| gmc74 |
Since one4gatr threw it out there... what do you think the 3 greatest sports records are?
I think this is tough, each sport is so different and takes such unique talents. For me personally, endurance in a sport is the most impressive. Those that can do something for a long time, that is impressive. With that idea in mind, these three seem fitting (in no particular order)
Cal Ripken breaking/setting the consecutive games played record at 2,632. That is such an amazing number!
Brett Farve's record of most consecutive regular season starts at quarterback - 237. In the NFL, where concussions and injuries occur on a weekly basis, this is an amazing record
Lance Armstrong's 7 consecutive tour de france wins has to be one of the biggest accomplishments in all of sport.
Those are 3 off the top of my head, other notable moments -
Nolan Ryan throwing two no hitters after age 40.
Randy Couture winning and defending the UFC heavyweight title at age 44
George Foreman winning the Heavyweight Boxing title at 45
Randy Johnson throwing a perfect game at age 40
Roger Clemens 7 Cy Young awards... everything about the rocket is amazing.
The greatest moment in sports to me is still the US win over Russia, and subsequent win over Finland to win the gold in 1980 |
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| Maik |
| Bill Russell winning 12 NBA Championships in 14 years. |
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| trixie |
| Elsie McLean, 102, Becomes Oldest Golfer to Make Hole-in-1 on Regulation Course |
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| JimH |
Cael Sanderson of Iowa State U. where he was undefeated in 4 years with a 159-0 record and 4 NCAA college wrestling titles.
Oklahoma football 47 game winning streak (53-57 seasons).
UCLA Basketball winning 10 National titles within a 12 year span; coached by john Wooden. |
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| laborlitigator |
DiMaggio's 56
Cobb's .366 lifetime batting avg
Wooden's 10 NCAA titles |
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| jhue |
Are there separate lists for drug-enhanced and non-drug enhanced performances?
How about top-three most disgraceful sports performances? |
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| laborlitigator |
| Well, Bonds, McGuire and Sosa would probably be my top 3. |
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| gmc74 |
quote:
Originally posted by laborlitigator
Well, Bonds, McGuire and Sosa would probably be my top 3.
Were you going for the disgraceful?
I really hope A-rod continues his pace and one day shatters bonds' record, he is a squeeky clean player, and baseball really needs that. |
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| greatscot |
| Pele's appearance as youngest player to play in a World Cup Match (Brazil v. Sweden, Stockholm 1958) |
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| drjay |
| Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game, not to mention the season he achieved a 50.4 ppg average. |
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| gmc74 |
quote:
Originally posted by drjay
Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game, not to mention the season he achieved a 50.4 ppg average.
I have to agree, this one is up there... |
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| one4gatr |
quote:
Originally posted by drjay
Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game, not to mention the season he achieved a 50.4 ppg average.
I was going to say Wilt's 10,000... |
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| laborlitigator |
| not humanly possible |
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| jhue |
quote:
Originally posted by one4gatr
I was going to say Wilt's 10,000...
I take it that's not a career point total, but an off-court accomplishment? |
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| drjay |
quote:
Originally posted by jhue
I take it that's not a career point total, but an off-court accomplishment?
Wilt claimed he had sex with 20,000 women over a period of 40 years, starting when he was 15.
That's roughly 10 women a week. I think his autobiography should be shelved under fiction! |
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| eRauL |
quote:
Originally posted by drjay
Wilt claimed he had sex with 20,000 women over a period of 40 years, starting when he was 15.
That's roughly 10 women a week. I think his autobiography should be shelved under fiction!
He probably counted them in basketball-term... you know, 2 points for every basket. |
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| gmc74 |
quote:
Originally posted by drjay
Wilt claimed he had sex with 20,000 women over a period of 40 years, starting when he was 15.
That's roughly 10 women a week. I think his autobiography should be shelved under fiction!
I agree
I could see how he could bang 4 or 5, even 7-10 a week for the majority of his paying days, but beyond that, no way.
I could honestly say that after banging a different chick every night for a year, I would be taking time off... |
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| one4gatr |
quote:
Originally posted by gmc74
I agree
I could see how he could bang 4 or 5, even 7-10 a week for the majority of his paying days, but beyond that, no way.
I could honestly say that after banging a different chick every night for a year, I would be taking time off...
I guess it really depends on your libido.... without incriminating myself... I could see maybe half that (10k) number in your "prime". I do believe the 10k (the original #) to be a stretch... |
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| crmsnidol |
quote:
Originally posted by gmc74
Nolan Ryan throwing two no hitters after age 40.
Randy Couture winning and defending the UFC heavyweight title at age 44
George Foreman winning the Heavyweight Boxing title at 45
Randy Johnson throwing a perfect game at age 40
Roger Clemens 7 Cy Young awards... everything about the rocket is amazing.
UFC isn't mainstream enough to make many people's list but Couture is amazing and his last two fights against Sylvia and Gonzaga exemplify the skill and the heart that got him into the UFC hall of fame. He held the titles in two weight classes too!
Foreman was more of a sideshow. No real boxing finesse in his later years - just a big guy who could take a lot of punishment, throw hard and not go down. He fought some real shlubs with notable exceptions including a great bout with Holyfield. |
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| gmc74 |
quote:
Originally posted by crmsnidol
UFC isn't mainstream enough to make many people's list but Couture is amazing and his last two fights against Sylvia and Gonzaga exemplify the skill and the heart that got him into the UFC hall of fame. He held the titles in two weight classes too!
Foreman was more of a sideshow. No real boxing finesse in his later years - just a big guy who could take a lot of punishment, throw hard and not go down. He fought some real shlubs with notable exceptions including a great bout with Holyfield.
I really didn't know what to expect against Gonzaga, but he handled him perfectly.
This is a great month for the UFC... a huge fight in London between Rampage and Henderson, and in two weeks we will see how the iceman returns after his loss.
I agree that Foreman could have been more impressive, but at age 45 it is impressive that he could take so much punishment and come out and end the fight, he was way behind when he finished the fight for the title. |
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| drjay |
| Let's not forget the amazing Jerry Rice, with 22,895 receiving yards. |
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| jhue |
The list so far has been very USA, stick-and -ball centric.
Michael Schumacher - Seven Formula 1 World Championships, 91 Formula 1 race wins |
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| MDteX |
| Byron Nelson winning 11 professional golf tournaments in a row. Another feat they will probably never be equalled. |
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| MDteX |
quote:
Originally posted by jhue
The list so far has been very USA, stick-and -ball centric.
Michael Schumacher - Seven Formula 1 World Championships, 91 Formula 1 race wins
What is Formula 1??? :D Is that some new drink for an infant??
Too bad the US just isn't into Formula 1 like South America and Europe. I guess we have NASCAR which translates into "go fast and turn left."
There are probably some other feats/records that are outstanding in their own realm (is there a Bill Russell of curling or a Nolan Ryan of darts???) but they just don't have the coverage or following in the USA so we know little if any about them. |
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| JimH |
Jesse Owens accomplishment in a 1935 Big Ten track meet:
He tied the 100 yd. world record, and set 3 new world records in the 220 yd. dash, 220 low-hurdles, and long jump. A pretty good day for a track star. |
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| gmc74 |
quote:
Originally posted by jhue
The list so far has been very USA, stick-and -ball centric.
Michael Schumacher - Seven Formula 1 World Championships, 91 Formula 1 race wins
My issue with Formula one these days is that whom ever gets the poll is probably going to win... there is no room for passing on those tracks
Add to that the fact that there aren't any limits on spending, and it is a race based on what can be afforded, not driving.
i.e. 100,000 tire warming blankets... |
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| laborlitigator |
| Greg Raymer winning the WSOP and then making it to the final 20 the next year. Surpassing approximately 12K players. |
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| greatscot |
quote:
Originally posted by MDteX
. . . (is there a Bill Russell of curling . . . ??) . . .
Big Angus MacTavish :19: |
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| jhue |
quote:
Originally posted by gmc74
My issue with Formula one these days is that whom ever gets the poll is probably going to win... there is no room for passing on those tracks
The track width isn't the reason why there is little, if any passing in F1.
The reason has everything to do with aerodynamics. The car in back loses downforce when closely following the car in front. That makes it hard to pass even if the car in back is much faster than the car in front.
I really like what Champ Car did wth the aero package on their new chassis. They specifically designed it so that downforce wouldn't be compromised too much by closely following another car. That makes it much easier for a faster car to pass a slower car, and leads to better racing. |
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| laborlitigator |
quote:
Originally posted by jhue
The track width isn't the reason why there is little, if any passing in F1.
The reason has everything to do with aerodynamics. The car in back loses downforce when closely following the car in front. That makes it hard to pass even if the car in back is much faster than the car in front.
I really like what Champ Car did wth the aero package on their new chassis. They specifically designed it so that downforce wouldn't be compromised too much by closely following another car. That makes it much easier for a faster car to pass a slower car, and leads to better racing.
:lurk:
I'm actually learning a lot here. |
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| gmc74 |
quote:
Originally posted by jhue
The track width isn't the reason why there is little, if any passing in F1.
The reason has everything to do with aerodynamics. The car in back loses downforce when closely following the car in front. That makes it hard to pass even if the car in back is much faster than the car in front.
I really like what Champ Car did wth the aero package on their new chassis. They specifically designed it so that downforce wouldn't be compromised too much by closely following another car. That makes it much easier for a faster car to pass a slower car, and leads to better racing.
You are definitely correct with how the aerodynamics work, but I don't think that is the cause. It seems to me that there aren't a lot of spots to pass, logistically, on these tracks. The aerodynamics may play a roll as well...
either way, watching a multimillion dollar version of follow the leader isn't my idea of fun :) |
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| gmc74 |
quote:
Originally posted by laborlitigator
Greg Raymer winning the WSOP and then making it to the final 20 the next year. Surpassing approximately 12K players.
I am surprised someone hasn't said this isn't a sport yet. I don't view it as a sport as much as a competition. It is as much a sport as pool, darts, etc...
It is really impressive what Raymer was able to do the next year, it is such a crap shoot now. When I was registerring for the WSOP, Raymer was behind me in line. I chatted with him for about an hour, he is a really nice, smart guy. |
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| jhue |
quote:
Originally posted by gmc74
You are definitely correct with how the aerodynamics work, but I don't think that is the cause. It seems to me that there aren't a lot of spots to pass, logistically, on these tracks. The aerodynamics may play a roll as well...
either way, watching a multimillion dollar version of follow the leader isn't my idea of fun :)
Well, the two are related in a way. Because of the aero problems when following another car, the only places to pass are a long straight that leads into a slow corner. Many tracks don't have that a feature like that anywhere on them, and the races on them are more like a parade.
Monaco is an example of a track where there really is no room to pass. There are a couple other circuits that also have no real overtaking zones. But if it were not for the aero problems when following another car, a lot more locations would open up as overtaking zones on most tracks.
The FIA is trying to come up with rules that will reduce the problem of lost downforce by the trailing car. Since Champ Car is now a spec series, where everyone uses the same chassis, and the sanctioning body controls the design, it was possible for them to design the car to specifically address this problem. This compromises ultimate performance a little, which is why you'd never see any constructor do this in F1, but in Champ Car everyone has to use the same chassis. |
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| laborlitigator |
quote:
Originally posted by gmc74
I am surprised someone hasn't said this isn't a sport yet. I don't view it as a sport as much as a competition. It is as much a sport as pool, darts, etc...
To me, golf's not a sport then. I think that when the opponent cannot play defense against you, it really can't be a sport. |
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| jhue |
quote:
Originally posted by laborlitigator
To me, golf's not a sport then. I think that when the opponent cannot play defense against you, it really can't be a sport.
So all the track and field events in the Olympics, and let's see, Alpine and Nordic skiing, figure skating, speed skating - none of those are sports either?
But chess might be a sport, because you can play defense there?
I like one stand-up comic's litmus test which tells you if it is a sport or not: Can you place a bet on it? |
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| gmc74 |
quote:
Originally posted by jhue
So all the track and field events in the Olympics, and let's see, Alpine and Nordic skiing, figure skating, speed skating - none of those are sports either?
But chess might be a sport, because you can play defense there?
I like one stand-up comic's litmus test which tells you if it is a sport or not: Can you place a bet on it?
I think he has you there laborlitigator...
dictionary.com has it as -
"an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature, as racing, baseball, tennis, golf, bowling, wrestling, boxing, hunting, fishing, etc. "
I tend to agree. I love poker, play way too much of it and it is taxing on your body (ever sit at a poker table for 14 hours), but it isn't an athletic activity...
Competition? Yes, athletic? No. |
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