The greatest sportsperson?

[cocklord]

Macho Man Randy Savage.

 

[Rita_Poon]

For me, being a "great" sportsperson goes beyond medals and ups and wins. It also means great sportsmanship.

So whoever conceded a far from obvious gimme in the Ryder Cup between, I think, Jack Nickolas and Tom Watson, to square the match and not lose the cup if he missed.

There will be plenty of others, obvs.

edit. Sommet like that anyrate.

Yes theres tales of remarkable courage and heroism far from the adulation of the sporting arena that allow a glimpse of the true character and decency of a person. Gino Bartali is one that jumps to mind easily.

 

[FrenchDarrenBent]

Eddy Merckx.
Don't care about all these North-American jocks mentioned here. Wayne Gretzski??

 

[cocklord]

Doug Mountjoy.

 

[Alanbileysfeathercut]

Macho Man Randy Savage.

Steve Austin 3.16

 

[Alanbileysfeathercut]

Eric the Eel

 

[helpimonfire]

Patrick Barrie

 

[Rita_Poon]

Jocky Wilson

Wilson was a constant sweet-eater and generally refused to brush his teeth ("My Gran told me the English poison the water"); he had lost his last tooth by the age of 28. Following his 1982 World title win, he paid £1,200 for dentures, but never took to them. They made him belch when drinking, he complained.

Bill Werbeniuk, played snooker in an era where beta blockers were allowed then banned. So to calm his nerves and reduce 'yips' in his arm, would drink a pint of lager per frame. Imagine being beaten by him 19 frames to 18...

 

[cocklord]

Kris 'awooga' Akabussi.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

For me, being a "great" sportsperson goes beyond medals and ups and wins. It also means great sportsmanship.

So whoever conceded a far from obvious gimme in the Ryder Cup between, I think, Jack Nickolas and Tom Watson, to square the match and not lose the cup if he missed.

There will be plenty of others, obvs.

edit. Sommet like that anyrate.

If that's the case, then someone like Gino Bartali qualifies. As well as winning the Tour twice, the Giro three times, Milan-San Remo four times, and Lombardia three times, he also played a crucial role in supporting the Italian Resistance during the war and hid a Jewish family in his cellar. Until his death, he never boasted of his deeds.

"The good is done, but it is not said. And certain medals hang on the soul, not on the jacket."

 

[roydo]

If that's the case, then someone like Gino Bartali qualifies. As well as winning the Tour twice, the Giro three times, Milan-San Remo four times, and Lombardia three times, he also played a crucial role in supporting the Italian Resistance during the war and hid a Jewish family in his cellar. Until his death, he never boasted of his deeds.

"The good is done, but it is not said. And certain medals hang on the soul, not on the jacket."

Never heard of him, but in your sport, thats a decent haul of titles anyrate. Its just my observation, that being a great can transcend who won the most. And that does not mean we should discuss Marcus Rashford!

Like when Flintoff consoled Brett Lee after he narrowly failed to score the winning runs in the 2005 Ashes.

 

[cocklord]

Never heard of him, but in your sport, thats a decent haul of titles anyrate. Its just my observation, that being a great can transcend who won the most. And that does not mean we should discuss Marcus Rashford!

Like when Flintoff consoled Brett Lee after he narrowly failed to score the winning runs in the 2005 Ashes.

Derek Pringle.

 

[cocklord]

Who was Ireland greatest football player? It's either Roy Keane, Paul McGrath, Liam Brady, or George Best.

Judging it on an all island basis, i think George Best is very much the winner here. Down south i think Liam Brady would edge this for me.

You must be forgetting about Iain Dowie.

 

[cocklord]

Andy Murray is worth a shout

You must be forgetting about Jeremy Bates.

 

[Martin Alvito]

For me, being a "great" sportsperson goes beyond medals and ups and wins. It also means great sportsmanship.

So whoever conceded a far from obvious gimme in the Ryder Cup between, I think, Jack Nickolas and Tom Watson, to square the match and not lose the cup if he missed.

There will be plenty of others, obvs.

edit. Sommet like that anyrate.

It was Nicklaus and Jacklin, IIRC. Nicklaus conceded it with the famous line that amounted to, "I didn't want you to live with a miss."