SillyEskimo
Member
Holy shit this is amazing. Truly one for the books.
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Harris Poll results: Greatest Sports Stars of All-Time 2015 edition - Jordan still #1
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Holy shit this is amazing. Truly one for the books.
I am subbing just to see the replies to this!
He is called ... The Great One for a reason.
I just don't think the numbers would support that. Duncan is the greatest power forward ever, but LeBron has done absolutely crazy stuff, like win league MVP and come second in voting for Defensive MVP. LeBron can play in the post, is one of the best passers ever, can shoot 3s at a good rate (better than Kobe, certainly), and is one of the only players ever who could defend all five positions if asked. He's mastered all aspects of the game in a way that Kobe and Duncan - while being excellent in their niche - haven't matched.
He hasn't returned for rebuttal. I wonder why?
EDIT- Well... Now it appears he never will.
Are you being sarcastic?
Chezzymann
Member
Nope. Never heard a single mention of him in my life, and I'm pretty sure no one I know who doesn't follow sports has heard of him either unlike people like Michael Jordan and Babe Ruth
(Maybe that's different up north, I live in Texas)
Agree with this. Lebron is good and deserves a high place in history but 3rd greatest ever? No, not yet.
revolverjgw
Member
Gretzky is an underrated all-around player. In his prime he was a takeaway king and he backchecked during the playoffs, unlike Lemieux.
But Bobby Orr was the best hockey player ever. Check out how insane his impact all over the ice was... he had just as much offensive impact for his team as Gretzky and way more defensive impact. His plus minus was off the charts. You couldn't stop him from scoring and you couldn't score on him.
It's a huge shame that he retired in 1979, the same year as Gretzky's rookie year. Orr had many years left of elite play if his knees hadn't been shot. Gretzky, Howe and Orr would have been playing at the same time, and later Gretzky, Lemieux and Orr.
But Bobby Orr was the best hockey player ever. Check out how insane his impact all over the ice was... he had just as much offensive impact for his team as Gretzky and way more defensive impact. His plus minus was off the charts. You couldn't stop him from scoring and you couldn't score on him.
It's a huge shame that he retired in 1979, the same year as Gretzky's rookie year. Orr had many years left of elite play if his knees hadn't been shot. Gretzky, Howe and Orr would have been playing at the same time, and later Gretzky, Lemieux and Orr.
theignoramus
Member
Ayrton Senna belongs on that list more than a guy like Babe Ruth. So does Juan Manuel Fangio.
Im happy to see black American athletes overrepresented on this list though, 4 out of the 10 spots when theyre less than 14% of the total US population
#blackexcellence
Im happy to see black American athletes overrepresented on this list though, 4 out of the 10 spots when theyre less than 14% of the total US population
#blackexcellence
BadAss2961
Member
Not true.
considering hockey is a major sport in the states I find this hard to believe
to not even know who Wayne mother fucking Gretzky is is just... wow
Jordan, Ruth and Ali are more recognizable I'm sure... but that's about it.
I think you are underrating LeBron's career accomplishments. For example, he's already played in more career games (reg + postseason) than Jordan and I'm sure Bird and Magic.
He's got more league MVPs than Duncan and Bryant combined and should have a couple more if voters didn't get so antsy for the next thing.
This is before he inevitably becomes the only player in NBA history to be top 20 in points and assists. Top 5 currently isn't a major stretch and will be a given by the end of his career.
What's not true? He's absolutely one on the greatest passers of all time. His size, vision and ball handling allows him to make passes that I've literally never seen other players pull off. And he absolutely can defend every position on the court.
Chezzymann
Member
Maybe he's more well known up north? I live in Texas
Actually I barely hear any hockey talk down here, while baseball basketball and football get a lot
SocksAndShoes
Banned
Maybe you just don't know any hockey players, can you name any other hockey players?
For most people when they think hockey, they think of Wayne Gretzky.
Chezzymann
Member
Nope, but I don't know much about baseball or boxing either but I still know who babe Ruth and Mohammed Ali is, I'm just saying that at least where I live he doesn't seem to be on their level like some people are saying here
affleck1981
Member
I've heard of him, live in the UK and have never watched a game of hockey in my life. Didn't realise quite how good his stats were though.
Although, Beckham as better than Maradona completely invalidates the soccer list. I can't think of even the most biased English/Man U fan that would claim this.
Goldenroad
Member
Americans under a certain age maybe. Kids who grew up in the '80's knew him for sure.
I get that but he's more a celebrity than a player everywhere.
Not to knock him, he was one of the greatest passers and dead ball specialists ever but beyond that he was average as fuck. Belongs nowhere in a top 25. Zico had everything he had and more.
Chezzymann
Member
That's probably where the disconnect here is coming from then. I'm 21, never watched any 80's cartoons or payed attention to the 80's really. Barely even remember the 90's.Americans under a certain age maybe. Kids who grew up in the '80's knew him for sure.
Maybe kids under 15 that grew up in the 2000's now don't really know who Michael jordan is? That would be interesting. Although maybe his shoe brand is keeping him relevant
revolverjgw
Member
Americans under a certain age maybe. Kids who grew up in the '80's knew him for sure.
It was so completely random how that show portrayed Gretzky as some airhead surfer dude pothead with the munchies.
I guess I can see that. I'm sure hockey gets barely any coverage on ESPN compared to football and lebron.
GeordieMark
Member
Yeah, I had to double check it wasn't a list of most famous players, rather than greatest. He seems like a decent fella, but I can't recall him ever being the best player on his team, apart from the Galaxy, let alone one of the best of all time.
Ninja Scooter
Member
I love Kobe Bean Bryant, but LeBron is a far better basketball player than he is. LeBron has 12 years in the league, 4 (or 5?) MVPs. 2 NBA titles. 5 straight NBA Finals appearances. He's carried teams of scrubs to 60 win seasons. His resume is pretty damn stacked. Granted sometimes he isn't the most likable guy in the world, but people's perceptions of his career are really fucking out of wack sometimes, like he still has shit to prove or something. I wonder how different his career would be perceived if he came up in the pre-"social media/24 hour sports news radio cycle" era like most athletes that are revered, and every single part of his personality and game weren't constantly picked apart. Some of the criticisms levied against him are the same stuff guys like Kareem, Magic and even Michael went through at certain points of their career, only much less magnified, and with the benefit of hindsight, people tend to forgive and forget those kinds of things and only focus on the greatness.
Gonna quote this again because of how stupid this is lol
BadAss2961
Member
He's got vision, but he's a ball dominant small forward that plays PG half the time. Sometimes it looks good, sometimes it doesn't. If he's such a great passer then he'd be a true PG like Magic was, instead of only when it suits him to coast during the regular season and in key moments of playoff games.
To say he can defend every position is an exaggeration. He might guard a big man for a few plays, but he couldn't do it for most of a game. Quality bigs he can't guard period. He also needs help with athletic PGs. The zone defenses of today allow it, otherwise they blow right by him. Most defenders of this era are overrated since now more than ever, it's more about team defense than one person shutting someone down.
Blue Geezer
Member
Anyone else get the feeling that on a worldwide list only Jordan, Ali and Woods would still be in the top 10? And probably not in that order. (Ali, Woods and Jordan for me)
Sho_Nuff82
Member
Let's not get crazy here. Duncan is a historically great defender, rebounder, and post scorer. LeBron is a great defender but I doubt very many would put him in the same league as a career big man in that regard. Duncan, at 39, is still a top 5 defender in the league today, which is pure insanity when you think about longevity.
Chezzymann
Member
I'd agree with that
Sir_Crocodile
Member
Ali would massively eclipse them I suspect. I'm not sure he's the greatest boxer ever (Greb, Robinson and Louis are in that conversation too), but I feel he's globally the most famous sports star of all time, which honestly is what these lists end up being.
DontBeThatGuy
Member
Lebron being in a weak as fuck Eastern Conference, and going 2-4 in the Finals hurts him to me. He's one of the greats, but where I'd place him at the moment I don't even know.
BadAss2961
Member
The NFL players and LeBron would be out. Serena would deserve to make the cut since her sport is worldwide competition, but she'd probably miss it for popularity reasons. Gretzky might move up without those athletes. He should be higher on the list anyway.
It's an interesting indication of how insular a lot of the polled peoples' worldview is; if you tried this with a more international crowd, for instance, I'm sure you wouldn't have Americans throughoutt the golf top spot, and I'd hope Steffi Graf would be in the Tennis list. That said, I should also mention that that's not really a criticism, because one thing you wouldn't get in broader list is an acknowledgement of any female soccer player, and Mia Hamm probably at least deserves some form of recognition in her field.
bonesmccoy
Banned
Beckham being on this list is proof of the efficacy of modern day advertising.
He's one of the best perimeter defenders ever, and an adequate enough big-man defender that his teams can switch more off big-man pick and rolls and not get screwed down low. Basically, his ability to competently defend any position is what contributes to him being one of the best defenders ever, not that he's one of the best defenders ever at every position, if that makes sense.
Duncan is the man. I am a huge Tim Duncan fan. But he's not the shooter LeBron is. There's a reason the 90/50/40 club is so scarce.
LyleLanley
Banned
I think the 2-4 in the Finals understates how good he is/was. Just look at what he did last year with barely any help. He pretty much single-handedly beat one of the greatest teams of all time twice in the Finals.
Raging Spaniard
If they are Dutch, upright and breathing they are more racist than your favorite player
Typical list featuring typical Americans who see their sports as the center of the universe. Predictable.
KuwabaraTheMan
Banned
Pete Rose being on the baseball list is a joke. Mantle also has no place being on when guys like Cobb, Bonds, Musial and Hornsby aren't there.
The golf list is even worse. Jack at 3? Player absent entirely? Phil on the list? Come on.
The golf list is even worse. Jack at 3? Player absent entirely? Phil on the list? Come on.
Violence Jack
Member
I'd put Elway before Manning, but maybe that's just me.
Gretzky being that far down the overall list is just wrong.
Gretzky being that far down the overall list is just wrong.
Isn't it time for your siesta?
Pete Rose is regularly in the press and has the most hits of all time. Yeah he's not even close to a top 10 baseball player but it's not really a surprise is it?
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