Britain's best sports person

[Bedford Roughyed]

Best implies on field performance to me, whereas greatest is on field plus 'breaking through' to the wider public consciousness.

There are plenty of people, who are the best, year after year.  But to be the greatest you need to beak through to fans of other sports and non fans.

Beckham, Hamilton, Wilkinson broke out of their sports.  

 

[Gerrumonside ref]

55 minutes ago, Bedford Roughyed said:

Best implies on field performance to me, whereas greatest is on field plus 'breaking through' to the wider public consciousness.

There are plenty of people, who are the best, year after year.  But to be the greatest you need to beak through to fans of other sports and non fans.

Beckham, Hamilton, Wilkinson broke out of their sports.  

 

Yes, but to be fair Beckham wouldn’t be in a Top 50 of all time British footballers.

[Derwent]

54 minutes ago, Gerrumonside ref said:

Yes, but to be fair Beckham wouldn’t be in a Top 50 of all time British footballers.

That’s not true. He might not be in the top 10 but he was a much better player than he’s given credit for. 

[Gerrumonside ref]

1 minute ago, Derwent said:

That’s not true. He might not be in the top 10 but he was a much better player than he’s given credit for. 

Where would you put him?

[DavidM]

Tommy Mattinson has won the World Gurning Championships 18 times . End of discussion 

[Derwent]

45 minutes ago, Gerrumonside ref said:

Where would you put him?

I don’t know, I haven’t made a list. But he’d be in the top 50 I’m sure of that. His passing range was superb, as was his dead ball ability, and I say this as someone who hated Man Utd with a passion. It was only his lack of pace that stopped him being genuinely elite world class. 

[Gerrumonside ref]

12 minutes ago, Derwent said:

I don’t know, I haven’t made a list. But he’d be in the top 50 I’m sure of that. His passing range was superb, as was his dead ball ability, and I say this as someone who hated Man Utd with a passion. It was only his lack of pace that stopped him being genuinely elite world class. 

He was good but the top 50 all time is an exceptional list.

Its all subjective anyway and modern fans tend to weight against players they haven’t seen on YouTube - I’m not suggesting that of you, but it happens.

I think Beckham made the most of what he had and was of course a great celebrity at a time when football in England started to attract a demographic that had eluded it and gentrified somewhat.

Edited August 3, 2024 by Gerrumonside ref

[Red Willow]

Murray played in an era of 3 outstanding players and won against them. It is difficult to say how he would have been in a different era.

Daley Thompson mastered several disciplines and was very good at the others. Held some views I disliked but still has to be one of the best all round athletes.

As for football Beckham excelled at self promotion (or the wife did) There are far more footballers who were better players, that didn't reach the public in the same way.

[Sidi Fidi Gold]

17 minutes ago, Red Willow said:

Murray played in an era of 3 outstanding players and won against them. It is difficult to say how he would have been in a different era.

Daley Thompson mastered several disciplines and was very good at the others. Held some views I disliked but still has to be one of the best all round athletes.

As for football Beckham excelled at self promotion (or the wife did) There are far more footballers who were better players, that didn't reach the public in the same way.

One of the best things Beckham did was marrying Posh Spice and letting her PR team get hold of him,

[Bearman]

This is a no brained

Not only my opinion but in his obituary the Times called him the greatest sportsman that ever lived

Charle Burgess Fry

England Cricket International

England Soccer International

Played in the FA Cup Final

Played Union for The Barbarians

One time world record breaking long jumper

Oxford rowing Blue

oxford Tennis Blue

top golfer, skier and skater

 

His party trick was to jump backwards from a standing start onto a mantlepiece.

He was so well thought of that the Albanians offered him the throne of Albania!

So go on trump that lot with the Johnny come lately Parvenues you lot are putting forward.

[Sidi Fidi Gold]

1 minute ago, Bearman said:

This is a no brained

Not only my opinion but in his obituary the Times called him the greatest sportsman that ever lived

Charle Burgess Fry

England Cricket International

England Soccer International

Played in the FA Cup Final

Played Union for The Barbarians

One time world record breaking long jumper

Oxford rowing Blue

oxford Tennis Blue

top golfer, skier and skater

 

His party trick was to jump backwards from a standing start onto a mantlepiece.

He was so well thought of that the Albanians offered him the throne of Albania!

So go on trump that lot with the Johnny come lately Parvenues you lot are putting forward.

There was an older bloke at work who was the 1972 Normanton and District worm charming champion.

[graveyard johnny]

Jockey Wilson

[HawkMan]

7 minutes ago, graveyard johnny said:

Jockey Wilson

Don't forget the legend that is Giant Haystacks.

Edited August 5, 2024 by HawkMan

[Futtocks]

Given some of the posts on the political thread, I'm surprised nobody's nominated Peter Howard yet.

[Futtocks]

Just now, HawkMan said:

Don't forget the legend that is Giant Haystacks.

I recently watched Give my Regards to Broad Street for the first time in decades, and it was nice to see Giant Haystacks just chatting amiably with Macca instead of his somewhat limited ring persona.