Top of page
|
|||||||
| Home | About Us | Film | Friends | Music | Sports | Travel | |
|
|
|||||||
by William C. Hub
09/10/1999
I am sure many of you have been following ESPN's countdown of the 100 greatest athletes of the century. Anyway a couple weekends ago, I got into a serious debate about who the remaining 20 were. Granted, we did have many sports experts present, but I figured I would throw the nets a little wider to see what some other sports aficionado's thought.
First and foremost, I am convinced the only reason the title reads North American and not American is because all the good hockey players are Canadian. Every person in the top 100 is American with the exception of Hockey players.
The discussion is slightly less timely now, but will always remain interesting. If you want to participate in the debate, post them here. If you want to see who the ESPN folks picked, check it out ESPN's PICKS
The following will first detail the 80 athletes (21-100 top athletes) that ESPN has already named, and then speculate on the remaining athletes (top twenty).
| Summary of 21 through 100 | The Top Twenty | The Top Ten | Post a Comment |
Football (18)- The most athletes mentioned.25 Joe
Montana I don't think there is much room for any more football players, especially considering who has already made the list. The one exception is Jim Brown. The way I look at they have already named the greatest WR, QB, and defensive player (Montana, Rice, & LT respectively). Jim Brown has to make the list if OJ made it. The only debate surrounding football is how far ahead of Walter Payton should Jim Brown be. I certainly think 20 spots is already too far. So, I have Jim being named relatively soon. |
Baseball (16)22 Joe
DiMaggio 16 players already named and I see room for a lot more. Nolan Ryan is going to be unfortunately left off the list. The all time strike out leader misses the cut because of his poor winning percentage. With that being said, Sandy Koufax can be named the greatest pitcher of the century. Position players is a different story. I believe Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Jackie Robinson Ted Williams, Willie Mays, and Ty Cobb could have made the top 100, but how many can make the top 20? I say all of them. |
Track & Field (8)23 Jackie
Joyner-Kersee I think there is no room for Ray Ewry, despite his 10 total gold medals in four consecutive Olympics. Carl Lewis with 9 Olympic Gold, 8 World Championship titles, two time AP athlete of the year; surely must make the top 20. Jesse Owens earns top status almost on one day (May 25, 1935) - which he set 5 world records, but seals it by winning 4 gold medals in front of Hitler in the 1936 Olympics. And then there is Jim Thorpe, the original multiple sport athlete. It would seem odd that the player named by the AP, as the best athlete of half century doesn't make the top 100 for the century. He is another must. |
Basketball (7)26 Kareem
Abdul-Jabbar More track stars than hoops is a distinct possibility. However, there are plenty of big players left: Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, & (yes Pete I will give him a mention) Bill Russell. I think all these guys will all make it. Frankly, I am bit disappointed that Magic is going to rank ten spots higher than Bird. Russell amazing knack for being on winning teams and his being the first black coach in the NBA is what pushes him into the top 20, despite the fact players like the Big O, Wilt the Stilt, and Kareem all have far better stats. |
Tennis (7)45 Bill
Tilden Much like track and field, there are plenty of great tennis players that would make the list if we included non-americans (notably Roy Emerson, Steffi Graf, Margaret Court Smith. However we gladly accept Czech defector Martina Navratilova into our top ten. Also, Jimmy Connors fans must be angry, that McEnroe is going to place over 60 spots higher. I am also seriously disappointed that Pete's 12 grand slam victories did not move him higher up in the list. |
Boxing (5)24 Sugar Ray
Robinson I am bit disappointed there are so many boxers in the top 100. However, these seems to be two big gaps looking at who they have named so far: Mohammed Ali & Joe Louis. Noticeably absent, Sugar Ray Leonard and Mike Tyson. Two great boxers, but no where close to making the list. |
Hockey (5)21 Gordie
Howe When your nickname is "The Great One", I think that means you probably qualify to make the top 5. |
Horse Racing (5)35
Secretariat Impressive. But a horse making the fifty greatest athletes of the century. I think we should have left this competition to people. |
Golf (4)29 Arnold
Palmer Golf Fans may bit disappointed that the all-time victories leader, Sam Snead, only placed 99; but as we all know it pays to win the Big Ones. However, I also think they are going to snub the number two guy all-time in major victories (11) Walter Hagen. However, they pay their respects to golf, by putting in the most amazing golfer known to man in the top five. Jack Nicklaus's unbelievable ability to come up big in the majors is simply uncanny. His 18 major victories (not to mention his 2 us amateur victories) are simply amazing. |
Auto Racing (3)80 A.J. Foyt Again, sure their good. But who doesn't like to drive their cars fast. No victory laps in the top twenty please. |
Ice Skaters (2)46 Eric
Heiden The two all time leaders for medals in winter Olympics make the list (Eric's 5 and Bonnie's 6). Yeah that seems about right. You mean Dan Jansen didn't make the list? Yes. |
Swimming (1)33 Mark Spitz Matt Biondi is getting the shaft a bit, especially considering he has more Olympic medals than Carl Lewis. But Mark is the greatest swimmer the country has ever known. |
Diving (1)54 Greg Louganis Sure put the token diver in. Four golds is impressive, however. |
| Summary of 21 through 100 | The Top Twenty | The Top Ten | Post a Comment |
20. Willie MaysThe "Say Hey Kid" did it with style |
|
19. Hank AaronHank overcame constant death threats to beat the Babe for the all time HR record |
|
18. Magic JohnsonHoops with LA style. |
|
17. Ted WilliamsWho knows what the "Splendid Splinter" might have accomplished if he didn't miss almost five full seasons serving his country in WW2 & Korea |
|
16. Jim BrownBarry Sander's dad even knows Jim Brown was the greatest running back ever |
|
15. Mohammed Ali"Danced like butterfly and stung like a bee" |
|
14. Jesse OwensJesse was on top of the world for a couple years |
|
13. Bill RussellThe consummate team player. |
|
12. John McEnroeThe greatest personality to ever play tennis really, really well. |
|
11. Ty CobbThe "georgia peach" was the first baseball player elected to the Hall of Fame |
|
| Summary of 21 through 100 | The Top Twenty | The Top Ten | Post a Comment |
10. Martina NavratilovaThe most dominant tennis player in history. |
|
09. Joe LouisIn my opinion the Brown Bomber is the greatest boxer in world history |
|
08. Jim Thorpe |
Out
of respect for my elders, J.T. makes the top ten
|
07. Wilt ChamberlainIf Wilt the Stilt won a few more championships, he would be even higher. |
|
06. Carl Lewis |
|
05. Babe RuthThe "Babe" was the greatest baseball player ever. |
|
|
04. Wayne Gretzky
The "great one" is the NHL's greatest star. |
|
03. Jack Nicklaus
The Golden Bear could always win when it counted. |
|
|
02. Michael
Jordon
Michael redefined the concept of winning and basketball.... |
|
01. Jackie Robinson
His amazing records are one thing, but he personally changed all sports as we know it. |
|
|
Top of page
|
|||||||
| Home | About Us | Film | Friends | Music | Sports | Travel | |
|
|
|||||||
| e-mail: hubs@thehubs.net | © 1999-2002. Bill and Dana Hub All Rights Reserved. |