ESPN is mining old ground this week with its look at the top black athletes of all time. Not withstanding our bemusement at how utterly bereft of ideas they must be to spend five minutes on this subject -- I wonder if there will be any basketball players or boxers on the list -- it brings to mind their top 100 list of athletes of the 20th century.
Now, if you're 25, that was a lifetime ago. But I've spent most of my life in the 20th century and can't believe we're already more than a sixth of the way through the next one. So it astonishes me to consider again who wouldn't have made that list in 2000.
Before I lead you on a stroll down that list, a few definitions:
- Let's take a global view. Plenty of great athletes worth mentioning aren't American.
- That said, there are some sports you and I know nothing about. Sorry, world's greatest cricketers, badminton players and rugby athletes.
- This list is speciesist. No non-humans.
- Discounting athletes whose greatness was recognized before 2000. That eliminates Shaq, Brett Favre and Barry Bonds.
Michael Phelps -- Very possibly the greatest Olympic athlete of all time, and certainly the greatest swimmer of all time.
Usain Bolt -- Also could make a claim to greatest Olympic athlete of all time, and certainly the greatest sprinter of all time.
Tiger Woods -- Even though his career fell off a cliff, he's still one of the three greatest golfers of all time.
LeBron James -- the debate is whether he's the equal of Michael Jordan. Let's say he's not. Then he's the second greatest basketball player ever.
Tom Brady -- greatness plus longevity could make him the top quarterback of all time.
Serena Williams -- the best women's tennis player ever. The greatest tennis player relative to her competition ever.
Roger Federer -- the greatest tennis player in history.
Floyd Mayweather -- is he the best pound-for-pound boxer in history? Certainly in the discussion.
Lance Armstrong -- I don't know what you do with this guy -- probably eliminate him. But if you include him, then he's the greatest cyclist of all time.
Wow. What a list. Nine athletes who are on their sports' Mt. Rushmores. And it's not even complete. How about these down-ballot nominees:
Steph Curry, Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan
Peyton Manning and LaDanian Tomlinson
Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Albert Pujols
Rafael Nadal
Sidney Crosby and Jaromir Jagr
Lionel Messi, Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane
Katie Ledecky -- maybe the greatest female swimmer ever
Allyson Felix -- maybe the greatest female sprinter ever
Who am I neglecting?
No comments:
Post a Comment