Greatest Sporting Legend?

[London Irish]

 

[Lord Cornwallis]

Lance Armstrong has to be right up there

On his way to a 7th tour win maybe, but still can't hold a candle to Eddy Merckx's record in the cycling stakes. I'd put him behind Hineult [sp] and Anqutil as well.

Steve Ovett anyone?

Fannie Blankers - Koon, just cos I like the name.

 

[Gazwag]

A close call between Ali and Redgrave, but I'd personally go for Redgrave. His career spanned at least 20 years at the very top of his sport, in a sport where physical endurance is absolutely paramount. 5 golds in 5 different olympics, the 5th being 16 years after the first, is truly stuff of legends.

I'm with you

 

[bhaexpress]

Ali for me.

 

[Trufflehound]

Peter Ward

 

[Simster]

Lance Armstrong. Treated for cancer and has won arguably the toughest sporting event in the world no fewer than SEVEN times.

Much as I admire Ali, I don't think even he competes.

 

[Simon Morgan]

gary hart.....seriously

 

[Citrus]

Mark McCammon

 

[Rusco]

It's a tough call between Lance Armstrong and Jessie Owens. although Armstrong has come back from cancer and looks like winning his 7th Tour De France, I would have to go for Jessie Owens. Anyone who can face such fascist racial abuse and go on to win so many golds is a legend in my book.

 

[Tom Bombadil]

Ali by a country mile. What he achieved at a time when the heavyweight division was arguably at it's most impressive was immense. But more then that how his story is woven into the changing social and political landscape. He transcends sport in a way Sir Redgrave never will.

 

[Hydro Driven]

Ali! He was a true legend!!!

 

[Leekbrookgull]

The greatest runner of all time,a working lad from Up North,living on a diet of chips,sometimes fish if he was lucky! Has to be Alf Tupper,he ran em all.

 

[dougdeep]

The greatest runner of all time,a working lad from Up North,living on a diet of chips,sometimes fish if he was lucky! Has to be Alf Tupper,he ran em all.

Damn right! He was my hero as a kid.

 

[Dandyman]

Ali

Both for his sporting achievements and for "no Vietcong ever called me ******"

 

[NMH]

Jackie Robinson

 

[Beach Hut]

Jackie Robinson

Who is she ?

 

[Virgo's Scottish Gran]

Ali

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

has to be lance armstrong. boxers are never legends in my eyes.(trying to brain damage someone is not as a distinguished sport imo) + they have like 3 fights in a whole year....wow.

lance armstrong is an absolute legend along with heali gabresalasi(sp?) AND REDGRAVE in my view

 

[Lord Cornwallis]

Enough with the Lance Armstrong "cancer survivor"
If we are basing legends on overcoming illness, then I'm sure there are many worthy candidates in the special olympics.
As of today, Armstrong has not won a single race this year, although he will probably win the time trial tomorrow, and has a great team around him to carry him most of the way.
He specialises on one event a year,[ not knocking that.] but Eddy Merckx was not called the canibal for nothing. He was winning the spring classics in freezing Belgium, winning the tour of Italy AND the tour de France, then still cleaning up at the tour of Lombardy in September.
LEGEND FACT.

 

[NMH]

Who is she ?

In a heavily repressed racially divisive America, Jackie Robinson played the redneck's own sport of baseball, excelled and stayed the course with decorum.
He was a great example to all, not least to the sport, and broke down some pretty bloody high barriers against odds and, of course, in the face of great adversity.