ESPN's Top 25 Athletes of the Past 25 Years

[Figment22]

Did anyone else see the ESPN special earlier this evening in celebration of their 25th anniversary? It highlighted the changes in sports and its presentation since 1979 when ESPN went on the air. I found it very informative and enjoyable.

They also counted down the top 25 athletes of the past 25 years as voted on at espn.com. I thought I'd share the list:

25. Alex Rodriguez
24. Jackie Joyner-Kersee
23. Patrick Roy
22. Martina Navratilova
21. Sugar Ray Leonard
20. Lawrence Taylor
19. Shaquille O'Neal
18. Roger Clemens
17. Mario Lemieux
16. Dan Marino
15. Emmitt Smith
14. John Elway
13. Pete Sampras
12. Cal Ripken, Jr.
11. Carl Lewis
10. Barry Sanders
09. Barry Bonds
08. Larry Bird
07. Magic Johnson
06. Joe Montana
05. Jerry Rice
04. Tiger Woods
03. Lance Armstrong
02. Wayne Gretzky
01. Michael Jordan

Jordan and Gretzky at 1 & 2 are no-brainers, but I figured Tiger was #3. Armstrong was a bit of a surprise at 3, but his athletic and personal accomplishments are amazing, so perhaps not. I think Sampras should have been a bit higher and Ripken a bit lower but overall I think it's a pretty good list. Amazing how Bird and Magic came out back to back. I guest they'll just always be linked in everyone's mind.

So, who's missing and who doesn't belong?

 

[two4ruff]

Well, my family agrees on #23

But where are all the women athletes??

 

[Jimbo]

Just at first glance, I'd say Barry Sanders at #10 is too high, and Shaq at #19 is too low. It's about championships, and Shaq has a bunch of them. I don't think the Lions won more than one or two playoff games with Sanders.

Bonds at #9 hasn't gotten a ring, either. But his teams were just a hair away a couple of times. The Lions were never even close.

 

[Mickey76]

Great list. There isn't anybody on there that doesn't deserve to be there, although I think Don Mattingly (my hero) would've made it if he didn't have the recurrent back problems he had in the latter part of his career. He's at least worth an honorable mention, though.


Mickey76

 

[Philharmagik]

I am surprised Walter Payton is mssing from the list.

 

[kathyk2]

Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon should be on that list. Dan Marino is on this list and Brett Favre isn't something is wrong here.

 

[KristaTX]

This must be a pretty good list. I'm not a sports enthusiast, but I do know what sport most of these people play. But I've never heard of Mario Lemieux, Lawrence Taylor, or Patrick Roy .

 

[dmadman43]

Originally posted by kathyk2
Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon should be on that list. Dan Marino is on this list and Brett Favre isn't something is wrong here.

I agree something is wrong, too. I'm NOT surprised NASCAR drivers aren't on the list, however.

The list is questionable at best. Farve should be there. Particularly over Alex Rodriguez. Griffey should be there over Rodgriquez. No Mark McGwierr? No John McEnroe?

 

[two4ruff]

Kristatx-
Mario Lemieux & Patrick Roy = Hockey greats!

 

[danacara]

Too bad about the lack of non-humans. I think Secretariat belongs on the list.

 

[bballmom56]

Originally posted by danacara
Too bad about the lack of non-humans. I think Secretariat belongs on the list.

I agree, but I think it 1973 that Secretariat won the Triple Crown. This top 25 list comes from 1979 to the present, so I guess that left him out . There was Seattle Slew in 1977 and Affirmed (the last to win the Triple Crown) in 1978. Both before this time frame started.

 

[ToyStory Fan]

I'm surprised that LT is on the list - just because of his history with substance abuse...I'd be able to crush people and not realize it too if I was jacked up on coke. (What type of message does that send???)

As far as others like Mark McGwire - I'd have to say similar, while he wasn't using a banned substance (at the time) his alleged use of steroids may have helped his cause.

No surprise about Jordan and Gretzky and no surprise about the NASCAR drivers either - if you want to get into the racing arena with this list you can't ignore F1 champ Michael Shumacher - like the new Nextel commercial this guy is a machine.

 

[cubsfan]

Barry Sanders and Emmit Smith are on the list.....but Walter Payton is not?

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

I personally would have put Brodeur or Hasek in over Roy, but I think Steve Yzerman deserves the honor more than either of them. How many players in today's NHL not only stay with, but lead their team for their entire career?

 

[missypie]

Where are the gymnasts???!!! After watching the US Championships over the weekend, I was once again blown away by how tough and courageous those young men and women are!

 

[BabyTigger99]

NO BRETT FAVRE???? Pardon me while I go sob in the corner...

 

[wvrevy]

Putting LT on that list is a joke...The MOST overrated athlete of my lifetime (his coach (Parcells) was responsible for creating the defense that made LT a star...Had anyone else with his speed (decent) been in that position, they'd have done roughly the same things.

Shaq isn't an athlete, he's a genetic freak. The man has -0- talent. ANYBODY his size could do what he does, and it's no great tribute to him that he's roughly the size of a barge

Women athletes ? Like who ? Aside from Jackie and Martina, who would you place on that list ? Mary Lou ? MAYBE I could see an argument for Michelle Kwan, since she's dominated her sport for so long.

 

[Figment22]

I was thinking of Michelle Kwan also.

After sleeping on this, I think an athlete who was completely forgotten, probably because it's not a major sport, would be Eric Heiden. His total domination over his sport (speed skating) at every distance has not been and most likely will never be seen again. Speed skaters specialize in either sprints, middle distances or endurance races. Heiden dominated at EVERY distance. Unheard of. And he definitely makes the time cutoff: His 5 gold medals came in 1980.

 

[ToyStory Fan]

I don't think any amatuers were considered for this "honor". I could be wrong, but I would think that they only looked at professional athletes for this - I'm not disputing the Olympic athletes accomplishments, but I just think that they weren't part of the criteria.

Edit - sorry went back and checked the list again and Carl Lewis and Jackie Joyner are on there - it would be interesteing to see where some of the "other rans" wound up in the list.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

Originally posted by danacara
Too bad about the lack of non-humans. I think Secretariat belongs on the list.

OMG, I was about to post the same thing.

ets: whoops, last 25 years. Ok, point taken.

Where is Michelle Kwan then? She is the greatest skater of all time.