Best Athlete Ever: Kelly Slater?

[Spilling Green Dye]

I'd actually consider Tony Hawk more of the "best athlete" than Kelly Slater since Hawk has similar accomplishments in a similar event, but in a competition that has more kids competiting in it year to year.  Think about it, most american kids have the opportunity to regularly skateboard, and only a small fraction have the opportunity to regularly surf.

Needless to say, I don't consider Tony Hawk anywhere near the best athlete of all time, but I respect his accomplishments.

[Edgar]

I'd actually consider Tony Hawk more of the "best athlete" than Kelly Slater since Hawk has similar accomplishments in a similar event, but in a competition that has more kids competiting in it year to year.  Think about it, most american kids have the opportunity to regularly skateboard, and only a small fraction have the opportunity to regularly surf.

Needless to say, I don't consider Tony Hawk anywhere near the best athlete of all time, but I respect his accomplishments.

not to mention this 3 guyz.

[D Dub]

In this one M Perla one of my best friends



I respect surf as a demanding activity yet i refuse myself to consider a sport. as much as i attended a lot of tournaments

Is that La Libertad?

[Fan from VT]

Here's my general "Sniff Test" for "Best Athlete Ever:"

Pretend there's an alien invasion. They are a sadistic species; they are going to destroy earth unless a team of 5 of our best athletes can win a series of athletic competitions against the aliens and/or complete some random obstacle course of various skill/coordination/strength/athletic tasks. But here's the catch: we do not get to know the rules of the games before we pick the team!

Given the above scenario, WHO DO YOU SEND??
-Not Kelly Slater
-Not Lance Armsrong (not anymore...maybe when he was a peak Iron Man Triathlete, to cover the Endurance angle)
-Not Tony Hawk
-Not Tiger Woods

[dark_lord]

Here's my general "Sniff Test" for "Best Athlete Ever:"

Pretend there's an alien invasion. They are a sadistic species; they are going to destroy earth unless a team of 5 of our best athletes can win a series of athletic competitions against the aliens and/or complete some random obstacle course of various skill/coordination/strength/athletic tasks. But here's the catch: we do not get to know the rules of the games before we pick the team!

Given the above scenario, WHO DO YOU SEND??
-Not Kelly Slater
-Not Lance Armsrong (not anymore...maybe when he was a peak Iron Man Triathlete, to cover the Endurance angle)
-Not Tony Hawk
-Not Tiger Woods

my nomination might be "thinking outside the box", as he is an athlete, but people dont necessarily look at him as an "athlete"....

BRUCE LEE!!!!  hands down imo

[Donoghus]

Here's my general "Sniff Test" for "Best Athlete Ever:"

Pretend there's an alien invasion. They are a sadistic species; they are going to destroy earth unless a team of 5 of our best athletes can win a series of athletic competitions against the aliens and/or complete some random obstacle course of various skill/coordination/strength/athletic tasks. But here's the catch: we do not get to know the rules of the games before we pick the team!

Given the above scenario, WHO DO YOU SEND??
-Not Kelly Slater
-Not Lance Armsrong (not anymore...maybe when he was a peak Iron Man Triathlete, to cover the Endurance angle)
-Not Tony Hawk
-Not Tiger Woods

I'm sending 1989 Bo Jackson then.

[Fan from VT]

Yeah, it's a fun question. Without Time Machine Technology, here's my preliminary list for tryouts:

Husain Bolt
Lebron James
Rajon Rondo
Wes Welker
Chris Johnson
Trey Hardee (2009 #1 Decathlete)
Josh Smith
Andrei Kirilenko
Dwight Howard
Nate Robinson
Lionel Messi
Cristiano Ronaldo
Andre Johnson
Sydney Rice/Desean Jackson type
Carl Crawford

Clearly there's lots more...I'm probably blanking, but it seems like there isn't really a clear middle linebacker/CB/Safety/Defensive end this year so far. In his prime LT or Ray Lewis would make the cut, or Ed Reed from a few years ago, or Jevon Kearse...Any of those types now? Need to see more from Vick to add him now.

[Fan from VT]

Oh, added Carl Crawford to the above list.

[Boris Badenov]

Considering only a small % of kids growing up in America have the opportunity to surf on a regular basis, and of those small % most of them do it for recreation and not to "beat" anyone (whereas a competitive but fun 5 on 5 game of bball is still competition), and I don't think you can consider Kelly Slater or any surfer the greatest athlete.

No-one is going to question that what he has done is extremely dominant in a very physically demanding sport.  But as was stated here, he is a big fish in a small pond.  I wouldn't even consider him top 20 when you factor in olympic athletes.

I think if you reverse that reasoning, you would conclude that soccer players should be the best athletes in the world. Not that I agree or disagree, I'm just pointing it out.

And if more $ attracts better athletes - and it would have to, really - then USA hoops would be the winner.

[D Dub]

Yeah, it's a fun question. Without Time Machine Technology, here's my preliminary list for tryouts:

Husain Bolt
Lebron James
Rajon Rondo
Wes Welker
Chris Johnson
Trey Hardee (2009 #1 Decathlete)
Josh Smith
Andrei Kirilenko
Dwight Howard
Nate Robinson
Lionel Messi
Cristiano Ronaldo
Andre Johnson
Sydney Rice/Desean Jackson type
Carl Crawford

Clearly there's lots more...I'm probably blanking, but it seems like there isn't really a clear middle linebacker/CB/Safety/Defensive end this year so far. In his prime LT or Ray Lewis would make the cut, or Ed Reed from a few years ago, or Jevon Kearse...Any of those types now? Need to see more from Vick to add him now.

That is a fun thought. 

I might still be inclined to add a waterman type like a Michael Phelps or Kelly/Laird; being the vast majority of our planet is ocean. 
Never know where/how those aliens are going to want to compete 

[Spilling Green Dye]

Considering only a small % of kids growing up in America have the opportunity to surf on a regular basis, and of those small % most of them do it for recreation and not to "beat" anyone (whereas a competitive but fun 5 on 5 game of bball is still competition), and I don't think you can consider Kelly Slater or any surfer the greatest athlete.

No-one is going to question that what he has done is extremely dominant in a very physically demanding sport.  But as was stated here, he is a big fish in a small pond.  I wouldn't even consider him top 20 when you factor in olympic athletes.

I think if you reverse that reasoning, you would conclude that soccer players should be the best athletes in the world. Not that I agree or disagree, I'm just pointing it out.

And if more $ attracts better athletes - and it would have to, really - then USA hoops would be the winner.

I think worldwide soccer is the most competitive, and DEFINITELY trumps surfing.  However my contention was, and always will be, in soccer that you don't use your arms at all. 

As far as pure athletes go, I find it hard to not consider the top olympic athletes (on land, which is where man is built to be) the best.

[Fan from VT]

Considering only a small % of kids growing up in America have the opportunity to surf on a regular basis, and of those small % most of them do it for recreation and not to "beat" anyone (whereas a competitive but fun 5 on 5 game of bball is still competition), and I don't think you can consider Kelly Slater or any surfer the greatest athlete.

No-one is going to question that what he has done is extremely dominant in a very physically demanding sport.  But as was stated here, he is a big fish in a small pond.  I wouldn't even consider him top 20 when you factor in olympic athletes.

I think if you reverse that reasoning, you would conclude that soccer players should be the best athletes in the world. Not that I agree or disagree, I'm just pointing it out.

And if more $ attracts better athletes - and it would have to, really - then USA hoops would be the winner.

I think worldwide soccer is the most competitive, and DEFINITELY trumps surfing.  However my contention was, and always will be, in soccer that you don't use your arms at all. 

As far as pure athletes go, I find it hard to not consider the top olympic athletes (on land, which is where man is built to be) the best.

It may very well be that a soccer player is the best athlete...more worldwide interest, huge money, huge cultural relevance. That's why I threw Ronaldo and Messi into the tryouts.

As far as olympic athletes, it's tricky. On the one hand, because there's very little equipment involved, we are drawing from a huge pool of athletes and thus have a good chance of finding some of the best athletes there are. On the other hand, in many respects we are talking about specializing in some very specific events. Additionally, there's very little (relatively speaking) money drawing people to make long-term careers in track and field; I threw Hardee on the list as he's the most recent decathlon winner, so he's clearly a phenomenal athlete, but really, if he were THAT good growing up, isn't there a great chance he would have played a sport (football, baseball, basketball) where he would make a lot more money/gain a lot more recognition?

[mkogav]

Just my two cents.

How about Karch Kiraly for Best Athlete ever?

• Three NCAA Men's Volleyball Championships in 1979 (undefeated season), 1981, and 1982 (undefeated season). UCLA won 129 matches and lost only 5.
• Indoor Olympic gold medals in 1984 and 1988.
• Olympic beach volleyball gold medal in 1996.
• Kiraly has won 148 professional beach volleyball titles

AVP Best Defensive Player (2002)
AVP Best Offensive Player (1990, 1993, 1994)
AVP Comeback Player of the Year (1997)
AVP Most Valuable Player (1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998)
AVP Sportsman of the Year (1995, 1997, 1998)
AVP Outstanding Achievement (2004).

The FIVB has named Kiraly "Best Player in the World" twice, in 1986 and 1988.

He was inducted into the 2005 AVCA Hall of Fame Class

25+ years of volleyball dominance. Not too shabby.

Mk

[mkogav]

Here's my general "Sniff Test" for "Best Athlete Ever:"

Pretend there's an alien invasion. They are a sadistic species; they are going to destroy earth unless a team of 5 of our best athletes can win a series of athletic competitions against the aliens and/or complete some random obstacle course of various skill/coordination/strength/athletic tasks. But here's the catch: we do not get to know the rules of the games before we pick the team!

Given the above scenario, WHO DO YOU SEND??
-Not Kelly Slater
-Not Lance Armsrong (not anymore...maybe when he was a peak Iron Man Triathlete, to cover the Endurance angle)
-Not Tony Hawk
-Not Tiger Woods

I'm sending 1989 Bo Jackson then.

Bo Know Gorn!

[action781]

Here's my general "Sniff Test" for "Best Athlete Ever:"

Pretend there's an alien invasion. They are a sadistic species; they are going to destroy earth unless a team of 5 of our best athletes can win a series of athletic competitions against the aliens and/or complete some random obstacle course of various skill/coordination/strength/athletic tasks. But here's the catch: we do not get to know the rules of the games before we pick the team!

Given the above scenario, WHO DO YOU SEND??
-Not Kelly Slater
-Not Lance Armsrong (not anymore...maybe when he was a peak Iron Man Triathlete, to cover the Endurance angle)
-Not Tony Hawk
-Not Tiger Woods

Yeah, it's a fun question. Without Time Machine Technology, here's my preliminary list for tryouts:

Husain Bolt
Lebron James
Rajon Rondo
Wes Welker
Chris Johnson
Trey Hardee (2009 #1 Decathlete)
Josh Smith
Andrei Kirilenko
Dwight Howard
Nate Robinson
Lionel Messi
Cristiano Ronaldo
Andre Johnson
Sydney Rice/Desean Jackson type
Carl Crawford

Clearly there's lots more...I'm probably blanking, but it seems like there isn't really a clear middle linebacker/CB/Safety/Defensive end this year so far. In his prime LT or Ray Lewis would make the cut, or Ed Reed from a few years ago, or Jevon Kearse...Any of those types now? Need to see more from Vick to add him now.

I like your list.  Here are my changes:

Husain Bolt
Lebron James
Rajon Rondo
Wes Welker
Chris Johnson
Trey Hardee (2009 #1 Decathlete)
Josh Smith
Andrei Kirilenko
Dwight Howard
Nate Robinson
Lionel Messi
Cristiano Ronaldo
Andre Johnson
Sydney Rice/Desean Jackson type
Carl Crawford

Add:
-Kobe or Dwyane Wade (I like Wade's "basketball athleticism" but Kobe's more intense and varied workout regimen might give him an edge.  Toss up.)
-Michael Vick
-Reggie Bush
-Antonio Gates?
-Allen Iverson?  TO?  Ray Lewis?  All definites 2-5 years ago, maybe on the bubble now, but still might be good enough.