ESPN's Top 25 Athletes of the Past 25 Years

[dmadman43]

Originally posted by 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.

I would agree with most of this. Particulary about LT. In fact NO LINEBACKER would make this list given the "competetition". Who pays or sits down to watch a linebacker play?

As for the women, I was looking over the possible women candidates over the last 25 years, and I couldn't come up with one. again, given the competition. Nobody in the ESPN audience really cares about gymnasitics or figure skating, so that would be a tough list to crack for them. So, who on that list to I throw off to make room for a Kwan, for example?

 

[piglet too]

I must chime in on the "Where's Walter" thing! Sorry but he should be there before some of these other guys. Also, totally agree on Dale Earnhardt and the lack of woman like Kwan.

 

[KristaTX]

Originally posted by two4ruff
Kristatx-
Mario Lemieux & Patrick Roy = Hockey greats!

Thanks! Who is Lawrence Taylor??

 

[two4ruff]

OK, see your point, I've been trying to think of some female athletes - came up with a few figure skaters and gymnasts and Mia Hamm, Cammi Granato, Bonnie Blair - guess their sports aren't as popular so their are not as recognized.

Still, great athletes though and just as dedicated.

 

[tar heel]

I agree about Michelle Kwan. How about Mia Hamm?

Although LT's certainly not the athlete alum of my university I'm most proud of (Michael and Mia are better reps, don' t you think?), I watched him on a few Saturday afternoons in Chapel Hill and he didn't need Parcells' system to make him a star.

 

[Bob Slydell]

I'd have to disagree with those saying LT shouldn't be on the list. Off the field and personal issues aside, he truly did reinvent the linebacker position into what it is today, a position for a true all-around athlete, speed, quickness, etc.

I don't have an issue with most of this list.

 

[minniepumpernickel]

Phew! They've got some of my faves on there!

Lance Armstrong
Cal Ripken
Jackie Joyner Kersey

 

[PrincessCandaceMarie]

I think Walter Payton should have been on there, along with Dale Earnhardt...and Jeff Gordon too.......as for Dan Marino, he should have been higher on the list..,just had to say that...

~PrincessCandaceMarie

 

[dmadman43]

Originally posted by Bob Slydell
I'd have to disagree with those saying LT shouldn't be on the list. Off the field and personal issues aside, he truly did reinvent the linebacker position into what it is today, a position for a true all-around athlete, speed, quickness, etc.

I don't have an issue with most of this list.

So, who would you remove from the list to make room for him?

 

[Jimbo]

Originally posted by wvrevy
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

Really, all of the athletes on the list are genetic freaks. It's how the truly exceptional performers separate themselves from the really good ones.

And I hold Packer tickets, and forgot to complain about Favre not making the list!

 

[Jimbo]

Originally posted by dmadman43
So, who would you remove from the list to make room for him?

He's already on the list.

 

[Magix]

How on Earth could Mario Andretti not be on that list?!!? He is easily one of the greatest athletes who has ever lived.

And Michael Schumacher! Gosh, he's only managed to win 5 Formula One world championships in a row.

So many people, including sports writers, do not realize the intense athletic abilities of auto racers, particularly open-wheel racers. The g-forces these guys have to deal with throughout a race are incredible, the number of things they have to be able to do all at one time is incredible, the physical endurance they have to be able to exhibit to complete a lengthy event (sometimes as much as 500 miles) is incredible, the amount of concentration they have to give what they do is incredible (if you lose your concentration for one moment in a 2-3 hour race, you'll crash!).

These guys are in better shape than many other athletes and put themselves through as much, if not a good bit more, physical wear during an event. But so many people just think, "oh, they drive around in cars. How difficult could that be?"

 

[Raysplus1]

I would have to say for each sport that could have been on the list would be

baseball - Sammy Sosa or MarkMcGwire
football - Walter Payton or Emmitt Smith
basketball - Karreem Abdul Jabbar or Tim Duncan
boxing - Roy Jones Jr.


I don't know who I would take off the list but these are some of the top athletes in the last 25 yrs. that could make the list.

 

[ChefBilly]

Jay Miller, Terry O'Reilly, P.J. Stock.
But I'm admittedly biased.

Oh, and St. Adam Vinatieri. He personally put the finishing touches on two Super Bowls. Amazing.

 

[Planogirl]

Walter Payton definitely belongs on that list! And I am also biased but I would have put Nolan Ryan and Mike Schmidt on there too.

I'm not surprised to see race car drivers omitted though. So what else is new?

 

[mudhen]

Payton is not on the list because the group or panel from
Espn thought he had his best years in the 70's.....and the list
is supposedly from 79- present.

I think the list is solid, there are a few I might change like
everyone else, but overall it's good.

 

[Pyg Me]

Originally posted by wvrevy
.

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

.

. I agree with you. He is the first one that jumped out at me as not belonging on the list.

Now, I will not agree with you again for at least 1,000,000 more posts.

 

[Patch'sD]

Both Lawrence Taylor and Shaq belong on that list, Why not ask Joe Theisman. Taylors quickness and prowness in the backfield disturbed many an offense. Named to the NFL's 75th Aniversary all time team. First Defensive MVP in 15 years and two Super Bowl Rings. All-NFC ten times. 10 Pro Bowls. NFL Defensive Player of the Year, 1981, 1982, 1986. I don't agree with his off field antics either but I don't think he is the only bad boy on that list. Shaq has been a dominant force in the NBA since his rookie year. Named one of the NBA's best 50 players in 1996 only four years after his rookie season. To describe him as a gentic freak is one of the stupidest comments I have read on this board.

 

[Figment22]

Originally posted by Raysplus1
I would have to say for each sport that could have been on the list would be

baseball - Sammy Sosa or MarkMcGwire
football - Walter Payton or Emmitt Smith
basketball - Karreem Abdul Jabbar or Tim Duncan
boxing - Roy Jones Jr.


I don't know who I would take off the list but these are some of the top athletes in the last 25 yrs. that could make the list.

Emmitt Smith is on the list at #15.

 

[dmadman43]

Originally posted by Magix
How on Earth could Mario Andretti not be on that list?!!? He is easily one of the greatest athletes who has ever lived.

And Michael Schumacher! Gosh, he's only managed to win 5 Formula One world championships in a row.

So many people, including sports writers, do not realize the intense athletic abilities of auto racers, particularly open-wheel racers. The g-forces these guys have to deal with throughout a race are incredible, the number of things they have to be able to do all at one time is incredible, the physical endurance they have to be able to exhibit to complete a lengthy event (sometimes as much as 500 miles) is incredible, the amount of concentration they have to give what they do is incredible (if you lose your concentration for one moment in a 2-3 hour race, you'll crash!).

These guys are in better shape than many other athletes and put themselves through as much, if not a good bit more, physical wear during an event. But so many people just think, "oh, they drive around in cars. How difficult could that be?"

er..um...cuz Andretti really didn't do much in the last 25 years