A lot on this debate seems to be entirely focused on strength as the determining factor for athleticism. I’m not surprised by this as it is a strength training webstite, but I’d like to mention 1-2 sports not mentioned earlier.
A soccer goalkeeper is expected to be the most athletic player on a soccer team which is composed of a lot of fantastic athletes. My reason in thinking is that a goalkeeper is expected to catch balls that a Wide out in football isn’t expected to get near. One up for the keeper. A keeper also has to have reactions quicker than most athletes can dream of. On top of this he’s expected to do everything a field player is capable of. Yes, I am biased…
Well there was only one I mentioned, but I thought keepers were worth mentioning.
[quote]lweber wrote:
ZEB wrote:
Way back in the day when they had the “Superstars” competition it seemed that Football players pretty much dominated. For example I think Lyn Swann won the thing 3 or 4 years in a row. Also soccer player Kyle Rote won it a few times as well.
Anyone remember, or have seen, that competition on TV?
I also remember Shot Putter Brian Oldfield (sp) beat big Lou Ferrigno in the weight lifting event. It was the overhead jerk press. I’m not sure, but I think Big Lou did something like 300lbs. and Oldfield beat him by 30 or 40 pounds.
I know it is off topic but, did you ever see the video of Oldfield slamming dunking a 16 lb. shotput on a regulation rim?
[/quote]
No…but I’d love to see that. That guy was incredible.
Everyone on this topic is biased towards american sports, strength and power.
Strength and power alone do not make you the best overall athlete, and yes there are a lot more sports out there, other than basketball, american football, baseball and hockey.
Why is no one mentioning long distance runners or anything like that, they have the same level of fitness except in a different aspect (compared to footy players or any other athlete that excels in certain aspects of fitness).
If i remember right this thread is about the best athletes from sports, not just one athlete from a sport.
The best athletes do not just excel in certain aspects of fitness. They excel in them all, go figure.
P.S we all know some sports has certain genetic freaks that excel in everything regardless of what they do. This does not mean that that sport requires more aspects of fitness.
[quote]superscience wrote:
Why is no one mentioning long distance runners or anything like that, they have the same level of fitness except in a different aspect (compared to footy players or any other athlete that excels in certain aspects of fitness).
The best athletes do not just excel in certain aspects of fitness. They excel in them all, go figure.
[/quote]
You answered your own question there.
The reason why I think that people choose Football players most is because most, if not all, of us would rather look/perform like a Football player than a Marathon runner.
[quote]Phatshady912 wrote:
superscience wrote:
Why is no one mentioning long distance runners or anything like that, they have the same level of fitness except in a different aspect (compared to footy players or any other athlete that excels in certain aspects of fitness).
The best athletes do not just excel in certain aspects of fitness. They excel in them all, go figure.
You answered your own question there.
The reason why I think that people choose Football players most is because most, if not all, of us would rather look/perform like a Football player than a Marathon runner.[/quote]
[quote]mj_gk wrote:
A lot on this debate seems to be entirely focused on strength as the determining factor for athleticism. I’m not surprised by this as it is a strength training webstite, but I’d like to mention 1-2 sports not mentioned earlier.
A soccer goalkeeper is expected to be the most athletic player on a soccer team which is composed of a lot of fantastic athletes. My reason in thinking is that a goalkeeper is expected to catch balls that a Wide out in football isn’t expected to get near. One up for the keeper. A keeper also has to have reactions quicker than most athletes can dream of. On top of this he’s expected to do everything a field player is capable of. Yes, I am biased…
Well there was only one I mentioned, but I thought keepers were worth mentioning.[/quote]
Since when was a goalkeeper expected to do everything the outfield player do??
I’m with you on reactions and agility, but to claim the goalkeeper requires the same physical attibutes as an outfield player that is up and down the pitch for 90+ minutes is ridiculous.
[quote]Stuey wrote:
Nothingface wrote:
the 4 major team sports (Football, Hockey, Basketball, Baseball).
Broaden.
Your.
Mind.
[/quote]
Read what I wrote before you make a comment like that. I was not saying those are the top four sports with the best athletes. I was saying WHERE basketball ranks within in those four sports.
In the US, those are the four major sports. I would not put baseball players on any such list, and basketball players would probably not make the top ten.
Top five would be:
Football (Linebackers, RB’s)
Combat Sports (MMA, wrestling, boxing)
Hockey (If you’ve never played competitively, you probably can’t comprehend what freaks many NHLer’s are)
Rugby/ARF (Don’t know too much about it, but I’ve seen enough to know they’re great all around)
Olympic Weight Lifters (enough has been said in this thread about them)
[quote]superscience wrote:
Why is no one mentioning long distance runners or anything like that, they have the same level of fitness except in a different aspect (compared to footy players or any other athlete that excels in certain aspects of fitness).
[/quote]
if you’re talkign about long distance runners as in marathon, its because long distance runners require endurance, and only endurance (and an iron will). they are not strong, they are not explosively fast, they are not agile…
i agree with your position that decathletes are amazing, and as stated before, so are most olympic wrestlers. the amount of anaerobic endurance, strength, flexibility, and quickness demonstrated by oly wrestlers never ceases to amaze me.
[quote]Billmelater138 wrote:
superscience wrote:
Why is no one mentioning long distance runners or anything like that, they have the same level of fitness except in a different aspect (compared to footy players or any other athlete that excels in certain aspects of fitness).
if you’re talkign about long distance runners as in marathon, its because long distance runners require endurance, and only endurance (and an iron will). they are not strong, they are not explosively fast, they are not agile…
i agree with your position that decathletes are amazing, and as stated before, so are most olympic wrestlers. the amount of anaerobic endurance, strength, flexibility, and quickness demonstrated by oly wrestlers never ceases to amaze me.[/quote]
It was a rhetorical question. I said it because runners have the same level of fitness as american football players, weightlifters etc, except in a different aspect.
It was to get my point across that these athletes people are talking about, only excel in a minority of fitness aspects. I was trying to open peoples minds a little.
We all know that there are more aspects to fitness than speed and strength, don’t we?
[quote]ZEB wrote:
superscience wrote:
Stuey wrote:
Nothingface wrote:
the 4 major team sports (Football, Hockey, Basketball, Baseball).
Broaden.
Your.
Mind.
Agreed
Baseball, i wouldn’t rank it in the top 50.
Many people feel that way. But consider this:
Basball players have the BEST hand eye coordination among all pro athletes. There is nothing harder in sport than hitting a baseball.
Don’t think so?
Ask Michael Jordan he couldn’t do it.
Also, a good baseball player must be able to perform short sprints, jump, dive etc.
I’m not claiming that they should be repsected as the best athletes, don’t get me wrong.
But I do think that they are under rated.
[/quote]
I prefer cricketers over baseball players myself. Better fielding skills, and the batting is debatable, kinda hard to really compare since the batting is soooo different.
I prefer cricketers over baseball players myself. Better fielding skills, and the batting is debatable, kinda hard to really compare since the batting is soooo different.[/quote]
I have seen countless incredible catches in baseball.
Please post some cricket videos if you have any so we can see.
I prefer cricketers over baseball players myself. Better fielding skills, and the batting is debatable, kinda hard to really compare since the batting is soooo different.
I have seen countless incredible catches in baseball.
Please post some cricket videos if you have any so we can see. [/quote]
