Every sport has that one true icon. Baseball has Babe Ruth. Basketball has Michael Jordan. Golf has Tiger Woods. Hockey has Wayne Gretzky. Boxing has Muhammed Ali. Who is football's most iconic figure?
2007-09-04 12:55:56 · 14 answers · asked by jm42445 5 in Sports ➔ Football (American)
I would say either Vince Lombardi, Walter Payton or Joe Montana
2007-09-08 12:20:00 · answer #1 · answered by paul s 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, based on your list (which I don't disagree with) you need to ask the question "Who is the greatest of all time" There is very little argument about the answer in the other sports.
Now in football, one might be inclined to try to name a QB. An initial response might be Joe Montana. But then you will have those who claim Elway, or Manning, or Marino, or Unitas or Bradshaw, or Starbaugh, or Young. As you can see, it's not an easibly answerable question, Therefore, the QBs are out.
What about wide receiver? That does have and easy answer, Jerry Rice. But he played in an era and under a system that help inflate his numbers. Don Hutson , Ray Berry or Elroy Hirsch may have been just as dominant. And besides, when you think of the archetype of a football player, wide receiver doesn't leap to mind.
How about defense? Once again, different eras dictate how a player is judged. Dick "Night Train" Lane may have been the best defensive player of all time, but he doesn' t jump to mind. When you think D, you think linebacker. So who Butkus, Bednarik, Lambert, Singletary, Lewis, LT? There are too many to make just one the icon.
So it comes down to running back. Once again a position where the statistical outputs have changed during various era. But a running backs job is pretty pure overall. You're gonna get the ball 25 times a game, you're gonna get the hell beat out of you, and your success or failure will pretty much determine whether or not we win. Payton was great, but played for few winning teams. Emmitt has the records, but is he really the greatest running back of all time? Fans of Barry Sanders will say he wasn't even the greatest running back of the 90s. LT is fabulous, but it's still too early to tell.
So the question is, who do most people reflexively name when asked "Who is the greatest running back of all time?"
The answer : Jim Brown.
Who's black and white highlights can you watch and say I've never seen anything else like this before : Jim Brown
Who, if he had played 16 game seasons instead of 12 would still be the leading rusher of all time : Jim Brown
It's the one football argument over which there is very little debate. Jim Brown was the greatest football player, if not the greatest athlete of the second half of the 20th century.
And there's your answer.
Jim Brown
2007-09-04 20:14:31 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
JOHN ELWAY!!
He is what football is all about. I have never seen such a special Lombardi moment as when Bolen passed Elway the trophy and said "this one's for John" (still puts chills down my spine)....
All of the above mentioned players are great (and there are great arguments for each)...but I submit Elway because he was really the leader of a team, a man who deeply cared about the game, cried when he left it, and still, despite not being at the top of all of the records categories, is deemed to be truly a great.
2007-09-04 20:39:24 · answer #3 · answered by Yestheyrefake 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Vince Lombardi
2007-09-04 20:01:41 · answer #4 · answered by NInnyhammer 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Football is the one sport that does not have one because it is a true team sport. Even QBs do not qualify as an iconic figure. Personally when I think of football, I think of walter Payton, but that is because I am a Bears fan.
I'm sure packer's fans think of Favre, 49'ers fans think of Joe Montana, Giants Fans think of LT, Lion's fans think of Barry Sanders, etc...
2007-09-04 20:03:25 · answer #5 · answered by The law is a form of tyranny. 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
there really isnt any cause there were so many greats in several different positions. favre for being an iron man, brady for super bowl wins, manning for yards. then barry sanders for most exciting player to watch, walter peyton for being a powerhouse. the list goes on. i cant see just one player.
actually, when i come down to think of it. although he wasnt a player, he was an important figure. Vince Lombardi. his name is the super bowl trophy.
2007-09-04 20:01:25 · answer #6 · answered by The Claymaker- Go Pack! 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's gotta be Vince Lombardi For the fact that he's got that trophy named after him. He's well known and really was an icon.
2007-09-08 13:51:06 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
probably a coach in either the NFL or NCAA. I would nominate Vince Lombardi and Bear Bryant. John Madden is a honorable mention.
2007-09-04 20:01:52 · answer #8 · answered by captaincarney 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lombardi
2007-09-04 23:33:01 · answer #9 · answered by Quant 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Brett Favre! Appologies to Johnny Unitas. Jordan is not basketball either - it's Wilt Chamberlain! Tiger is up there with Nicklaus, Hogan, and Jones, but he isn't the man yet. Sounds like you are only into the modern!
2007-09-04 20:24:17 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋