ESPN's Top 25 Athletes of the Past 25 Years

[Bob Slydell]

Originally posted by 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?

Both Nolan and Mike had their best years in the 70's, not in the past 25 years.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Originally posted by wvrevy
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.

Venus and Serena Williams

 

[Bob Slydell]

Originally posted by disneyjunkie
Venus and Serena Williams

Do they count as one athlete?

 

[treesinger]

RE: NASCAR, CART, etc.

I think one of the important differences is that the athletes on the list are successful solely because of their own abilities. They are aided by technology that enables them to achieve what they are famous for.

Using NASCAR criteria, we could put some astronauts on the list who set records for longevity in space. That's infinitely harder than racing and is enabled by technology. They set records of some sort all of the time. Astronauts are CERTAINLY athletes to be able to do what they do. And the g-forces are significantly larger. So if we include racing, we need to include astronauts. If you think astronauts being on the list is ridiculous, then you have a good idea what most people think when drivers are equated as athletes.

 

[treesinger]

Originally posted by disneyjunkie
Venus and Serena Williams

It's a shame. They cancel each other out. If one is on the list, they'd BOTH be in the list. But that takes up too much space on such a wide spanning list.

 

[treesinger]

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.

Sorry, disagree. If we discount coaching, then maybe Joe Montana isn't as good as everyone says. He's a product of the West Coast offense. Michael Jordan may have simply been good, rather than great, if it weren't for Jackson't tutelage. Singletary, one of the most fearsome linebackers to ever pkay the game...was he that good or a product of Buddy Ryan's 46 defense? At what point do we give credit to the athletes that actually go out and do the job?

 

[treesinger]

Originally posted by dmadman43
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?

Tell you what, during the Philadelphia Eagles defensive glory days, I was just as excited to watch Andre Waters and Wes Hopkins (and today, Brian Dawkins) lay some wood on the opposing team as I am to watch McNabb or was to watch Cunningham. A good hit in football is like a car wreck at NASCAR. Despite the brutality and the danger, it is still a part of the game that adds entertainment. I can't MAKE you like defensive players, but I definitely enjoy them myself.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

Well I think Jackie and Martina could have been higher and wheres Babe Dedrickson ( i think i spelled her name wrong) she was an amazing athlete. Steffi Graf certainly could also be on this list a grand slam and more overall grand slam titles than any one man or woman. Just seems like to many men and some of them while they have amazing accomplishments and I dont know why some of them are there. I mean Alex R hasnt won anything is he an amazing athlete who will break records everywhere but he hasnt really won anything yet...

 

[treesinger]

25. Alex Rodriguez
One of the greatest shortstops ever, and he's not finished yet.
24. Jackie Joyner-Kersee
Can't argue with this one.
23. Patrick Roy
Made the butterfly style the de facto method of puck stopping. And he was the best at it for a long time.
22. Martina Navratilova
The pre-eminent player of her time.
21. Sugar Ray Leonard
...not a boxing fan
20. Lawrence Taylor
Brought the position of linebacker to a whole new level.
19. Shaquille O'Neal
The only person in the NBA capable of challenging Wilt Chamberlain as the most dominant player in the sport. (I think Wilt still wins though)
18. Roger Clemens
Who can argue this one?
17. Mario Lemieux
The dominant skill player of his time, behind Gretzky of course.
16. Dan Marino
The best pure quarterback of his time. Too bad he never had the complete team he needed to win it all, except for the rookie year.
15. Emmitt Smith
One of the best ever.
14. John Elway
ditto.
13. Pete Sampras
not a men's tennis fan
12. Cal Ripken, Jr.
Ironman. 'nuff said.
11. Carl Lewis
Greatest olympian of out time?
10. Barry Sanders
If Barry had played for the Cowboys, he would have broken all the records that Emmitt did. Alas, the Lions are not the Cowboys.
09. Barry Bonds
Let's be honest, he's one of the best ever. If his team is in town, get a ticket.
08. Larry Bird
One of the best hoopsters ever...and he's white!
07. Magic Johnson
One of the best hoopsters ever...a real magician on the court. (Hence the name)
06. Joe Montana
Leader of the 49er dynasty.
05. Jerry Rice
So good that he was able to make Montana look even better. Which is hard to do. Seriously, Rice is a horse. Even today, with his steps slower, he's better than half of the young studs in the league.
04. Tiger Woods
A legend in the making.
03. Lance Armstrong
His accomplishments, on the bike and off, are incredible and inspirational.
02. Wayne Gretzky
Not called the Great One for nothing. Put hockey on the map and, 20 years later, today's superstars really pale in comparison to his skills and accomplishments.
01. Michael Jordan
Hard to argue with this one.

 

[honeywolf7]

I know I'm biased and I'm not saying that John Elway should be #1 but I think that if we're talking overall athletic ability, he belongs over Joe Montana. Montana had a great arm and was an awesome leader, but Elway had the arm, the leadership, and the running ability that few quarterbacks of his time had.

 

[treesinger]

Originally posted by two4ruff
Well, my family agrees on #23

But where are all the women athletes??

Problem is, that in almost any sport, men are more physically dominant than women. That doesn't mean that women's accomplishments are somehow lesser. It just means that, with some exceptions, women don't have the physical ability that men have.

 

[treesinger]

Originally posted by honeywolf7
I know I'm biased and I'm not saying that John Elway should be #1 but I think that if we're talking overall athletic ability, he belongs over Joe Montana. Montana had a great arm and was an awesome leader, but Elway had the arm, the leadership, and the running ability that few quarterbacks of his time had.

Yeah, you're biased!

Really, Cunningham, McNabb, Vick...these are better ATHLETES IMO than Elway or Montana. But just being great doesn't cut it. You have to achieve greatness. Montana gets the edge.

As far as Marino vs. Favre? Favre achieved more success, but Marino achieved more stats and records. (I think) It's a toss up when you look at them from their own unique accomplishments.

 

[honeywolf7]

I would actually agree that from what I've seen of Vick, he's a better athlete than either Montana or Elway.

 

[Figment22]

Originally posted by Alicnwondrln
I mean Alex R hasnt won anything is he an amazing athlete who will break records everywhere but he hasnt really won anything yet...

OK, we can talk in October

 

[Figment22]

Just as honeywolf was biased toward John Elway and there's nothing wrong with that; as a NY Yankees fan I think an argument could be made for having Mariano Rivera on the list of the top 25. He has defined the position of closer for almost the past decade. Without Mo, the Yankees do not have 4 Championships and 6 AL pennants. He has been the difference between the Yanks and every other winning team in baseball. For example, put Mo on the Braves' squads of the 90's--do you really think they have only one WS championship? Four championships definitely counts for something.

As much as I'm happy to have A-Rod on the current Yankees' team and pleased to see his name at #25, I think Mariano Rivera belongs on this list more than he does, as great as A-Rod is and even greater though he may become.

Mo is one of the true greats, a future Hall of Famer and worthy of a Top 25 ranking in my book.

 

[Jimbo]

I've taken another look at the list, and there's one name missing that absolutely should be there. MIKE TYSON! He's a pathetic spectacle now, but he was the baddest man on the planet for several years. And if LT's problems didn't keep him off the list, Tyson's shouldn't, either.

There was a time when a Tyson fight against anybody was the biggest sporting event of the month. Even now a Tyson fight is an event (of a different sort). There were fairly competent heavyweight fighters that were absolutely terrified to step in the ring with the guy. He destroyed people!

Sugar Ray was great, too, but if you're only putting one fighter on the list it has to be Mike Tyson.