With all the doom and gloom in the world currently, I thought it was time to get back to simpler things.

Sports performers who have taken my breath away on how easy they amke it look: and in no particular order.

Running - Sebastian Coe. The final kick, with no obvious effort glides past the best in world at the time - fluidity in motion

Swimming - Alexander Popov -How the hell can you swim that fast over 50 / 100 metres with your arms moving so slowly???? - fluidity in motion

Cricket (Yanks need not apply) David Gower / Mark Waugh. With no apparent effort, the ball was on / over the boundary - and the ultimate dilemma as fans, when they got out for not much, why didn't they try harder?? - fluidity in motion

Basketball (of which I know VERY little) - it is obvious Jordon could do things that nobody else could, but if it were my choice I would pick Magic Johnson - he could RUN a team, not expect the team to built around him - fluidity in motion

Cricket (again) As an Australian, the obvious is Don Bradman - I am 2 generations away from ever seeing him, but by statistics is TWICE as good as Viv Richards, Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, who I have seen - Beyond my comprehension

You haven't mentioned soccer and of course the greatest player of them all, George Best

You haven't mentioned soccer and of course the greatest player of them all, George Best

Don't know enough about it comment, I have only seen snippets of him on TV, although I know he is widely regarded as the most gifted of all of them

You haven't mentioned soccer and of course the greatest player of them all, George Best
Fluids in motion :D

how easy they amke it look:


Surely Usain Bolt's 100 metres (in fact his 200 metres wasn't bad either :p) at Beijing has to be up there he even did it with his shoelace untied.

There are loads of sportsmen and women I think you can class as great some though I think are not rated highly enough (well they are certainly in their sports but not recognised by many 'great sports persons lists'). A couple of the top of my head Sergey Bubka (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergey_Bubka), Fanny Blankers-Koen (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fanny_Blankers-Koen) and Jahangir Khan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jahangir_Khan).

There are some that are never recognised apart from those fans of the sport one name in particular spring to mind Andy Priaulx (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Priaulx), he's won 4 championships including 3 World Touring Car Championships in a row but has never even been nominated for British Sport Personality of the year (in fact I don't even think he's been mentioned).

Slightly off topic but how about great sporting moments:

Ali - Rumble in the Jungle (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10ZIxV9KWgY&feature=related) - This is round 8, knock out 2:29 in but if you watch the whole fight (or indeed the documentary) Ali's tactics were spot on and really showed how good he was.

Torvill and Dean - '84 Olympics (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2zbbN4OL98) - Perfection personified.

And to continue the Cricket references - Paul Collingwood - 'That catch' (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2zbbN4OL98) aka Superman.

In Rugby Union the three most elegant fly halfs I have seen were Richard Sharp(England), Barry John and Phil Bennett( both Wales). High praise from a scot:D

Minkey, I second the Torvill and Dean '84 performance!

My own favorite was not human. I refer to "Big Red" himself, the horse Secretariat. He won fairly easily in the Kentucky Derby, then in the shorter Preakness, was still in the lead without much of a problem. In the Belmont Stakes, however, the word "awesome" might actually apply. The jockey wasn't whipping Big Red, just riding and steering a little. When Big Red entered the home stretch, no other horse was within 20 lengths. And yet it seemed as though Secretariat was merely loping along. I've seen some really beautiful horses race, but Big Red made them all look slow. Rest in peace, Red.

I like to watch lacrosse, good hard hitting action. Guess there is not to many lacrosse fans here though.

I've heard that Lacrosse is similar to Hockey in one way .... you can go to a fight and have a good chance that a hockey game will break out. Is Lacrosse similar?

Well mine would be Daley Thompson - athletics - and Team GB captain - his performance was magical - his atitude was spot on - - Its a disgrace that he has not be given a MBE

No. If you want to get out of a game real fast, throw a punch. Want to get removed from play for the remainder of a season (including playoffs and championships) fight three times.

I've heard that Lacrosse is similar to Hockey in one way .... you can go to a fight and have a good chance that a hockey game will break out. Is Lacrosse similar?

Tiger Woods is destined to be the greatest golfer ever. Marital problems not withstanding.

Jairo Miguel it appears has a shot at being a great matador.

quote=[ Associated Press]

CACERES, Spain – A 16-year-old Spanish matador killed six bulls in one afternoon Saturday, pulling off a feat normally attempted only by seasoned veterans and winning trophies for his bravery — ears from animals he had just slain.
Jairo Miguel Sanchez Alonso, who nearly died from a horrific goring in Mexico in 2007, smiled broadly and waved to a friendly hometown crowd after the series of fights which took about two and a half hours.
The tall, slender boy showed his stuff in an arena called Plaza Era de los Martires, or Time of the Martyrs.
The bullfighter, who goes by the stage name of Jairo Miguel, turned in his best performance with bull No. 5, a hulking black specimen that weighed 435 kilograms (959 pounds).
After skillful cape-work he finished off the bull with a single deathblow from his sword, sliding it into a spot where it severed the beast's spinal chord. With the rest of the bulls he needed around three tries.
For that effort he was awarded the animal's severed ears, one of the bullfighting world's prizes for a job well done.
Minutes before he stepped into the ring, Jairo Miguel hugged his former bullfighter father and wept, underlying the emotions behind his courageous attempt. In just under an hour, he successfully slew his first bull, a black beast weighing 450 kilograms (990 pounds).[/quote]

Tiger Woods is the best golfer ever. His lack of ability to hire the right spin doctors in regards to his performance off the courses and his personal dilemmas are just a marketing nightmare. He might not make his sponsors happy but he can play golf like no one else.

Tiger Woods is destined to be the greatest golfer ever. Marital problems not withstanding.

If he collects any more bull ears he will be elligible for a free trip to the ice flows to club baby seals to death. Good for him!

Jairo Miguel it appears has a shot at being a great matador.

quote=[ Associated Press]

CACERES, Spain – A 16-year-old Spanish matador killed six bulls in one afternoon Saturday, pulling off a feat normally attempted only by seasoned veterans and winning trophies for his bravery — ears from animals he had just slain.
Jairo Miguel Sanchez Alonso, who nearly died from a horrific goring in Mexico in 2007, smiled broadly and waved to a friendly hometown crowd after the series of fights which took about two and a half hours.
The tall, slender boy showed his stuff in an arena called Plaza Era de los Martires, or Time of the Martyrs.
The bullfighter, who goes by the stage name of Jairo Miguel, turned in his best performance with bull No. 5, a hulking black specimen that weighed 435 kilograms (959 pounds).
After skillful cape-work he finished off the bull with a single deathblow from his sword, sliding it into a spot where it severed the beast's spinal chord. With the rest of the bulls he needed around three tries.
For that effort he was awarded the animal's severed ears, one of the bullfighting world's prizes for a job well done.
Minutes before he stepped into the ring, Jairo Miguel hugged his former bullfighter father and wept, underlying the emotions behind his courageous attempt. In just under an hour, he successfully slew his first bull, a black beast weighing 450 kilograms (990 pounds).[/QUOTE]

Hockey player Wayne Gretzky was a sight to behold in his prime. He led his team to 3 championships. He also holds every scoring record in the book (both single season and career).

Interestingly, he also holds the record for most records.

Even more amazing... Leafs 5 Sens 0!
Hockey player Wayne Gretzky was a sight to behold in his prime. He led his team to 3 championships. He also holds every scoring record in the book (both single season and career).

Interestingly, he also holds the record for most records.

The talk of bullfighters reminds me of the story of the tourist who ate at a restaurant next to a bullring in Mexico. As he sat down to his meal, a waiter brought another man a plate with a long object that looked like a huge sausage and two large lumps of meat that appeared to be meatballs.

When he had a chance, he asked the waiter what the man had ordered. The waited said, "We get those things from the bullring next door."

The diner said, "Could I order one now?"

The waiter sadly shook his head. "No, senor, we have a limited supply based on the number of bullfights. That was our last one of the day."

Each day for the next few days, that same man came back to the restaurant and tried to order the bullring special. Each time, he was told that none were available because others had beaten him to the order. They could not accept reservations, either.

Finally, one day he came in, placed his order, and was told "Ah, yes, we have one more bullfight special." A few minutes later, out it came. But when the cover came off, the sausage was much shorter and the meatballs were smaller as well. The patron asked the waiter, "These look a bit smaller than the dish I saw last week."

The waiter replied, "Senor, sometimes the bull wins."

The talk of bullfighters reminds me of the story of the tourist who ate at a restaurant next to a bullring in Mexico. As he sat down to his meal, a waiter brought another man a plate with a long object that looked like a huge sausage and two large lumps of meat that appeared to be meatballs.

When he had a chance, he asked the waiter what the man had ordered. The waited said, "We get those things from the bullring next door."

The diner said, "Could I order one now?"

The waiter sadly shook his head. "No, senor, we have a limited supply based on the number of bullfights. That was our last one of the day."

Each day for the next few days, that same man came back to the restaurant and tried to order the bullring special. Each time, he was told that none were available because others had beaten him to the order. They could not accept reservations, either.

Finally, one day he came in, placed his order, and was told "Ah, yes, we have one more bullfight special." A few minutes later, out it came. But when the cover came off, the sausage was much shorter and the meatballs were smaller as well. The patron asked the waiter, "These look a bit smaller than the dish I saw last week."

The waiter replied, "Senor, sometimes the bull wins."

Haha.. you should put this one in the jokes thread....


I agree about Tiger. Does he have personal problems? Sure, but he is simply amazing at golf. I didn't become a fan of him because I liked what he did when he wasn't golfing.

When Tiger Woods concentrates on his game and isn't fighting knee problems, and in particular when he is "in the zone" - there can be no doubt that he plays a different game than everyone else is playing. He makes spectacular shots more often than not. I feel sorry for him - not because he is losing money over this situation - but because he seems to have lost his way. I wonder what his dad would tell him?

For 'spectacular' shots, Seve Ballesteros for me is still the master - Woods obviously makes fewer mistakes, but to get out of trouble from a bad drive, give me Seve any day

A year from now Tiger Woods will be named "Americas most eligible bachelor".

The over-riding theme for this is 'Favourite', not who you think is the best - although they may well be the same

After Sunday night, I've got to say that Drew Brees, the Saints quarterback, elevated himself greatly in my eyes. Not from the great performance that led the Saints to a win. But afterwards, when he held his one-year-old son. The noise was deafening, so the lad had headphones. Drew couldn't be heard, but his lips formed the words, "I love you, son." Tears formed in his eyes at the intensity of the emotion. After the biggest game of his career, including both winning the Superbowl and winning MVP of the Superbowl, he went for his son. Not the cameras. Not the press corp. Not the fans. He held his son. He's #9 on the field and #1 in my book.

After Sunday night, I've got to say that Drew Brees, the Saints quarterback, elevated himself greatly in my eyes. Not from the great performance that led the Saints to a win. But afterwards, when he held his one-year-old son. The noise was deafening, so the lad had headphones. Drew couldn't be heard, but his lips formed the words, "I love you, son." Tears formed in his eyes at the intensity of the emotion. After the biggest game of his career, including both winning the Superbowl and winning MVP of the Superbowl, he went for his son. Not the cameras. Not the press corp. Not the fans. He held his son. He's #9 on the field and #1 in my book.

Dang Doc, you're a poet. Who woulda guessed?

Just as a follow-up: Drew Brees and his team came home to New Orleans to a hero's welcome. We had an estimated 85,000 fans lining the highway from the airport just to cheer as they passed. We had a special "Saints" Mardi Gras parade where the team and the trophies were displayed to the public. New York City has ticker-tape parades. We have Mardi Gras parades - except that this was the "Lombardi Gras" parade...

But the story isn't over. Many players had already been tapped to be "guests of honor" in several of the regular parades. There is a "real" King in most of the parades, but there is an honorary position for the guest. This year, Drew Brees was Lord Bacchus in the Bacchus parade. The video clips show him tossing off the trinkets and waving at folks, having entirely too much fun. There ought to be a law against a grown man having as much fun as he was having without getting drunk, getting high, or getting laid.

But then, Drew Brees does more than lead a championship team. He also runs a charitable foundation that so far has taken in donations in excess of $1.85 million (USA dollars) to help rebuild neighborhoods and schools. And he's only been in the city for 4 years. The guy's a class act in more ways than I can tell you. The more I read about him and his charitable works, the better he looks as a "sporting favorite" - which is of course the topic of the thread, so for once I'm spot-on theme.

After Sunday night, I've got to say that Drew Brees, the Saints quarterback, elevated himself greatly in my eyes. Not from the great performance that led the Saints to a win. But afterwards, when he held his one-year-old son. The noise was deafening, so the lad had headphones. Drew couldn't be heard, but his lips formed the words, "I love you, son." Tears formed in his eyes at the intensity of the emotion. After the biggest game of his career, including both winning the Superbowl and winning MVP of the Superbowl, he went for his son. Not the cameras. Not the press corp. Not the fans. He held his son. He's #9 on the field and #1 in my book.
...spoiled only by the later revelation that Drew had accepted a $5m sponsorship deal from YouTube and that many people's lipreading skills were subpar ;)

A number of pro golfers were asked about Tiger's infidelity and the fact that his wife attacked his SUV with a 3 iron.

They all agreed.

If she was that close to the SUV she should have been using a wedge. :D

Statsman, you have a valid point. (But then, as a dart player, you ALWAYS have a point...)

Do you think that should be a 60-degree sand wedge or maybe a lesser angle since it was an SUV and not a mini-van?

My favorite athlete of all time is Joe Montana. Great all-around quarterback, especially with 4th quarter come backs.