The Greatest Athlete of All Time............

[KodeBlue]

Originally Posted by mco65

Jordan deserves some consideration being the GOAT of basketball. Added to that Basketball is one of the most athletically challenging sports today IMO.. I think if he had never attempted to play baseball you could put him higher on the list but the mere fact that he tried, and failed for the most part hurts his credentials...

How about Deion Sanders?

[LeftyTrav]

Originally Posted by jodipper

Thorpe was the greatest. The greatest athlete has to be good in everything they did. Dominating one sport doesn't cut it.

Babe was the best female athlete.

I respect what Jim Thorpe accomplished, but he was just an average baseball player at best.

Bo Jackson played two completely different skill-set team sports at the very highest level. All-Star/All-Pro at both. Won the Heisman Trophy as the best college football player in the land. Ran at verified time of 4.12 seconds in the 40yd dash....still to this day the fastest ever ran at the NFL combines. Made the 1989 MLB All-Star team, hit a 440ft home run in the 1st inning of that game. After hip replacement surgery, won MLB Comeback player of the year award in '93.

With all deference to Mr. Thorpe, my pick goes to Bo.

Also, a shout out to Babe Ruth, who was well on his way to a Hall of Fame career as a pitcher, until his bat couldn't be denied, and went on to change how the game of baseball was played. He dominated the sport in which he played like none other since...

[Ghengis]

I'd say Jesse Owens, his impact transcended the arena he competed in like nobody before or since.

[buffalobrandon]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Jerry Rice yet. Certainly worth consideration.