Bo Jackson/Best Atlhletes Ever

[MuggsyB]

Has there ever been a guy good enough to play pro football, basketball, and baseball?  Jackson probably could have been an Olympic track & field guy.  I know there have been hs 3 sport A-A's .  I think Danny Ainge was and Winfield?   He's a bit before my time but the general consensus seems to be Bo is the 🐐.  Ridiculous speed for a man that size.....or any size. 

[Uncle Rico]

Has there ever been a guy good enough to play pro football, basketball, and baseball?  Jackson probably could have been an Olympic track & field guy.  I know there have been hs 3 sport A-A's .  I think Danny Ainge was and Winfield?   He's a bit before my time but the general consensus seems to be Bo is the 🐐.  Ridiculous speed for a man that size.....or any size.

Ners

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Bo certainly had the capability. The problem is that his football injury not only ended his football career, but it certainly limited his baseball one. In the end his overall grade would need to be incomplete.

Winfield made the baseball HoF. Probably could have played in the NBA too - he was a first team all American.

But don't sleep on Deion Sanders.  He made the Pro Football HoF, but also was a decent baseball player as well. His overall WAR was just slightly below Bo's. Didn't have his power but decent hitter with a ton of speed.

[Jockey]

Bosworth.

[tower912]

Winfield was drafted by professional teams in 3 sports.
Dave Debusschere, NBA and MLB
Jim Thorpe
Jesse Owens
Bo Jackson was amazing pre-hip injury.
Deion, too.
Bob Hayes/Willie Gault

[swoopem]

They’re no where close to Bo or Deion but Julius Peppers and Donavan McNabb both played college hoops. I think they were both rotation guys too, not bench warmers

[MUBurrow]

While not the physical specimen as a lot of these guys, Charlie Ward doesn't get nearly enough love.  Won the Heisman Trophy in 1992 and had a pretty darn successful NBA career for more than a decade, including being an important piece on the successful mid-90s Knicks.

[wadesworld]

MJ was a decent athlete.  If only he could've hit the curve.

[tower912]

While not the physical specimen as a lot of these guys, Charlie Ward doesn't get nearly enough love.  Won the Heisman Trophy in 1992 and had a pretty darn successful NBA career for more than a decade, including being an important piece on the successful mid-90s Knicks.

Good call.

[MU82]

Jim Brown.

[MuggsyB]

Wilt?

I would think LeBron could have played in the NFL.

Tony Gwynn played PG for SDSU. 

[wadesworld]

MJ was the GOAT in basketball and played some professional baseball.

Dan Marino, John Elway, and Tom Brady were all drafted to the MLB.  Among other NFL players who were as well, but those three were HOF good quarterbacks.

[tower912]

Kyler Murray was drafted top 10 by Oakland Athletics, too.

[forgetful]

These things are tough to really determine, because for a lot of sports, e.g. Basketball/Baseball. The players are not really elite athletes. In Basketball they are largely very good athletes, who happen to be tall and have a unique skillset. In baseball it is often even more about the skill set and being an above average athlete.

People like Bo Jackson are outliers (and many NFL skill players are similar), where they are actually elite athletes.

Before I get overly criticized, as an example for the NBA combine, 22 year old me, would have set the high bar for Bench Press reps (remember they use 185 lbs), and been on the upper end of the vertical leap (34": only E.J Liddel would have exceeded that in 2022), and I would have given any of them a run in the running/agility categories. And I was not an "elite athlete" just very good/above average. The problem was, I was only 6'0" and had the skill set of a SF.

So who fits the Bo Jackson type mold. Well definitely Bob Hayes (might have been the best athlete: NFL HOF, Super Bowl Ring, Olympic Gold Medal), Bo, Herschel Walker, Wilt, Deion, Tyreek Hill, Metcalf are ones that were pretty elite athletes. Jordan stands out as pretty unique amongst basketball players (4.38 40, massive vertical), if he developed the WR skillset he'd have been a #1 draft pick.

Bottom line, outside of the skill positions in the NFL, and Soccer, most professional sports are about being an above average athlete, but having an elite skillset.

[Jockey]

Hand/Eye coordination is one of an elite athlete's biggest traits.

[reinko]

Tower on the greens.

[tower912]

Bwahahahahaha.   But no. 

[dgies9156]

The discussion is interesting because the question is whether the greatest athlete either (a) Could do any sport; or, (b) Mastered his/her own sport to a level that no other human had ever before done.

In effect, a generalist versus a specialist.

In that vein, the greatest athlete I've ever seen is Michael Jordan. He did things in basketball that few people before or since have ever done. From the day he stepped on the court at North Carolina, where he mastered Dean Smith's defensive techniques in a few hours, until the last day he left Grant Park as NBA World Champion (I don't count the ill fated time with the Wizards), nobody surpassed Mr. Jordan's excellence. His greatness was evident in the two years he played baseball -- the Bulls were good in those days but not good enough.

Mr. Jordan comes back and guess what, the Bulls are "good enough."

Mr. Jordan was not only great, he made the people around him greater. That's the mark of a genius.

The closest I ever saw to Mr. Jordan was Michael Phelps and, perhaps, Mark Spitz, in swimming. Both dominated at the inevitably corrupt Olympics at a level never before seen. So much so that not even corrupt, sleazy Olympic officials could take their accomplishments away from them.

I'm sure there are soccer players that may have a similar story, but I don't follow that sport the way I do the "Big 3" in the United States.

[forgetful]

Another one to add to the list, and to highlight why skillset is so important.

Randy Moss: 2x West Virginia Basketball Player of the year (impressive given he played with Jason Williams).

6'4", 210 lbs, insane vertical, low 4.3's for 40 yard dash.

Could have probably went on to a very successful NBA career, chose Football.

Compare to Jordan

6'6", 205 lbs, insane vertical, massive hands, 4.38 40 yard dash.

Would have had a Moss like NFL career if he decided to focus on WR skills. Chose basketball...GOAT.

[withoutbias]

These things are tough to really determine, because for a lot of sports, e.g. Basketball/Baseball. The players are not really elite athletes. In Basketball they are largely very good athletes, who happen to be tall and have a unique skillset. In baseball it is often even more about the skill set and being an above average athlete.

People like Bo Jackson are outliers (and many NFL skill players are similar), where they are actually elite athletes.

Before I get overly criticized, as an example for the NBA combine, 22 year old me, would have set the high bar for Bench Press reps (remember they use 185 lbs), and been on the upper end of the vertical leap (34": only E.J Liddel would have exceeded that in 2022), and I would have given any of them a run in the running/agility categories. And I was not an "elite athlete" just very good/above average. The problem was, I was only 6'0" and had the skill set of a SF.

So who fits the Bo Jackson type mold. Well definitely Bob Hayes (might have been the best athlete: NFL HOF, Super Bowl Ring, Olympic Gold Medal), Bo, Herschel Walker, Wilt, Deion, Tyreek Hill, Metcalf are ones that were pretty elite athletes. Jordan stands out as pretty unique amongst basketball players (4.38 40, massive vertical), if he developed the WR skillset he'd have been a #1 draft pick.

Bottom line, outside of the skill positions in the NFL, and Soccer, most professional sports are about being an above average athlete, but having an elite skillset.

Sick flex, Ners.

[dgies9156]

In our lunch conversation today, this subject was brought up and as part of this discussion, we have left one person off everyone's list:

Serena Williams

Ms. Williams dominated women's tennis as no other woman ever has, before or since. She was an incredible athlete. Period.

Think of what it takes to be a championship tennis player -- power, agility and speed. More so than a wide receiver and on par with a basketball player.

I'm surprised it took so long before anyone thought of Ms. Williams. She's got to be up there with Mr. Jordan.

[MuggsyB]

Nadal probably could have played pro soccer and golf. 

[MuggsyB]

In our lunch conversation today, this subject was brought up and as part of this discussion, we have left one person off everyone's list:

Serena Williams

Ms. Williams dominated women's tennis as no other woman ever has, before or since. She was an incredible athlete. Period.

Think of what it takes to be a championship tennis player -- power, agility and speed. More so than a wide receiver and on par with a basketball pla

I'm surprised it took so long before anyone thought of Ms. Williams. She's got to be up there with Mr. Jordan.

Her serve is perhaps the most dominant weapon in the history of sports.  It's so far and away better than the 2nd best server in women's tennis history (both 1st and 2nd) it's laughable.  It's like a cheetah racing Usain Bolt. 

[MuggsyB]

I apologize for not stating best human athletes ever.  We know what would happen to Phelps vs a Sailfish. 

[Silkk the Shaka]

Brian Jordan played in the NFL then had a long MLB career

[Silkk the Shaka]

While not the physical specimen as a lot of these guys, Charlie Ward doesn't get nearly enough love.  Won the Heisman Trophy in 1992 and had a pretty darn successful NBA career for more than a decade, including being an important piece on the successful mid-90s Knicks.

Agreed, probably would have had a good shot at QB in modern times considering the stature many are coming out at now (Kyler Murray, Bryce Young, Caleb Williams) and the premium placed on mobility. Was a really smart player in both sports too

[Dr. Blackheart]

Willie Gault.  Sprinter, Olympic bob sledder, NFL WR.

[WhiteTrash]

Carl Lewis. Sprinter, Long jumper, Singer.

[MU82]

There's a difference between "best" athletes and "most accomplished" or "most successful" athletes.

The first eliminates golfers, 99% of baseball players, and others from sports requiring less pure athleticism to succeed. Babe Ruth was obviously not one of the best athletes, but he also obviously was one of the most accomplished/successful athletes.

The way I understand the OP is to discuss the Bo Jackson types who were "best" athletes - so good that they were (or could have been) standouts in numerous sports.

And so I'll repeat: Jim Brown.

Many long-time observers still insist he was not only the best RB ever but the best football player ever. He also was a two-time lacrosse All-American who has been enshrined in the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame, and he lettered in both basketball and track at Syracuse.

So in Jim Brown, you have not only a "best" athlete (a man with incredible athletic ability) but also a "most accomplished" one (an athlete whose ability let him excel in numerous sports).

And unlike many football players from his era, he would not have been too small to compete in other eras, including the current one. He was listed at 6-2, 232.

I wouldn't be surprised if someone could come up with a few others who could challenge Brown's all-around excellence as an athlete, but how many were/are legitimately better?

Not just "so-and-so could have been great at football and track," too ... but an athlete who actually WAS great at numerous athletic pursuits?

[forgetful]

Sick flex, Ners.

I'm no where near the athlete as Ners. I mean, he regularly dunked in pick up games in the rec center.

And I know it likely came across as a flea, but the reality was/is I was an above average athlete, but there were better athletes than me in high school, and far far better athletes in college.

What sets these dominant sport athletes apart is their skillsets, and in the case of basketball (and football), maintaining good athletic ability at unusual sizes.

People always underestimate how skilled they are. Watch a video of Shaq ball handling (he might be a bad ball handler by NBA standards, but he had tremendous skills), or go watch any even "bad" college/NBA shooter shoot around. Bad shooters are better than 99% of your rec center type players.

[dgies9156]

The first eliminates golfers, 99% of baseball players, and others from sports requiring less pure athleticism to succeed.

As John Kruk once said, "I'm not an athlete, I'm a baseball player!"

[lawdog77]

There's a difference between "best" athletes and "most accomplished" or "most successful" athletes.

The first eliminates golfers, 99% of baseball players, and others from sports requiring less pure athleticism to succeed. Babe Ruth was obviously not one of the best athletes, but he also obviously was one of the most accomplished/successful athletes.

The way I understand the OP is to discuss the Bo Jackson types who were "best" athletes - so good that they were (or could have been) standouts in numerous sports.

And so I'll repeat: Jim Brown.

Many long-time observers still insist he was not only the best RB ever but the best football player ever. He also was a two-time lacrosse All-American who has been enshrined in the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame, and he lettered in both basketball and track at Syracuse.

So in Jim Brown, you have not only a "best" athlete (a man with incredible athletic ability) but also a "most accomplished" one (an athlete whose ability let him excel in numerous sports).

And unlike many football players from his era, he would not have been too small to compete in other eras, including the current one. He was listed at 6-2, 232.

I wouldn't be surprised if someone could come up with a few others who could challenge Brown's all-around excellence as an athlete, but how many were/are legitimately better?

Not just "so-and-so could have been great at football and track," too ... but an athlete who actually WAS great at numerous athletic pursuits?

I would put Wilt up there as well.
https://youtu.be/1WsCtyLGg1w

Edit: Wilt played pro volleyball for the Southern California Bangers. Sometimes the jokes just write themselves

[DegenerateDish]

Curt Hennig.

[JWags85]

They’re no where close to Bo or Deion but Julius Peppers and Donavan McNabb both played college hoops. I think they were both rotation guys too, not bench warmers

Peppers was, he had a big game in the NCAA tourney and was their high scorer I believe.  But McNabb played in only like 15 games over 2 seasons at Cuse, never averaged more than 5-6 min, he was definitely not in the rotation.

Nadal probably could have played pro soccer and golf. 

Stop.  He was talked as a "promising soccer player" before he was a teen which just means he was one of the better players in his peer group at that age.  The difference between that and being even a low level pro is IMMENSE.   He wasn't even a high level academy player.  For example, in his marquee sport, I had a family friend who was a top ranked tennis player in the Midwest during his pre-teens (10-12).  He ended up walking on at a lower level D1 tennis program. And golf?  Come on.  I know he's your guy but easy there 

And so I'll repeat: Jim Brown.

Many long-time observers still insist he was not only the best RB ever but the best football player ever. He also was a two-time lacrosse All-American who has been enshrined in the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame, and he lettered in both basketball and track at Syracuse.

I'm not the biggest fan of the guy, but Jim Brown would be my pick as well.  And he likely could have been a great boxer as his off the field affinities and activities suggest...

Speaking of the man who opened the thread, Ive met Bo twice, he is/was business partners with a family that a friend of mine married into.   I just remember thinking when I met him, even in his 50s, he was such a physical specimen it was staggering and almost took me aback, and I was close friends with a number of higher level D1 football players in my college days.  Bo is also an insanely friendly and humble dude.

[Plaque Lives Matter!]

Seems a lot harder to be a multi sport athlete these days than the old days, I tend to let that play into my calculus on the subject. I also value those who played more than one sport closer to the modern era. Bo Jackson is up there for me. Lebron didn’t continue football into college but he was a terror on the field.

If we are talking excelling at sports that are quite different from each other, Jim brown and Babe Zaharias go across the spectrum. But the level of talent in their sports is so much deeper now who knows what would happen in modern day.

Bo Jackson might have been into Esports

[JWags85]

Seems a lot harder to be a multi sport athlete these days than the old days, I tend to let that play into my calculus on the subject. I also value those who played more than one sport closer to the modern era. Bo Jackson is up there for me. Lebron didn’t continue football into college but he was a terror on the field.

If we are talking excelling at sports that are quite different from each other, Jim brown and Babe Zaharias go across the spectrum. But the level of talent in their sports is so much deeper now who knows what would happen in modern day.

Bo Jackson might have been into Esports

I agree with your overall point, but Bo grew up in smaller town central Alabama.  A freak athlete there is always gonna be a football player, even now

[Dr. Blackheart]

There's a difference between "best" athletes and "most accomplished" or "most successful" athletes.

The first eliminates golfers, 99% of baseball players, and others from sports requiring less pure athleticism to succeed. Babe Ruth was obviously not one of the best athletes, but he also obviously was one of the most accomplished/successful athletes.

The way I understand the OP is to discuss the Bo Jackson types who were "best" athletes - so good that they were (or could have been) standouts in numerous sports.

And so I'll repeat: Jim Brown.

Many long-time observers still insist he was not only the best RB ever but the best football player ever. He also was a two-time lacrosse All-American who has been enshrined in the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame, and he lettered in both basketball and track at Syracuse.

So in Jim Brown, you have not only a "best" athlete (a man with incredible athletic ability) but also a "most accomplished" one (an athlete whose ability let him excel in numerous sports).

And unlike many football players from his era, he would not have been too small to compete in other eras, including the current one. He was listed at 6-2, 232.

I wouldn't be surprised if someone could come up with a few others who could challenge Brown's all-around excellence as an athlete, but how many were/are legitimately better?

Not just "so-and-so could have been great at football and track," too ... but an athlete who actually WAS great at numerous athletic pursuits?

Don't forget women beater and rapist in those pursuits.

[Plaque Lives Matter!]

Don't forget women beater and rapist in those pursuits.

Unfortunately there are a higher number of these in our “GOAT” discussions than we’d like to admit (Kobe, Malone, Ronaldo, etc)

[Herman Cain]

There's a difference between "best" athletes and "most accomplished" or "most successful" athletes.

The first eliminates golfers, 99% of baseball players, and others from sports requiring less pure athleticism to succeed. Babe Ruth was obviously not one of the best athletes, but he also obviously was one of the most accomplished/successful athletes.

The way I understand the OP is to discuss the Bo Jackson types who were "best" athletes - so good that they were (or could have been) standouts in numerous sports.

And so I'll repeat: Jim Brown.

Many long-time observers still insist he was not only the best RB ever but the best football player ever. He also was a two-time lacrosse All-American who has been enshrined in the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame, and he lettered in both basketball and track at Syracuse.

So in Jim Brown, you have not only a "best" athlete (a man with incredible athletic ability) but also a "most accomplished" one (an athlete whose ability let him excel in numerous sports).

And unlike many football players from his era, he would not have been too small to compete in other eras, including the current one. He was listed at 6-2, 232.

I wouldn't be surprised if someone could come up with a few others who could challenge Brown's all-around excellence as an athlete, but how many were/are legitimately better?

Not just "so-and-so could have been great at football and track," too ... but an athlete who actually WAS great at numerous athletic pursuits?

Jim Brown is in the GOAT discussion for two sports, Football and Lacrosse . He was so formidable in Lacrosse they had to change the rules of the sport because of him.  Brown was also a very strong track athlete (placed well in AAU Decathlon which speaks to his overall athleticism )  and was a collegiate basketball player at Syracuse averaging 13.1 per game and was drafted by the NBA.

[MU82]

Don't forget women beater and rapist in those pursuits.

By most accounts, he was a reprehensible human being. Also quite possibly the greatest athlete ever.

Classic case of two things being true.

[lawdog77]

Curt Hennig.

This guy?

[MU1in77]

Bosworth.

While watching the college football championship game my bride informed that Bosworth was the sheriff in the Dr Pepper “Fansville” commercials. All these years of seeing those commercials and I never recognized him.

[Dr. Blackheart]

By most accounts, he was a reprehensible human being. Also quite possibly the greatest athlete ever.

Classic case of two things being true.

Yes. He was the "greatest" in those pursuits too! His shot put of his girlfriend off a two story balcony was a record never to be broken (just her bones).

Do you rewatch Harvey Weinstein movies and Bill Cosby reruns too?  Jim Brown should never be on any serious "GOAT" list.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

While watching the college football championship game my bride informed that Bosworth was the sheriff in the Dr Pepper “Fansville” commercials. All these years of seeing those commercials and I never recognized him.

What? I absolutely love those commercials but had no idea that was the Boz.

BTW this is hilarious...though a little long.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9QvLl6cVRg

[real chili 83]

Tony Mandarich.

[Galway Eagle]

Not saying the greatest but Steve Nash has to be in the conversation given his soccer skills along with basketball.

[Uncle Rico]

Tony Mandarich.

George Perles bringing the Steelers steroid program to East Lansing for them a Rose Bowl and a few NFL teams some bad draft picks like Mandarich and Percy Snow

[MU82]

Yes. He was the "greatest" in those pursuits too! His shot put of his girlfriend off a two story balcony was a record never to be broken (just her bones).

Do you rewatch Harvey Weinstein movies and Bill Cosby reruns too?  Jim Brown should never be on any serious "GOAT" list.

Well, there's a take.

[JWags85]

Marv Marinovich texted me to say that Todd should be on this list

[Plaque Lives Matter!]

Yes. He was the "greatest" in those pursuits too! His shot put of his girlfriend off a two story balcony was a record never to be broken (just her bones).

Do you rewatch Harvey Weinstein movies and Bill Cosby reruns too?  Jim Brown should never be on any serious "GOAT" list.

Two things can be true about a person at once.

Tyreek hill, Peyton manning, ray lewis, Jason Kidd, Kobe… the list goes on and on for hall of famers. Greatest of all time is in reference to athleticism. If you want to include off the field parts of that too, well that’s up to you. But that’s not what this discussion was about.

Obviously there’s a degree of severity to who I listed above but you get the point.

[Uncle Rico]

Marv Marinovich texted me to say that Todd should be on this list

He’s dead.  Spooky

[Dr. Blackheart]

Two things can be true about a person at once.

Tyreek hill, Peyton manning, ray lewis, Jason Kidd, Kobe… the list goes on and on for hall of famers. Greatest of all time is in reference to athleticism. If you want to include off the field parts of that too, well that’s up to you. But that’s not what this discussion was about.

Obviously there’s a degree of severity to who I listed above but you get the point.

Yeah, I get the point.  But yeah, I also get it's a really bad take.