The Super Athlete...

AudioSavior

Will we ever see an Gretzky,Jordan or Babe Ruth ever again? Will there ever be a time in sports today where one person will stand out above the rest like the all times greats have? Is it even possible now?

Tyler Durden

In North America, do the sports stars suffer with burn out through too many games etc? I just wonder if that has an effect in the modern game and thus inhibits the sports stars from being what they could be to that level. I guess you could maybe include Tiger Woods as a modern sportsmen who strides over his own sport with that kind of aura.

airr233

Two words.
Lebron James

Freak

By all accounts, I'd say right now we're seeing a few kids who could make similar impacts on their sports.

In hockey, Crosby and Ovechkin have landed in the NHL as youngsters with more impact than anyone I can remember myself. And shit, Crosby is 18 years old.

In basketball, like airr23 said, LeBron is the best all-around player in years, and I'm pretty sure he's still only 20. I'm pretty sure Jordan wasn't nearly as good at that age.

In golf, Michelle Wie has everything it takes to absolutely demolish the LPGA. And obviously don't forget Tiger.

Even football, a sport where no one player has ever really dominated, is going to gain a superstar next year in Reggie Bush... now I don't think one guy is ever going to have a Gretzky/Jordan type impact on football, but Bush is the best prospect we've seen in years.

AudioSavior

Yes, they are all top prospects but other than say Tiger, the people you mentioned seem to fall into the greats but not the greatest category. Can they really stand out with out a doubt be the best there is like Gretzkyand Jordan did?

I know it is too early now, but I still can't picture them being big enough to make us forget about Gretzkyand Jordan, or at least rang them second behind them, but time will tell I guess.

AudioSavior

Yes, they are all top prospects but other than say Tiger, the people you mentioned seem to fall into the greats but not the greatest category. Can they really stand out with out a doubt be the best there is like Gretzkyand Jordan did?

I know it is too early now, but I still can't picture them being big enough to make us forget about Gretzkyand Jordan, or at least rank them second behind them, but time will tell I guess.

Tyler Durden

Just to put that in a little worldwide context, as we are talking about super athletes here....I'd heard of everyone in Ida's original post....never ever heard of this guy Lebron James.

Mr. Kennedy

LeBron James is good, but I don't see him becoming one of the greatest.

Bulldog, James was called by many as the best high school basketball player in the country(I wouldn't know since I don't watch high school sports) and has been called the next Michael Jordan. He even signed a huge sneaker endorsement deal(worth about $200 million I think) before he even dribbled one NBA ball. He may or may not become one of the best ever, only time will tell of coarse, but I don't see him being one of the all time greatest.

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airr233

Lebron James: He is a 6'8" small forward who plays like a shooting guard. He was 19 during his 2nd season.
2nd season: 27.2 ppg, 7.2 assists per game, 7.4 rebounds per game, 2.2 steals per game.

Michael Jordan: Jordan only played 18 games in his 2nd season. In his 3rd season, he was 23 years old. He is 6'6" shooting guard.
2nd season: 37.1 ppg, 4.6 assists per game, 5.20 rebounds per game, 2.8 steals per game.

Now I know Jordan averaged 10 points more per game and is also his 3rd season. He was also 3 years older than James and the fact that Jordan played college ball and James went right to the NBA. James seems like he will be the better all around player.

Last stat:
Jordan's 3rd season record: 40-42
James 2nd season record: 42-40
James 3rd season record: 10-4 (As of 12-2-05)

I think James brings more to make a team better as it was just Jordan's rules when he played on those early Chicago teams.

Spinoff90

In the NHL you probably won't. Players just don't get 200+ points in the NHL anymore. Now players like Crosby will help spark some interest in the game like Gretzky did but never get the points.

In the NBA it could happen but Lebron isn't as good as Jordan so it isn't happening yet.

In baseball with homerun records being made by players like Bonds I would say that has already happened.

Football will always have great players putting up great stats so to pick a best ever from that is hard.