OT: GOAT of all GOATs

[Kajik]

I agree with your post Mr colchvegas ,keep in mind Ali did lose 5 fights,so he can't be I think be considered the greatest.But I agree with 99 percent of your post

 

[ColchVEGAS]

Valid point Kajik. I find it hard to believe Fury will lose before he hangs up the gloves. It will be tough for a heavyweight to outbox him and I do not see him getting KOd as he has risen multiple times from maybe the hardest hitting heavyweight (albeit very little else) of all time in Wilder.

I suppose I say Ali because if you ask non boxing fans about the greatest boxer almost all will know and say Ali.

 

[Scoe]

I chose Babe Ruth he did it on booze and smoked like a chimney and still kicked ass. Made the Sox a dynasty and later the Yankees who were the loser team in NY at the time was also a dominant pitcher.

Pretty fascinating CT connection.

 

[UofCT]

Lebron by a mile

 

[AZHuskiePop]

Pele is on the list. Good call on some of those other guys.

Thank you

I’ just added to vision to list of things that are going.

 

[Dove]

I know @Fishy voted for, or will vote for, or won't vote at all but think its Phelps.

 

[Umami Zen]

This kind of debate can't even start until one or two adult beverages have been served. Then the fun begins..

GOATS in every sport. .Different challenges/different criteria/team sport/individual sport.. A conundrum

 

[Kitaman]

Allyson Felix

I know she may not be number one, but she should at least be mentioned in the conversation. Just wanted to give her some shine:

Allyson Felix becomes most decorated American track athlete in Olympic history​

 

[Madmannsucks]

Thurman Munson. No reason other than the fact that he played baseball the way I did when I was a kid, reminded me of my father, didn’t tolerate Reggie’s ego trip, and he was my childhood hero.

Munson had his own ego problems...make no mistake about it. What else would you call trying to turn his teammates on Reggie. Pure ego.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Objectively Bolt is the correct answer.

Nothing has really changed in the sport other than shoes and training. Same length track. It's a sport available to almost entire world's population and is competed everywhere in the world.

He has run faster than any human being ever clocked and dominated his sport for over a decade.

 

[Chin Diesel]

This debate has raged throughout history but unfortunately it is difficult to compare athletes from different eras. As an example, in the year the Babe Ruth hit 60 home runs no team had hit that many in one year, and for that reason you could say he completely changed the game. Many people say Michael Jordan is the greatest of all time, but Wilt Chamberlain averaged 50 points in a season. In motorsports it’s near impossible to find anyone who dominated the sport more than Ricky Carmichael in motocross, actually going seasons without losing a single Moto. Auto racing has Jimmie Johnson who won seven championships out of the 11 seasons he participated. You can clearly make an argument for TB12.

However, for my money in pro sports there is no one who dominated his field more than Wayne Gretzky. Last I knew he had something like 61 NHL records. During the era in which he played, he set records that were just mind-boggling in scope. I believe he had more goals than anyone else had goals and assists added together. Again, his style of play completely changed the sport of hockey.

Now, as a Waterbury native, and again looking at the era in which they played, I go with Joan Joyce.

That is why Bolt is the answer.

 

[Kitaman]

I said Ali because his fame was not limited to any geographic location. You could pretty much go anywhere in the world and people knew who he was.

Before internet, cable TV, social media, cell phones, etc... Ali's greatness traveled around the world like he was a religion. His face was more recognized than any athlete discussed in this thread.

 

[freescooter]

Jack Nicklaus. 18 Majors, 6 Masters, 4 US Opens, 5 PGAs 3 Open Championships. 19 second place finishes in majors. 2 US Amateurs and an NCAA title. He won his first Major at 20 and his last at 46. He was Tiger Woods before Tiger Woods only better.

 

[Deepster]

Objectively Bolt is the correct answer.

Nothing has really changed in the sport other than shoes and training. Same length track. It's a sport available to almost entire world's population and is competed everywhere in the world.

He has run faster than any human being ever clocked and dominated his sport for over a decade.

So he trumps everyone else in every sport all time because he is the fastest guy (right now) to run a straight line for a very short distance.

 

[F101Voodoo]

I would take Ted Williams. Besides being a better baseball player he was a better pilot.

Munson was a pilot? I did not know that.

 

[mauconnfan]

Nope. Pudge ate his lunch. Thurman aint even Varitek

Thurman was a much better hitter/catcher than Varitek.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

I had it between Jordan and Brady. Aside from all these championships, these guys played at a high level into their 40’s. That shows exceptional talent because even as they aged, they were still excellent at their craft. I had to go with Brady because he was winning titles in his 40s.

Jordan retired (again) at 40 and was definitely not remotely the same player he was in his prime. There is a basketball player whose sustained dominance after 20 years is absolutely freakish and maybe unprecedented but I don't expect him to get much traction here.

 

[Hoophound]

Jordan retired (again) at 40 and was definitely not remotely the same player he was in his prime. There is a basketball player whose sustained dominance after 20 years is absolutely freakish and maybe unprecedented but I don't expect him to get much traction here.

I agree. However, the talent Jordan had to score pretty much at will at the end of his career was pretty amazing. He scored 50 very late in his career. Add that to the 6 titles and you’ve got something special.

 

[Scoe]

Does Joey Chestnut count?

 

[Chin Diesel]

So he trumps everyone else in every sport all time because he is the fastest guy (right now) to run a straight line for a very short distance.

Yes. The objective in a sprint is to run it faster than anyone else. And it's a sport that has basically remained unchanged for a couple of millenia.
Anyone who shows the ability to run that fast stays in that sport and competes. No one has done is better than Bolt.

That's the definition of Greatest Of All Time.

 

[the Q]

It’s babe Ruth or Gretzky

Brady isn’t even the best of his own era

Team success is not individual

 

[UncleSpliff]

This isn’t really a discussion. Jordan went 6 for 6 in title games (6 in a row for him) and would have won 8 straight if he didn’t take 2 years off to play baseball (wasn’t suspended by the league for gambling). Brady won 7 rings and lost 3 times.

Hell the biggest winner of all time in sports isn’t even on this list… Bill Russell won 11 titles in 13 seasons. No team was more dominant in the history of sports than the Celtics from 57-70 and Russell was the leader of those teams.

 

[buddy]

Khalid El Amin for making the free throw in the national championship of 1999

 

[Rocktheworld]

Jordan retired (again) at 40 and was definitely not remotely the same player he was in his prime. There is a basketball player whose sustained dominance after 20 years is absolutely freakish and maybe unprecedented but I don't expect him to get much traction here.

Look you can’t even say his name lmao the ire that results

He really is like Voldemort to many people

And no it’s not “maybe” unprecedented

 

[Conndog]

I think their accomplishments are all so similar you could make a case for any of them. They have 21, 20 and 20 titles.

And speaking of tennis, what about other eras? Some people think Rod Laver was greatest of all time. For women, why only Serena and not Steffi Graf? What about careers cut short? I actually think that Monica Seles would have been the greatest tennis player, she had such unique skills (name another player with two handed backhand and two handed forehand), and she was so dominant but then she was stabbed by a crazy fan and she just wasn't the same afterward. As far as Brady being the GOAT in football, why no other football players? Even if people think he is the greatest quarterback, is that more important in football than being the greatest running back or receiver? Sticking with Brady for a moment, do people say he is GOAT because he (or this team really) has won more Super Bowls than any other team/quarterback? In sports with the largest number of players on a team (11, same as soccer), would Brady's team have won as many championships if they had a bad running game or poor receivers or lousy coaching etc? Don't football championships depend on combinations of performances by many people and not just the quarterback? At least in solo sports such as tennis or golf or swimming,, it is just one person who determines success and championships. I think to determine who is GOAT, you first at least need to divide sports into either individual or team sports. In fact, I would go further and try to have greatest of all time for all sports, and I think you'd have to separate men & women. Even then, you have to include athletes from multiple historical eras, and how much do performances improve when equipment improves? Look at golf, it is crazy how much farther the ball flies today, imagine if Tiger or any of today's golfers had to play with the same equipment that Hogan or even Nicklaus had to use.

bottom line, I think it is ludicrous to try to proclaim one person as the GOAT, it must be for bragging. I think the best fans of sports realize there are many athletes who qualify or could be considered one of the GOAT, hundreds really, and that is what makes sports so rich and fun to watch and appreciate!

 

[UCLJ0211]

And speaking of tennis, what about other eras? Some people think Rod Laver was greatest of all time. For women, why only Serena and not Steffi Graf? What about careers cut short? I actually think that Monica Seles would have been the greatest tennis player, she had such unique skills (name another player with two handed backhand and two handed forehand), and she was so dominant but then she was stabbed by a crazy fan and she just wasn't the same afterward. As far as Brady being the GOAT in football, why no other football players? Even if people think he is the greatest quarterback, is that more important in football than being the greatest running back or receiver? Sticking with Brady for a moment, do people say he is GOAT because he (or this team really) has won more Super Bowls than any other team/quarterback? In sports with the largest number of players on a team (11, same as soccer), would Brady's team have won as many championships if they had a bad running game or poor receivers or lousy coaching etc? Don't football championships depend on combinations of performances by many people and not just the quarterback? At least in solo sports such as tennis or golf or swimming,, it is just one person who determines success and championships. I think to determine who is GOAT, you first at least need to divide sports into either individual or team sports. In fact, I would go further and try to have greatest of all time for all sports, and I think you'd have to separate men & women. Even then, you have to include athletes from multiple historical eras, and how much do performances improve when equipment improves? Look at golf, it is crazy how much farther the ball flies today, imagine if Tiger or any of today's golfers had to play with the same equipment that Hogan or even Nicklaus had to use.

bottom line, I think it is ludicrous to try to proclaim one person as the GOAT, it must be for bragging. I think the best fans of sports realize there are many athletes who qualify or could be considered one of the GOAT, hundreds really, and that is what makes sports so rich and fun to watch and appreciate!

And that is what the “other” option would be for. You make some good points. Makes for a good debate on the topic!

 

[TheChamps990411]

With Tom Brady’s recent retirement, I’ve seen this question come up several times in the media. Is Tom Brady the GOAT of all GOATs at their respective sport? I’ve put several other athletes I feel deserve to be mentioned as options, I probably missed a few- but I’m curious to see what the BY thinks. I also couldn’t pick among the 3 tennis greats so I included all of them.

There is only one GOAT. Muhammed Ali. End of story. That being said if you only take into account achievemnt in sport its Brady. I grew up a Bulls fan and was their to see Jordans run and it was incredible but Brady did something that should not be possible in his sport. He won two superbowls 20 years apart. That is absolutely insane!!! 10 Superbowls and 7 titles. Its not even debatable.

 

[freescooter]

I would take Ted Williams. Besides being a better baseball player he was a better pilot.

One could absolutely make a case for Teddy Ballgame. Probably the greatest hitter of all time. Last to hit .400, and played the 2nd game of a doubleheader with his average at .3999 which would have been rounded to .400 and brought it up to .406. My guess is nobody would do that today. Hit 521 home runs, and missed prime years to go into the Navy in both World War II and Korea where he saw active duty and was shot down. While those obviously aren’t part of his baseball records, they are significant And actually hurt him In his baseball career.

Michael Jordan wasn’t even the best player in his sport for a chunk of his career.

I might also add Roger Banister. First man to break the 4 minute mile, on a cinder track on a cold rainy day. Wasn’t a professional, but a medical student.

or Bobby Jones. Only man to win 4 majors in a single year. He was also an amateur. Won multiple US and British Opens AND US Amateurs when that was considered a major. 13 Majors in 7 years. And played with wooden shafts!

And I think a case could be made for Bill Russell…2 NCAA titles, Olympic gold, 11 NBA championships including 2. As a player-coach. Think of that. And he redefined the center position in his career. Pre-Russell it was not a highly athletic position.

 

[8893]

Jim Thorpe

 

[Scoe]

Thurman was a much better hitter/catcher than Varitek.

Posada>Varitek, ok I’ll put Varitek ahead of Sanchez.