Mount Rushmore: Athletes

albionmoonlight · 04-13-2006, 08:00 AM

I don't know if we have done this one yet. A Mount Rushmore of every athlete in history. (If you don't know the rules of Mount Rushmores--they are simple. Pick 4 people from the category to represent that category. No more. No less). What's cool about this is that the pool of potential candidates is so large. I can think of 10 or so people off the top of my head who could be a justifiable choice on such a mountain.

Anyway-- my four:

Muhammad Ali ("The Greatest." I can't argue with that.)

Pele (as someone said below--the greatest player in the world's most popular sport)

Babe Ruth (An icon. People who haven't watched a game in their lives know who he is. Every player to come since is measured against the Babe.)

Jim Thorpe (A pure athlete. He excelled at a world class level in any sport to which he turned his attention.)

VPI97 · 04-13-2006, 08:05 AM

Jesse Owens - The biggest sociological & political impact from an athlete
Hank Aaron - The holder of the "biggest' record in American sports
Walter Payton - The penultimate example of how I'd want my son to be if he grew up to become an athlete.
Wayne Gretzky - The most impressive statistical career of anyone in sports.

Huckleberry · 04-13-2006, 08:11 AM

Jesse Owens
Carl Lewis
Muhammad Ali
Bruce Lee

I. J. Reilly · 04-13-2006, 08:22 AM

Arthur Ashe & Lou Gehrig; they each get two sculptures.

Crapshoot · 04-13-2006, 08:44 AM

Pele - Greatest player, world's game.

Don Bradman - the man dominated cricket to an extent never seen since, and was an Australian national treasure.

Babe Ruth - Changed baseball - completely and utterly. Its a shame he didn't play against all the top level talent.

Jesse Owens - a giant fuck-you to the Furher - that is a legacy.

WSUCougar · 04-13-2006, 08:51 AM

Michael Jordan - Dominated a sport with arguably the world's best athletes
Bo Jackson - When healthy, Bo had seemingly limitless athleticism.
Pele - A world-beater
Wayne Gretzky - Seemed like he had magic powers on the ice

albionmoonlight · 04-13-2006, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VPI97

Walter Payton - The penultimate example of how I'd want my son to be if he grew up to become an athlete.

Sweetness is my favorite athlete of all time.

WSUCougar · 04-13-2006, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

Sweetness is my favorite athlete of all time.

If you look up "running back" in the dictionary, his picture should be there.

Samdari · 04-13-2006, 09:11 AM

Jackie Robinson. Four times.

Huckleberry · 04-13-2006, 09:16 AM

Main Entry: pen·ul·ti·mate

Pronunciation: pi-'n&l-t&-m&t
Function: adjective
1 : next to the last penultimate chapter of a book>
2 : of or relating to a penult penultimate accent>

Main Entry: pe·nult

Pronunciation: 'pE-"n&lt, pi-'
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin paenultima penult, from feminine of paenultimus almost last, from paene almost + ultimus last -- more at ULTIMATE
: the next to the last member of a series; especially : the next to the last syllable of a word

I apologize, but that specific word is one of my pet peeves. Carry on, and I agree with the sentiment regarding Payton.

GoldenEagle · 04-13-2006, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VPI97

Jesse Owens - The biggest sociological & political impact from an athlete
Hank Aaron - The holder of the "biggest' record in American sports
Walter Payton - The penultimate example of how I'd want my son to be if he grew up to become an athlete.
Wayne Gretzky - The most impressive statistical career of anyone in sports.

On that reasoning, what if Barry Bonds were to pass Aaron?

WSUCougar · 04-13-2006, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Huckleberry

I apologize, but that specific word is one of my pet peeves. Carry on, and I agree with the sentiment regarding Payton.

's alright. But if you were in the IHOF, your team would be shoveling shit for 10 seasons at least.

Bee · 04-13-2006, 10:03 AM

Jim Brown
Jim Thorpe
Bo Jackson
Deion Sanders

edit: I might replace Deion if I can think of someone better. The other 3 in my book are locks.

tanglewood · 04-13-2006, 10:05 AM

Pele
Muhammad Ali
Micheal Jordan
Don Bradman

JonInMiddleGA · 04-13-2006, 10:13 AM

Babe Ruth
Roger Bannister
Bobby Jones
Michael Jordan

Pumpy Tudors · 04-13-2006, 10:17 AM

Comedy response:

David Eckstein
Bart Conner
The third guy in the Jamaican bobsled
Pumpy Tudors

Maple Leafs · 04-13-2006, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

The third guy in the Jamaican bobsled
Pumpy Tudors

Why does he get to be on there twice?

digamma · 04-13-2006, 10:48 AM

Jackie Robinson
Michael Jordan
Muhammed Ali
Babe Ruth

JonInMiddleGA · 04-13-2006, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

Comedy response:

David Eckstein
Bart Conner
The third guy in the Jamaican bobsled
Pumpy Tudors

That IS a joke ... nobody in their right mind would put Bart Conner on Rushmore ahead of Kurt "Gymkata" Thomas. His cinematic career transcends sports.

SelzShoes · 04-13-2006, 11:01 AM

Michael Jordan
Babe Ruth
Pele
Jim Brown

Lathum · 04-13-2006, 11:16 AM

Ali- For all the mentioned reasons
Jackie Robinson- Imagine what sports would be like if they were still segragated
Roger Bannister-First four minute mile, an amazinz feet at the time
Jordan- Most dominate player in any sport I have ever seen in my lifetime

digamma · 04-13-2006, 11:45 AM

Bannister is interesting. He was arguably the third best miler in 1954, but he got to four minutes first. John Landy, an Aussie, broke Bannister's record by more than a second just two months after Bannister hit the four minute mark. Bannister later defeated Landy in the 1954 Commonwealth Games, but Landy was running on a bad foot he completely gashed earlier in the week while jogging barefooted. Landy never mentioned the injury.

Perhaps better than both was American Wes Santee. Santee was a star for the University of Kansas track team. Along the way he got into a dispute with the AAU and had his amateur status stripped. He couldn't get into races because of that and because of that never broke the four minute mile in a competitive race. In a surely uncomfortable setting, he did the television commentary for the US broadcast of the Landy-Bannister race at the Commonwealth games.

Deservedly, Bannister's legacy burns strongest today. He was the consumate amateur, studying in medical school and running on the side. He's had a long career in medicine and has continued to be active in British athletics.

bob · 04-13-2006, 11:54 AM

Joe Montana
Steve Yzerman
Barry Sanders
Jesse Owens

Tigercat · 04-13-2006, 12:55 PM

Owens
Thorpe
Jordan
Pele

ntndeacon · 04-13-2006, 02:03 PM

Babe Ruth
Babe Didreckson Zaharias
Jim Thorpe
Pele

Raiders Army · 04-13-2006, 02:11 PM

Depending what on people deem as athletes:

(Sports)
Michael Jordan
Pele
Wayne Gretzky
Babe Ruth
(Tiger Woods has a shot of making this list later on)

(True Athletes)
Muhammed Ali
Jim Thorpe
Carl Lewis
Babe Didrikson

A lot of people have different definitions of athletes.

Maple Leafs · 04-13-2006, 02:25 PM

All you people voting for Jackie Robinson -- where the hell were you when I was getting ripped for taking him in the second round of the All-Time Sports Draft?

</still bitter>

Joe · 04-13-2006, 02:37 PM

Wayne Gretzky
Walter Payton
Christian Laettner
Barry Bonds

Solecismic · 04-13-2006, 03:18 PM

Baseball: Babe Ruth
Football: Johnny Unitas
Hockey: Gordie Howe
Basketball: Wilt Chamberlain

Each played a pivotal role in his sport's rise to popularity (okay, hockey hasn't quite made it). If we're going on more recent history, then Aaron, Montana, Gretzky and Jordan.

WSUCougar · 04-13-2006, 03:32 PM

You know what's a riot? For a moment I thought someone posted Christian Laettner's name up there. Ha! Man, I must be tired. *whew*

Abe Sargent · 04-13-2006, 04:23 PM

If you make my top "athelete" list, then you need to be a real athelete. I want someone who dominates in multiple categories, multiple athletic skills. I agree that, say, a weight lifter is an athelete, but the greatest weight lifter in the world won't make my list while someone else is great in many skills. There's a difference, to my mind, between "athelete" and "sports star." For example, Tiger Woods would never make my athelete list, but he might make a sports star list.

Don Hutson - A three way player (safety, wr, kicker) who had a bunch pf picks, despite playing in a pass light era, a bunch of receiving yards and accolades, and had been called by many the greatest player in the game.

Pete Sampras - Despite failing to win one in France, Pete was great becuase he was such a well rounded tennis player. Fast, precise, good service, agile, he was without a major flaw. The only "weaknesses" he had were just lesser strengths.

Pele - I'm grabbing him from other lists because he's a great call. Sincerest form of flattery and all that.

Jim Thorpe - Without a doubt an amazing athelete.

-Anxiety

EDIT: Thorpe would be my top athelete overall.

Arctus · 04-13-2006, 04:25 PM

Roberto Clemente
Pat Tillman
Arthur Ashe
Jackie Robinson

Maple Leafs · 04-13-2006, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solecismic

Hockey: Gordie Howe

How could you possibly argue that Gordie Howe had more of an impact on hockey's popularity than Wayne Gretzky?

Pumpy Tudors · 04-13-2006, 05:52 PM

Comedy Dave Duerson option

Vince · 04-13-2006, 06:08 PM

Joe Montana
Wayne Gretzky
Michael Jordan
Muhammad Ali

It's very difficult to leave Pele or one of the baseball greats (Ruth, Mays (homer pick, there), Aaron) off this list, but that's how mine would stack up.

Joe · 04-13-2006, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WSUCougar

You know what's a riot? For a moment I thought someone posted Christian Laettner's name up there. Ha! Man, I must be tired. *whew*

PSUColonel · 04-13-2006, 06:10 PM

Dean Houston...hands down.

MIJB#19 · 04-14-2006, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raiders Army

Depending what on people deem as athletes:

(Sports)
Michael Jordan
Pele
Wayne Gretzky
Babe Ruth
(Tiger Woods has a shot of making this list later on)

(True Athletes)
Muhammed Ali
Jim Thorpe
Carl Lewis
Babe Didrikson

A lot of people have different definitions of athletes.

I think you missplaced Muhammed Ali there too.

Raiders Army · 04-14-2006, 09:01 AM

Boxers are far more conditioned than any other Sports Athlete, with maybe the exception of wrestlers. Even wrestlers don't go at it for over half an hour. Anyone who has ever boxed before would know that even two minute rounds seem like an eternity.

MIJB#19 · 04-14-2006, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raiders Army

Boxers are far more conditioned than any other Sports Athlete, with maybe the exception of wrestlers. Even wrestlers don't go at it for over half an hour. Anyone who has ever boxed before would know that even two minute rounds seem like an eternity.

It was in respons to your athlete definition. I always have a hard time matching the word athlete with any other sport than athletics.

Raiders Army · 04-14-2006, 01:27 PM

If the sport requires them to wear an athletic suppporter, does that make it athletics?

04-13-2006, 08:05 AM	#2
VPI97 Hokie, Hokie, Hokie, Hi Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Kennesaw, GA	Jesse Owens - The biggest sociological & political impact from an athlete Hank Aaron - The holder of the "biggest' record in American sports Walter Payton - The penultimate example of how I'd want my son to be if he grew up to become an athlete. Wayne Gretzky - The most impressive statistical career of anyone in sports. __________________ CT & Jivin - "Surprisingly Entertaining" Last edited by VPI97 : 04-13-2006 at 08:22 AM.

04-13-2006, 08:11 AM	#3
Huckleberry College Starter Join Date: Dec 2001	Jesse Owens Carl Lewis Muhammad Ali Bruce Lee __________________ The one thing all your failed relationships have in common is you. The Barking Carnival (Longhorn-centered sports blog) College Football Adjusted Stats and Ratings

04-13-2006, 08:51 AM	#6
WSUCougar Rider Of Rohan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Port Angeles, WA or Helm's Deep	Michael Jordan - Dominated a sport with arguably the world's best athletes Bo Jackson - When healthy, Bo had seemingly limitless athleticism. Pele - A world-beater Wayne Gretzky - Seemed like he had magic powers on the ice __________________ It's not the years...it's the mileage.

04-13-2006, 09:11 AM	#9
Samdari Roster Filler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Cicero	Jackie Robinson. Four times. __________________ http://www.nateandellie.net Now featuring twice the babies for the same low price!

04-13-2006, 09:16 AM	#10
Huckleberry College Starter Join Date: Dec 2001	Main Entry: pen·ul·ti·mate Pronunciation: `pi-'n&l-t&-m&t` Function: adjective 1 : next to the last penultimate chapter of a book> 2 : of or relating to a penult penultimate accent> Main Entry: pe·nult Pronunciation: `'pE-"n&lt, pi-'` Function: noun Etymology: Latin paenultima penult, from feminine of paenultimus almost last, from paene almost + ultimus last -- more at ULTIMATE : the next to the last member of a series; especially : the next to the last syllable of a word I apologize, but that specific word is one of my pet peeves. Carry on, and I agree with the sentiment regarding Payton. __________________ The one thing all your failed relationships have in common is you. The Barking Carnival (Longhorn-centered sports blog) College Football Adjusted Stats and Ratings

04-13-2006, 08:22 AM	#4
I. J. Reilly College Prospect Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: An Oregonian deep in the heart of Texas.	Arthur Ashe & Lou Gehrig; they each get two sculptures.

04-13-2006, 08:44 AM	#5
Crapshoot Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Dec 2003	Pele - Greatest player, world's game. Don Bradman - the man dominated cricket to an extent never seen since, and was an Australian national treasure. Babe Ruth - Changed baseball - completely and utterly. Its a shame he didn't play against all the top level talent. Jesse Owens - a giant fuck-you to the Furher - that is a legacy.

04-13-2006, 10:03 AM	#13
Bee Pro Starter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Fairfax, VA	Jim Brown Jim Thorpe Bo Jackson Deion Sanders edit: I might replace Deion if I can think of someone better. The other 3 in my book are locks. Last edited by Bee : 04-13-2006 at 10:05 AM.

04-13-2006, 10:05 AM	#14
tanglewood College Benchwarmer Join Date: Oct 2004	Pele Muhammad Ali Micheal Jordan Don Bradman

04-13-2006, 10:13 AM	#15
JonInMiddleGA Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Behind Enemy Lines in Athens, GA	Babe Ruth Roger Bannister Bobby Jones Michael Jordan __________________ "I lit another cigarette. Unless I specifically inform you to the contrary, I am always lighting another cigarette." - from a novel by Martin Amis

04-13-2006, 10:17 AM	#16
Pumpy Tudors Bounty Hunter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Pittsburgh, PA	Comedy response: David Eckstein Bart Conner The third guy in the Jamaican bobsled Pumpy Tudors __________________ No, I am not Batman, and I will not repair your food processor.

04-13-2006, 10:48 AM	#18
digamma Torchbearer Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: On Lake Harriet	Jackie Robinson Michael Jordan Muhammed Ali Babe Ruth

04-13-2006, 11:01 AM	#20
SelzShoes High School Varsity Join Date: Apr 2005	Michael Jordan Babe Ruth Pele Jim Brown __________________ I'm in love. What's that song? I'm in love with that song

04-13-2006, 11:16 AM	#21
Lathum Favored Bitch #1 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: homeless in NJ	Ali- For all the mentioned reasons Jackie Robinson- Imagine what sports would be like if they were still segragated Roger Bannister-First four minute mile, an amazinz feet at the time Jordan- Most dominate player in any sport I have ever seen in my lifetime

04-13-2006, 11:45 AM	#22
digamma Torchbearer Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: On Lake Harriet	Bannister is interesting. He was arguably the third best miler in 1954, but he got to four minutes first. John Landy, an Aussie, broke Bannister's record by more than a second just two months after Bannister hit the four minute mark. Bannister later defeated Landy in the 1954 Commonwealth Games, but Landy was running on a bad foot he completely gashed earlier in the week while jogging barefooted. Landy never mentioned the injury. Perhaps better than both was American Wes Santee. Santee was a star for the University of Kansas track team. Along the way he got into a dispute with the AAU and had his amateur status stripped. He couldn't get into races because of that and because of that never broke the four minute mile in a competitive race. In a surely uncomfortable setting, he did the television commentary for the US broadcast of the Landy-Bannister race at the Commonwealth games. Deservedly, Bannister's legacy burns strongest today. He was the consumate amateur, studying in medical school and running on the side. He's had a long career in medicine and has continued to be active in British athletics.

04-13-2006, 11:54 AM	#23
bob College Starter Join Date: Oct 2004	Joe Montana Steve Yzerman Barry Sanders Jesse Owens

04-13-2006, 12:55 PM	#24
Tigercat College Starter Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Federal Way, WA	Owens Thorpe Jordan Pele

04-13-2006, 02:03 PM	#25
ntndeacon Pro Starter Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Alabama	Babe Ruth Babe Didreckson Zaharias Jim Thorpe Pele

04-13-2006, 02:11 PM	#26
Raiders Army Coordinator Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: The Black Hole	Depending what on people deem as athletes: (Sports) Michael Jordan Pele Wayne Gretzky Babe Ruth (Tiger Woods has a shot of making this list later on) (True Athletes) Muhammed Ali Jim Thorpe Carl Lewis Babe Didrikson A lot of people have different definitions of athletes.

04-13-2006, 02:25 PM	#27
Maple Leafs Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2002	All you people voting for Jackie Robinson -- where the hell were you when I was getting ripped for taking him in the second round of the All-Time Sports Draft? </still bitter> __________________ Down Goes Brown: Toronto Maple Leafs Humor and Analysis

04-13-2006, 02:37 PM	#28
Joe Pro Starter Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Minneapolis	Wayne Gretzky Walter Payton Christian Laettner Barry Bonds

04-13-2006, 03:18 PM	#29
Solecismic Solecismic Software Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Canton, OH	Baseball: Babe Ruth Football: Johnny Unitas Hockey: Gordie Howe Basketball: Wilt Chamberlain Each played a pivotal role in his sport's rise to popularity (okay, hockey hasn't quite made it). If we're going on more recent history, then Aaron, Montana, Gretzky and Jordan.

04-13-2006, 03:32 PM	#30
WSUCougar Rider Of Rohan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Port Angeles, WA or Helm's Deep	You know what's a riot? For a moment I thought someone posted Christian Laettner's name up there. Ha! Man, I must be tired. whew __________________ It's not the years...it's the mileage.

04-13-2006, 04:23 PM	#31
Abe Sargent Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Catonsville, MD	If you make my top "athelete" list, then you need to be a real athelete. I want someone who dominates in multiple categories, multiple athletic skills. I agree that, say, a weight lifter is an athelete, but the greatest weight lifter in the world won't make my list while someone else is great in many skills. There's a difference, to my mind, between "athelete" and "sports star." For example, Tiger Woods would never make my athelete list, but he might make a sports star list. Don Hutson - A three way player (safety, wr, kicker) who had a bunch pf picks, despite playing in a pass light era, a bunch of receiving yards and accolades, and had been called by many the greatest player in the game. Pete Sampras - Despite failing to win one in France, Pete was great becuase he was such a well rounded tennis player. Fast, precise, good service, agile, he was without a major flaw. The only "weaknesses" he had were just lesser strengths. Pele - I'm grabbing him from other lists because he's a great call. Sincerest form of flattery and all that. Jim Thorpe - Without a doubt an amazing athelete. -Anxiety EDIT: Thorpe would be my top athelete overall. __________________ Check out my two current weekly Magic columns! https://www.coolstuffinc.com/a/?action=search&page=1&author[]=Abe%20Sargent Last edited by Abe Sargent : 04-13-2006 at 04:27 PM.

04-13-2006, 04:25 PM	#32
Arctus H.S. Freshman Team Join Date: May 2005 Location: Richmond, VA	Roberto Clemente Pat Tillman Arthur Ashe Jackie Robinson

04-13-2006, 05:52 PM	#34
Pumpy Tudors Bounty Hunter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Pittsburgh, PA	Comedy Dave Duerson option __________________ No, I am not Batman, and I will not repair your food processor.

04-13-2006, 06:08 PM	#35
Vince Pro Starter Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Willow Glen, CA	Joe Montana Wayne Gretzky Michael Jordan Muhammad Ali It's very difficult to leave Pele or one of the baseball greats (Ruth, Mays (homer pick, there), Aaron) off this list, but that's how mine would stack up. __________________ Every time a Dodger scores a run, an angel has its wings ripped off by a demon, and is forced to tearfully beg the demon to cauterize the wounds.The demon will refuse, and the sobbing angel will lie in a puddle of angel blood and feathers for eternity, wondering why the Dodgers are allowed to score runs.That’s not me talking: that’s science. McCoveyChronicles.com.

04-13-2006, 06:10 PM	#37
PSUColonel Banned Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Wayne, PA	Dean Houston...hands down.

04-14-2006, 09:01 AM	#39
Raiders Army Coordinator Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: The Black Hole	Boxers are far more conditioned than any other Sports Athlete, with maybe the exception of wrestlers. Even wrestlers don't go at it for over half an hour. Anyone who has ever boxed before would know that even two minute rounds seem like an eternity.

04-14-2006, 01:27 PM	#41
Raiders Army Coordinator Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: The Black Hole	If the sport requires them to wear an athletic suppporter, does that make it athletics?

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