who is the greatest sportsman ever?

[lovejoy]

Isn't it Bill Werbeniuk?
I'll go Emil Zatopek.

[ACVilla]

If this were, 'greatest sportsperson' then Navratilova would be in with a shout!

Since it isn't, I suggest Jesse Owens.

My wife has just said Jesse Owens as well.

We named our boy 1 Jesse, he's 1 now. We get some mad looks when we say "Jesse". Poor bugger is gonna get ribbed at school.

[hipkiss92]

All round would be AB de Villiers or CB Fry.

At any one sport surely must be Bradman.

[tomd2103]

Another one for Donald Bradman.  His average is just staggering, especially when considering how the averages of some of the other genuine greats are nowhere near his. 

[passitsideways]

Michael Jordan.

[Hillbilly]

Gehrig, Ray Robinson, Joe Louis, Gebrselassie, Zatopek, Merckx, Blankers-Koen, Serena Williams, Mick Quinn.

[UK Redsox]

Gehrig, Ray Robinson, Joe Louis, Gebrselassie, Zatopek, Merckx, Blankers-Koen, Serena Williams, Mick Quinn.

He was no Wally Pipp

[JD]

Bradman, Zatopek, Owens and Ali for me.

[Hillbilly]

Gehrig, Ray Robinson, Joe Louis, Gebrselassie, Zatopek, Merckx, Blankers-Koen, Serena Williams, Mick Quinn.

He was no Wally Pipp

If ever a man regretted taking a day off sick, it's Wally.

[dave.woodhall]

If anyone else could walk down every street in the world and get mobbed, the answer might not be Muhammed Ali.

[OzVilla]

Depends on how you quantify 'greatest'.

Statistically it's probably Bradman. Showman and popularity wise it's Ali. Longevity and consistency wise its probably Jack Nicklaus. Lifting a team to achieve results by sheer presence then it's Michael Jordan.

Interestingly no mention yet of Floyd Mayweather - highest paid sportsman of all time.

[Villan For Life]

Can a mod add a poll from the nominations we've had so far?

[itbrvilla]

Owens was the first thing to jump in my head when I saw the thread. The videos of Ali on YouTube are incredible.

[PGW]

Ali by a mile

[ADVILLAFAN]

Francis Benali?