Greatest Sportsman ? (1 Viewer)

bringbackrattles

Well-Known Member
Since Andy Murray won Wimbledon he's now being touted as Britain's greatest ever sportsman. Can't see it myself he's not been going long enough for a start. Its not easy to pick the greatest anyway,how do you define it ? Ian Botham,Bobby Charlton,Steve Redgrave, or how about Phil the power Taylor, Ronnie O'Sullivan, Eddie Hall the powerlifter who's just broke a world record. Impossible isn't it as all sport has its greats ?
 

I_Saw_Shaw_Score

Well-Known Member
Always hard topic due to eras and people favouriting sports etc

But mine off the top of my head would be Sir Steve Redgrave

Notable mention for Chris Hoy.

Would be better for people to go sport by sport and draw up a list.
 

I_Saw_Shaw_Score

Well-Known Member
Just another thing for me Phil Taylor or Ronnie O Sullivan wouldn't be in my considerations one bit as I don't follow their sports I know of their achievements but it doesn't have that 'personal connection' to .

But then in my top 10 maybe a Cricketer or Rugby player as I follow those sports.

Good debate topic though.
 

bringbackrattles

Well-Known Member
Just another thing for me Phil Taylor or Ronnie O Sullivan wouldn't be in my considerations one bit as I don't follow their sports I know of their achievements but it doesn't have that 'personal connection' to .

But then in my top 10 maybe a Cricketer or Rugby player as I follow those sports.

Good debate topic though.
Its the old argument isn't it about snooker,darts,bowls etc,are they real sports ? They're classed as sport so you can also include powerlifting/strength,so in the list goes Geoff Capes ex worlds strongest man.
 

CCFC88

Well-Known Member
Fill in the blanks, one word answers

Popularity of sport by TV Viewing (wiki)
Football - Bobby Moore
Rugby Union - Martin Johnson
Tennis - Andy Murray
Cricket - Cook
Athletics - Farah
Snooker - O'Sullivan
Motor Racing - Jackie Stewart
Rugby League - Sinfield
Boxing - Prince Nas
Golf - Faldo
Darts - Taylor

Others - Ben Ainslie, Redgrave, Froome, Hoy, AP McCoy

If I had to pick a top 3 from that list

Murray
Faldo
Taylor
 

bringbackrattles

Well-Known Member
Fill in the blanks, one word answers

Popularity of sport by TV Viewing (wiki)
Football - Bobby Moore
Rugby Union - Martin Johnson
Tennis - Andy Murray
Cricket - Cook
Athletics - Farah
Snooker - O'Sullivan
Motor Racing - Jackie Stewart
Rugby League - Sinfield
Boxing - Prince Nas
Golf - Faldo
Darts - Taylor

Others - Ben Ainslie, Redgrave, Froome, Hoy, AP McCoy

If I had to pick a top 3 from that list

Murray
Faldo
Taylor
Read somewhere that Chess,and even Bridge were now considered sports. What next quizzes and scrabble champions !
 

Covstu

Well-Known Member
Good thread BTW....

I assume this is British sportspeople? I think its difficult for team sports to pick out individuals on this type of thing. Ryan Giggs has won everything in the domestic game but equally that was part of a quality team.
I think Andy Murray is fantastic and has the potential to be a 'great' but has more to prove but again in the era of three arguably better players which is basically unheard of.

Cycling - Both Froome and Wiggins were (and are) great cyclists but are in a team in endless funds that have a substantial advantage over the rest of the peloton. Louis Hamilton is in a car that is head and shoulders over the rest of the grid.

If I had to pick two it would be Hoy and Redgrave but I have no basis on why I have picked those two only that they have pulled it out of the bag consistently for years and years.
 

Otis

Well-Known Member
Since Andy Murray won Wimbledon he's now being touted as Britain's greatest ever sportsman. Can't see it myself he's not been going long enough for a start. Its not easy to pick the greatest anyway,how do you define it ? Ian Botham,Bobby Charlton,Steve Redgrave, or how about Phil the power Taylor, Ronnie O'Sullivan, Eddie Hall the powerlifter who's just broke a world record. Impossible isn't it as all sport has its greats ?
Andy Murray? No, not having that.

Think he only won Wimbledon this year because Djockevic was knocked out.

He's still done brilliantly well of course, but there has to be a number of people above him.
 

jimmyhillsfanclub

Well-Known Member
Good thread BTW....

I assume this is British sportspeople? I think its difficult for team sports to pick out individuals on this type of thing. Ryan Giggs has won everything in the domestic game but equally that was part of a quality team.
I think Andy Murray is fantastic and has the potential to be a 'great' but has more to prove but again in the era of three arguably better players which is basically unheard of.

Cycling - Both Froome and Wiggins were (and are) great cyclists but are in a team in endless funds that have a substantial advantage over the rest of the peloton. Louis Hamilton is in a car that is head and shoulders over the rest of the grid.

If I had to pick two it would be Hoy and Redgrave but I have no basis on why I have picked those two only that they have pulled it out of the bag consistently for years and years.

Good thread b b r.

Wiggins trumps both hoy and frome in my book....he's won across the board at cycling....sprints, time trials, pursuit and the tour win....

It's the cycling equivalent of winning the 100m, 5000m and marathon.

Daley Thompson gets my vote. Pure class
 

bringbackrattles

Well-Known Member
Good thread BTW....

I assume this is British sportspeople? I think its difficult for team sports to pick out individuals on this type of thing. Ryan Giggs has won everything in the domestic game but equally that was part of a quality team.
I think Andy Murray is fantastic and has the potential to be a 'great' but has more to prove but again in the era of three arguably better players which is basically unheard of.

Cycling - Both Froome and Wiggins were (and are) great cyclists but are in a team in endless funds that have a substantial advantage over the rest of the peloton. Louis Hamilton is in a car that is head and shoulders over the rest of the grid.

If I had to pick two it would be Hoy and Redgrave but I have no basis on why I have picked those two only that they have pulled it out of the bag consistently for years and years.
Good thread b b r.

Wiggins trumps both hoy and frome in my book....he's won across the board at cycling....sprints, time trials, pursuit and the tour win....

It's the cycling equivalent of winning the 100m, 5000m and marathon.

Daley Thompson gets my vote. Pure class
Daley Thompson was mentioned earlier and he has to be up there,as he won the decathlon gold that's ten events in the biggest sporting event on the planet.
But for longevity in a sport you have to say Redgrave must be a massive contender for top sportsman ?
 

CCFC88

Well-Known Member
The longevity point is interresting, and varies with sport, which I think means you probably cant really call on it in the discussion.

For instance a tennis player wont usually break through till 21/22 and is done by probably 32 in terms of competing in singles grand slams, they are on the road almost every week in competition. In sports such as athletics and boxing you are training for weeks/months to build up to one event and you have to turn it on at crunch time, these tend to have longer lasting careers, probably down to the amount of rest periods their body is given.

I think Murrays consistency along with the generation he is competing in puts him firmly in the conversation. Since the open era (1968) Britain had had 2 finalists in Grand slams over 40 years, Murray has been in 11 now in 8 years with surely more to come, winning 3 and Olympic gold.

I think Murrays acheivement of 3 slams is overshaddowed by the pure dominance we have seen for Fed Nadal and Djokovic. If he had got the results he has in Henmans era he would probably be held in higher regard.
 

Covstu

Well-Known Member
Good thread b b r.

Wiggins trumps both hoy and frome in my book....he's won across the board at cycling....sprints, time trials, pursuit and the tour win....

It's the cycling equivalent of winning the 100m, 5000m and marathon.

Daley Thompson gets my vote. Pure class
Fair point on wiggo but again it goes back to specialisms doesn't it, Cav is also a fantastic sportsman fir what he does, Froome could secure his third TDF in a row. Clearly we don't have to pick one!
 

Monners

Well-Known Member
Daley Thompson for me. Non British, Seve - pure natural and a true gent. Made the game what it is today- European golfers should be grateful, and look at the Ryder Cup now. Pure sport and theatre.
 

Terry Gibson's perm

Well-Known Member
Tony McCoy is one

But for me it would have to be Daley Thompson won clean in a time when drug cheating must have been widespread.
 

chiefdave

Well-Known Member
Not sure Murray would even be the top tennis player. Fred Perry would give him a good run for that. Although very difficult to compare the eras.
 

bringbackrattles

Well-Known Member
Looking like Daley Thompson could be top choice ?
Been reading up on him and he had it tough growing up his dad got murdered and by all accounts he can be difficult, in other words he's told a few people to piss off ! A winner though and a worthy choice as best ever sportsman.
 

clint van damme

Well-Known Member
Andy Murray? No, not having that.

Think he only won Wimbledon this year because Djockevic was knocked out.

He's still done brilliantly well of course, but there has to be a number of people above him.

that's like saying Portugal only won the euros because Germany got knocked out, you can't win it if everyone else doesn't get knocked out!

Having said that, I'd go Steve Redgrave, amazing achievements in a really tough sport.
 

Johnnythespider

Well-Known Member
I can't believe there have been 28 posts in this thread and nobody has mentioned Eddie the Eagle, a man who made ski jumping look difficult while all around him made it look like a walk in the park

Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk
 

Terry Gibson's perm

Well-Known Member
Looking like Daley Thompson could be top choice ?
Been reading up on him and he had it tough growing up his dad got murdered and by all accounts he can be difficult, in other words he's told a few people to piss off ! A winner though and a worthy choice as best ever sportsman.

Great great sportsman but awful on Talksport.
 

Terry Gibson's perm

Well-Known Member
I am not a fan of the honours system but how the hell does he not have a knighthood when you consider some of the people that have them and likely that Bekham will get one first and a load of civil servants who are just doing the job they are paid well for.
 

Houchens Head

Fairly well known member from Malvern
What about Muhammed Ali? Gotta be the greatest boxer and sports ambassador that ever lived, surely?
 

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