Gini must be close, no?
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I didn’t say that you have to have heard of them, or they have to be famous or popular, only that the sport has to be widespread and competitive which Crossfit is.
It would seem a little underwhelming to say a crossfitter as the greatest athlete but there is little doubt that if you chose say 10 random events and put all the greatest athletes in every sport in them then Mat Fraser is one of the favourites to win the competition.
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Even Darts and Snooker? 
He’d probably make up the ground on the other 8 events 
You completely ignored the point I was making and which I have covered in other posts.
Now let’s get really cross with each other.
In any case i have heard of crossfit now though I don’t think it’s widespread as you claim.
It seems he is not the GOAT when it comes to tequila shots…
Mike Tyson being anywhere near the conversation is a bit of a joke to be honest. He’s maybe the greatest at beating up people he’s better than and maybe a contender for best 20 year old boxer of all time but the absolute best? Not even close. There’s a good argument that says he’s not even in the top 10 heavyweights.
Look at the Ali era - Foreman, Frazier, Norton, Liston, Patterson. Where does Tyson have wins against this level of opposition? Michael Spinks and and old Larry Holmes are about as good as it got. If he’d beaten Holyfield or Bowe he’d absolutely be in the conversation but without that level of win on his resume he can’t be spoken about seriously.
Tyson’s got a great highlight reel and he was feared as much as anyone but he also gave up when the going got tough. Great fighters can come through adversity to win, Tyson never did.
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Yep, hard to disagree with the rankings in this list. Bill Caplan puts Tyson 17th in the list of all-time heavyweights.
- Mike Tyson . Why is he so low on the list? He had fast combinations, pulverizing power and was the great intimidator. He netted over 300 million dollars in purses (that he spent) because this anti-hero had record-breaking drawing power. So why isn’t he in the top 15? Iron Mike, another D’Amato creation, was the world’s greatest front runner. Never once did he walk through fire and win. He never came from behind to win. He never rose from the deck to win. Lack of heart? Lack of character? I don’t know. You tell me.
He ranks Joe Louis as the best, narrowly edging out Ali. That’s arguable but I would agree that Joe Louis is probably Ali’s only serious rival for that top spot.
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Yeah if we’re talking pure heavyweights, then it’s between Louis and Ali and there’s probably a fair argument to be made for either.
Again - I don’t think anyone’s been touting Tyson as the GOAT, but in terms of raw power and ability, he was something else. Mentally I agree, he wasn’t up there, and that’s what did him in.
For that list you linked, I don’t agree with putting Lennox, Bowe, or Vitali Klitschko above him. Everything else looks about right.
Anyway, you’re all wrong.
Amirite, @The_Phenom ?
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The dead man!!!
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How can Tom Brady be the greatest sportsperson in the world…when only Americans watch his sport? Its like Miss Universe contest when only Earth sends contestants
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Would Chess be considered a sports? Serious question.
I nominate Jesse Owens for what he has to overcome, even outside of the sports realm, in his generation to achieve what he had.
But then, there are a number of such sportsmen too throughout time.
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You can do what ifs with loads of fighters though. What if Ali wasn’t banned for 3 years in his prime? What if Foreman didn’t retire in his prime? What if Lewis and Bowe worked harder? Everyone likes to shit on Joshua’s and Wilder’s skills but they only started boxing when they were adults, what if they’d started 10 years earlier?
Tyson isn’t the only fighter who didn’t have perfect conditions to thrive, but the one that gets the most excuses for why he didn’t succeed at the top level for as long as others.
In general I think we make too much of ‘wasted potential’ and buy into the myths and legends of certain people.
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Yes, because true greats don’t waste their potential. You can only use that if injury or events outside your control compromise your ability.
I royally fucked up in school, really could have done better…but there are no “could have beens” thats life…the really great people maximised their talents…
Two Liverpool players from the past as comparisons
Jason McAteer, limited but worked so hard to play for the club. Passion and graft overcoming everything.
Neil Ruddock, really excellent pass, great in the air, when fit and wanting it was tremendous. But a complete waster who got 50% at best of his potential.
I don’t think you can cross sports when talking about GOAT.
Era’s also play a part, I would assume even in some thing like Snooker, a Selby would tear Higgins a new one. As for football a Chapman set up wouldn’t be able to cope with a Shankly set up and a Shankly set up would struggle against a Klopp set up.
That’s not to dismiss the greats, they achieved infamy in their prime and they were the greatest of their era. Some players could probably have crossed eras no doubt.
But yeah I’m not a fan of Boxing at all, I wouldn’t even consider it in this debate, hence why as I said GOAT probably can’t cross sports.
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I presume you mean Alex here, rather than John? Alex Higgins would come under the category of those many flawed geniuses who never came close to truly fulfilling their potential.
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Yes. Who is the chess GOAT though? Era and context come into play here, can’t just go by elo rating.
For me it’s Bobby Fischer, but shouts can be made for others.
Woooo triggered
And anyway I don’t watch sprinting or running for the exact description you made, running in straight line…pretty boring…but that is why I think Jesse Owens is one of the greatest, someone like me who don’t even watch the sports heard and know and admired what he achieved in and out of the sport he represents especially during the era he lived in.
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