Ali - voted the greatest sportsman of the 20th Century, and there hasnt been anyone better since.
I do like Bolt and would have voted for him in any other round though, different sports but he has a touch of Ali about him IMO
Comment deleted by Site Moderator
close for me between messi and ali, I think messi shouldnt come into it maybe until retirement, so i'll go with ali. challenged and beat everyone, something boxers nowadays don't seem to do
comment by Nickalopodis (U9257)
posted 27 seconds ago
close for me between messi and ali, I think messi shouldnt come into it maybe until retirement, so i'll go with ali. challenged and beat everyone, something boxers nowadays don't seem to do
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I can agree with that, it is hard to compare someone currently playing now to those who have retired. However, I think I would have been strung up had Messi not been included.
Usain Bolt for me, athletics is the illegal drugs profession of the world and Bolt is the professions greatest even when the only people that can come close to him are those on drugs.
He's the sole reason people are even interested in the sport anymore. He has a great personality too, never causes controversy off the field
Warne murali was better
The rest have a good shout. Messis career is far from over so will eventually be the greatest. Ali for me without doubt
comment by Trebs (U1014)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Nickalopodis (U9257)
posted 27 seconds ago
close for me between messi and ali, I think messi shouldnt come into it maybe until retirement, so i'll go with ali. challenged and beat everyone, something boxers nowadays don't seem to do
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I can agree with that, it is hard to compare someone currently playing now to those who have retired. However, I think I would have been strung up had Messi not been included.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
true true
comment by CANuLEIVA (U18359)
posted 39 seconds ago
Warnemurali was better
The rest have a good shout. Messis career is far from over so will eventually be the greatest. Ali for me without doubt
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I was torn between including Murali, I nearly included both in my 20. Both made the longer list I wrote down originally, but then when I read the comments asking who people considered, Warne's name was there at least twice and I figured he was probably more well known to the non-cricket fans so more likely to win. But I can understand where you are coming from.
Messi
Bolt
Ali
In that order. For me Bolt could have been better but took things for granted early in his career. I appreciate Ali but I simply don't think boxing is up there with football.
Ali the best sportsman ever for me.
Messi the best footballer.
Bolt best athlete.
Phelps best swimmer.
Warne nailed Liz Hurley so
Comment deleted by Site Moderator
I actually wonder why everyone is so sure Bolt is the greatest athlete when other athletes have been just as dominant as him. Is it because of the popularity of his discipline over other athletics disciplines? I would think of Athletes like Kenenisa Bekele, David Rudisha, Tinuresh Dibaba just to name a few that have been just as dominant im far more gruelling disciplines where your body can break down so quickly but these guys have dominated regardless.
Those names are just recent examples too!
Wumpatrol not forgetting Haile gebrselassie, one of the most likeable athletes I have ever seen.
Yeah him too! Such a brilliant guy he was. I'll never forgive him for beating Tergat in Sydney though. Crushed my little heart
I tell you, once more my contribution to this whole shebang will be staggering.
Never seen Warne play.
Seen Bolt run once years ago. Looked very fast.
Never seen Phelps.
Messi is amazing but may have a condition known as 'micropenis'
Watched a few Ali fights and a bunch of documentaries. he transcended his sport and became a cultural icon. None of the other have come close.
Ali is is then.
Greatest in athletics imo would have to be a decathlete, not just someone who runs fast.
As far as this list goes, Ali. The most charismatic sportsman ever. Greatest sportsman to me also has to involve more than 'simply' winning a lot. The resilience and strength of character to come back several times, to overcome personal adversity and/or character flaws, to transcend sport and rise above his own time...
no Kenyans in that an shambles.
From those above Usain Bolt is clearly the top dog imo. Ali is 2nd but ducking a rematch with Foreman in '79 cost him top spot here. Phelps, then SW then Leo in that prder for the other 3 places.
Ali all the way.
Then Bolt.
Among the ones listed, Clay is the only one that fits adjective. I don't like boxing, but he deserves unique recognition.
Messi must show he can perform on the big stage, not just at the club level.
Warne is probably in the top twenty cricketers, not top ten, let alone the greatest. If you choose cricketers, there are only two names which fit the bill: 1) Garry Sobers; 2) Don Bradman.
Bolt has brought life into track & field. Historically, there have been several other athletes as good as him and possibly better than him.
Phelps? Silly choice.
I'm a big fan of Ali in the ring and out of it, but he's way too hyped by none boxing fans.
There again, maybe that DOES prove he's the greatest? Does positive notority equal greatness? If it doesn't, how do you calculate greatness when comparing dofferent sporting disciplins? Is it entirely fruitless?
As this article exists, so does the question. And therefore the possibility of an answer.
I believe the greatest of all time are Babe Ruth, Michael Jordan, Usain Bolt, Pele and Roger Federer. In no particular order.
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Greatest of all time - Round three
Page 1 of 3
posted on 6/11/15
Ali - voted the greatest sportsman of the 20th Century, and there hasnt been anyone better since.
I do like Bolt and would have voted for him in any other round though, different sports but he has a touch of Ali about him IMO
posted on 6/11/15
Comment deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 6/11/15
close for me between messi and ali, I think messi shouldnt come into it maybe until retirement, so i'll go with ali. challenged and beat everyone, something boxers nowadays don't seem to do
posted on 6/11/15
comment by Nickalopodis (U9257)
posted 27 seconds ago
close for me between messi and ali, I think messi shouldnt come into it maybe until retirement, so i'll go with ali. challenged and beat everyone, something boxers nowadays don't seem to do
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I can agree with that, it is hard to compare someone currently playing now to those who have retired. However, I think I would have been strung up had Messi not been included.
posted on 6/11/15
Usain Bolt for me, athletics is the illegal drugs profession of the world and Bolt is the professions greatest even when the only people that can come close to him are those on drugs.
He's the sole reason people are even interested in the sport anymore. He has a great personality too, never causes controversy off the field
posted on 6/11/15
Warne murali was better
The rest have a good shout. Messis career is far from over so will eventually be the greatest. Ali for me without doubt
posted on 6/11/15
comment by Trebs (U1014)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Nickalopodis (U9257)
posted 27 seconds ago
close for me between messi and ali, I think messi shouldnt come into it maybe until retirement, so i'll go with ali. challenged and beat everyone, something boxers nowadays don't seem to do
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I can agree with that, it is hard to compare someone currently playing now to those who have retired. However, I think I would have been strung up had Messi not been included.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
true true
posted on 6/11/15
comment by CANuLEIVA (U18359)
posted 39 seconds ago
Warnemurali was better
The rest have a good shout. Messis career is far from over so will eventually be the greatest. Ali for me without doubt
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I was torn between including Murali, I nearly included both in my 20. Both made the longer list I wrote down originally, but then when I read the comments asking who people considered, Warne's name was there at least twice and I figured he was probably more well known to the non-cricket fans so more likely to win. But I can understand where you are coming from.
posted on 6/11/15
Fair enough
posted on 6/11/15
0 votes for warne so far
posted on 6/11/15
Messi
Bolt
Ali
In that order. For me Bolt could have been better but took things for granted early in his career. I appreciate Ali but I simply don't think boxing is up there with football.
posted on 6/11/15
Ali the best sportsman ever for me.
Messi the best footballer.
Bolt best athlete.
Phelps best swimmer.
Warne nailed Liz Hurley so
posted on 6/11/15
Comment deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 6/11/15
I actually wonder why everyone is so sure Bolt is the greatest athlete when other athletes have been just as dominant as him. Is it because of the popularity of his discipline over other athletics disciplines? I would think of Athletes like Kenenisa Bekele, David Rudisha, Tinuresh Dibaba just to name a few that have been just as dominant im far more gruelling disciplines where your body can break down so quickly but these guys have dominated regardless.
posted on 6/11/15
Those names are just recent examples too!
posted on 6/11/15
Wumpatrol not forgetting Haile gebrselassie, one of the most likeable athletes I have ever seen.
posted on 6/11/15
Yeah him too! Such a brilliant guy he was. I'll never forgive him for beating Tergat in Sydney though. Crushed my little heart
posted on 6/11/15
I tell you, once more my contribution to this whole shebang will be staggering.
Never seen Warne play.
Seen Bolt run once years ago. Looked very fast.
Never seen Phelps.
Messi is amazing but may have a condition known as 'micropenis'
Watched a few Ali fights and a bunch of documentaries. he transcended his sport and became a cultural icon. None of the other have come close.
Ali is is then.
posted on 6/11/15
Ali, by a country mile.
posted on 6/11/15
Greatest in athletics imo would have to be a decathlete, not just someone who runs fast.
As far as this list goes, Ali. The most charismatic sportsman ever. Greatest sportsman to me also has to involve more than 'simply' winning a lot. The resilience and strength of character to come back several times, to overcome personal adversity and/or character flaws, to transcend sport and rise above his own time...
posted on 6/11/15
no Kenyans in that an shambles.
posted on 6/11/15
From those above Usain Bolt is clearly the top dog imo. Ali is 2nd but ducking a rematch with Foreman in '79 cost him top spot here. Phelps, then SW then Leo in that prder for the other 3 places.
posted on 6/11/15
Ali all the way.
Then Bolt.
posted on 6/11/15
Among the ones listed, Clay is the only one that fits adjective. I don't like boxing, but he deserves unique recognition.
Messi must show he can perform on the big stage, not just at the club level.
Warne is probably in the top twenty cricketers, not top ten, let alone the greatest. If you choose cricketers, there are only two names which fit the bill: 1) Garry Sobers; 2) Don Bradman.
Bolt has brought life into track & field. Historically, there have been several other athletes as good as him and possibly better than him.
Phelps? Silly choice.
posted on 6/11/15
I'm a big fan of Ali in the ring and out of it, but he's way too hyped by none boxing fans.
There again, maybe that DOES prove he's the greatest? Does positive notority equal greatness? If it doesn't, how do you calculate greatness when comparing dofferent sporting disciplins? Is it entirely fruitless?
As this article exists, so does the question. And therefore the possibility of an answer.
I believe the greatest of all time are Babe Ruth, Michael Jordan, Usain Bolt, Pele and Roger Federer. In no particular order.
Page 1 of 3