Hobbestetrician
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I like this answer.
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Most dominating athlete of all time?
- Thread starter Kadin
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Yeah, by cheating each and every time.Lance Armstrong.
pants
Member
People can't read names by looking at photos...
But I can't take that record seriously, when he can chose whom and when to fight. And not much compared to Wladimir Klitschko, who's champion of WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, IBO and The Ring.
Took nearly half a page for someone go mention Bo Jackson?
Y'all should be ashamed.
except you
Khalifa Jayy
Banned
For those doubting Wilt or saying Bill Russell was better:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...t-chamberlain-is-the-greatest-nba-player-ever
He was also responsible for several rule changes, including widening the lane from 12 to 16 feet, as well as changes to rules regarding inbounding the ball and shooting free throws.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...t-chamberlain-is-the-greatest-nba-player-ever
He was also responsible for several rule changes, including widening the lane from 12 to 16 feet, as well as changes to rules regarding inbounding the ball and shooting free throws.
Lone_Prodigy
Member
To be fair to Lance Armstrong, everyone doped. He was just better at it.
Inspectah Deck
Banned
Like I said before he dominated in a league that was extremely underdeveloped. The NBA changing the rule because of Wilt proves just that.
To me this is unmatched.
bananafactory
Banned
Wayne Gretzky.
He holds the NHL record for most career goals of all time, yet if you take away ALL of his goals, he still has more assists than ANYONE else has career points (goals and assists combined).
Nobody comes close.
He holds the NHL record for most career goals of all time, yet if you take away ALL of his goals, he still has more assists than ANYONE else has career points (goals and assists combined).
Nobody comes close.
depths20XX
Member
Gretzky really has 1000 more career goals than anyone else? That's crazy. How did he do it?
cartoon_soldier
Member
ReidSkeeRebarn
Neo Member
There are so many athletes I've never seen enough of, so it's hard for me to say definitively who the most dominating athlete was.
If I had to throw out an athlete, it'd be young MJ. Young Michael Jordan was the scariest athlete I've ever seen clips of, other than maybe young Mike Tyson. NOBODY could touch him. The only person that could stop Michael, even then, was Michael. One of the greatest teams of all time, the 1986 Celtics, mostly breezed through the playoffs (and swept the Bulls), but not a single player on that team could stop Michael. It's incredible to watch, even now.
Fun fact: Jordan's PPG average in three games against the Celtics: 43.7. That's not a typo. Oh, and he did this after breaking his foot earlier that season.
If I had to throw out an athlete, it'd be young MJ. Young Michael Jordan was the scariest athlete I've ever seen clips of, other than maybe young Mike Tyson. NOBODY could touch him. The only person that could stop Michael, even then, was Michael. One of the greatest teams of all time, the 1986 Celtics, mostly breezed through the playoffs (and swept the Bulls), but not a single player on that team could stop Michael. It's incredible to watch, even now.
Fun fact: Jordan's PPG average in three games against the Celtics: 43.7. That's not a typo. Oh, and he did this after breaking his foot earlier that season.
"I didn't think anyone was capable of doing what Michael has done to us," marveled Celtics ace Larry Bird. "He is the most exciting, awesome player in the game today. I think it's just God disguised as Michael Jordan."
Reckless Onion
Member
Herschel Walker was better than both of them.
Most dominating athlete was Michael Jordan. That's a pretty easy question to answer.
Forsete
Member
Pfft.
Björn Borg
Ingemar Stenmark
Björn Borg
Ingemar Stenmark
In all honesty, I dont know enough about sports. 
These are our national sport heroes though.
These are our national sport heroes though.theignoramus
Member
Mayweather is extremely dominant but he's allowed haters and skeptics to bring up a caveat about the fights that he's perceived to have ducked from. That Manny fight should have happened years ago and while it's not entirely Floyd's fault they could never come to terms, people believed he ducked that fight and perception is as impactful as reality when it comes to legacy debates.
He has to know that in the back of his mind that when he hangs up the gloves and his career is ranked among the all time greats.
He has to know that in the back of his mind that when he hangs up the gloves and his career is ranked among the all time greats.
The Albatross
Member
Bo Jackson didn't dominate any sports at any time in his professional career.
I posted this back on page 2. The short version of it is:
Bo Jackson had below average NFL numbers, and average MLB numbers except for 1 season where he was the ~15th best player in MLB that season.
Comparable NFL players today to Bo Jackson: Bilal Powell, Joique Bell, Lamar Miller. All three are actually better, and I don't think anybody in 20 years would ever say "wow, remember when Bilal powell was the most dominating athlete in the NFL?"
Kadin
Member
While I don't necessarily disagree with you, how exactly can you claim they'll never be broken? Is their respective sport simply no longer what it was at that time to simply not allow it to be broken or were they that good that you just don't feel anyone will ever play at that level again? Not being a dick, honest question.
Wendel Clark
Member
No, the level of play today is much higher than it was when Gretzky played. Look at the goalies first of all.
Schumacher 2000-2004. Never forget. Had to change the rules multiple times to slow him down (kinda worked in 2003, worked in 2005) and in the end only a stroke of bad luck prevented title No.8 in 2006. Car crapped out on him in the second-last race while he was waaay ahead of Alonso and had another malfunction in the last race which forced him back to the last position. Nontheless managed to roll up the field from behind a get to a respectable 5th (sixth? Idk my memory is a bit hazy) place in the end.
Best driver Germany ever had, Vettel is close but not as talented. Vettel always had the best car in the field when he won his titles, Schumacher did not have this luxury with Benetton and the early Ferraris.
Edit: Klitschko brothers. When's the last time one of them lost? I honestly don't remember. First time a single person holds all major titles near? IF a unification match happens I'm pretty certain the remaining Klitschko will take it.
Best driver Germany ever had, Vettel is close but not as talented. Vettel always had the best car in the field when he won his titles, Schumacher did not have this luxury with Benetton and the early Ferraris.
Edit: Klitschko brothers. When's the last time one of them lost? I honestly don't remember. First time a single person holds all major titles near? IF a unification match happens I'm pretty certain the remaining Klitschko will take it.
10/10
pants
Member
@KHlover ^Not even in motorsport.
Mick Doohan was a far more dominant driver in a more competitive code. I rate Michael as the second best F1 driver of all time, but lets not pretend Damon Hill wasnt a mug and the Ferraris he won in werent a cut above.
EDIT: Leaving out Valentino, whom I rate higher cause he's not done yet.
Mick Doohan was a far more dominant driver in a more competitive code. I rate Michael as the second best F1 driver of all time, but lets not pretend Damon Hill wasnt a mug and the Ferraris he won in werent a cut above.
EDIT: Leaving out Valentino, whom I rate higher cause he's not done yet.
Stormhammer
Member
He never even got 200 touches in a season while rushing though. Seems like he shared carries with Marcus Allen, so I can see why his numbers wouldn't be that of a mainly 1 RB system. I wouldn't say 5.4 YPC is below average.
I'm surprised no one mentioned Greg Maddux...I've seen a couple suggest Randy Johnson as well as Pedro and they were certainly impressive given their dominance during the PED era.
Randy and Pedro were power pitchers though, Maddux dominated through incredible location and simply being smarter than everyone he faced, if he was struggling he didn't have a dominate fastball to fall back on like those guys and he was just as dominate during the same era.
She sucks
Look at 36-37 year old Gretzky's statistics in the dead puck era playing for a team with much less talent than the 1980s Oilers. He still was a 90+ point player, almost hitting 100 points. Put Gretzky in any era and he would dominate the rest of the league. He's way better than Crosby. Crosby is a great player, but he's not an all-time great. Jaromir Jagr matched Crosby even with his advanced age.
We don't have a transcendent star in the NHL right now. We have some excellent players like Crosby that have a pretty good lead on the next guy these past few seasons, but no one that is above and beyond the next player in the league like Gretzky was in the 80s.
If you're going to put him in a different era, you should also give him advanced training, lifting, etc. He would be even better than he was in the 80s. Gretzky dominated the sport like no other. It's not even close.
speculawyer
Member
Michael Jordan.
CraigerGamer
Member
I asked my dad this question a few weeks ago. His answer...Secretariat. No joke.
ViperVisor
Member
Jim Thorpe
In sheer hindsight, Wayne Gretzky kind of puts people from other major team sports to shame.
Dude owns at least 65 records. You take away every goal he ever scored and he would still have more points than any other player ever.
This I have a problem with.
Crosby is a generational talent. He is, most definitely, the best player of the last 10 years of NHL hockey. He could very easily be the second highest scorer in league history should he avoid significant injuries. He will be top-10 with a bullet, EASILY.
He will most definitely be an all-time great by the end of his career, likely exceeding names like Yzerman, Sakic, Forsberg, etc from the generation before him.
Dude owns at least 65 records. You take away every goal he ever scored and he would still have more points than any other player ever.
This I have a problem with.
Crosby is a generational talent. He is, most definitely, the best player of the last 10 years of NHL hockey. He could very easily be the second highest scorer in league history should he avoid significant injuries. He will be top-10 with a bullet, EASILY.
He will most definitely be an all-time great by the end of his career, likely exceeding names like Yzerman, Sakic, Forsberg, etc from the generation before him.
Umm... Michel Phelps? Most delcrated Olympian of all time
can't say that without mentioning Anderson Silva. He held the belt for over 10 years. Thats unreal
the only correct answer. What this man has done MAY never be matched in any sport. Lol @ Floyd he is a good boxer but a bad face for it.
can't say that without mentioning Anderson Silva. He held the belt for over 10 years. Thats unreal
the only correct answer. What this man has done MAY never be matched in any sport. Lol @ Floyd he is a good boxer but a bad face for it.
grounded_dreams
Member
Sergey Bubka, untouchable in his prime. No one could vault anywhere near his height.
Basketball- Jordan was probably the most dominating player I've ever seen in basketball considering he was a guard, not a power forward or center.
Boxing-Ali but that's really before my time. I would say Maywether for me. I don't think there's anyone who can beat him right now and what the guy does to other boxers in the ring is simply astounding.
Tennis- Federer. His sheer dominance before Nadal came along was just staggering.
Boxing-Ali but that's really before my time. I would say Maywether for me. I don't think there's anyone who can beat him right now and what the guy does to other boxers in the ring is simply astounding.
Tennis- Federer. His sheer dominance before Nadal came along was just staggering.
timetokill
Banned
Gretzky, absolutely. The KING baby.
Well sure, if you're talking strictly Tecmo Bowl.
GO KINGS GO
Well sure, if you're talking strictly Tecmo Bowl.
War Peaceman
You're a big guy.
To answer that in regards to Bradman. His batting average is 99.94 (that is per dismissal). Typically the great batsmen have averages of around 50. It varies depending on era, but for example, Kallis has 55.37, Tendulkar 53.78, Lara 52.88, Sangakkara 58 (still playing), and the next closest is 60.97. That is a 39 run difference per dismissal. That is huge.
But it isn't just the statistics that separate him. He played in an era where pitches were uncovered and therefore more difficult to bat on. They did not wear helmets or protective gear. Bats nowadays are bigger and the pitches smaller. Not as many games were played; therefore the best bowlers were fresher (although you could also argue that playing more games can fatigue the batsman, though surely less than it does bowlers).
On the other hand, modern professional cricket has made bowlers fitter and fielding better which theoretically makes it harder to score. More professional, technological analysis has given teams more information on opponents with which to get them out better.
Generally, though, it is easier than ever to be a batsman nowadays. Bradman was an anomaly. Look at this graph to see just how far in excess of everyone he is. That is across 137 years of Test cricket.
Auto-Reply
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Al Bundy made four touchdowns in a single game!
Jahangir Khan
Unbeaten in squash for 5 years. 555 (five hundred and fifty five) consecutive wins.
Unbeaten in squash for 5 years. 555 (five hundred and fifty five) consecutive wins.
wikipedia said:
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