Who are the Top 10 sportspeople since 1975?
Roar Pro
By Jason Cave, 2 Feb 2010 The Crowd is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- Australian Open, Boxing, Cricket, Golf, motor sports, Roger Federer, Tennis, Tom Watson
136 Have your say
Tom Watson of the US plays a shot on the fifth tee during the opening round of the British Open Golf championship, at the Turnberry golf course, Scotland, Thursday, July 16, 2009. AP Photo/Peter Morrison
Roger Federer’s victory in the Australian Open has got him to sixteen Grand Slam victories, making him, without doubt, the greatest tennis player of all time. But where does he rank alongside names such as Ali, Jordan, Woods, and Schumacher?
Here is my Top 10 sportspeople between the period 1975-2010:
1. Roger Federer (tennis)
2. Tiger Woods (golf)
3. Muhammad Ali (boxing)
4. Carl Lewis (Olympics)
5. Mark Richards (surfing)
6. Greg Norman (golf)
7. Peter Brock (motor)
8. Valentino Rossi (motor)
9. Allan Border (cricket)
10.Tom Watson (golf)
Honourable mentions:
Ronaldo (football)
Serena Williams (tennis)
Michael Phelps (Olympics)
What do you think of this list?
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Kurt said | February 2nd 2010 @ 5:01am | Report comment
Jason – I appreciate that articles like this are intended to spark debate and discussion, but some of the names on your list are, ahem, controversial shall we say? Difficult to argue with Federer, Woods and Jordan. Ali is of course a great but I think he did most of his best work pre-75, and I’ll give you Carl Lewis over Phelps. But Peter Brock and Greg Norman? Are you serious? The Shark is perhaps the biggest serial choker in golfing history, and Brocky, despite being something of a childhood hero of mine, hardly belongs in such exulted company. As for AB, how does he get the nod over Warney or Tendulkar?
Tifosi said | February 2nd 2010 @ 5:43am | Report comment
You are missing number 5 on that list. Im assuming its Michael Schumacher
Bob said | February 2nd 2010 @ 8:33am | Report comment
and where the hell is Joe Roff?!?!?!?!
Jerry said | February 2nd 2010 @ 8:42am | Report comment
I’m a bit puzzled about the absence of Morgan Turunui, personally.
Bob said | February 2nd 2010 @ 8:52am | Report comment
yeah Matt “The Pie Eater” Dunning seems to be missing as well! simply for his pie eating abilities
Devon Head said | February 2nd 2010 @ 9:16am | Report comment
I have many fond memories of Turunui galloping around the paddock… He did however do his best work in the changeroom and for that reason he cannot be named in the same breath as the legendary Joe Roff!!
Jerry said | February 2nd 2010 @ 11:52am | Report comment
His best work was getting those new tight jerseys over the top of his sizable puku. LEGEND.
Bob said | February 2nd 2010 @ 12:21pm | Report comment
The most famous of these involves the man simply known as Hendodgy!!! A man more pre-astoric than a cave man yet with virtually identical tuning techniques..
What makes this particular event so famous is the blending of a number of sporting disciplines namely Roller Blading and gymnastics (in particular the floor routine & tumbling) This man displayed perfection with everything he did that fateful day on Pindari Crescent… Right from the start you knew it was this man’s day… A rocket propelled start, perfect flowing lines down the most grueling and unforgiving of streets. For most athletes merely finishing would have been a dream come true, but not for a man that shits excellence that is Hendodgy!!!! With the finishing line within sight Hendodgy unleashed to what is this day the most devastating of finishing maneuvers and far superior to the tactics shown by Speed skating legend Steven Bradbury. It was like a car crash, it was all in slow motion… the twisting, the tumbling, the balance, the grace… Time stood still as the world watched Hendodgy create his magic..
To this day many people wonder was this a fluke, was it just one mans lucky day?? What I can tell you is this… it was destiny and for all those that witnessed this great feat they can walk around just that little bit taller knowing they were there to share that most precious of events..
Devon Head said | February 2nd 2010 @ 1:52pm | Report comment
Now that sounds like a truly amazing tale.. Who is this mystery Hendodgy character?? Please fill me in Bob
sheek said | February 2nd 2010 @ 6:49am | Report comment
One of my workmates was given the nickname ‘von Krupp’.
He would make the bombs & bullets (rumours & innuendoes) then sit make & watch everyone go at each other’s throats!
I think Jason might be a bit like this….. !!!
Jason von Krupp Cave….. xxoo….. !
Whiteline said | February 2nd 2010 @ 7:48am | Report comment
You’re on a hiding to nothing with this.
Mattay said | February 2nd 2010 @ 7:49am | Report comment
No Usain Bolt = me not interested
Redb said | February 2nd 2010 @ 7:57am | Report comment
Not enough Olympic, soccer and tennis players, too many golf and motor sport. Alan Jones in F1 achieved more than Brocky.
How can you include cricket but not baseball or any of the other huge American sports? eg: Basketball and a bloke called Michael Jordan?
Olympic athletes over such a long period should dominate this list.
Redb
AndyRoo said | February 2nd 2010 @ 8:43am | Report comment
No Michael jordan is a big miss…and 3 golfers!
I guess each to their own and I would have had Maradonna in their as well.
Dogz R Barkn said | February 2nd 2010 @ 8:08am | Report comment
It’s an interesting list, but in all honesty, very few of us are excited by a list of individuals playing individual sports earning mega bucks overseas.
Most of our heroes play teams sports, and generally peculiarly Australian team sports at that. I know many “sports experts” don’t like to hear that, but well, there you have it.
Give me Mortimer, Lamb and El Masri any day.
rich1612 said | February 2nd 2010 @ 8:26am | Report comment
Nice idea but the options are too broad to even have a debate about, if think various categories work best and seem to encourage the best options and debate.
Couple of options could include best Olympic athletes since the 1984 games, Best Winter Olympic athletes since WW2 – that might be a good one as we approach the Vancouver Games. I’m far from qualified but I do remember some great/entertaining athletes such as Zurbriggen, Tomba, Heiden etc…
DaMan3000 said | February 2nd 2010 @ 8:39am | Report comment
Not to mention Shaun White. That kid is off the chain!
Tim said | February 2nd 2010 @ 8:39am | Report comment
What about these guys? Surely they at least rate an honourable mention.
Lance Armstrong
Michael Schumacher
Kelly Slater
Michael Jordon
Wayne Gretzky
Mike G said | February 2nd 2010 @ 2:13pm | Report comment
If (&, it’s a BIG if), Surfing was to be considered of such worldwide importance then surely Kelly Slater HAS to be the one?? Even Layne Beachley has more merit to this list than MR
Jeb said | February 3rd 2010 @ 8:54am | Report comment
I think any list has to START with those names. All the best ever in their respective (and massive) sports.
Obviously Woods, Federer would be added. Then Maradona. And Phelps and Bolt for being the best ever at the universal sports of swimming and running.
Brocky, with all due respect, would come in the top 10,000. maybe.
Hammer said | February 2nd 2010 @ 8:46am | Report comment
Peter Brock ?? … that’s got to be the best laugh I’ve had for sometime …
True Tah said | February 2nd 2010 @ 11:55am | Report comment
Peter Brock is an important part of Australian culture, but yes his inclusion really questions the knowledge of the author.