Most dominating athlete ever?

[brassnuts]

I'd have to say Ricky Carmichael. I know motocross isn't an entirely mainstream sport, but in terms of pure domination of a sport, I think he is untouched. Personally, I'm not even a great big fan of motocross, but I have a friend who is really into it and we just to the first event for this season (quite an exhibition in while trash I must say but it did have its share of hot women as well). Once again, Carmichael won both of the 2 motos by about a 45 second margin each. They only race for 1/2 hour + 2 laps each moto, so nobody is really in the same class as he is. Add in the fact that I think he has been Champion since 1997, first in the 125cc class and moving up to 250cc, during which in this stetch, he has had multiple perfect seasons, where he wins every moto of every event. I just find this kind of domination extremely impressive, regardless of the sport.

[drexah]

michael jordan
/end

[Toro]

Wilt

100 points in a game

[davelin]

[ QUOTE ]
Wilt

100 points in a game

[/ QUOTE ]

Sample size, poor table selection /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[fluxrad]

Gretzky.

[ucfryan]

[ QUOTE ]
michael jordan
/end

[/ QUOTE ]

[LockForward]

George Mikan

[Sponger15SB]

[ QUOTE ]
I'd have to say Ricky Carmichael. I know motocross isn't an entirely mainstream sport, but in terms of pure domination of a sport, I think he is untouched.

[/ QUOTE ]

If you want to get into fringe sports you might as well say that guy who drove Mrs. Budwiser in the boat races.

[Lazymeatball]

[ QUOTE ]
michael jordan
/end

[/ QUOTE ]

I disagree, if the question were most dominating basketball player ever, or most dominating of the Big 4 US sports, then Jordan would be a pretty good answer.

As for the question at hand, this man flat out embarasses the competition:
http://i.cnn.net/cnn/2003/US/07/04/july.fourth/story.hotdog.pose.jpg

He's take the sport by storm and usually beats 2nd place by at least 20 dogs, sets a new record every year, etc.

[BreakfastBurrito]

Me, TYPA 4th-5th grade basketball league. I was absolutely untouchable. I would punish people for daring to even think they could compete with me. Needless to say my team went undefeated and I scored 80% of the points. Jordan in his prime still only scored maybe 33% of his team's points.

[Shaman]

Well, almost 12 years. This was how long Joe Louis stayed as undisputed heavyweight world champion. He KOd the Cinderela Man to win it then defended it 26 times.

[wayabvpar]

Secretariat.

[fluxrad]

[ QUOTE ]
Secretariat.

[/ QUOTE ]

nh.

[miajag81]

[ QUOTE ]
Secretariat.

[/ QUOTE ]

beat me to it.

[tomdemaine]

Micheal Schumacher Formula 1

[M2d]

edwin moses

[fluxrad]

[ QUOTE ]
Micheal Schumacher Formula 1

[/ QUOTE ]

I'd have to disagree with this since some would argue Senna was better.

[tbach24]

Babe Ruth in the early part of the century.

[this guy]

How has no one mentioned Bonds yet?

[Lazymeatball]

[ QUOTE ]
How has no one mentioned Bonds yet?

[/ QUOTE ]

because he is easily pwned by Hank Aaron, or Babe Ruth, or a dozen other legends, and a cheater to boot.

[jedi]

Danny Almonte pwn3d those pathetic 12 year olds.

[Analyst]

[ QUOTE ]
edwin moses

[/ QUOTE ]

Seconded. 122 consecutive victories, simply amazing.

[Alobar]

Easily Eddy Mercx. He just crushed everyone at will, and any race that he wanted to win in his prime, he won, and won easily

Richard Petty is another one

[miajag81]

Lance Armstrong?

[Alobar]

[ QUOTE ]
Lance Armstrong?

[/ QUOTE ]

The most dominating Tour de France rider ever, and its not close. But there is a ton more to cycling than just the tour de france. Lance is easily over shadowed by the likes of Eddy Merckx when it comes to domination of the sport. Eddy not only won the tour de france, but would win every other race he was in as well.

[jedi]

Also Cael Sanderson. Unbeatable.

[pudley4]

Babe Didrikson Zaharias

[jba]

[ QUOTE ]
Also Cael Sanderson. Unbeatable.

[/ QUOTE ]

wow this is the correct answer.

[tomdemaine]

I don't know anything about boxing but it seems strange to me that no-one has mentioned Ali.

[Alobar]

[ QUOTE ]
I don't know anything about boxing but it seems strange to me that no-one has mentioned Ali.

[/ QUOTE ]

You cant be the most dominating athelete ever, and be an underdog going into alot of your fights.

I think from some of the names mentioned in this thread, people are having a hard time with the definition of Dominating.

[this guy]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
How has no one mentioned Bonds yet?

[/ QUOTE ]

because he is easily pwned by Hank Aaron, or Babe Ruth, or a dozen other legends, and a cheater to boot.

[/ QUOTE ]

How is he "easily pwned" by Hank Aaron or Babe Ruth? Look at his stats over the past couple of years. Aaron and Ruth are great, but in no way do they "pwn" bonds.

[Sephus]

[ QUOTE ]
Babe Didrikson Zaharias

[/ QUOTE ]

definitely worth mentioning.

[fluxrad]

Clear it up.

Baseball and Football (and for the most part, Basketball) don't have guys that completely dominated the sport. They have some that were the best ever, but they don't have guys that they literally had to change the rules of the game for.

If you're looking to these sports in this thread, you are wrong.

[tworooks]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
michael jordan
/end

[/ QUOTE ]

[/ QUOTE ]

[Josh W]

[ QUOTE ]
(and for the most part, Basketball)... don't have guys that they literally had to change the rules of the game for.



[/ QUOTE ]

Wilt. People who think that Jordan was anywhere near as dominating probably also think that they can sack twins if they drink Coors Light. Jordan was phenomenal, and maybe the best basketball player ever. But he was without a doubt the BEST MARKETED basketball player ever. And that's it. Wilt was the most DOMINANT basketball player ever. Second is Earl Boykins.

Josh

[Josh W]

I was just about to mention her.

See, whoever is the most dominating will be argued against by saying "yeah, but their competition wasn't that tough". But really, that's a chicken/egg argument. Sure, her competition was predominantly in kitchens instead of tracks/golfcourses, but she was the most dominating (or damn near...I won't pretend to know all athletes in all sports for all time...)

Josh

[pokerclack]

Pele.

[ZeeJustin]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
michael jordan
/end

[/ QUOTE ]

I disagree, if the question were most dominating basketball player ever, or most dominating of the Big 4 US sports, then Jordan would be a pretty good answer.

As for the question at hand, this man flat out embarasses the competition:
http://i.cnn.net/cnn/2003/US/07/04/july.fourth/story.hotdog.pose.jpg

He's take the sport by storm and usually beats 2nd place by at least 20 dogs, sets a new record every year, etc.

[/ QUOTE ]

As soon as I read the topic, Kobayashi immediately came to mind. Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, Babe Ruth, etc. all suffered losses, even some pretty bad losses. It will be years before Kobayashi ever finishes second place in a competition. He doesn't just win, he dominates. One of the most impressive things he has done was DOUBLED the world record of most hot dogs eaten. I can't comprehend how hard it is to break a world record like this by one hot dog, so the thought of him DOUBLING the world record is just unimageinable. Kobayashi dominates, and most of the responses to this thread are just horrible in comparison.

[ZeeJustin]

[ QUOTE ]
Clear it up.

Baseball and Football (and for the most part, Basketball) don't have guys that completely dominated the sport. They have some that were the best ever, but they don't have guys that they literally had to change the rules of the game for.

If you're looking to these sports in this thread, you are wrong.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree. The only exception is Wilt Chamberlain, but even he wasn't part of an undefeated team or anything. The answer to this thread will lie in a sport where domination is more reasonable.

[somethingstupid]

sup bro.

[Cubswin]

Aleksandr Karelin

[Jack of Arcades]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
How has no one mentioned Bonds yet?

[/ QUOTE ]

because he is easily pwned by Hank Aaron, or Babe Ruth, or a dozen other legends, and a cheater to boot.

[/ QUOTE ]

You're [censored] joking me. Hank Aaron? Hank [censored] Aaron was more dominant than Barry Bonds? Hank Aaron was great, don't get me wrong, but he was not dominant. He won one MVP, he was the best hitter in his league three times - and that's only in the NL.

Barry Bonds has been the best hitter in his league 9 times, has won 6 MVPs and was robbed of one by Terry [censored] Pendleton. He's got 8 gold gloves and is the best defensive left fielder of all time.

Hank Aaron's best season was worse than Barry's 1992 and 1993, let alone his 2001-2004.

Ruth I'll give you. Ruth was the most dominating figure in baseball history. Williams I'll give you, too. Anyone else? No way. Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Jimmie Fozz, they all line up behind Bonds.

[goofball]

[ QUOTE ]
Aleksandr Karelin

[/ QUOTE ]

ding ding ding

[ZeeJustin]

'An alchemist who can transform athletics into poetry, poetry into mathematics, mathematics into history. (http://www.watchmeeatahotdog.com/eaters/kobayashi/)

In 2001, his first year in the competition, Kobayashi ate 50 hot dogs in 12 minutes, shattering the existing record of 25 hot dogs set the previous year by his countryman Kazutoyo Arai. (http://www.who2.com/takerukobayashi.html)

[Joe_d72]

How has no one said Tiger Woods.

[andyfox]

.

[Cubswin]

Secretariat wasnt event the most dominating horse of all time

[Mano]

Baseball - Babe Ruth
Basketball - Wilt Chamberlain
Football - Jim Brown
Hockey - Wayne Gretzky

[contentless]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
(and for the most part, Basketball)... don't have guys that they literally had to change the rules of the game for.



[/ QUOTE ]

Wilt. People who think that Jordan was anywhere near as dominating probably also think that they can sack twins if they drink Coors Light. Jordan was phenomenal, and maybe the best basketball player ever. But he was without a doubt the BEST MARKETED basketball player ever. And that's it. Wilt was the most DOMINANT basketball player ever. Second is Earl Boykins.

Josh

[/ QUOTE ]

Who ARE you people? What, was Russell chopped liver? Wilt doesn't enter into this argument whatsoever.

Go somewhere else besides the big 4. Heck, get out of team sports.

[Myrtle]

[ QUOTE ]
Clear it up.

Baseball and Football (and for the most part, Basketball) don't have guys that completely dominated the sport. They have some that were the best ever, but they don't have guys that they literally had to change the rules of the game for.

If you're looking to these sports in this thread, you are wrong.

[/ QUOTE ]

...if you're judging by what kind of an effect a player had on their sport....

Robert Gordon Orr....

He changed the way hockey was played.

As far as overall domination.....

Babe Zaharias is hard to beat

[scotty34]

Lemieux could be argued for hockey. Gretzky was a tiny little guy that could score and make plays. He also had two amazing wingers for most of his career. Lemieux was the full package, with scoring, playmaking abilities, as well as size and great leadership. I also believe he has more points per game than Gretzky, but his career was filled with injuries.

[Phat Mack]

OK then, Major Taylor.

But if you're touting Belgians, Raymond Ceulemans.


Mack (Terror of Category 4.)

[poker-penguin]

[ QUOTE ]
sup bro.

[/ QUOTE ]

15 tackles for loss

[Phat Mack]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
How has no one mentioned Bonds yet?

[/ QUOTE ]

because he is easily pwned by Hank Aaron, or Babe Ruth, or a dozen other legends, and a cheater to boot.

[/ QUOTE ]

OK, how about Bonds's dealer?

[Punker]

Major sports:
Hockey: Gretzky
Basketball: Wilt
Baseball: Ruth
Football: no one comes to mind as being in the league of the above 3

Olympic 4 sports:
Track: Edwin Moses, as mentioned
Field: Sergei Bubka (pole vaulting)

Obscure sport entry:
Checkers: Marion Tinsley - as world champion between 1950-1995 (when he passed away), he lost only 7 games.

[IlliniRyRy]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
michael jordan
/end

[/ QUOTE ]

[/ QUOTE ]

[Clarkmeister]

Carl Lewis was a god and deserves to be in that list. His peak was higher than anyone's peak, and his longevity was longer too. Truly the best of the best and he is light years better than Edwin Moses and his carefully constructed streak.

[poker-penguin]

This guy (http://www.sikhtimes.com/bios_041904a.html) can probably run a marathon faster than 50% of OOT.

Also, Sir Donald Bradman - a batting average (runs scored / times out) of over twice his contemporaries, and still 75% higher than the best of today's cricketers.

Lance Armstrong has to get bonus points for beating cancer and bonind Sheryl Crowe.

Jonah Lomu, before he got kidney disease.

[fluxrad]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
michael jordan
/end

[/ QUOTE ]

[/ QUOTE ]

[/ QUOTE ]

You guys should probably PM Mat Sklansky or something since it looks like part of the BBS code is broken. I mean, you'd think when you said "/end" the thread would end, eh?

[jdl22]

Diego Armando Maradona

[Clarkmeister]

[ QUOTE ]
Secretariat wasnt event the most dominating horse of all time

[/ QUOTE ]

I assume you are going to go with an overseas horse like Sea Bird II? Because Secretariat definitely gets the nod over Citation, Man O War, Dr. Fager, etc.

[contentless]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Secretariat wasnt event the most dominating horse of all time

[/ QUOTE ]

I assume you are going to go with an overseas horse like Sea Bird II? Because Secretariat definitely gets the nod over Citation, Man O War, Dr. Fager, etc.

[/ QUOTE ]

IIRC, Man O' War was ranked above Secretariat by Blood-Horse.

[Clarkmeister]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Secretariat wasnt event the most dominating horse of all time

[/ QUOTE ]

I assume you are going to go with an overseas horse like Sea Bird II? Because Secretariat definitely gets the nod over Citation, Man O War, Dr. Fager, etc.

[/ QUOTE ]

IIRC, Man O' War was ranked above Secretariat by Blood-Horse.

[/ QUOTE ]

BH would be wrong IMO, and I'm sure I could find other credible lists that put Secretariat in front (again, this is strictly North American racing). Frankly, I would rank Citation ahead of Man O War also.

[mikeyvegas]

Bo Jackson. Play techmo bowl sometime and you'll see why.

[James282]

Probably the orangutan in Man vs. Beast I.
-James

[Daliman]

Aleksandr Karelin. Super-heavyweight Greco-Roman wrestler. 13 years or so, never had a point scored on him.

[AgentBishop]

[ QUOTE ]
Secretariat wasnt event the most dominating horse of all time

[/ QUOTE ]

Your point is arguable I guess because of so many factors involved. But Secretariat in the Belmont alone has to be at least one of the top 2 sport perfomances of all time. I can't think of anything else even close. I HIGHLY doubt any horse, ever, could have gotten within ten lengths of him that day let alone beat him.

As for sport domination, Secretariat set the track record in all three races of the Triple Crown.(I know the Preakness time is arguable but if you want to research it you would agree he set the record. Preakness (http://www.secretariat.com/races/preakness.htm) )

[bholdr]

i don't really feel it's fair to compare dominating athletes between sports, so:

wrestling: Aleksandr Karelin- didn't allow a point for 13 years. cael sanderson got pwn3d in his first pro match. boxing: rocky marciano- undefeated
pool: willie mosconi- regarded as the best pool player on earth for 50- years. once ran 120-something racks. not balls, RACKS.
baseball: sandy koufax, 64-66, maybe satchel paige in his prime was more dominant.
football: dick butkis- badass ebough to call the rest of the NFL 'pussies' special note for college ball: red grange- 4TD in 13 minutes.
golf: bobnby jones was more dominant in his time than either woods or nickalus
swimming: mark spitz
skiing: hermann maier or franz klammer
chess: kasparov



that's all i can think of right now. gotta be karelin.

[Jack of Arcades]

[ QUOTE ]
baseball: sandy koufax, 64-66, maybe satchel paige in his prime was more dominant.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is so very wrong.

Pedro: 1997-2003
Maddux: 1992-1998
Unit: 1997-200
Walter Johnson: 1910-1915

[EliteNinja]

Roger Federer right now.
Pete Sampras back then.

[stinkypete]

annika sorenstam

[bugstud]

[ QUOTE ]
Roger Federer right now.
Pete Sampras back then.

[/ QUOTE ]

Laver, thx gg

[-Skeme-]

Nobody has said Tyson?

[bernie]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I'd have to say Ricky Carmichael. I know motocross isn't an entirely mainstream sport, but in terms of pure domination of a sport, I think he is untouched.

[/ QUOTE ]

If you want to get into fringe sports you might as well say that guy who drove Mrs. Budwiser in the boat races.

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually, in case of Hydroplanes, it wasn't the Miss Bud. The bud had all the money. It didn't take a great driver to win with that boat.

It was Bill Muncey. (atlas van lines and the Miss thriftway) Miss Bud was always 2nd to him. (the chenoweth years, not the hanauer years.)

Chenoweth being a close 2nd.

b

[judgesmails]

Eric Heiden. Won every speed skating gold medal from sprints to 10K meters.

[contentless]

[ QUOTE ]
Nobody has said Tyson?

[/ QUOTE ]

No.

[sublime]

bill russell

e o d

[pootle]

Sir Don Bradman. And it's not even close.

[BadBoyBenny]

Unless things change in the next couple years, by the end of her career this will be hard to dispute.

[Rotating Rabbit]

Depends on the definition,

Schwarzenegger

[Toro]

Since it's too late to edit my original response, I'll repost. Remember the key word is dominate.

Wilt

100 points in a game and intercourse with 20,000 different women!

[contentless]

[ QUOTE ]
Since it's too late to edit my original response, I'll repost. Remember the key word is dominate.

Wilt

100 points in a game and intercourse with 20,000 different women!

[/ QUOTE ]

And only 2 championships! He sure dominated the competition! He smacked that little bitch Russell down every time!

/sarcasm

If you can't dominate enough to win more than 2 championships in your life, then you're not dominant.

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

Wilt Chamberlain was far more dominating in his era than Jordan was in his.

[Toro]

I hear you, but it's a team sport and the Celtics who I adore were the better team.

[Toro]

[ QUOTE ]
Secretariat wasnt event the most dominating horse of all time

[/ QUOTE ]

I too have to take issue here. Secretariat didn't just win the triple crown but had the fastest ever time in the both the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont and but for a timing error would also have had the best ever time in the Preakness. That's dominating horse racing in my book.

Besides, you had to be there and I was. The Belmont performance cannot be described.

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

I might make a case for Ruffian, never headed until she broke down in the match race, but I'll go with Secretariat.

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

I agree. So dominant, he forced the creation of a new rule (offensive goaltending)

[Pocket Trips]

when eating is considered a sport. It may be a special talent that this guy has to be able to eat as much as he does but eating is not a sport. I would not even classify it as a game like poker, chess, or backgammon.


Do you know how ridiculous it sounds to hear you guys mention Kobayashi in the same sentance as Jordan, or Gretzky ( statistically the correct answer to the question by the way when compared to his peers), or Ruth???? He is a guy capable of cramming stuff into his stomach in a short period of time, not an athlete!

[Pocket Trips]

[ QUOTE ]
Clear it up.

Baseball and Football (and for the most part, Basketball) don't have guys that completely dominated the sport. They have some that were the best ever, but they don't have guys that they literally had to change the rules of the game for.

If you're looking to these sports in this thread, you are wrong.

[/ QUOTE ]

Bob Gibson.... They literally changed the rules of the game because of him after his 68 season when he had an ERA of 1.12

[pudley4]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Clear it up.

Baseball and Football (and for the most part, Basketball) don't have guys that completely dominated the sport. They have some that were the best ever, but they don't have guys that they literally had to change the rules of the game for.

If you're looking to these sports in this thread, you are wrong.

[/ QUOTE ]

Bob Gibson.... They literally changed the rules of the game because of him after his 68 season when he had an ERA of 1.12

[/ QUOTE ]

Wrong. They didn't change the rule (he height of the pitcher's mound) just because of him. It was because of the dominance of all pitchers at that time. The AL batting champ was under .310 that year.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Karelin, Edwin Moses, Secretariat, Sergei Bubka are good picks.

No one has mentioned Michael Johnson who lost like (and I'm not entirely sure of this) one 200m race and maybe one 400 in a decade, if you don't count jogging in second in a prelim. Also his 200m record is comparable to Secretariat's (Belmont?)

Paavo Nurmi (sp?), Emil Zatopek should be mentioned.

[LSUfan1]

[ QUOTE ]
Nobody has said Tyson?

[/ QUOTE ]

Had Tyson never gone to Team Tyson and lose his original trainer, there would be no debate that he was the greatest of all time. He did not beat guys in the ring, he destroyed them!

All things have to be considered, however, and he is now easily beatable by the top heavyweights! /images/graemlins/frown.gif

[sublime]

Wilt Chamberlain was far more dominating in his era than Jordan was in his

russell was the btter player, and more dominating IMO. i dont know about other sports, but he is the best player in NBA history.

[Clarkmeister]

[ QUOTE ]
Nobody has said Tyson?

[/ QUOTE ]


The thread is about most dominant, not most overrated.

[Clarkmeister]

[ QUOTE ]
Wilt Chamberlain was far more dominating in his era than Jordan was in his

russell was the btter player, and more dominating IMO. i dont know about other sports, but he is the best player in NBA history.

[/ QUOTE ]

BWAHAHAHAHA.

[tbach24]

Johnson is a great answer. His 200 time divided by 2 is better than the record for the 100 by a lot. No one has come close to this. Also, Carl Lewis is the guy who wasn't beaten in the Long Jump for a decade.

[Chris Daddy Cool]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Wilt Chamberlain was far more dominating in his era than Jordan was in his

russell was the btter player, and more dominating IMO. i dont know about other sports, but he is the best player in NBA history.

[/ QUOTE ]

BWAHAHAHAHA.

[/ QUOTE ]

[Toro]

I found some interesting links for you horse racing fans.

Secretariat home page (http://www.secretariat.com/)

past performances (http://www.secretariat.com/past_performance.htm)

Kentucky Derby (http://www.secretariat.com/races/derby.htm)

Preakness (http://www.secretariat.com/races/preakness.htm)

Belmont (http://www.secretariat.com/races/belmont.htm)

[Yeti]

[ QUOTE ]
Johnson is a great answer. His 200 time divided by 2 is better than the record for the 100 by a lot.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, duh.

[Yeti]

[ QUOTE ]

The thread is about most dominant, not most overrated.

[/ QUOTE ]

You must have misheard, no-one mentioned Lewis.

[sublime]

IMO he was. as dominant as wilt was on offense, russell was even more dominant on defense.

[Toro]

[ QUOTE ]
IMO he was. as dominant as wilt was on offense, russell was even more dominant on defense.

[/ QUOTE ]

As much as I's like to stick up for a fellow Boston fan, this statement is just wrong. Russell was at best only an average offensive player, not in Wilt's league offensively I'm afraid.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Ya know, I was think "duh" too, but then I realized that there isn't anyone else on earth who can say that about their 200 time. Though Frank Fredricks ran 19.66 against johnson I believe, which is 9.83*2, when the 100m record was 9.84.

[sublime]

yeah wilt was better.

i admit /images/graemlins/frown.gif

bill is my nigga though

[Clarkmeister]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

The thread is about most dominant, not most overrated.

[/ QUOTE ]

You must have misheard, no-one mentioned Lewis.

[/ QUOTE ]

Lewis isn't even rated, let alone overrated. Shows how pathetic Tyson is/was that he got owned so badly by him.

Quick: What's Tyson's best victory? Could take a while since your choices are limited to:

1. A life and death struggle vs Razor Ruddick.
2. Michael Spinks laying down.
3. A 100 year old Larry Holmes.

[Yeti]

I'm not a big Tyson fan, just anti-Lewis. I was merely probing as to what you thought of Lennox.

[Vavavoom]

Michael Johnson was superhuman.....Absolutely No Question about it....

[Clarkmeister]

[ QUOTE ]
I found some interesting links for you horse racing fans.

Secretariat home page (http://www.secretariat.com/)

past performances (http://www.secretariat.com/past_performance.htm)

Kentucky Derby (http://www.secretariat.com/races/derby.htm)

Preakness (http://www.secretariat.com/races/preakness.htm)

Belmont (http://www.secretariat.com/races/belmont.htm)

[/ QUOTE ]

Seriously, I think the more interesting debate is for #2 between Citation, MoW and Fager. No, I don't include Ruffian - at some point you have to have beat boys or someone outside of your generation, she did neither.

[Clarkmeister]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm not a big Tyson fan, just anti-Lewis. I was merely probing as to what you thought of Lennox.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, Lewis is the 2nd or 3rd best HW fighter since Holmes (Holyfield is the other). But that's not saying much.

[CallMeIshmael]

[ QUOTE ]
Lemieux could be argued for hockey. Gretzky was a tiny little guy that could score and make plays. He also had two amazing wingers for most of his career. Lemieux was the full package, with scoring, playmaking abilities, as well as size and great leadership. I also believe he has more points per game than Gretzky, but his career was filled with injuries.

[/ QUOTE ]

Mario is #3.

Despite his many weaknesses (skating ability being the most glaring) nobody saw the ice anyhwere nearly as well as Gretzky.

By the time you get to the NHL level, you know where everyone else is on the ice, even though you cant see them.

Wayne knew where everyone else was going to be 3 seconds later.

[Wes ManTooth]

[ QUOTE ]
Bo Jackson. Play techmo bowl sometime and you'll see why.

[/ QUOTE ]

Easily the best video games sports athlete ever

...LT in this game is second.

[AgentBishop]

[ QUOTE ]
Karelin, Edwin Moses, Secretariat, Sergei Bubka are good picks.

No one has mentioned Michael Johnson who lost like (and I'm not entirely sure of this) one 200m race and maybe one 400 in a decade, if you don't count jogging in second in a prelim. Also his 200m record is comparable to Secretariat's (Belmont?)

Paavo Nurmi (sp?), Emil Zatopek should be mentioned.

[/ QUOTE ]
Comparable but not above. He was very dominant in his events. But to say he dominated track and field would be stretching it a bit. None the less his performance in that 200m race was amazing!

[tolbiny]

Dan Gable

Born: Oct. 25, 1948
Wrestling

career wrestling record of 118-1 at Iowa St., where he was a 2-time NCAA champ (1968,69) and tourney MVP in 1969 (137 lbs); won gold medal (149 lbs) at 1972 Olympics; coached U.S. freestyle team in 1988; coached Iowa to 9 straight NCAA titles (1978-86) and 15 overall in 21 years

[slickpoppa]

[ QUOTE ]
Aleksandr Karelin. Super-heavyweight Greco-Roman wrestler. 13 years or so, never had a point scored on him.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is a good answer

[contentless]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I'm not a big Tyson fan, just anti-Lewis. I was merely probing as to what you thought of Lennox.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, Lewis is the 2nd or 3rd best HW fighter since Holmes (Holyfield is the other). But that's not saying much.

[/ QUOTE ]

Heavyweight boxing has long ceased to be interesting.

In terms of boxing, Roy Jones Jr., for a period of time. Certainly not in the category of some non-boxing nominees though.

[jedi]

[ QUOTE ]
Dan Gable

Born: Oct. 25, 1948
Wrestling

career wrestling record of 118-1 at Iowa St., where he was a 2-time NCAA champ (1968,69) and tourney MVP in 1969 (137 lbs); won gold medal (149 lbs) at 1972 Olympics; coached U.S. freestyle team in 1988; coached Iowa to 9 straight NCAA titles (1978-86) and 15 overall in 21 years

[/ QUOTE ]

During his gold medal run, he never surrendered a point, and outscored his opponents 130-1 in 21 Olympic qualifying + Olympic matches.

Even so, I'll conceded Karelin was the most dominating, more so than Cael Sanderson, more so than Gable.

[asofel]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Dan Gable

Born: Oct. 25, 1948
Wrestling

career wrestling record of 118-1 at Iowa St., where he was a 2-time NCAA champ (1968,69) and tourney MVP in 1969 (137 lbs); won gold medal (149 lbs) at 1972 Olympics; coached U.S. freestyle team in 1988; coached Iowa to 9 straight NCAA titles (1978-86) and 15 overall in 21 years

[/ QUOTE ]

During his gold medal run, he never surrendered a point, and outscored his opponents 130-1 in 21 Olympic qualifying + Olympic matches.

Even so, I'll conceded Karelin was the most dominating, more so than Cael Sanderson, more so than Gable.

[/ QUOTE ]

yep.

13 years, no one scored a point. This is almost like throwing a no hitter for your whole career.

[Momo]

Rudy Ruettiger

[randomfish]

[ QUOTE ]
Aleksandr Karelin.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is my choice as well. Google Karelin if you've never heard of him -- he pretty much defined the term 'dominate'.

Sergei Bubka probably deserves mention though.

[NorCalJosh]

[ QUOTE ]
I'd have to say Ricky Carmichael. I know motocross isn't an entirely mainstream sport, but in terms of pure domination of a sport, I think he is untouched. Personally, I'm not even a great big fan of motocross, but I have a friend who is really into it and we just to the first event for this season (quite an exhibition in while trash I must say but it did have its share of hot women as well). Once again, Carmichael won both of the 2 motos by about a 45 second margin each. They only race for 1/2 hour + 2 laps each moto, so nobody is really in the same class as he is. Add in the fact that I think he has been Champion since 1997, first in the 125cc class and moving up to 250cc, during which in this stetch, he has had multiple perfect seasons, where he wins every moto of every event. I just find this kind of domination extremely impressive, regardless of the sport.

[/ QUOTE ]


i certainly wouldnt argue about his dominance of motocross, but that reminds me of when all the motocross commercials i would hear would be like "MCGRATH VS THE REST" in the big announcer voice. thats pretty impressive=)

[chaas4747]

I batted over .600 in men’s slow pitch softball the last 3 years. So I will vote me.

[Alobar]

[ QUOTE ]
OK then, Major Taylor.



[/ QUOTE ]

He was my first thought when I actually read the title of this thread, I just didnt mention him because I figured absolutely no one would know who he was.

[ZeeJustin]

[ QUOTE ]
He is a guy capable of cramming stuff into his stomach in a short period of time, not an athlete!

[/ QUOTE ]

ath·lete ( P ) Pronunciation Key (thlt)
n.
A person possessing the natural or acquired traits, such as strength, agility, and endurance, that are necessary for physical exercise or sports, especially those performed in competitive contexts.

How exactly is he not an athlete? IMO the only answer mentioned so far that is in the same league as Kobayashi is that wrestler who went 13 years w/out anyone scoring a point.

I can't believe how many people keep mentioning people that win less than 80% of the time (Wilt Chamberlain, Jordan, Gretzky, etc.) That's not domination.

[Alobar]

[ QUOTE ]


I can't believe how many people keep mentioning people that win less than 80% of the time (Wilt Chamberlain, Jordan, Gretzky, etc.) That's not domination.

[/ QUOTE ]

[nervous]

Tiger Woods 2000 season

2000 US Open at Pebble Beach.
[ QUOTE ]
Tiger Woods 12-under

Ernie Els 3-over
Miguel Angel Jiménez

John Huston 4-over

Padraig Harrington 5-over
Lee Westwood

Nick Faldo 6-over

Stewart Cink 7-over
David Duval
Loren Roberts
Vijay Singh

[/ QUOTE ]

2000 Stats (http://www.pgatour.com/players/stats/149765/2000)

Is leading the PGA Tour in 23 categories and winning 4 majors considered good?

'nuff said.

[Cubswin]

Clark

I put the Man ahead of Secretariat. One career loss and it was at 6 furlongs... he only lost because a of poor start back in the days of tape starts. Secretariat won the Belmont by 30+ lengths... MoW won a race by more than 100. MoW also beat Sir Barton, the first triple crown winner, in a match race by more then 7 lengths....

Most impressive though.... he won 3 graded stakes races at 3 different tracks in 17 days... WOW

cubs

[AgentBishop]

[ QUOTE ]
Clark

I put the Man ahead of Secretariat. One career loss and it was at 6 furlongs... he only lost because a of poor start back in the days of tape starts. Secretariat won the Belmont by 30+ lengths... MoW won a race by more than 100. MoW also beat Sir Barton, the first triple crown winner, in a match race by more then 7 lengths....

Most impressive though.... he won 3 graded stakes races at 3 different tracks in 17 days... WOW

cubs

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree that some of these athletes may have been more dominating that Secretariat was, and I mean MAY. But as far as MoW, who knows the type of horses he faced when winning by more than 100 lengths. As far as Sir Barton, with no way to prove it, I really believe that Sham would have been a near lock for the triple crown that year. Sham Beat the track record at Kentucky while finishing several lengths BEHIND Secretariat. Also, "Before his burial, he was autopsied at the University of Kentucky; the veterinarian who performed the autopsy found that Secretariat's heart was the largest he had ever seen in a horse—approximately twice the size of a normal horse's heart. Unlike most enlarged hearts, Secretariat's showed absolutely no signs of disease." Secretariats VO2max was unreal. VO2max (http://www.tufts.edu/vet/sports/oxygen.html) . The only reason Secretariat lost is due to human error. Period!

edit: Oh and the horses back then freaquently ran races one after another. The other horses he was running against were also doing the same.

[Cubswin]

Man O' War carried 130 pounds as a two year-old... sick

[AgentBishop]

[ QUOTE ]
Man O' War carried 130 pounds as a two year-old... sick

[/ QUOTE ]

That is impressive!

[AgentBishop]

KEN JENNINGS!!!!! and it's not even close!

lol

[skoal2k4]

lance armstrong and it's not even close...

note: I'm not a biking freak or anything, but you tell me what competes with winning 6 tour de france

[Prime Time]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
michael jordan
/end

[/ QUOTE ]

[/ QUOTE ]

[/ QUOTE ]

[Justin A]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
How has no one mentioned Bonds yet?

[/ QUOTE ]

because he is easily pwned by Hank Aaron, or Babe Ruth, or a dozen other legends, and a cheater to boot.

[/ QUOTE ]

You're [censored] joking me. Hank Aaron? Hank [censored] Aaron was more dominant than Barry Bonds? Hank Aaron was great, don't get me wrong, but he was not dominant. He won one MVP, he was the best hitter in his league three times - and that's only in the NL.

Barry Bonds has been the best hitter in his league 9 times, has won 6 MVPs and was robbed of one by Terry [censored] Pendleton. He's got 8 gold gloves and is the best defensive left fielder of all time.

Hank Aaron's best season was worse than Barry's 1992 and 1993, let alone his 2001-2004.

Ruth I'll give you. Ruth was the most dominating figure in baseball history. Williams I'll give you, too. Anyone else? No way. Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Jimmie Fozz, they all line up behind Bonds.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is a great post except for the best defensive left fielder of all time post. He used to be damn good, but now he sucks out there, and he's never had a good arm.

[Justin A]

[ QUOTE ]
Nobody has said Tyson?

[/ QUOTE ]

Nobody's as dumb as you.

[Justin A]

[ QUOTE ]
Johnson is a great answer. His 200 time divided by 2 is better than the record for the 100 by a lot. No one has come close to this. Also, Carl Lewis is the guy who wasn't beaten in the Long Jump for a decade.

[/ QUOTE ]

The 200 time should be faster than twice the 100 time, you don't have to start again for the second half of the 200.

[tbach24]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Johnson is a great answer. His 200 time divided by 2 is better than the record for the 100 by a lot. No one has come close to this. Also, Carl Lewis is the guy who wasn't beaten in the Long Jump for a decade.

[/ QUOTE ]

The 200 time should be faster than twice the 100 time, you don't have to start again for the second half of the 200.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah. Still a disgusting time. I was talking to my brother today and he said that because the varience was so high in the 200 that it likely won't be beaten. At least it's not as likely as the longer distances.

[Dr. Strangelove]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Johnson is a great answer. His 200 time divided by 2 is better than the record for the 100 by a lot. No one has come close to this. Also, Carl Lewis is the guy who wasn't beaten in the Long Jump for a decade.

[/ QUOTE ]

The 200 time should be faster than twice the 100 time, you don't have to start again for the second half of the 200.

[/ QUOTE ]

I already stated that there is no other human other than Michael Johnson for whom this is true. That is, a 200m time that when divided by two is less than the 100m world record.

[Dr. Strangelove]

[ QUOTE ]
lance armstrong and it's not even close...

note: I'm not a biking freak or anything, but you tell me what competes with winning 6 tour de france

[/ QUOTE ]

Why Merckx was more dominant has already been shown in this thread...

[tolbiny]

I agree that Gable isn't the most dominating in terms of his career- however when you throw in his coaching career his resume is so much more impressive than most of the "atheletes" in this thread, he def deserved a mention.

[maryfield48]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Johnson is a great answer. His 200 time divided by 2 is better than the record for the 100 by a lot. No one has come close to this. Also, Carl Lewis is the guy who wasn't beaten in the Long Jump for a decade.

[/ QUOTE ]

The 200 time should be faster than twice the 100 time, you don't have to start again for the second half of the 200.

[/ QUOTE ]

I already stated that there is no other human other than Michael Johnson for whom this is true. That is, a 200m time that when divided by two is less than the 100m world record.

[/ QUOTE ]

I guess what you gain at the start you lose at the roundabout. The curve in the 200m is obviously a factor too.

Here are the 4 most recent 200m WR holders, with their times expressed as a percentage of the 100m at the time:

Johnson (1996) 19.32 - 196%
Mennea (1972) 19.72 - 198%
Quarrie (1971) 19.86 - 199%
Smith (1968) 19.83 - 200%

Go back any further and you get into hand-timed records. Yeah MJ dominated, but just having a 200m time less than twice the 100m WR is not ipso facto proof of that.

[Clarkmeister]

[ QUOTE ]
Here are the 4 most recent 200m WR holders, with their times expressed as a percentage of the 100m at the time:

Johnson (1996) 19.32 - 196%
Mennea (1972) 19.72 - 198%
Quarrie (1971) 19.86 - 199%
Smith (1968) 19.83 - 200%

Go back any further and you get into hand-timed records. Yeah MJ dominated, but just having a 200m time less than twice the 100m WR is not ipso facto proof of that.

[/ QUOTE ]

However, holding the record by 4 TENTHS of a second in a sport where records are broken by HUNDREDTHS of a second is.

[Sadat X]

[ QUOTE ]
Baseball - Babe Ruth
Basketball - Wilt Chamberlain
Football - Jim Brown
Hockey - Wayne Gretzky

[/ QUOTE ]

Thats it. Thats the list.

[Rob Blackburn]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I'd have to say Ricky Carmichael. I know motocross isn't an entirely mainstream sport, but in terms of pure domination of a sport, I think he is untouched.

[/ QUOTE ]

If you want to get into fringe sports you might as well say that guy who drove Mrs. Budwiser in the boat races.

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually, in case of Hydroplanes, it wasn't the Miss Bud. The bud had all the money. It didn't take a great driver to win with that boat.

It was Bill Muncey. (atlas van lines and the Miss thriftway) Miss Bud was always 2nd to him. (the chenoweth years, not the hanauer years.)

Chenoweth being a close 2nd.

b

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree with you.

Ms. Bud was great not because of the pilots, but because of the owner Bernie Little, who put more money than anyone into that sport.

Bernie was a neighbor of my parents in Florida, he was a great guy, and he loved sinking money into that sport.

[swede123]

It's so hard to really dominate a team sport as an individual, so my list would probably go something like this (not in any particular order).

Sergei Bubka
Karelin
Carl Lewis
Tiger Woods
Wilt Chamberlain
Babe Ruth
Lance Armstrong

Swede

[Deftoner]

Gretzky hands down.

[bholdr]

[ QUOTE ]
This is so very wrong.

Pedro: 1997-2003
Maddux: 1992-1998
Unit: 1997-200
Walter Johnson: 1910-1915

[/ QUOTE ]

BTZZZZTTT1 none of these pitchers even APPROACHED Koufax's dominance, especially if you compare it to their contemporaries.


koufax:
63: IP 311 K: 306 W-L 25-5 ERA 1.88 (triple crown)
64: 223, 223, 13-5, 1.74
65: 335 382 26-8 2.04 (triple crown)
66: 323 317 27-9 1.73 (triple crown)
total shutouts in those four years: 31
total wins: 91
avg era: 1.84

Pedro
97: 241, 305, 17-8 1.90 (did not lead laeige in any category)
98: 233, 251, 19-7, 2.89
99: 213, 313, 23-4, 2.07
00: 217, 284, 18-6, 1.74
total shutouts in those four years: 11
total wins: 77
avg era: 2.15
number of pitching triple crowns (wins, era, Ks): 0

Maddux
92: 268, 199, 20-11, 2.18
93: 267, 197, 20-10, 2.36
94: 202, 156, 16-6, 1.56
95: 209, 181, 19-2, 1.63
total shutouts: 12
total wins: 75
avg era: 1.93
no of triple crowns: 0

Unit:
97: 213, 291, 20-4, 2.28
98: 244, 329, 19-11, 3.28
99: 271, 364, 17-9, 2.49
00: 248, 347, 19-7, 2.64
total wins: 75
avg era: 2.67
no of shutouts: 13
triple crowns? nope.

Walter Johnson: dead ball era, stats are not comprable.

in every mesuarble way, koufax PWNs maddux, unit, and pedro

31 shutouts...

[deacsoft]

[ QUOTE ]
Pele.

[/ QUOTE ]

[bernie]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I'd have to say Ricky Carmichael. I know motocross isn't an entirely mainstream sport, but in terms of pure domination of a sport, I think he is untouched.

[/ QUOTE ]

If you want to get into fringe sports you might as well say that guy who drove Mrs. Budwiser in the boat races.

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually, in case of Hydroplanes, it wasn't the Miss Bud. The bud had all the money. It didn't take a great driver to win with that boat.

It was Bill Muncey. (atlas van lines and the Miss thriftway) Miss Bud was always 2nd to him. (the chenoweth years, not the hanauer years.)

Chenoweth being a close 2nd.

b

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree with you.

Ms. Bud was great not because of the pilots, but because of the owner Bernie Little, who put more money than anyone into that sport.

Bernie was a neighbor of my parents in Florida, he was a great guy, and he loved sinking money into that sport.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yep. Except you have to give props to Dean Chenoweth. He was the best driver the Bud ever had. He wasn't afraid to push it to the hilt.

Thunderboats are basically dead now in comparison to before they had the turbines.

b

[Clarkmeister]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
This is so very wrong.

Pedro: 1997-2003
Maddux: 1992-1998
Unit: 1997-200
Walter Johnson: 1910-1915

[/ QUOTE ]

BTZZZZTTT1 none of these pitchers even APPROACHED Koufax's dominance, especially if you compare it to their contemporaries.


koufax:
63: IP 311 K: 306 W-L 25-5 ERA 1.88 (triple crown)
64: 223, 223, 13-5, 1.74
65: 335 382 26-8 2.04 (triple crown)
66: 323 317 27-9 1.73 (triple crown)
total shutouts in those four years: 31
total wins: 91
avg era: 1.84

Pedro
97: 241, 305, 17-8 1.90 (did not lead laeige in any category)
98: 233, 251, 19-7, 2.89
99: 213, 313, 23-4, 2.07
00: 217, 284, 18-6, 1.74
total shutouts in those four years: 11
total wins: 77
avg era: 2.15
number of pitching triple crowns (wins, era, Ks): 0

Maddux
92: 268, 199, 20-11, 2.18
93: 267, 197, 20-10, 2.36
94: 202, 156, 16-6, 1.56
95: 209, 181, 19-2, 1.63
total shutouts: 12
total wins: 75
avg era: 1.93
no of triple crowns: 0

Unit:
97: 213, 291, 20-4, 2.28
98: 244, 329, 19-11, 3.28
99: 271, 364, 17-9, 2.49
00: 248, 347, 19-7, 2.64
total wins: 75
avg era: 2.67
no of shutouts: 13
triple crowns? nope.

Walter Johnson: dead ball era, stats are not comprable.

in every mesuarble way, koufax PWNs maddux, unit, and pedro

31 shutouts...

[/ QUOTE ]

You need to look at ERA+ and see how they all *really* stack up against their peers.

[andyfox]

"You need to look at ERA+ and see how they all *really* stack up against their peers."

Exactly. Koufax picthed in a pitcher's park in a pitcher's era. He as a great pitcher, but not as great as his numbers would seem to indicate sans context.

[contentless]

Just for reference:

League average ERA, 63-66: 3.20
League average ERA, 92-95: 4.04
League average ERA, 97-00: 4.71

I would third the ERA+ suggestion.

[Jack of Arcades]

League Average ERA for Koufax's time, 66-68: 3.26
League Average ERA for Pedro' time, 97-03: 4.65.
League Average ERA for Maddux's time, 92-97, 4.21
League Average ERA for Randy's time, 97-02: 4.50

[ QUOTE ]
Walter Johnson: dead ball era, stats are not comprable.

[/ QUOTE ]

League Average ERA for Walter Johnson's time: 2.96.

[ QUOTE ]
in every mesuarble way, koufax PWNs maddux, unit, and pedro

[/ QUOTE ]

No, only in every way *you* know how to measure.

[Jack of Arcades]

[ QUOTE ]
Just for reference:

League average ERA, 63-66: 3.20
League average ERA, 92-95: 4.04
League average ERA, 97-00: 4.71

I would third the ERA+ suggestion.

[/ QUOTE ]

Mine's adjusted for park.

[daryljobe777]

Richard Petty.

No one will ever reach 200 wins.