The Most Impressive, Well-Rounded Athletes?

Off Topic
402

[quote]flipcollar wrote:

[quote]NorCal916 wrote:

[quote]DBCooper wrote:

[quote]Brett620 wrote:
Re-read my post. It was for NON FOOTBALL PLAYERS for the combine from different sports.

Clear?[/quote]

I think pretty much any top-flight male gymnast could outlift and outsprint Lebron. When adjusted for differences in height and arm length, I’d be willing to bet that most male gymnasts have a better vertical leap than Lebron, and most certainly have a better broadjump. Their agility, body control, and relative strength are also FAR above that of Lebron’s.

Lebron is an amazing athlete, but male gymnasts are still the quill. They display a far wider range of athletic prowess on a daily basis than Lebron or any other basketball player does. Much more powerful, more explosive, more flexible, more agile, their sport has a higher degree of difficulty, and so on. The only thing going against gymnasts is the fact that most of them aren’t that big. [/quote]

Disagree. Gymnasts are just very strong mini-mes who have mastered their body weight. These guys are basically 5’2" and 140 lbs. sure they can do tons of pull ups and dips, but what else’s?

Take one of those mini mes and match them with any NFL guy or NBA guy. Have them do this:

  1. 40 yard dash
  2. 400m run
  3. Endurance run (5k or 10k).
  4. Vertical jump
  5. Broad jump
  6. Shuttle run
  7. 225 bench for reps
  8. 315 squat for reps

And pick a few more. And no, you can factor in their 5’2" size. This is not a pound-for-pound type of thing. Raw numbers.

And please give me some stories of these guys athletic ability. Did they star in multiple sports? What are their numbers like the ones listed above? Provide names and examples or its BS.

[/quote]

Kevin Durant is a top-2 basketball player in the world, and he can neither bench press 225 for 1, nor squat 315 for 1. Do you really think he can kick ass at a shuttle run? A 40 yard dash? He’s too tall to perform well on the shuttle run, and he’s not getting off the line fast on a 40. 3 4 and 5 are the only categories that he could even conceivable win in a contest with the 2nd best gymnast in the world.

Raw numbers, KD loses given your criteria, and plenty of other basketball players would as well.

I also think it’s a serious mistake to assume top level gymnasts didn’t excel in other sports in their teens. Top level athletes in every sport generally played everything in high school. High school baseball certainly has short guys who play well, and so does track. Hell, the starting point guard for my high school team (5A team in Texas, good team) was 5’6.[/quote]

If I chose NBA players, they would not be the Durant-type. I would pick mainly big strong 2 guards, or forwards. Think these dudes:

  1. Rose
  2. Wade
  3. James
  4. Westbrook
  5. Griffin

I bet Wade can run a marathon in a better time than any gymnast on the planet and put him to shame on the track in any drills.

But again, my money is on football player first probably.

403

No one has Boxing? Boxers are pretty fit across the board.

404

[quote]RJK wrote:
No one has Boxing? Boxers are pretty fit across the board.[/quote]

No doubt. I agree.

Roy Jones Jr.
Mike Tyson
Ray Robinson
Marvin Haglar
Aaron Pryor
Alexis Arguello
Ali
Salvador Sanchez
Evander Holyfield
Ray Leonard
Roberto Duran
And the list goes on

And look at Floyd Mayweather. Top of boxing at age 37.

405

Boxing/mma is a close second place behind skilled position football players. But, skill position NFL players are the most impressive well rounded athletes in the world.

406

[quote]NorCal916 wrote:

[quote]flipcollar wrote:

[quote]NorCal916 wrote:

[quote]DBCooper wrote:

[quote]Brett620 wrote:
Re-read my post. It was for NON FOOTBALL PLAYERS for the combine from different sports.

Clear?[/quote]

I think pretty much any top-flight male gymnast could outlift and outsprint Lebron. When adjusted for differences in height and arm length, I’d be willing to bet that most male gymnasts have a better vertical leap than Lebron, and most certainly have a better broadjump. Their agility, body control, and relative strength are also FAR above that of Lebron’s.

Lebron is an amazing athlete, but male gymnasts are still the quill. They display a far wider range of athletic prowess on a daily basis than Lebron or any other basketball player does. Much more powerful, more explosive, more flexible, more agile, their sport has a higher degree of difficulty, and so on. The only thing going against gymnasts is the fact that most of them aren’t that big. [/quote]

Disagree. Gymnasts are just very strong mini-mes who have mastered their body weight. These guys are basically 5’2" and 140 lbs. sure they can do tons of pull ups and dips, but what else’s?

Take one of those mini mes and match them with any NFL guy or NBA guy. Have them do this:

  1. 40 yard dash
  2. 400m run
  3. Endurance run (5k or 10k).
  4. Vertical jump
  5. Broad jump
  6. Shuttle run
  7. 225 bench for reps
  8. 315 squat for reps

And pick a few more. And no, you can factor in their 5’2" size. This is not a pound-for-pound type of thing. Raw numbers.

And please give me some stories of these guys athletic ability. Did they star in multiple sports? What are their numbers like the ones listed above? Provide names and examples or its BS.

[/quote]

Kevin Durant is a top-2 basketball player in the world, and he can neither bench press 225 for 1, nor squat 315 for 1. Do you really think he can kick ass at a shuttle run? A 40 yard dash? He’s too tall to perform well on the shuttle run, and he’s not getting off the line fast on a 40. 3 4 and 5 are the only categories that he could even conceivable win in a contest with the 2nd best gymnast in the world.

Raw numbers, KD loses given your criteria, and plenty of other basketball players would as well.

I also think it’s a serious mistake to assume top level gymnasts didn’t excel in other sports in their teens. Top level athletes in every sport generally played everything in high school. High school baseball certainly has short guys who play well, and so does track. Hell, the starting point guard for my high school team (5A team in Texas, good team) was 5’6.[/quote]

If I chose NBA players, they would not be the Durant-type. I would pick mainly big strong 2 guards, or forwards. Think these dudes:

  1. Rose
  2. Wade
  3. James
  4. Westbrook
  5. Griffin

I bet Wade can run a marathon in a better time than any gymnast on the planet and put him to shame on the track in any drills.

But again, my money is on football player first probably.[/quote]

Sure, those guys would fare better than Durant. NorCal said “match them with ANY NBA GUY”. I picked the fucking second best NBA player in the world and busted his argument. If the criteria has changed to “I bet I can find some NBA guys that are good that these 8 things” then sure, I can do that too. Nate Robinson would likely beat anyone on your list across the 8 listed categories, although Griffin’s certainly a freak athlete.

Also, I don’t know what you’re basing your point about Wade running marathons on, or why marathons are even in the discussion. Have you seen what great long distance runners look like? If you’re not trained for marathons, you’re gonna be shitty at marathons, so this shouldn’t enter the discussion.
Also, why do you think gymnasts would perform poorly on track drills? It’s like you believe gymnasts have zero agility or quickness, which couldn’t be further from the truth.

407

[quote]Derek542 wrote:
Adrian Peterson and Demarcus Ware hands down and throw in JPP from Giants.[/quote]

Calvin Johnson? Dude is 6’5" 240 and ran a 4.35 in someone else’s shoes at the combine, cuz fuck everyone, that’s why. Also has a 42.5" vert and 11’-7" standing broad jump.

If you are talking about best athlete, you have to look at the size and depth of the talent pool. Football has the largest in the country, and this country has the best athletes. Sorry everywhere else, that is a fact that gets proven again and again at every summer olympics.

408

^^^^^^^

so f true!!!

409

best dual athlete of all time IMO is eric hieden… won all those golds in speedskating, then went on to race the tour of italy and tour de france…i think that is better than bo jackson, or d.sanders doing football and baseball…

410

[quote]Steel Nation wrote:

[quote]Derek542 wrote:
Adrian Peterson and Demarcus Ware hands down and throw in JPP from Giants.[/quote]

Calvin Johnson? Dude is 6’5" 240 and ran a 4.35 in someone else’s shoes at the combine, cuz fuck everyone, that’s why. Also has a 42.5" vert and 11’-7" standing broad jump.

If you are talking about best athlete, you have to look at the size and depth of the talent pool. Football has the largest in the country, and this country has the best athletes. Sorry everywhere else, that is a fact that gets proven again and again at every summer olympics.[/quote]

What about winter olympics?

411

[quote]Steel Nation wrote:

[quote]Derek542 wrote:
Adrian Peterson and Demarcus Ware hands down and throw in JPP from Giants.[/quote]

Calvin Johnson? Dude is 6’5" 240 and ran a 4.35 in someone else’s shoes at the combine, cuz fuck everyone, that’s why. Also has a 42.5" vert and 11’-7" standing broad jump.

If you are talking about best athlete, you have to look at the size and depth of the talent pool. Football has the largest in the country, and this country has the best athletes. Sorry everywhere else, that is a fact that gets proven again and again at every summer olympics.[/quote]

My only issue with football is it is not as much an endurance sport as basketball or boxing. Football is far more physical and strength based than basketball but I might argue boxing is the perfect combo of both.

412

[quote]mbdix wrote:
Boxing/mma is a close second place behind skilled position football players. But, skill position NFL players are the most impressive well rounded athletes in the world. [/quote]

The issue is you are taking one segment of football players.

I am saying that from the lightweight to the heavy weight that boxers are in better total shape than football.

413

[quote]RJK wrote:

[quote]Steel Nation wrote:

[quote]Derek542 wrote:
Adrian Peterson and Demarcus Ware hands down and throw in JPP from Giants.[/quote]

Calvin Johnson? Dude is 6’5" 240 and ran a 4.35 in someone else’s shoes at the combine, cuz fuck everyone, that’s why. Also has a 42.5" vert and 11’-7" standing broad jump.

If you are talking about best athlete, you have to look at the size and depth of the talent pool. Football has the largest in the country, and this country has the best athletes. Sorry everywhere else, that is a fact that gets proven again and again at every summer olympics.[/quote]

My only issue with football is it is not as much an endurance sport as basketball or boxing. Football is far more physical and strength based than basketball but I might argue boxing is the perfect combo of both.
[/quote]
That is why they were stating the skill positions.

How many sprints do you think the WR/DB’s do in a game?

Now add in practice, Pre-Season, 16 game season and then maybe playoffs.

Have you played the sport?

414

[quote]RJK wrote:

[quote]mbdix wrote:
Boxing/mma is a close second place behind skilled position football players. But, skill position NFL players are the most impressive well rounded athletes in the world. [/quote]

The issue is you are taking one segment of football players.

I am saying that from the lightweight to the heavy weight that boxers are in better total shape than football.[/quote]
If the question was the athlete with the most endurance then yes.

But it was most impressive well-rounded athlete.

Most boxers have very little lower body development and maybe FI can chime in but I have not seen evidence that a boxer could make it on a football field or basketball court. Their game is not about quick change in direction, its about angles.

415

since spec forces aren’t considered athletes I’ll nominate these guys.

416

[quote]Derek542 wrote:

[quote]RJK wrote:

[quote]mbdix wrote:
Boxing/mma is a close second place behind skilled position football players. But, skill position NFL players are the most impressive well rounded athletes in the world. [/quote]

The issue is you are taking one segment of football players.

I am saying that from the lightweight to the heavy weight that boxers are in better total shape than football.[/quote]
If the question was the athlete with the most endurance then yes.

But it was most impressive well-rounded athlete.

Most boxers have very little lower body development and maybe FI can chime in but I have not seen evidence that a boxer could make it on a football field or basketball court. Their game is not about quick change in direction, its about angles. [/quote]

Roy Jones Jr. played a Semi-Pro basketball game one afternoon and then knocked a guy out that evening in his prime!

I’m a former amateur boxer. Footwork is a basic fundamental. And the roadwork that ALL boxers do would put the other athletes listed here to shame, except for soccer. Many boxers can also run marathons for very good times, although they don’t specifically train for them. And boxers do a ton of agility drills to develop lateral quickness, to work angles, pivoting, countering, etc.

The big drawback with boxers is lack of lower body power. Very little squatting, deadlifting, Oly/explosive strength exercises. This is due to a lot of the “old school” training methodology frowned on weight training. But now that is appears to be slowly changing.

417

[quote]Brett620 wrote:

[quote]Derek542 wrote:

[quote]RJK wrote:

[quote]mbdix wrote:
Boxing/mma is a close second place behind skilled position football players. But, skill position NFL players are the most impressive well rounded athletes in the world. [/quote]

The issue is you are taking one segment of football players.

I am saying that from the lightweight to the heavy weight that boxers are in better total shape than football.[/quote]
If the question was the athlete with the most endurance then yes.

But it was most impressive well-rounded athlete.

Most boxers have very little lower body development and maybe FI can chime in but I have not seen evidence that a boxer could make it on a football field or basketball court. Their game is not about quick change in direction, its about angles. [/quote]

Roy Jones Jr. played a Semi-Pro basketball game one afternoon and then knocked a guy out that evening in his prime!

I’m a former amateur boxer. Footwork is a basic fundamental. And the roadwork that ALL boxers do would put the other athletes listed here to shame, except for soccer. Many boxers can also run marathons for very good times, although they don’t specifically train for them. And boxers do a ton of agility drills to develop lateral quickness, to work angles, pivoting, countering, etc.

The big drawback with boxers is lack of lower body power. Very little squatting, deadlifting, Oly/explosive strength exercises. This is due to a lot of the “old school” training methodology frowned on weight training. But now that is appears to be slowly changing.[/quote]

couldn’t agree more,

soccer > boxing > world

great post!

418

[quote]Derek542 wrote:

[quote]RJK wrote:

[quote]Steel Nation wrote:

[quote]Derek542 wrote:
Adrian Peterson and Demarcus Ware hands down and throw in JPP from Giants.[/quote]

Calvin Johnson? Dude is 6’5" 240 and ran a 4.35 in someone else’s shoes at the combine, cuz fuck everyone, that’s why. Also has a 42.5" vert and 11’-7" standing broad jump.

If you are talking about best athlete, you have to look at the size and depth of the talent pool. Football has the largest in the country, and this country has the best athletes. Sorry everywhere else, that is a fact that gets proven again and again at every summer olympics.[/quote]

My only issue with football is it is not as much an endurance sport as basketball or boxing. Football is far more physical and strength based than basketball but I might argue boxing is the perfect combo of both.
[/quote]
That is why they were stating the skill positions.

How many sprints do you think the WR/DB’s do in a game?

Now add in practice, Pre-Season, 16 game season and then maybe playoffs.

Have you played the sport?

[/quote]

While I realize that football is challenging in many aspects, it does lack the endurance trait.

Average play is about 3.5 seconds, distance covered by most players is small, also account for players taking plays “off” while both on the field and standing on the sidelines due to constant subs. Football turns a 60 minute game into a 4 hour standing around and wait for another 3 seconds of action marathon. Also, number of actual games being played by the athlete is very small compared to other sports (injury/recovery factor yes, but still total number of games is small).

The most watched and least participated sport in America.

419

[quote]Claudan wrote:

[quote]Brett620 wrote:

[quote]Derek542 wrote:

[quote]RJK wrote:

[quote]mbdix wrote:
Boxing/mma is a close second place behind skilled position football players. But, skill position NFL players are the most impressive well rounded athletes in the world. [/quote]

The issue is you are taking one segment of football players.

I am saying that from the lightweight to the heavy weight that boxers are in better total shape than football.[/quote]
If the question was the athlete with the most endurance then yes.

But it was most impressive well-rounded athlete.

Most boxers have very little lower body development and maybe FI can chime in but I have not seen evidence that a boxer could make it on a football field or basketball court. Their game is not about quick change in direction, its about angles. [/quote]

Roy Jones Jr. played a Semi-Pro basketball game one afternoon and then knocked a guy out that evening in his prime!

I’m a former amateur boxer. Footwork is a basic fundamental. And the roadwork that ALL boxers do would put the other athletes listed here to shame, except for soccer. Many boxers can also run marathons for very good times, although they don’t specifically train for them. And boxers do a ton of agility drills to develop lateral quickness, to work angles, pivoting, countering, etc.

The big drawback with boxers is lack of lower body power. Very little squatting, deadlifting, Oly/explosive strength exercises. This is due to a lot of the “old school” training methodology frowned on weight training. But now that is appears to be slowly changing.[/quote]

couldn’t agree more,

soccer > boxing > world

great post!
[/quote]

Tons of admiration for soccer. Ran with those guys in athletics and puked many a times. But in terms of well rounded they are not very strong.

420

[quote]Brett620 wrote:

[quote]Derek542 wrote:

[quote]RJK wrote:

[quote]mbdix wrote:
Boxing/mma is a close second place behind skilled position football players. But, skill position NFL players are the most impressive well rounded athletes in the world. [/quote]

The issue is you are taking one segment of football players.

I am saying that from the lightweight to the heavy weight that boxers are in better total shape than football.[/quote]
If the question was the athlete with the most endurance then yes.

But it was most impressive well-rounded athlete.

Most boxers have very little lower body development and maybe FI can chime in but I have not seen evidence that a boxer could make it on a football field or basketball court. Their game is not about quick change in direction, its about angles. [/quote]

Roy Jones Jr. played a Semi-Pro basketball game one afternoon and then knocked a guy out that evening in his prime!

I’m a former amateur boxer. Footwork is a basic fundamental. And the roadwork that ALL boxers do would put the other athletes listed here to shame, except for soccer. Many boxers can also run marathons for very good times, although they don’t specifically train for them. And boxers do a ton of agility drills to develop lateral quickness, to work angles, pivoting, countering, etc.

The big drawback with boxers is lack of lower body power. Very little squatting, deadlifting, Oly/explosive strength exercises. This is due to a lot of the “old school” training methodology frowned on weight training. But now that is appears to be slowly changing.[/quote]
Cool, I was hoping someone would actually give a perspective that has done the work. My statement was more from just watching boxing. The change of direction a DB has to make as he is back pedaling covering a WR demands a very high level of athleticism. That I did not see transferring over from the boxing ring. Also the lower body training was more to what I was discussing, in relation to the OP. Most impressive well-rounded athletes

421

[quote]Myosin wrote:

[quote]Derek542 wrote:

[quote]RJK wrote:

[quote]Steel Nation wrote:

[quote]Derek542 wrote:
Adrian Peterson and Demarcus Ware hands down and throw in JPP from Giants.[/quote]

Calvin Johnson? Dude is 6’5" 240 and ran a 4.35 in someone else’s shoes at the combine, cuz fuck everyone, that’s why. Also has a 42.5" vert and 11’-7" standing broad jump.

If you are talking about best athlete, you have to look at the size and depth of the talent pool. Football has the largest in the country, and this country has the best athletes. Sorry everywhere else, that is a fact that gets proven again and again at every summer olympics.[/quote]

My only issue with football is it is not as much an endurance sport as basketball or boxing. Football is far more physical and strength based than basketball but I might argue boxing is the perfect combo of both.
[/quote]
That is why they were stating the skill positions.

How many sprints do you think the WR/DB’s do in a game?

Now add in practice, Pre-Season, 16 game season and then maybe playoffs.

Have you played the sport?

[/quote]

While I realize that football is challenging in many aspects, it does lack the endurance trait.

Average play is about 3.5 seconds, distance covered by most players is small, also account for players taking plays “off” while both on the field and standing on the sidelines due to constant subs. Football turns a 60 minute game into a 4 hour standing around and wait for another 3 seconds of action marathon. Also, number of actual games being played by the athlete is very small compared to other sports (injury/recovery factor yes, but still total number of games is small).

The most watched and least participated sport in America.[/quote]
Meh I disagree.

Are we comparing Sports?

No we are comparing individual body types with the ability to do a well rounded host of tasks.