Comments on: Is Rossi the world’s best sportsman?

By: Robert Hill

Robert Hill — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 00:14:19 +0000

Kelly Slater without out a doubt.

By: Greg Russell

Greg Russell — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 02:30:05 +0000

Something has been bugging me about all this enthusiasm for Kelly Slater being the world’s best sportsman. I think I can encapsulate my point by the following: surfing is such a minor world sport that Hawaii competes in it as a separate “country”. The list of (male) world surfing champions reveals that all but two come from just 3 “countries”: Australia, Hawaii and California (i.e., USA). While most people in the world would have a knowledge of what surfing is, I would wager that the majority do not realize it is a sport. This is hard for Australians to understand. And even in Australia, how widely practised is surfing as a sport? It is a bit like, say, sumo-wrestling in being a sport with publicity that is way, way beyond the level of participation, which is actually miniscule by world standards. In view of this I find it very hard to argue for Kelly Slater being the world’s best sportsman.

On the other hand, on a holiday in Spain in 1996 I was surprised to find that every second petrol station had a life-sized cardboard cutout of Mick Doohan advertising a particular product. That rather makes a point about the international popularity of motor-bike riding. In other words, it’s an argument in favor of Rossi.

Incidentally, the two surfing exceptions are Martin Potter (GB, 1989) and Shaun Tomson (SAf, 1977). According to his wikipedia entry, Potter was born in GB but grew up in South Africa. So that is really only one extra country to add to the very small list. Surfing is probably even less of a world sport than rugby league. How many of the Kelly Slater enthusiasts would like to argue that Andrew Johns preceded him as the world’s greatest sportsman?

By: Tom

Tom — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 01:04:13 +0000

Of course all of these measures exclude Beaver Menzies, that just wouldn’t be fair to anyone else. He is head and shoulders above.

By: Adrian Musolino

Adrian Musolino — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 04:15:52 +0000

Mick, professionalism is the key in my opinion - better preparation, sports science, training, medical treatment, more commitment etc.

By: Mick of Newie

Mick of Newie — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 03:47:57 +0000

Is long term dominance of individual sports more prevalent in the last 15 - 20 years? and if so Why?

Lance Armstrong 7 x Tour winner (then retired), Slater 8 x World Champ(only broken by semi retirement), Schumacher mulit x WC (then retired), Sampras then Federer record number of grand slams, Rossi 8 x WC, Tiger (on course for grand slam record). I am sure there are more although womens sport and particularly tennis the domination is shorter.

Is the why, more money and therefore better teams (arguable for Rossi, Schumacher, and Armstrong) but doesn’t explain Slater, Sampras, Federer or Tiger.

By: True Tah

True Tah — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:49:43 +0000

Andrew + Rabbitz,

Kelly Slater would have to be the man, not only is he an unreal surfer with unbeatable track record in a sport where he could get turned into sharkbait, he’s a real gentlemen and besides he has Gisele Bundchen as his girlfriend.

By: Adrian Musolino

Adrian Musolino — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:31:00 +0000

Greg, while I don’t deny Loeb is one of the greats of rallying, his success has come at a time when the World Rally Championship lacks depth in terms of manufacturer support and therefore drivers with the right equipment.

It’s a shame he missed out on the McRae, Burns era of the late nineties.

By: Andrew Logan

Andrew Logan — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:14:01 +0000

I’m with Rabbitz…….it is Slater for sure.

He has 9 World Titles, and is both the youngest and oldest to win a title. The WCT demands a level of consistency and courage that few other sports can match. Every wave is different, and every competitor surfs differently in each wave. Add to this the incredible levels of courage required to surf 10 foot Pipeline, and 15 foot Teahupoo, where death is a very real risk, and you have the most challenging environment in world sport.

To win 9 World Titles in this arena against surfers like Andy and Bruce Irons, Mick Fanning, Mark Occhilupo, Sunny Garcia and Taj Burrow is beyond amazing.

By: Greg Russell

Greg Russell — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 01:19:45 +0000

I am not even convinced that Rossi is the best motorsportsman, let alone the best sportsman. Can anyone convince me why I should regard Rossi more highly than Sèbastien Loeb? As far as I am aware there is not a significant rallying record that he either does not own or will not soon own (when he wins his record 5th world title). During Loeb’s era of dominance he has not been headed by another driver (ditto Mick Doohan), whereas Rossi’s record is blighted by Stoner being clearly better than him in 2007, and actually being faster than him for most of 2008.

I find it difficult to compare across different motorsports, let alone to compare motorsports with other sports. So I’m not saying that Loeb is better than Rossi. But what I am saying is that I can’t see any reason to regard Rossi as being better than Loeb.

And for the record I am not a rallying nut, in fact I don’t have any allegiance to any particular motorsport.

By: Adrian Musolino

Adrian Musolino — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 04:49:29 +0000

Longevity is an often underrated achievement of his - winning races for a decade now in all classes. Especially in a sport that has killed off not just careers but also lives.

At the track yesterday I spotted some Aussie fans wearing a shirt that said - “Better an hour with Rossi than a lifetime with Stoner”

For an athlete to turn some Australians against one of their own says a lot in my opinion.

By: James Ward

James Ward — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 04:40:58 +0000

The more popular the sport the easier for the star to get attention. But Rossi has gone the other way by lifting his sport with his talent and flair

By: David

David — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 04:34:41 +0000

It’s near impossible to compare achievements in different sports.
I reckon Rossi’s media exposure puts him way ahead of Phelps and the like in terms of marketability, popularity, earning power, and influence. I mean, what VR does on the track has huge implications for Yamaha, Bridgestone, all his sponsors (helmets, leathers etc)…the flow-on effect in dollars is enormous. So his commercial influence is worldwide and unmatched.
But look at his achievements. The only rider to win world titles on all classes of machinery: 125cc, 250cc, 500cc, 990cc and now 800cc. Most top class wins. Only rider to change bike manufacturer and win at first attempt (?); wins 2008 title in first year with Bridgestone rubber.
People who aren’t interested in bikes may not think these last two are a big deal, but believe me they are huge.
His technical understanding, physical skill and mental strength are simply amazing.
One by one his rivals have their 15 minutes of fame, then fall away, yet Rossi is still there.
Finishing 2nd from 12th on the grid yesterday after that heavy fall in qualifying says it all.

By: Adrian Musolino

Adrian Musolino — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 03:58:34 +0000

Should media exposure be a determining factor in such a debate?

For example while Phelps was a star of the Olympics, he has fallen off the radar and will not be competing on the global stage for another four years.

Same with Slater and Beachley - surfing just doesn’t have a big enough profile.

By: spiro zavos

spiro zavos — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 21:21:41 +0000

Michael Phelps surely must be a candidate.

By: Rabbitz

Rabbitz — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 01:57:16 +0000

Kelly Slater has nine world championships, Layne Beachley eight. I would contend either of these are as good if not better.

Or maybe Phillip Adams (no not the journo) the farmer from Forbes. The most successful Commonwealth Games athlete with 17 medals? He competed in the very demanding Air Pistol event. I will admit he ended his career in controversy, cleared of a positive drug test - it turned out to be his blood pressure medication was a diuretic.

Rabz

By: James Ward

James Ward — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 01:32:08 +0000

There aren’t too many contenders at the minute but rossi has to be up there especially if you consider entertainment value. Some of those antics are brilliant. Imagine tiger woods carrying around a blow up doll after winning the us open