Greatest GOAT of all sports

[Axeman33]

Never said running wasn't a sport.
From OP "Ranking of the GOATS in each sport."
Terry Fox isn't a GOAT at running. He is a GOAT for other reasons, but not what this thread is about.

You never answered my question.

[Rylant]

So where does the biggest gap fall?

Jordan - Lebron

Interestingly I think that they both need to be in the conversation, but I don’t think that either of them are the basketball GOAT. For me, that is Wilt Chamberlain.

Rylant

[2014olympicgold]

When Ali was boxing, it was much more of a mainstream sport with much greater participation than today. Sounds like Phelps is the most dominant Olympian ever.

Ya you could then say there's a lot of people could have beaten out Ali since no one is going into the sport. The same argument made about how Phelps is in a "niche sport" with "limited participants"

[Invictus]

You never answered my question.

I did but I had to edit my post with it. (at work and wanted to get at least half my response posted).
Also I was the first to post all those names.
(I don't post repeat names unless it's to say that I agree they are in serious contention)

[rataylor22]

Ya you could then say there's a lot of people could have beaten out Ali since no one is going into the sport. The same argument made about how Phelps is in a "niche sport" with "limited participants"

Swimming and Running being called "niche" sports is the funniest thing that's ever been said on this website.

[CMSpiced]

We can take Tiger and Brady out of this. Jack Nicklaus is better than Tiger. Jack has 18 major wins, and 19 major second place finishes. Tiger has 15 and 6. This year Brady joined two other quarterbacks who also have 7 NFL championships, so he's not markedly better in the criterion that people use to boost him up.

Ali is hard for me to judge as I can't discern the differences between elite boxers. I think his magnetic and memorable personality helps put a shine on his athletic achievement.

The difference between Gretzky's career achievements and the next best player's is greater than the difference between Jordan and LeBron's.

I'll go with Jordan as being the most GOAT-ish of the five choices presented, because the number of players on a basketball team is fewer, Jordan played most of the games on offense and defense, and thus Jordan is more responsible for his team's success than Gretzky. But there's an argument to be had.

I agree with the Tiger arguement, but who are the other two quarterback with 7 superbowl wins each?

[Daydream Nation]

Ya you could then say there's a lot of people could have beaten out Ali since no one is going into the sport. The same argument made about how Phelps is in a "niche sport" with "limited participants"

I would say that about boxing today but not 50 years ago.

[CMSpiced]

I dont agree with the Niche sport or Olympic sport argument. I think the only way to do it is compare what an individual has done in their own respective sports to their piers. You cant compare cross sport accomplishments.

I think Usain Bolt has a strong case. Only 9 people have done the double, and he is the only one to do it more than once - three times.

[Invictus]

I dont agree with the Niche sport or Olympic sport argument. I think the only way to do it is compare what an individual has done in their own respective sports to their piers. You cant compare cross sport accomplishments.

I think Usain Bolt has a strong case. Only 9 people have done the double, and he is the only one to do it more than once - three times.

It's easier to dominate at a (I will say under participated sport) than a heavily competitive sport. That definitely needs to be considered, but that fluctuates greatly with time period, so that would also need to be taken into account. Which is just another layer of what makes comparisons hard.

[Dennis]

I dont agree with the Niche sport or Olympic sport argument. I think the only way to do it is compare what an individual has done in their own respective sports to their piers. You cant compare cross sport accomplishments.

I think Usain Bolt has a strong case. Only 9 people have done the double, and he is the only one to do it more than once - three times.

I concur with this gentleman. I was, but gave up early, writing a defense of the multiple swimming events because I know from sprinting as a youngin' that there is a huge difference between 100 & 200m sprints, swimming could reasonably be the same. I don;t know, I'm an awful swimmer. I thought there would be more double winners for 100/200 sprints but there have only been 3 to get both golds in the last 60 years.

[2014olympicgold]

It's easier to dominate at a (I will say under participated sport) than a heavily competitive sport. That definitely needs to be considered, but that fluctuates greatly with time period, so that would also need to be taken into account. Which is just another layer of what makes comparisons hard.

That's a tough argument because then you can say, "Well if Lebron turned to football instead of basketball in highschool, he could be the GOAT"

Like, "it's easier to dominate in a sport that has less competition" is a dangerous road to go down because what if Matthews went into boxing and dominated and became the next "Ali".

I personally think you can't go down that road.

[Invictus]

That's a tough argument because then you can say, "Well if Lebron turned to football instead of basketball in highschool, he could be the GOAT"

Like, "it's easier to dominate in a sport that has less competition" is a dangerous road to go down because what if Matthews went into boxing and dominated and became the next "Ali".

I personally think you can't go down that road.

With Matthews quads it wouldn't be Boxing... it would be Kick Boxing!!
There's no what ifs. Matthew's didn't do that.

Dominating Sport A that has 500 people participating in it is not the same greatness as dominating Sport B that has 20000000 talented people.

[Daydream Nation]

That's a tough argument because then you can say, "Well if Lebron turned to football instead of basketball in highschool, he could be the GOAT"

Like, "it's easier to dominate in a sport that has less competition" is a dangerous road to go down because what if Matthews went into boxing and dominated and became the next "Ali".

I personally think you can't go down that road.

This is all just an opinion so I am fine going down that road. I'll even go a step further in that sports that require more skill rate higher in my opinion. This is why in a comparison of GOATs, running and swimming don't rate as high for me as basketball, soccer, hockey, baseball, ect...

[Invictus]

This is all just an opinion so I am fine going down that road. I'll even go a step further in that sports that require more skill rate higher in my opinion. This is why in a comparison of GOATs, running and swimming don't rate as high for me as basketball, soccer, hockey, baseball, ect...

Idk... a lot of people can play those sports, but can't swim...
But you do need to be able to run to play soccer, baseball, basketball.

Is the GOAT of all sports someone who portrays the most dominance of a sport or someone who would translate the best to other sports?
I think that answer needs to be established as I don't think the two are inclusive.

[Daydream Nation]

Idk... a lot of people can play those sports, but can't swim...
But you do need to be able to run to play soccer, baseball, basketball.

Learning how to swim is much easier than learning how to play any of those sports at a high level.