Current sports people considered "best ever"?

[Red Faction]

Richard Hill for England Rugby Union would be a plausible shout for a shortlist, an incredibly underrated player when it comes to looking at the 'greats' of the game. Often more influential than Johnson, Dallaghio, Dawson and Robinson on key England games. Unbelievably talented rugby player

shit cant believe i forgot richard hill
fuck dallagli-cunt-o
and that dickface dawson
robinson ill allow

im also thinking of gavin hastings and fabien galthie

its difficult to compare players across different generations
especially from the pre- and post- proffessional eras

 

[Macaroni Pony]

Another player I've never 'understood,' never fulfilled his initial promise in my correct opinion.

Yeah, i can see where you're coming from - he never really stood out at international level.

I fear Totti is going the same way. I think he is an amazing player, but Roma have never done much in Europe and he's always gone into international tournaments with a big reputation and screwed it up. Some of his goals and creative play are sublime...

Ronnie O'Sullivan.. a five-minute 147 is surely the stuff of legend

Certainly one of the most talented snooker players there's been......i guess time will tell if he can match Hendry's consistancy. He's just a total natural talent - a genius.

 

[Juice Terry]

shit cant believe i forgot richard hill
fuck dallagli-cunt-o
and that dickface dawson
robinson ill allow

im also thinking of gavin hastings and fabien galthie

its difficult to compare players across different generations
especially from the pre- and post- proffessional eras

This is supposed to be about current players.

 

[Streathamite]

and why no frankie dettori or AP McCoy on tis list - EH? supremely talented horsemen both

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

I know he's now stopped boxing, but IMO Lennox Lewis will be remembered as one of the all time great heavyweights, only just behind the peak Tyson and peak Ali IMO.

 

[stavros]

Erik Zabel is still racing and if not the fastest he could certainly be thought of as the most consistent road bike sprinter ever. Richard Virenque is the same with climbing, although he is now retired I think.

 

[The Boy]

Erik Zabel is still racing and if not the fastest he could certainly be thought of as the most consistent road bike sprinter ever. Richard Virenque is the same with climbing, although he is now retired I think.

Virenque was also tainted by doping scandals*. Shame as he was a great climber.

*Not all that unusual, I know. But...

 

[Red Faction]

This is supposed to be about current players.

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

Brian Lara
Ricky Ponting (god it hurts me to say that.. )

They can't both be the best ever surely? And I think Ponting in particular would laugh if you suggested he was as good as Bradman.

 

[potential]

alex ferguson.....?

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

alex ferguson.....?

HAhahahahahah. Yeah good one.

 

[stavros]

alex ferguson.....?

Herbert Chapman, Bill Nicholson, Matt Busby, Don Revie, Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Don Revie, Brian Clough (my personal favourite).

 

[Iam]

I've thought of a possible baseball one, though I suspect I may be talking to myself, here...

Trevor Hoffman, the San Diego Padres closer, for two reasons.

Firstly, the specific job of a closer in baseball is a relatively recent phenomena, so there aren't people who played until they were 70 in the 1890s with 19 billion saves.

Secondly, whilst Hoffman is (currently) only ranked 2nd all time in actual saves - to Lee Smith, now retired - he is still playing and will almost certainly pass Smith either this season or next, but has also played in some 250 less games and allowed far less hits, walks and runs (a staggering career 1.05 WH/IP in well over 800 innings pitched, for those who aren't comatose by now).

 

[Harold Hill]

and why no frankie dettori or AP McCoy on tis list - EH? supremely talented horsemen both

McCoy definitely - best NH jock ever I reckon. But Fallon is a better jock than Frankie.

 

[mr pat]

Trevor Hoffman, the San Diego Padres closer, for two reasons.
.

I agree that he is the best closer ever but surely not the best baseball man... I seen him playin a few years back when i was in San Diego visitin my aunt & he shut out Sammy Sosa that day when Sosa was at his peak.

I think Lebron James could very well become the greatest basketball player ever, what he did this year in nearly draggin the Cavaliers by the neck to the Eastern Conference Finals in what is his what 2nd or 3rd season out of high school is quite amazing, even Jordan took longer than that to win even a playoff series.....If the Cavs can make some nice trades to support Lebron then this kid will definitely be as good if not better than Jordan, Chamberlain etc etc

 

[Bigdavalad]

I can't think of any of this generation anywhere near that length of time.

Jamie Carragher signed as a professional at Liverpool in 1996, and was a trainee before that, so he's been at Liverpool for at least 13 years. Don't think he'll ever be seen as a true great of the game outside Anfield though, although he is an absolute top class player.

Another not mentioned is Gerrard - already one of the very top class of players in the world, if he carries on the way he is going, why shouldn't he be remembered as one of the best of all time?

 

[Billy Hunt]

In terms of successfull world cups Cafu already has 2 winners medals and a runners up medal.

If Brazil win this year and if Cafu plays that will be 3 world cup winners medals.

Has this ever been achieved before? Did Pele win 2 or 3, I'm far too young to remember.

 

[Macaroni Pony]

Good point, yeah.

From Wikipedia;

He is the all-time leader in appearances for the Brazilian national team, with 141 as of September 4, 2005. He has played for two World Cup-winning Brazil sides and in 2002, became the first person to play in the World Cup final three times.

What was it Fergie said about him? "The man must have two hearts the amount of running he does in a game" or something.

36 years old and he's constantly pegging it up and down Meelans left side....

 

[Billy Hunt]

Just checked.

Pele is widely regarded as having won 3 world cups, in 58, 62 and 70.

However, he only played in the first game in 62 and was injured for the remainder of the tournament.

In modern terms (ie being part of the squad) he has won 3 times.

Edit: Wikipedia is correct, Cafu is the only player to play in 3 world cup finals.

 

[stavros]

Of the current Brazil set up, Cafu is the only one to have played in the finals of '94 and '02, although Ronaldo and maybe Roberto Carlos were in the squad in '94 too. I seem to remember that if Brazil win this trophy for the third time they won't get to keep it though despite getting the Jules Rimet for keeps in 1970. The same applies to Argentina and (West) Germany too who've also won it twice since then.

 

[Iam]

I agree that he is the best closer ever but surely not the best baseball man...

Well, no, obviously. I certainly only meant as the best closer.

 

[Echo Base]

Tony McCoy