I'd have to say Gretzky or Hamm from the list you have.

 

Ali for boxing.

Bird and Magic for basketball.

John McEnroe for tennis.

Joe Namath for football.

Jesse Owens and Roger Bannister for track.

Lance Armstrong for biking.

Mark Spitz for swimming.

Nadia Comaneci for gymnastics.

Eric Heiden for speed skating.

Joe Dimaggio for baseball.

 

Sven Nundstromson for curling

Sorry about the lack of choices, I have just finished a 18 page paper before I wrote this thread.

 

lets just list who have made the biggest contributions.

I think that if you asked the common everyday folk these questions they may have a tough time answering:

Who is Jim Brown?

Who is Wayne Gretzky?

Who is Julius Erving?

 

Those names that are not tough to recall for the non-sports minded:

 

Who is Michael Jordan?

Who is Babe Ruth?

Who is Tiger Woods?

 

I'll vote for the Bambino! Followed closely by the other 2

I think that if you asked the common everyday folk these questions they may have a tough time answering:

Who is Jim Brown?

Who is Wayne Gretzky?

Who is Julius Erving?

 

Those names that are not tough to recall for the non-sports minded:

 

Who is Michael Jordan?

Who is Babe Ruth?

Who is Tiger Woods?

 

I'll vote for the Bambino! Followed closely by the other 2

 

Pete Rose for OTB

I don't know who he is, so I couldn't vote for him even if he did.

 

Long Distance Runner

I think Jackie Robinson is the obvious choice for baseball.

I'd have to say Gretzky or Hamm from the list you have.

 

Ali for boxing. Agree.

Bird and Magic for basketball.

John McEnroe for tennis.

Joe Namath for football.

Jesse Owens and Roger Bannister for track.

Lance Armstrong for biking.

Mark Spitz for swimming.

Nadia Comaneci for gymnastics.

Eric Heiden for speed skating.

Joe Dimaggio for baseball.

 

Boxing - agree; add Sugar Ray Leonard and Howard Cosell.

Basketball - Agree totally. MJ was spectacular, but the Bird/Magic rivalry rescued the league from oblivion.

Tennis - add Connors, Borg and Billie Jean King.

Football - the 1958 Colts-Giants game put the NFL in the public eye.

Track - agree; maybe add Carl Lewis.

Biking - agree.

Swimming - agree.

Gymnastics - agree; add Olga Korbut and Kerri Strug.

Speed Skating - agree; add Bonnie Blair.

Baseball - add Ruth, Cal Ripken and Roberto Clemente.

 

Golf - Arnie put the game on the map, Nicklaus and Tiger later on.

Bowling - Earl Anthony.

I think Jackie Robinson is the obvious choice for baseball.

Now that I think about it, yeah your right. (Lord that hurt to say.)

I don't know who he is, so I couldn't vote for him even if he did.

 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Prefontaine

 

Curiously, there were two movies based on his life that were made at almost exactly the same time.

 

He was noted for his run-ins with the AAU, challenging their stance on amateurism in track and field.

Now that I think about it, yeah your right. (Lord that hurt to say.)

 

How true; and how embarassing not to say so in my recent post. Add Curt Flood to the list as well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Prefontaine

 

Curiously, there were two movies based on his life that were made at almost exactly the same time.

 

He was noted for his run-ins with the AAU, challenging their stance on amateurism in track and field.

 

He is the M.Jordan or Tiger Woods of Track. You saw Pre run, and you would say, I have NEVER seen someone run like that. He used the outrageous strategy of never pacing himself in a race. Which is sucide for most( I am a college long distance runner)

Pre is the winner I think.

 

I voted Pre too.:thumb:

From the options listed and in order....

 

1 - PreFontaine

2 - Hamm

3 - Gretsky

4 - Marino

5 - Maddux