the other athletes in his sport were better than him. He may not have been the most athletic, but he was the greatest.
[quote]DBCooper wrote:
How about Lindsey Vonn? The athleticism required to fly down a mountain on skis at up to 80 mph or so is pretty impressive. Lots of eye-hand-leg coordination, lots of power and strength to stay tucked and tight through all that shit and at that high of a speed, lots of endurance, etc.[/quote]
Great point! Speed skiers are animals for sure. They can usually squat a shit load and have legs that can take the worst beatings.[/quote]
Yeah, get into a deep squat position, like ass-to-grass or close to it. Below parallel for sure. Oh, and do so with your feet only about six inches apart. Now stay there while a friend shakes you around trying to knock you over. Now imagine trying to hold your position at 80mph through all that shit. That’s what the Super G and the Giant Slalom are like.
And what about a guy like Shaun White or Tony Hawk? They aren’t strong, per se, but their agility is heads and shoulders above ANY basketball player’s or football player’s.
[quote]mbdix wrote:
I also think that Deon could guard Jordan in a basketball game. Granted Jordan could post up on Deon and score, but Deon would be making some steals and Jordan woudn’t be able to catch Deon going the other way before he made a layup. I also think Deon could walk in the gym and done this to Jordan without practice. I think if Jordan walked on the football field, he would not catch a pass on Deon, and wouldn’t be able to cover or stop Deon from scoring every time Deon touched the ball. Just my honest opinion, and no way of knowing for sure.[/quote]
This is so incredibly ridiculous I don’t know where to start. You’re telling me that a guy who made his living playing football could successfully guard a basketball player with the highest scoring average of all time?[/quote]
What I am saying Jordan in his prime, and Primetime in his jerry curl prime, hold a competition. the first part is full-court one on one. Jordan will be scoring yes, but Prime will be making steals and scoring as well. Then they walk over to a football field, and Jordan doesnt catch a pass, and Deon is catching passes left and right, and intercepting passes and scoring TDs on Jordan all day. Basically I think that Deon’s football coverage abilty would transfer to the bball court with some success and Jordan wouldn’t be able to stop Deon. That’s where I come to my decision of Jordan < Primetime Neon Deon Sanders. BTW I like Air Jordan more than Sanders. I hated Primetime when he played for San Fran, and thought he was to arragant and cocky in his attitude. But, the dude was one hell of an athlete. Maybe the best. This doesn’t even go into what we have actual video on of them playing a different and mutual sport…baseball[/quote]
Sorry man, but Jordan would shut Sanders out. You’re assuming Sanders had a handle, and could shoot and create enough separation to get his shot off. Read somewhere that Sanders tried to play semi-pro ball but couldn’t hack it. Basketball requires a lot more than just physical gifts.
[quote]mbdix wrote:
I also think that Deon could guard Jordan in a basketball game. Granted Jordan could post up on Deon and score, but Deon would be making some steals and Jordan woudn’t be able to catch Deon going the other way before he made a layup. I also think Deon could walk in the gym and done this to Jordan without practice. I think if Jordan walked on the football field, he would not catch a pass on Deon, and wouldn’t be able to cover or stop Deon from scoring every time Deon touched the ball. Just my honest opinion, and no way of knowing for sure.[/quote]
This is so incredibly ridiculous I don’t know where to start. You’re telling me that a guy who made his living playing football could successfully guard a basketball player with the highest scoring average of all time?[/quote]
What I am saying Jordan in his prime, and Primetime in his jerry curl prime, hold a competition. the first part is full-court one on one. Jordan will be scoring yes, but Prime will be making steals and scoring as well. Then they walk over to a football field, and Jordan doesnt catch a pass, and Deon is catching passes left and right, and intercepting passes and scoring TDs on Jordan all day. Basically I think that Deon’s football coverage abilty would transfer to the bball court with some success and Jordan wouldn’t be able to stop Deon. That’s where I come to my decision of Jordan < Primetime Neon Deon Sanders. BTW I like Air Jordan more than Sanders. I hated Primetime when he played for San Fran, and thought he was to arragant and cocky in his attitude. But, the dude was one hell of an athlete. Maybe the best. This doesn’t even go into what we have actual video on of them playing a different and mutual sport…baseball[/quote]
Are you saying if they were the same height? A QB could easily throw the ball above Deion’s jumping ability, I doubt Deion is ripping him also. You’re way off with your analogy even if Sanders was the greatest athlete ever. He would have a much tougher time with Jordan on a basketball court then Jordan one on one football, size does matter.
[quote]mbdix wrote:
I also think that Deon could guard Jordan in a basketball game. Granted Jordan could post up on Deon and score, but Deon would be making some steals and Jordan woudn’t be able to catch Deon going the other way before he made a layup. I also think Deon could walk in the gym and done this to Jordan without practice. I think if Jordan walked on the football field, he would not catch a pass on Deon, and wouldn’t be able to cover or stop Deon from scoring every time Deon touched the ball. Just my honest opinion, and no way of knowing for sure.[/quote]
This is so incredibly ridiculous I don’t know where to start. You’re telling me that a guy who made his living playing football could successfully guard a basketball player with the highest scoring average of all time?[/quote]
What I am saying Jordan in his prime, and Primetime in his jerry curl prime, hold a competition. the first part is full-court one on one. Jordan will be scoring yes, but Prime will be making steals and scoring as well. Then they walk over to a football field, and Jordan doesnt catch a pass, and Deon is catching passes left and right, and intercepting passes and scoring TDs on Jordan all day. Basically I think that Deon’s football coverage abilty would transfer to the bball court with some success and Jordan wouldn’t be able to stop Deon. That’s where I come to my decision of Jordan < Primetime Neon Deon Sanders. BTW I like Air Jordan more than Sanders. I hated Primetime when he played for San Fran, and thought he was to arragant and cocky in his attitude. But, the dude was one hell of an athlete. Maybe the best. This doesn’t even go into what we have actual video on of them playing a different and mutual sport…baseball[/quote]
Are you saying if they were the same height? A QB could easily throw the ball above Deion’s jumping ability, I doubt Deion is ripping him also. You’re way off with your analogy even if Sanders was the greatest athlete ever. He would have a much tougher time with Jordan on a basketball court then Jordan one on one football, size does matter.[/quote]
x2. saying “Prime will be making steals and scoring as well” is moronic. No he wouldn’t. He wouldn’t steal the ball once. He would be lucky to score once. And he would be lucky to stop Jordan once. And he would likely suffer compound fractures in both ankles. You have a fundamental misunderstanding of basketball skills.
[quote]mbdix wrote:
I also think that Deon could guard Jordan in a basketball game. Granted Jordan could post up on Deon and score, but Deon would be making some steals and Jordan woudn’t be able to catch Deon going the other way before he made a layup. I also think Deon could walk in the gym and done this to Jordan without practice. I think if Jordan walked on the football field, he would not catch a pass on Deon, and wouldn’t be able to cover or stop Deon from scoring every time Deon touched the ball. Just my honest opinion, and no way of knowing for sure.[/quote]
This is so incredibly ridiculous I don’t know where to start. You’re telling me that a guy who made his living playing football could successfully guard a basketball player with the highest scoring average of all time?[/quote]
What I am saying Jordan in his prime, and Primetime in his jerry curl prime, hold a competition. the first part is full-court one on one. Jordan will be scoring yes, but Prime will be making steals and scoring as well. Then they walk over to a football field, and Jordan doesnt catch a pass, and Deon is catching passes left and right, and intercepting passes and scoring TDs on Jordan all day. Basically I think that Deon’s football coverage abilty would transfer to the bball court with some success and Jordan wouldn’t be able to stop Deon. That’s where I come to my decision of Jordan < Primetime Neon Deon Sanders. BTW I like Air Jordan more than Sanders. I hated Primetime when he played for San Fran, and thought he was to arragant and cocky in his attitude. But, the dude was one hell of an athlete. Maybe the best. This doesn’t even go into what we have actual video on of them playing a different and mutual sport…baseball[/quote]
Are you saying if they were the same height? A QB could easily throw the ball above Deion’s jumping ability, I doubt Deion is ripping him also. You’re way off with your analogy even if Sanders was the greatest athlete ever. He would have a much tougher time with Jordan on a basketball court then Jordan one on one football, size does matter.[/quote]
x2. saying “Prime will be making steals and scoring as well” is moronic. No he wouldn’t. He wouldn’t steal the ball once. He would be lucky to score once. And he would be lucky to stop Jordan once. And he would likely suffer compound fractures in both ankles. You have a fundamental misunderstanding of basketball skills.[/quote]
Yeah, that’s about as ridiculous as saying that Michael Jordan could dominate baseball because he’s such a great athlete. The guy couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a boat. And he may have been facing professional pitching, but it was at a very low professional level that is actually pretty comparable to playing baseball in a very good Div. I baseball conference, like the Pac-10.
No I was going with their actual size. I see where you are coming from with the lob passes. I can just picture Deon not getting burned to badly on the court, and able to have some success slapping the ball away and breaking away from Jordan for layups…not every play or anything but with some success. I can’t picture Jordan staying with Deon on the football field. And, I see Deon covering Jordan like a blanket on the football field. Oh well we will never really know
Bruce Lee should be near the top of any list and placed in front of any fighter not named Ali, and that has more to do with Ali’s social impact than his athletic one.
I don’t think there many athletes, if any, that had the pound-for-pound strength that Lee had. Obviously, his agility was through the roof, as was his speed and eye-hand coordination. Jumping ability was through the roof as well.
[quote]mbdix wrote:
I also think that Deon could guard Jordan in a basketball game. Granted Jordan could post up on Deon and score, but Deon would be making some steals and Jordan woudn’t be able to catch Deon going the other way before he made a layup. I also think Deon could walk in the gym and done this to Jordan without practice. I think if Jordan walked on the football field, he would not catch a pass on Deon, and wouldn’t be able to cover or stop Deon from scoring every time Deon touched the ball. Just my honest opinion, and no way of knowing for sure.[/quote]
This is so incredibly ridiculous I don’t know where to start. You’re telling me that a guy who made his living playing football could successfully guard a basketball player with the highest scoring average of all time?[/quote]
What I am saying Jordan in his prime, and Primetime in his jerry curl prime, hold a competition. the first part is full-court one on one. Jordan will be scoring yes, but Prime will be making steals and scoring as well. Then they walk over to a football field, and Jordan doesnt catch a pass, and Deon is catching passes left and right, and intercepting passes and scoring TDs on Jordan all day. Basically I think that Deon’s football coverage abilty would transfer to the bball court with some success and Jordan wouldn’t be able to stop Deon. That’s where I come to my decision of Jordan < Primetime Neon Deon Sanders. BTW I like Air Jordan more than Sanders. I hated Primetime when he played for San Fran, and thought he was to arragant and cocky in his attitude. But, the dude was one hell of an athlete. Maybe the best. This doesn’t even go into what we have actual video on of them playing a different and mutual sport…baseball[/quote]
Sorry man, but Jordan would shut Sanders out. You’re assuming Sanders had a handle, and could shoot and create enough separation to get his shot off. Read somewhere that Sanders tried to play semi-pro ball but couldn’t hack it. Basketball requires a lot more than just physical gifts.[/quote]
Actually, I dont think Deon would have much success on offence in a bball competition. I think he would be getting his points on pick offs from the defensive side. Not, trying to knock bball as a sport or players. Just saying what I think the physical ‘athletic’ gifts each have would result in. No biggie, I can’t prove my ideas anyways.
[quote]mbdix wrote:
No I was going with their actual size. I see where you are coming from with the lob passes. I can just picture Deon not getting burned to badly on the court, and able to have some success slapping the ball away and breaking away from Jordan for layups…not every play or anything but with some success. I can’t picture Jordan staying with Deon on the football field. And, I see Deon covering Jordan like a blanket on the football field. Oh well we will never really know [/quote]
I think saying “Oh well we will never really know” is a super cop-out after you made some outrageous statements. How in the actual fuck is Deon going to steal the ball for layups “with some success”? NBA professionals, who devoted their careers to being great defenders, had little success defending Jordan. I just can’t understand where you’re coming from. I don’t necessarily believe Deon could steal the ball from Shaq off the dribble. Seriously. You clearly have no idea how good NBA players really are.
What about Ted Williams? Not only was he one of the greatest hitters of all-time, he was also a highly-decorated, highly-skilled fighter pilot who graduated at the top of his Naval training class and fought in WWII AND the Korean War. He also had the highest scores ever at his aerial training school when testing the pilots’ reflexes, coordination and visual recognition.
In the Korean War Williams flew almost 40 missions, won the Air Medal and was the wingman for none other than John Glenn, the future astronaut.
On top of that, while fishing requires absolutely ZERO athleticism whatsoever, he was also a world-class deep see fisher.
Fuck John Wayne. He was just a Ted Williams wannabe.
Basketball players as a while are the best athletes. There no better combination of speed, quickness, agility, strength, hand-eye coordination, leaping ability, dexterity and stamina. It’s the only sport college standouts can’t make itin the pros and transition to other sports with great success. Pro football is riddled with 'em.