Who is the greatest athlete competing today?

Question

Some of today's shining sports stars are on track to surpassing the greats. The record books may hail the likes of Babe Ruth, Wayne Gretzky, Jack Nicklaus, and Michael Jordan. But we have Steve Nash, Tiger Woods, Roger Federer, and Sidney Crosby to name a few.

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Answer 1

Sidney Crosby, professional NHL hockey player at the Pittsburgh Penguins, who is slated to be the next Wayne Gretzky. At age 19, he is already selected to the All-Star Game and currently leading the league in points. The man has talent.

Answer 2

Its fairly simple to eliminate it down to Woods and Federer. Simply put, there are no other athletes that dominate a sport as much as these two do. We used to be able to put Michael Schumacher in this category, but no longer.

Sydney Crosby does not dominate hockey like these two do golf and tennis, so he cannot be considered. No player in any other sport can really be considered because in other sports when you ask who is the best, there are different answers (i.e. hockey, is it Crosby or is it Brodeur). But if you ask the same question in golf and tennis, undoubtedly you will have 99% of the people answer the same way.

Last night on PTI, the question was asked, who would you rather be, Federer or Woods, the answer is quite simple, its not bad being either one. Woods has a slight upper hand in that he has more in endorements and will have a longer playing career. I think there's no doubt that these two will go down as the greatest of all time when their careers are over. One advantage Federer might have, being he is Swiss, depending upon where he lives, his taxes would probably be a lot lower than Woods.

In recent play, Federer is better. Woods came from behind to win this week. Nobody had any hope of beating Roger Federer in the Australian Open dropping not one set.

But I think the debate is futile when the best and the best are at it. Its good that they are gret friends and see no need to go after one another to see who is the best.

All I can say is we should sit back and enjoy watching both of them while we can. Talent like the two of these possess doesn't come along every day.

Answer 3

How is this measured between different sports, that is the question and likely an unfair comparison. However, if you ask me and you did, my answer is this. Do we compare points relative to other great althletes in the same sport and then compare to others from other sports and look at the differential. I prefer to also look at the effect they are having on the sport as a whole and the effect that the athletes image has on the current culture. I would suggest that Tiger Woods has transcended the game of golf and become a household name not only associated with golf anymore. Ask someone in Europe who Tiger Woods is and of course they would likely know who he was, Steve Nash however likely not as prominent a name, nor would Sidney Crosby be as prominent a figure. Neither Steve or Sidney ever play regularly in Europe though. That said perhaps David Beckham might be mentioned, huge dollars that he commands and is very well known and part of the most watched sport in the world, but perhaps the best athletes are the ones of the past that played for little money and only the love of their game, can you imagine Babe Ruth or Ty Cobb or Bobby Orr with a million dollar pay cheque. Most modern day atheletes are in very good condition because of what they have at their disposal and the cash they command from the clubs they play for and the fans who watch. Todays athletes I would say must be rated by their stats there exposure and the relative effect on the game, for that I choose Tiger Woods, a close second would be Wayne Gretzky, Michael Jordan and from the past I think we need to stop the comparison, it was a different time and different games and they are always going to be the best of their times.

Answer 4

The question is who is the greatest ATHLETE competing, not who is the most dominant in their sport, so you can forget Tiger Woods.

He may be the best golfer, and is dominant in his profession, but any sport where 60 year old men can compete can hardly lay claim to having the greatest athlete. Why not include some of the best snooker or darts players as well?

I think football (soccer for you North Americans) requires the highest degree of athleticism and it is the only sport that every country on the planet plays. If you are the best at footie, you really are the best in the world.

And the greatest soccer player today is, with out a doubt, Ronaldinho. Over the last 6-7 years, his teams have won everything there is to win. He's only 26 and if he keeps it up, he may rival Pele as the greatest to ever lace up a pair of boots.

Answer 5

Please people look up your info before talking.Sidney Crosby to
Wayne Gretzky.There not going to be another Wayne Gretzky in
our time.I hate looking at statement like these.Yes he's a very good player but no comparing the two.Next year let's see what he
going to do.Please stop writing this stuff about players who hasn't got there yet.And no stanley cups to show anything or records.The best Athlete by far in the two difference sports is Tiger woods,Roger Federer they both have untouchabl.Tiger had
done more for his sports and took golf to a diffrence level.Yes Federer has won many tournments and rule the Tennis world.I
remember Pete Sampus who retried couple of years.Who have
many titles to compare.There is no one in the golf world to comp
are with Tiger woods today.And for those who think golf is not a
sport.Please go out under the hot sun for 3 to 4 hours.It's a sport
that you need to be in good fit condition.And good mind fit to deal
with so many people behind you arround you.Cameras,and the o
ther players these are the things Tiger deal with.Every day and he
still beats everyone.Or when his dad died he still hasn't lose yet
for me that is outstanding and remarkable.Tiger for me is the ma
n and Athlete in sport today.Speaking of Steve Nash when he can
do the things Micheal Jordan done in his career.There's no co
mparing last year Cobie Bryon won the MVP.When you compare Nash speak of players like John Stockton doing the thing Steve Nash is doing today.I can't stand the comparing to the
great player that left game or still playing the game.Make sure that
the player you're comparing has won champions ship titles.That
the best way to compare if not then why put them in the same field.You can't say what he might do in the years to come to com
pare.

Answer 6

Tiger Woods. Golf does require athleticism (endurance through hot conditions - without a golf car, swing speed generates power similar to a tennis serve, balance). Tennis always has a dominant player - I can think of many just in my short lifetime - Connors, Borg, Sampras, Agassi and now Federer. These have all moved on leaving the stage to Federer. Most of the matches Federer plays are a forgone conclusion before they even begin. The current 2nd, 3rd and maybe the 4th ranked golfers would all be legendary if they did not have the misfortune of playing in the Woods era. Woods consistently wins against a field of opponents who essentially all have a chance to win if he doesn’t. Every season golf produces some 1st time winners, but over time none of them can seem to threaten Woods because of his mental toughness, work ethic and talent. If he quit today he would already be one sport's greatest ever. If He catches Nicklaus’s record for most majors he will be the greatest ever. Don't even mention Gretsky or Crosby (he hasn't won anything). Hockey changes so much from era to era that it is very difficult to determine who were the real greats are. The hockey being played today is already vastly different from the hockey played when Gretsky played. Ken Dryden had his number retired last night and is considered "a great" but he played on 1970's Montreal teams that did not allow enough shots to base greatness on. Gretsky played on a Oiler team which was very good - only partially to his credit. He never won a cup post Edmonton. Woods plays a game that can be benchmarked - he would have acheived greatness even if he played during the time of hickory shafted clubs. Gretsky playing for the Hartford Whalers may not have been much of a story. The Woods story is even more compelling because it has been pre-billed and documented since he was a very young child. I say all of this and I'm not even a fan of his.

Answer 7

For starters anyone who thinks Golf is not an athletic sport probably doesn't play it! I'll tell you trying to hit a small ball perfectly square on the exact centre of the face of a club moving anywhere from 90 miles an hour to 130 miles an hour when that said club is not in your actual visual sight except for impact is pretty hard! Also you play yourself and the conditions not some other less superior individual that you can over power or psych out! And you are requird to keep the body amazingly still yet relaxed at the same time while repeating those movements over and over again under pressure and all outside environments. Golf is an athletic sport and Tiger deserves his props.

The greatest athlete competing cerrently today must be Tiger Woods and very close behind Roger Federer. There are 100 ranked tennnis professionals that Roger has to compete against. He is know doubt dominant but he as previsouly mentioned has not managed to tame all his sporting majors. I also think in his sport skill is less needed compared to strength and fitness. Obviously it takes great skill for him to do what he does but a stronger and fitter tennis player can often win against a better skilled but weaker plalyer.

In golf however strength albeit is needed but it can not dominate the game alone. Bubba watson hits it the farthest as does John Daly but heir individual skill does not get them many wins. Tiger has shown thus far he can conquer all challenges and majors in his sport and he has the mental strength to do it on a regular basis against a far larger field of competitors than any tennis players has to compete against.

Tiger is the Gretzky of sport. The Jordan of domination. No doubt though Federer and Crosby and hopefully Nash will one day join the same ranks as Tiger.

Answer 8

There is no doubt that Tiger will become a guaranteed legend, if he isn't one already at only 31 years old. In fact, I don't need to use his last name for you to know who I'm talking about. Tiger Woods is not only an amazing athlete, but he's brought more attention and popularity to the sport of golf than anyone else. Guys like Roger Federer will be breaking all the records but I just can't see him becoming a household name even if he dominates tennis like no other and will continue to do so for years to come since he's only 25. Sydney Crosby will not come close to Gretzky records so yes, he'll be an all-star and most likely a future hall-of-famer, but he's not "The Great One". A lot was expected of LeBron James but he hasn't dominated in basketball so Jordan's accomplishments are safe too. So, in the end, it's Tiger who get's my vote as the greatest athlete competing today and he should get yours too.

Answer 9

Roger Federer without a doubt. You can't compare Tiger to Roger. 1. tennis is a more physically demanding sport than golf (golf does require some physical prowess but its more mental) 2. Tennis players don't have the luxury of playing well into their 40's (Jack Nicklaus was 46 when he won his last major). 3. You can be out of shape and still win golf championships (John Daly). Overall the skill, mental and physical demands make it so much more challenging and in turn admirable to see someone like Roger completely dominate his sport and become the greatest. He will have broken the record books and happily retire well in time before Tiger Woods ever retires as his game allows for a lesser demanding athlete. As far as the others, Steve Nash has won 2 MVP ( a little premature to call him the greatest, Michael Jordan had already won 4 MVP by Nash's age), Sidney Crosby...wasn't he born yesterday or something? Still has to prove himself to worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as Wayne Gretzky.

Answer 10

I laugh at all the comments about Tiger being the best athlete. In a sport in which the likes of John Daly and Craig Stadler have flourished obviously athleticism is not at the top of the list (this same argument would hold for baseball players as well, although not to the same degree) Tiger is certainly the most dominant golfer, but as far as the best athlete I think not. (not to say that if he didn't put his mind/effort to something else at a young age he wouldn't have been) In an individual sport, (and I am not a tennis fan), I find what Federer has done to be amazing. However from what I see that may have as much to do with Federer being stronger mentally than just the superior athlete. In terms of pure athlete though, the things that Tomlinson can do, truly put him at the top of the list.

Answer 11

These have all moved on leaving the stage to Federer. Most of the matches Federer plays are a forgone conclusion before they even begin. The current 2nd, 3rd and maybe the 4th ranked golfers would all be legendary if they did not have the misfortune of playing in the Woods era. Woods consistently wins against a field of opponents who essentially all have a chance to win if he doesn’t. Every season golf produces some 1st time winners, but over time none of them can seem to threaten Woods because of his mental toughness, work ethic and talent. If he quit today he would already be one sport's greatest ever. If He catches Nicklaus’s record for most majors he will be the greatest ever. Don't even mention Gretsky or Crosby (he hasn't won anything). Hockey changes so much from era to era that it is very difficult to determine who were the real greats are. The hockey being played today is already vastly different from the hockey played when Gretsky played. Ken Dryden had his number retired last night and is considered "a great" but he played on 1970's Montreal teams that did not allow enough shots to base greatness on. Gretsky played on a Oiler team which was very good - only partially to his credit. He never won a cup post Edmonton. Woods plays a game that can be benchmarked - he would have acheived greatness even if he played during the time of hickory shafted clubs. Gretsky playing for the Hartford Whalers may not have been much of a story. The Woods story is even more compelling because it has been pre-billed and documented since he was a very young child. I say all of this and I'm not even a fan of his.