doublesaint Posted 20 July, 2009 Share Posted 20 July, 2009 From the golf yesterday, there was several mentions of a win for Tom Watson being the greatest sporting achievement of all time. What are anyones opinions on this, for a single sporting achievement it would have to be right up there in the top, though personally I would go for Ali's win over Foreman in 1974, or perhaps Dennis Taylor winning the world snooker championship, though I agree that is not everyones idea of 'sport', though to be fair the same could be said about golf. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 20 July, 2009 Share Posted 20 July, 2009 Roger federer winning his 15th grand slam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saintjersey Posted 20 July, 2009 Share Posted 20 July, 2009 So many to choose from. I think Greece winning the Euros has to be up there, but I wouldn't put it as greatest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saintjersey Posted 20 July, 2009 Share Posted 20 July, 2009 Roger federer winning his 15th grand slam Woods has impressed me more with his achievements in golf in comparison to Federer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Webby Posted 20 July, 2009 Share Posted 20 July, 2009 (edited) Woods. Federer. No charisma or personality. Maybe that's what you need to be successful. Edit: Oh, and what bugs me about Woods is how tv sucks up to him and says how great he is and what an ambassador he is and what a great temperament he as, but I see him throw strops all the time. At the same time, John Daly takes it too far the other way. Him and his pyjamas can go do one. W@nker! Edited 20 July, 2009 by Webby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bungle Posted 20 July, 2009 Share Posted 20 July, 2009 In terms of a career, I think Eddy Merckx cycling record is probably the greatest sporting career of all time. In terms of a one-off achievement, that's a bit tougher to pin point. Will have to have a think. For a team achievement, I'd go for the 1972 Miami Dolphins, and their 'perfect season'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Will Posted 20 July, 2009 Share Posted 20 July, 2009 Woods. Federer. No charisma or personality. Maybe that's what you need to be successful. Edit: Oh, and what bugs me about Woods is how tv sucks up to him and says how great he is and what an ambassador he is and what a great temperament he as, but I see him throw strops all the time. At the same time, John Daly takes it too far the other way. Him and his pyjamas can go do one. W@nker! I agree about Woods throwing strops....it's a little know fact he's the most fined player on the tour, and they put him on a delay on tv coverage now so that if he swears they can cut the sound out. However he is quite simply the best sportsman who ever lived. Once he sorts his golf swing out he will surpass Nicklaus' record easily. The difference in golf is you have 150 odd players gunning against you every time you play. And he wins an extraordinary amount of times. Regarding Watson yesterday, it would have been special but not the greatest ever achievement. Golf can be played to a decent level to quite an old age if you stay fit. On a links course you can dink it down there with little power and the ball can run for miles...I can see how the old boy did it. Still remarkable though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpine_saint Posted 20 July, 2009 Share Posted 20 July, 2009 So many to choose from. I think Greece winning the Euros has to be up there, but I wouldn't put it as greatest. Or Denmark. Remember, they only got in last-minute because Yugoslavia were kicked out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatch Posted 20 July, 2009 Share Posted 20 July, 2009 Bradmans test career. Sir Steve redgrave winning 5 golds over a 16 yr period in a tough sport like rowing. Bob Champion beating cancer, winning the National Maybe, Armstrong winning the Tour again, if it happens Benalis goal against Leicester Maradona winning world cup all on his own in 1986. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bungle Posted 20 July, 2009 Share Posted 20 July, 2009 Sir Steve Redgrave winning 5 golds over a 16 yr period in a tough sport like rowing. I was thinking this as well. It's quite a difficult question to answer, really. Are we talking a "one-off achievement", or a career of greatness? Armstrong's 7 Tour wins is great, especially having beaten cancer, but he never attempted a serious challenge at the other grand tours, or the one day classics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisobee Posted 20 July, 2009 Share Posted 20 July, 2009 Kelly Holmes winning 2 golds at the 2004 Olympics. Usain Bolt doing the same in 2008 AND breaking 2 world records. Daley Thompson winning gold in 1980 and 1984 in the Decathlon. Ed Moses winning an incredible 122 consecutive races in the 400m hurdles plus 2 Olympic titles and would have been 3 in row apart for the US boycott in 1980. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doublesaint Posted 20 July, 2009 Author Share Posted 20 July, 2009 ok, clearly there are 2 categories now, individual achievement and career achievement, for career achievement I would nominate Vincent O'Brien. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintwarwick Posted 20 July, 2009 Share Posted 20 July, 2009 Some very good choices here and I would agree with all of them, I would also add a couple of boxers a lot would miss due to their nationality and 'unable' to go to the paid ranks and they are Cubans Tefilo Stevenson and Felix Savon both heavyweights. Whether they would of been any good as professionals nobody knows but they were very good amateurs and triple olympic gold medallists amongst other numerous titles. My personal choice is Sir Steven Redgrave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedAndWhite91 Posted 20 July, 2009 Share Posted 20 July, 2009 1966 World Cup Final. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smirking_Saint Posted 20 July, 2009 Share Posted 20 July, 2009 I agree with chrisobee, watching Usain Bolt annihilate the world records and the rest of the field was unbelievable. And the fact that he had a slow start AND slowed down at the end is unreal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 20 July, 2009 Share Posted 20 July, 2009 I agree with chrisobee, watching Usain Bolt annihilate the world records and the rest of the field was unbelievable. And the fact that he had a slow start AND slowed down at the end is unreal and his left shoe lace was undone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisobee Posted 20 July, 2009 Share Posted 20 July, 2009 I agree with chrisobee, watching Usain Bolt annihilate the world records and the rest of the field was unbelievable. And the fact that he had a slow start AND slowed down at the end is unreal Yes, I have been a great fan of athletics since the 60's. Not sure I have ever seen a performance to match that and then to break the brilliant Michael Johnson's 200 metres world record was quite extraordinary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
East Leake Saint Posted 20 July, 2009 Share Posted 20 July, 2009 So many great team and indivdual acheivements already listed. I would add Tony McCoy riding 3000 winners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisobee Posted 20 July, 2009 Share Posted 20 July, 2009 On the subject of horse racing Red Rum has to be mentioned, 3 Grand National wins is phenemonal and captured the imagination even of those with little or no interest in horse racing. Even my Mum has heard of Red Rum and that says it all though she does know of MLT as well !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted 20 July, 2009 Share Posted 20 July, 2009 Sir Roger Bannister breaking the 4 minute mile Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisobee Posted 20 July, 2009 Share Posted 20 July, 2009 Sir Roger Bannister breaking the 4 minute mile Was going to be my next one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted 20 July, 2009 Share Posted 20 July, 2009 On the subject of horse racing Red Rum has to be mentioned, 3 Grand National wins is phenemonal and captured the imagination even of those with little or no interest in horse racing. Even my Mum has heard of Red Rum and that says it all though she does know of MLT as well !! What about Arkle brilliant Horse So was Nijinsky and Lester In athletis Bob Beamon jumped a huge distane over 29 feet I think in 1968 Olympics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisobee Posted 20 July, 2009 Share Posted 20 July, 2009 What about Arkle brilliant Horse So was Nijinsky and Lester And Foinavon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted 20 July, 2009 Share Posted 20 July, 2009 And Foinavon Dont mention that Horse as I had backed Honey End and Josh Gifford that day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisobee Posted 20 July, 2009 Share Posted 20 July, 2009 Dont mention that Horse as I had backed Honey End and Josh Gifford that day What, you mean Foinavon Gosh you have a good memory ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted 20 July, 2009 Share Posted 20 July, 2009 What, you mean Foinavon Gosh you have a good memory ! I sell books these days and recently sold John Buckingham's Autobiography the jockey of Foinavon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisobee Posted 20 July, 2009 Share Posted 20 July, 2009 I sell books these days I know, I'm nosey and checked your profile Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ponty Posted 20 July, 2009 Share Posted 20 July, 2009 Schumacher's domination of F1, during the spend, spend, spend era has to rank up there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted 20 July, 2009 Share Posted 20 July, 2009 Schumacher's domination of F1, during the spend, spend, spend era has to rank up there. Formula one sport I thought the one with best car won Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisobee Posted 20 July, 2009 Share Posted 20 July, 2009 Carl Fogarty- 4 WSB championships 1994,95,98 and 99. And whilst on motor sport one has to mention Nigel Mansell who is the only person in history to hold both the F1 and US CART titles simultaneously, and was the first person to win the CART title in his debut season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swannymere Posted 20 July, 2009 Share Posted 20 July, 2009 Isn't Golf more of a hobby than a sport? I would nominate Lance Armstrong's 7 wins in the Tour de France. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted 20 July, 2009 Share Posted 20 July, 2009 Isn't Golf more of a hobby than a sport? I would nominate Lance Armstrong's 7 wins in the Tour de France. I think that golf has the most sportmanship of any sport the players never seem to cheat or try to gain advantage. They also take defeat with good grace Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintsdan Posted 20 July, 2009 Share Posted 20 July, 2009 Jesse Owens? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bungle Posted 21 July, 2009 Share Posted 21 July, 2009 Isn't Golf more of a hobby than a sport? I would nominate Lance Armstrong's 7 wins in the Tour de France. Not even the greatest cyclist ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisobee Posted 21 July, 2009 Share Posted 21 July, 2009 Not even the greatest cyclist ever. Eddie Merckx surely ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smirking_Saint Posted 21 July, 2009 Share Posted 21 July, 2009 and his left shoe lace was undone Thats true, jesus, he really is an unorganised bastard. I remember reading that he prepared by waking up and getting a mcdonalds breakfast. LOL Legend Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisobee Posted 21 July, 2009 Share Posted 21 July, 2009 Thats true, jesus, he really is an unorganised bastard. I remember reading that he prepared by waking up and getting a mcdonalds breakfast. LOL Legend Just wanted to give the others a glimmer of (false) hope I guess ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colinjb Posted 21 July, 2009 Share Posted 21 July, 2009 Steve Regrave's olympic haul for me, it will surely never be beaten. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Landrew Posted 21 July, 2009 Share Posted 21 July, 2009 We have a current sportsman considered by most as the Greatest Of All Time [GOAT] in Valentino Rossi. He now has 7 World Titles in MotoGP [2 of them in the 125 class] and 101 wins [the latest was last Sunday]. Yes, as in F1, it is about the machine, but in motorcycle racing the rider input makes more of a difference - a slower bike can win. Giacomo Agostini won 122 races in his career. Rossi is obviously looking to pass that target before he retires. Are they greatest ever sportsmen..? No, not even close. That title easily belongs to Muhammad Ali. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisobee Posted 21 July, 2009 Share Posted 21 July, 2009 We have a current sportsman considered by most as the Greatest Of All Time [GOAT] in Valentino Rossi. He now has 7 World Titles in MotoGP [2 of them in the 125 class] and 101 wins [the latest was last Sunday]. Yes, as in F1, it is about the machine, but in motorcycle racing the rider input makes more of a difference - a slower bike can win. Giacomo Agostini won 122 races in his career. Rossi is obviously looking to pass that target before he retires. Are they greatest ever sportsmen..? No, not even close. That title easily belongs to Muhammad Ali. Agreed closely followed by Pele IMO though this thread has become somewhat vague in terms of relating to the actual title. That said Ali of course won the Heavyweight title a record 3 times and despite his 5 losses in 61 fights was for me certainly "The Greatest" and I also love so many of his quotes "My toughest fight was with my first wife." "Frazier is so ugly that he should donate his face to the US Bureau of Wild Life. !" "I am the astronaut of boxing. Joe Louis and Dempsey were just jet pilots. I'm in a world of my own. " "I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was! " And my favourite: "I know where I'm going and I know the truth, and I don't have to be what you want me to be. I'm free to be what I want. " Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatch Posted 21 July, 2009 Share Posted 21 July, 2009 A shout for Jane Tomlinson as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisobee Posted 21 July, 2009 Share Posted 21 July, 2009 A shout for Jane Tomlinson as well. Yes, she raised an amazing £1.5m for Cancer research, a true inspiration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Will Posted 21 July, 2009 Share Posted 21 July, 2009 Isn't Golf more of a hobby than a sport? I would nominate Lance Armstrong's 7 wins in the Tour de France. LOL there thousands more professional golfers in the world than professional cyclists. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swannymere Posted 21 July, 2009 Share Posted 21 July, 2009 LOL there thousands more professional golfers in the world than professional cyclists. And your point is? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Will Posted 21 July, 2009 Share Posted 21 July, 2009 And your point is? well I would suggest that golf is MORE of a sport than cycling!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skintsaint Posted 21 July, 2009 Share Posted 21 July, 2009 Eric Bristow winning most things late 70s and 80s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatch Posted 21 July, 2009 Share Posted 21 July, 2009 Michael Phelps Liam Botham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deppo Posted 21 July, 2009 Share Posted 21 July, 2009 Agreed closely followed by Pele IMO though this thread has become somewhat vague in terms of relating to the actual title. That said Ali of course won the Heavyweight title a record 3 times and despite his 5 losses in 61 fights was for me certainly "The Greatest" and I also love so many of his quotes "My toughest fight was with my first wife." "Frazier is so ugly that he should donate his face to the US Bureau of Wild Life. !" "I am the astronaut of boxing. Joe Louis and Dempsey were just jet pilots. I'm in a world of my own. " "I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was! " And my favourite: "I know where I'm going and I know the truth, and I don't have to be what you want me to be. I'm free to be what I want. " He also compared Joe Frazier to a gorilla and accused him of being an 'Uncle Tom' in a cynical attempt to turn people against him. He was gifted a few close decisions (esp against Ken Norton) because referees concentrated more on his work than that of his opponent. He wasn't even the greatest boxer ever, let alone sportsman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swannymere Posted 21 July, 2009 Share Posted 21 July, 2009 well I would suggest that golf is MORE of a sport than cycling!! I would suggest that being popular doesn't make you a sport, the fact that their are more pro-golfers, just means it's easier surely? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisobee Posted 21 July, 2009 Share Posted 21 July, 2009 Eric Bristow winning most things late 70s and 80s Ok, if we are including darts then Phil Taylor is clearly the best of all time ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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