If this is sport specific, Michael Phelps has to be on the list.
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If this is sport specific, Michael Phelps has to be on the list.
The fact that Ruth didn't look like an athlete and did what he did makes him even more impressive as an athlete. He changed the game of baseball and was the first true tape measure home run hitter. Never struck out more than 100 times in a season. Out homered entire TEAMS. And a couple of years he had twice as many home runs as the second place home run hitter. He was also good enough to be a HOF caliber pitcher had he stayed at that position- which was probably his best position defensively. He was a pretty good baserunner in the early 1920's before he got overweight in an era when sports nutrition and strength training was pretty much non-existent.
That might be a winning argument. He could obviously play both ways in football. Not sure what Jordan's defensive position would be. Safety? Outside LB at 6'6", ~220lbs? Lebron I guess could be a LB or rush end?
He also was a MLB player, which Jordan wasn't. I guess the question is whether Deion could have been a minor league equivalent basketball player. He was all state in basketball in high school; I'm guessing with his athleticism he could have played college basketball if he'd focused on it. I'm guessing he could have played defense at an NBA level pretty quickly, so it's just whether he could run the point or shoot well enough to be an undersized two.
Also, Deion would have been a better build for soccer than Jordan and I assume would be a near world class sprinter.
Deion might be the right answer.
I can agree with that, but I believe LBJ would have been better if figuring other sports.
Basketball - Jordan
Baseball - hmmm not sure, but give it to Jordan
Track and Field - LBJ
Football - LBJ
Soccer - LBJ
Some can argue that maybe LBJ is better at basketball. I say different era and all that.
Dave Winfield is also another candidate.
Dude got drafted in the NFL and NBA without even playing their sports competitively.
That's how good that guy was.
Jackie Robinson gets my vote. People forget what he did while at UCLA. He was the BO Jackson of his time
Two of the best-Hershel Walker and Jimmy Brown--they 2 of the top 5 running backs of all-time.. one was also an all-american-lacrosse player and the the other was on the USA bob-sled team. Plus the were excellent track stars.
Bo, and I don't mean Bounds.
Bruce Jenner
Mat Fraser, guy can do anything.
A couple of 2 sport athletes that I always thought were under rated (they were by no means in a "best ever category")-
Brian Jordan and Danny Ainge
Jordan was a very good baseball player, and could have been a very good Strong Safety if he had stuck with it. He had 5 career INTS and played MLB for 15 years.
If we're talking gold medals, Michael Phelps would have to be in the conversation.
Just for fun, I will also throw Tebow into the conversation.
But in reality, I would have to go with Bo. To dominate, not just compete, in 2 professional sports the way he did was pretty amazing. It also shows that he was a great overall athlete, not just great at a particular sport.