Tomlinson breaks TD mark

[GhettoDogAllStars]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

You a swimmer?

Michael Phelps' older sister was a college teammate of mine. She was pretty good. And pretty damn hot.

And yeah, he earns his Citi reward points crazy fast.

I never swam on a team -- but I respect the sport. Spitz was before my time, and I didn't know who he was until a buddy of mine (a swimmer) told me about him. So, I read his biography and I was very impressed, to say the least. Then, along comes Phelps, and basically outperforms Spitz (probably with tougher competition too). I have a lot of respect for swimming as a sport, because it is very physically demanding -- probably the most physically demanding individual sport.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by GhettoDogAllStars

I never swam on a team -- but I respect the sport. Spitz was before my time, and I didn't know who he was until a buddy of mine (a swimmer) told me about him. So, I read his biography and I was very impressed, to say the least. Then, along comes Phelps, and basically outperforms Spitz (probably with tougher competition too). I have a lot of respect for swimming as a sport, because it is very physically demanding -- probably the most physically demanding individual sport.

I would agree on the physically demanding. If you think about it, when you're in the water, in every direction you move an arm or a leg, you face resistance. It's like lifting weights with every movement you make. It's the ultimate for resistance training.

I swam varsity through high school and college, and I can tell you that while it's really physically demanding, it takes absolutely no skill. You put a bunch of swimmers on a basketball court for five on five and you'll be laughing your ass off at what you witness. Some top swimmers have less hand eye coordination than a newborn baby.

Each sport has it's own value. Swimming's great for a physical test, golf or baseball are great for coordination, basketball for quickness agility and coordination, and football really for everything - speed, strength, power, agility, coordination.

That's why football rules. It tests everything. And if LT becomes the top football player one day, you may be able to say he's the best athlete to ever play sports.

[ArtMonkDrillz]

I used to wrestle in high school and when we couldn't practice because of snow, which happened a lot my senior year, my buddy and I would go up to the indoor pool to swim laps. Even though we were both in really good shape from wrestling we still found swimming unbelievably demanding and draining. Back in the day I could have ran a around the track and up and down the bleachers for an hour like it was nothing, but if I swam 5 laps I'd be completely wiped out.

[Hijinx]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Speaking of which, and this could be a thread in and of itself, but best athletes of all time across all sports? In some order:

Michael Jordan
Babe Ruth
Wayne Gretzky
Jack Nicklaus
Tiger Woods?
Wilt Chamberlain
Mario Lemieux
Babe Didrickson
Mark Spitz
Pete Sampras?
Michael Phelps?

I don't know if there's any one football player that fits in there yet. Some say Payton, Jim Brown, Rice, and then there's a slew of QBs one of which has to be Joe Montana. But Tomlinson could join the conversation someday.

You need Lance Armstrong and Muhhammad Ali on that list.

[GhettoDogAllStars]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

I would agree on the physically demanding. If you think about it, when you're in the water, in every direction you move an arm or a leg, you face resistance. It's like lifting weights with every movement you make. It's the ultimate for resistance training.

I swam varsity through high school and college, and I can tell you that while it's really physically demanding, it takes absolutely no skill. You put a bunch of swimmers on a basketball court for five on five and you'll be laughing your ass off at what you witness. Some top swimmers have less hand eye coordination than a newborn baby.

Each sport has it's own value. Swimming's great for a physical test, golf or baseball are great for coordination, basketball for quickness agility and coordination, and football really for everything - speed, strength, power, agility, coordination.

That's why football rules. It tests everything. And if LT becomes the top football player one day, you may be able to say he's the best athlete to ever play sports.

That's pretty convincing. I never thought about it like that.

[saden1]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Speaking of which, and this could be a thread in and of itself, but best athletes of all time across all sports? In some order:

Michael Jordan
Babe Ruth
Wayne Gretzky
Jack Nicklaus
Tiger Woods?
Wilt Chamberlain
Mario Lemieux
Babe Didrickson
Mark Spitz
Pete Sampras?
Michael Phelps?

I don't know if there's any one football player that fits in there yet. Some say Payton, Jim Brown, Rice, and then there's a slew of QBs one of which has to be Joe Montana. But Tomlinson could join the conversation someday.

#1 - Mohamed Ali!

[mooby]

L.T. is easily the MVP, and he's without a doubt the best running back in the league. I'm glad to see him having such an awesome season, and he always shares the credit with the rest of the offense. It couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

[jdlea]

For my money, the best football player to ever play is Jerry Rice. However, the best running back I had ever seen was Barry Sanders. Now, I'm starting to think LT may well be the best running back of all time, by the time he's done. Gotta look at the whole body of work when you make statements like that, but if he keeps this up, it's gonna be pretty hard to argue with.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by jdlea

For my money, the best football player to ever play is Jerry Rice. However, the best running back I had ever seen was Barry Sanders. Now, I'm starting to think LT may well be the best running back of all time, by the time he's done. Gotta look at the whole body of work when you make statements like that, but if he keeps this up, it's gonna be pretty hard to argue with.

Yeah it's the "keeps this up" part that is in question. Keeping up this torrid pace is a lot easier said than done. Jim Brown, Gail Sayers, and Barry Sanders all went out at the very top of their game. Tough to say what they would have done if they kept playing like Sweetness or Emmitt.

We shall see on LT.

PS I submit that he's a better football player than Lawrence Taylor was, and hence should lay legitimate claim to the LT moniker.

[onlydarksets]

Sanders is hands down the best runner, but LT is the best running back I've ever seen. I can't comment on the earlier guys, 'cause I haven't seen them play.

[dgack]

Barry was the most exciting RB I have ever seen, and he must have inspired some real fear into opposing defenses because no play was ever truly busted when he was involved. Whereas LT can be stopped on any given play, but he just keeps coming back and eventually seems to overpower the D.. like the cliche about running downhill and getting stronger as the game goes on, but he definitely does.

[The Zimmermans]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

I would agree on the physically demanding. If you think about it, when you're in the water, in every direction you move an arm or a leg, you face resistance. It's like lifting weights with every movement you make. It's the ultimate for resistance training.

I swam varsity through high school and college, and I can tell you that while it's really physically demanding, it takes absolutely no skill. You put a bunch of swimmers on a basketball court for five on five and you'll be laughing your ass off at what you witness. Some top swimmers have less hand eye coordination than a newborn baby.

Each sport has it's own value. Swimming's great for a physical test, golf or baseball are great for coordination, basketball for quickness agility and coordination, and football really for everything - speed, strength, power, agility, coordination.

That's why football rules. It tests everything. And if LT becomes the top football player one day, you may be able to say he's the best athlete to ever play sports.

Pro football does not test everything, it's much more of a physical test sport. Football requires far less practice and much more training. The skills in football can be acquired by almost anyone (besides the QB position). Baseball and Basketball require the physical abilities, however, they also require unbelievable amounts of practice (working on jump shot, dribbling, thowing, catching, hitting) football has tremendous athletes, but taking a handoff and running up the field takes much less "skill" than hitting a baseball or making a jump shot. However, I am aware of how difficult it is to develop the balance that is required of a running back, and the ability to read blocks, but that doesnt compare to baseball and basketball skills that must be acquired.

[onlydarksets]

I'm pretty sure that's wrong. Route running, reading blocks, picking up the rush, downfield blocking - those all take considerable skill to master. There are some crazy solid athletes in the NFL who aren't great players.

[The Zimmermans]

so jerry rice was a better athlete than michael jordan???? (two best players of all time at their sports in my opinion)

[hail_2_da_skins]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Speaking of which, and this could be a thread in and of itself, but best athletes of all time across all sports? In some order:

Michael Jordan
Babe Ruth
Wayne Gretzky
Jack Nicklaus
Tiger Woods?
Wilt Chamberlain
Mario Lemieux
Babe Didrickson
Mark Spitz
Pete Sampras?
Michael Phelps?

I don't know if there's any one football player that fits in there yet. Some say Payton, Jim Brown, Rice, and then there's a slew of QBs one of which has to be Joe Montana. But Tomlinson could join the conversation someday.

Who is Michael Phelps? How did he get on this list?

Here is what ESPN think are the top 100 North American sports atheles ESPN.com: Top N. American athletes of the century