The Greatest Sportsman Ever

[Devroy Jones]

If all members of Boxing Scene had to choose which guy is the Greatest sportsman ever, who would you choose?
Just to aid your subconscious, i picked up a few names - its wholly up to you to rearrange them in your desired order or pull out some new names altogether.

Muhammad Ali - Boxing
Babe Ruth - Baseball
Wayne Gretzky - Ice Hockey
Michael Jordan - Basketball
Tiger Woods - Golf
Lance Armstrong - Cycling
Pele - Soccer
Jim Thorpe - Football
Jesse Owens - Track And Field
Ayrton Senna - Motor Racing
Pete Sampras - Tennis
Michael Phelps - Swimming
Don Bradman - Cricket

I hope u guys have noticed that i didn't mention two guys of the same sport, i.e I automatically presumed that they are the best of their sport. Needless to say, you may have different opinions.

[Barn]

Muhammad Ali...

Put Sugar Ray Robinson in please.

[Devroy Jones]

I can understand if you like Patterson, but to put him above Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson, Rocky Marciano, Jack Dempsey, George Foreman, Jack Johnson, Sugar Ray Leonard,...............? I don't get it.

[Barn]

I edited my answers. By "Sportsman" I thought you meant Sportsmanship so I suggested Patterson and Arguello who were much better sports and people than Ali.
Nevertheless It's Sugar Ray Robinson.

[Devroy Jones]

Yes, one could make a case of that. Sugar Ray Robinson - considered by boxing experts worldwide to be even better than Ali. I wont get into that debate since it is not the purpose for which this thread was created. So now, I have two choices -
1. Replace Ali with Ray Robinson
....This one, I'm very reluctant about, this is because I am a bit biased about Ali.

2. Break My Criteria
....And put two sportsmen for their sports.

whaddya suggest?

[JAB5239]

As far as boxing goes, its all Joe Louis in my opinion. No fighter meant more, did more or sacrificed more for his country and his people.

[LeG00N]

Sugar Ray Robinson

[Wild Blue Yonda]

Jim Thorpe had an amazing record at nearly everything he tried his hand at. Maybe the best all-round athlete ever.

[TBear]

If all members of Boxing Scene had to choose which guy is the Greatest sportsman ever, who would you choose?
Just to aid your subconscious, i picked up a few names - its wholly up to you to rearrange them in your desired order or pull out some new names altogether.

Muhammad Ali - Boxing
Babe Ruth - Baseball
Wayne Gretzky - Ice Hockey
Michael Jordan - Basketball
Tiger Woods - Golf
Lance Armstrong - Cycling
Pele - Soccer
Jim Thorpe - Football
Jesse Owens - Track And Field
Ayrton Senna - Motor Racing
Pete Sampras - Tennis
Michael Phelps - Swimming
Don Bradman - Cricket

I hope u guys have noticed that i didn't mention two guys of the same sport, i.e I automatically presumed that they are the best of their sport. Needless to say, you may have different opinions.

You know with this being a boxing forum, people will generally pick a boxer.

[SBleeder]

Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders deserve a mention IMO.