This is not a debate as to who is the greatest athlete of all time. Just who is your favorite and why?

Maybe you remember watching Ali with your dad when you were a kid...or you just like Beckham's style...

For sentimental or pure athletic ability...

Who's your personal favorite and why?

I love Dr. J.

I'm not a huge basketball fan, but my husband is. One day my husband ran into Dr. J and Dr. J was very nice to my husband. Talked to him for 10-15 min.. (They talked about the Lakers chances that season...2006 I think) and gave him an autograph. It absolutely made my husband's day, week...month

The joy in my husband's voice when he called to tell me...I love Dr. J he's my favorite

Mike Tyson.Boxing hasn't been the same since he got outta the game. He was SO xciting and I just loved watching him! Incredible athlete in his day.

Kirby Puckett was, is, and will forever be my personal favorite athlete. 5'9", 225 lbs. and ALL HEART. One of the greatest centerfielders ever in baseball and a Minnesota Twin for his entire career. I'll never forget the plays he made in both the 1987 and 1991 World Series...a true hero.

He passed away 6 days before my 26th birthday, and I like a baby.

I'm not sure if I have one

I have so many.

Lenny Dysktra was my favorite Phillie cuz he got all those homeruns now I hear accusations of steroids what a way to bunch a fan out, dude.

My favorite football players are usually quarterbacks.

I grew up with the likes of Dan Marino, Steve Young, Brett Favre and John Elway. And now Brett Favre is the only one left of the greats

I'd have to say.....












Eli Manning
but seriously, when he made that first down pass from 3rd and 23, escaping out of a near sack that looked completely hopeless. It was like divine intervention
A great moment in Giants history
[Edited 10/29/08 20:37pm]

David Robinson

I attended the Naval Academy during his senior season and had the opportunity to watch him dominate college basketball that year. Not bad for a guy who did not start playing organized ball orior to his senior year in high school...

He has given back, many times over, to both his country & his community.

Kevin Garnett. He plays hard everytime he is on the court. He is the greatest teammate that any team could want.

Carl Lewis: Could not be beat
Jordan: The best of all time
Ali: A man's man
Tyson: Pre Don King the best boxer of all time
Magic: The best businessman off the court
Bruce Lee.....just because
Dave Kingman: those 1 hand homeruns were off the chain.
Walter Payton: The best all around running back that ever played in the NFL and helped my team with thier ONLY Superbowl
Scottie Pippen: The best 2 fiddle there ever will be.

Mustafa Kemal Karaboğa!

Just cuz!

Tyson - He was my generation's Ali. I talk to TONS of people around my age about the night he first loss and EVERYONE said they were pissed off and dejected.

Bo Jackson - The greatest RB that NEVER really blossomed. Had he stuck to football, he would've owned EVERY SINGLE RB RECORD. 6'1, 230lbs, with 4.2 speed. RE-DAMN-DICULOUS!

Magic - 6'9 PG, best floor general of all time. I patterned my game after his...until I didn't grow past 6'1 and knew hoop was no longer in the cards.

Ali - For the socio-political stance he took in those days. That took SERIOUS gonads.

Arthur Ashe - To be a brotha and playing tennis in those days musta been hell but he took it with grace and class.

Bill Russell - Having to deal with racist-ass Bostonians and still brought them multiple titles.

Red Auerbach - For having the stones to name Russell the first Black head coach in the NBA.

Althea Gibson - She balled in BOTH tennis AND golf.

John Elway - Greatest QB ever. Took 3 no-name Broncos teams to the Super Bowl before he got any serious help at RB

Carl Lewis - The greatest athlete of all time. The bombest track and field athlete ever, and did it for 12 years. Ridiculous.
[Edited 10/30/08 13:08pm]

Flowers2 said:

he was made to play basketball like prince was made to play music!

A real man on the field and off.

John McEnroe

WOW...some great choices so far. I really don't have one....but here are some of my favorites:

Joe Montana
Jery Rice
Ronnie Lott
Steve Young
Michael Jordan
Walter Payton

Amazing player and amazingly hot!

CarrieLee said:

He's a good kisser as well.

does this include pro wrestlers?

Emmitt represented everything that I wanted in a Cowboy...class, heart and will.
This man played an important game with a bum shoulder...he's the one who bum-rushed Terrell Owens when he did his thang on the Cowboy Star...
He played to set the rushing record, then played long enough to put it out of reach.

Roger Federer

because he has a pure heart.

that is why he is the best tennis player ever.

MuthaFunka said:

I was upset.. I did like him in the beginning cause he didn't talk junk like the other opponents... all he said was 'let's take it to the ring'.. that's all he said to junk talking opponents and he backed it up.. .. Tyson was quiet.. and then the downspiral began

Bruce Lee-a phenom.I was so impressed with his skillz that I took martial artz lessonz.

Flowers2 said:

Yeah, I remember it like it was yesterday - My buddies and I used to DJ parties and we had to do one that night. We got to the party all pissed and shit . We cut the party short, and went home. Mad.

bluefish said:

I had the biggest crush on him. Before Ice Cube.
He almost made me watch baseball . . . ESPN gave me lots of highlights though.

I remember crying when I heard Payton died. It surprised me. Not his death but my reaction. I cried for the next two days or so. . . .

Too many sports hero's. Magic stands out. Always had a great attitude and would do and could do anything to win. I understand fully Jordan and all he's done but if I had first pick, I'd take Magic over even Jordan. Risky I know but I'd take that risk to have Magic.

I'm a RAIDER fan so I'll never believe Elway is the greatest ever . . . .Whatever.

I think Payton is the second greatest RB. Jim Brown is first for me. Marcus Allen, third; Barry Sanders (closest to JB's successor anyone has come). after that, . . . have to think about it.
[Edited 10/30/08 19:56pm]

MuthaFunka said:

I'm still trying to comprehend... $300 Million being gone .. lol

Flowers2 said:

Mike wasn't too bright.

Ali - simply put, The Greatest.

Mike Tyson's "Greatest Hits" marathon on ESPN Classics right now. Easily, the most vicious fighter and knockout artist the sweet science has ever seen. Damn, I miss that cat's fights.

Mars23 said:

Man, I loved watching "Sweetness" play on Sunday back in the day. Talk about a running back playing every play like it was is last, Walter Payton was all out...everytime.