All-time all sports Mount Rushmore

[Uncle Ruckus]

This came from Thunder and Lightning today. They both agreed on Jordan and Ali but couldn’t come up with two more. Tiger is definitely on there but I struggle with another transcendent athlete. I’d say Usain Bolt, but it’s not a no-brainer like the others.
Ali
Jordan
Bolt
Tiger

 

[Bobby Ricigliano]

Additional suggestions:
Phelps
A futbol player
Federer
Ruth or Aaron

 

[aTotal360]

Phelps, Bolt, Gretzky for sure. They clearly separated themselves from their peers. I don't think Ali was "the Greatest". He just called himself that. People can argue that Jordan wasn't better than Wilt. Hell, some fools think Lebron is better. Tiger hasn't passed Jack yet. I thought about Pele, but Ronaldo and Messi are arguably better. Federer is a possibility, but Joker and Nadal could surpass his records.

I'm not sure who I'd put in the 4th slot. Honestly, Serena might be the answer if she passes Court.

 

[aTotal360]

17 it. Rick Flair is my 4th.

 

[dorndawg]

We have to save important topics such as this for July.

 

[mcdawg22]

I’d replace Pele for Bolt. He was transcendent to the world.

 

[msstatelp1]

This came from Thunder and Lightning today. They both agreed on Jordan and Ali but couldn’t come up with two more. Tiger is definitely on there but I struggle with another transcendent athlete. I’d say Usain Bolt, but it’s not a no-brainer like the others.
Ali
Jordan
Bolt
Tiger

Leave Ali and Jordan add Pele and Thorpe

 

[Drebin]

Leave Ali and Jordan add Pele and Thorpe

Needs more white guys.**

 

[Arthur2478]

For North American Sports Rushmore (I don't know futball), I've got 3 that I feel are solid.

Babe Ruth
Micheal Jordan
Muhammad Ali

The 4th slot could be debated for ages

 

[johnson86-1]

Phelps, Bolt, Gretzky for sure. They clearly separated themselves from their peers. I don't think Ali was "the Greatest". He just called himself that. People can argue that Jordan wasn't better than Wilt. Hell, some fools think Lebron is better. Tiger hasn't passed Jack yet. I thought about Pele, but Ronaldo and Messi are arguably better. Federer is a possibility, but Joker and Nadal could surpass his records.

I'm not sure who I'd put in the 4th slot. Honestly, Serena might be the answer if she passes Court.

Not sure about Phelps as I'm not sure dominating such a niche sport qualifies you for Mt. Rushmore. I do think you have to elevate your sport in the public eye and transcend the popularity of your sport, and he does qualify from that perspective.

I think Jordan and Gretzky are on it. Have to have a baseball representative on it. the Babe? Don't know enough about Bolt to know if he belongs. Is what he has done that different than pass sprinters? Was Jesse Owens dominant? Or did he just dominate the olympics in Germany?

Hard to pick between Nicklaus and Tiger. Tiger was better at is best and certainly transcended the sport. Nicklaus has longevity and the majors records.

 

[KentuckyDawg13]

Eddy Merckx: the greatest cyclist ever.

Hans Rey: Over the years he has won a large number of bike trials riding championships, including German, Swiss and USA National Champion, NORBA World Champ, Winner of the UCI World Champs, and Bike Trial Union Vice World Champ, Bronze Medal MTB Slalom Worlds, and X Games Silver Medal winner in the Trials in 1995 when the X Games were known as the ESPN Extreme Games; but since 1997 has retired from competitive sports to explore the world on his mountain bike adventures.

Nicolas Vouilloz: claimed seven UCI World Championship titles between 1995 and 2002 - including five in a row -, three consecutive Junior titles and five overall UCI World Cup wins.

Anne-Caroline Chausson: has a staggering nine UCI World titles: the French rider was untouchable with eight straight victories from Cairns in 1996 to Lugano in 2003 that followed on from her three-in-a-row Junior titles (plus five consecutive overall UCI World Cups, and even an Olympic medal in BMX).

Greg LeMond: A two-time winner of the Road Race World Championship (1983 and 1989) and a three-time winner of the Tour de France (1986, 1989, and 1990), LeMond is considered by many to be the greatest American cyclist of all time.

 

[patdog]

It's a bit early, but in a few years Mikaela Shiffren is going to shatter all of the all-time skiing records.

 

[aTotal360]

Good point.

 

[aTotal360]

Hate to break it to you, but swimming is less of a niche sport than golf. Swimming actually has more HS participants than golf in the US.

 

[CookieMonster.sixpack]

Bolt is a must

A gold medal in the 100 in three different olympics? Plus his thing is he's fast and his last name is Bolt? I mean, c'mon.

 

[johnson86-1]

Hate to break it to you, but swimming is less of a niche sport than golf. Swimming actually has more HS participants than golf in the US.

True, but swimming has no cultural relevance. It gets some publicity every four years. If you want to leave golf off in favor of Basketball, baseball, soccer, football, tennis, and track, that's absolutely fair. Not sure how it relates to hockey. In the US, I would say golf is more relevant, but guessing that's not true in most parts of the world.

 

[aTotal360]

I didn't see "cultural relevancy" as a pre-req for the list...

 

[Nunya.sixpack]

Need to see their 3 am tweets before I decide. **

 

[Dawg1979]

Ooooooooo He runs fast....... i can pee harder than you! ****

Jordan
Tiger
Pele
Thorpe
Brady - as much as i hate typing that

i don't really consider running fast and swimming fast as sports. i know i'm wrong, and i love watching it, but i'm out on Bolt and Phelps.

Hard alternates: Jim Brown, Jerry Rice, Babe, Hank Aaron, Dale Earnhardt, Mickey Mantle

 

[aTotal360]

No Kevin VanDam?

 

[Bulldog Bruce]

Babe Ruth is definitely on it. Surprised no mention of Jackie Robinson yet.

 

[Ralph Cramden]

Hate to break it to you, but swimming is less of a niche sport than golf. Swimming actually has more HS participants than golf in the US.

And way more people watch it on tv and continue to swim competitively into mid life****

 

[jethreauxdawg]

Good point, but

And way more people watch it on tv and continue to swim competitively into mid life****

If you are going to include Olympic athletes, swimming is the most watched Olympic sport. I know it’s the hardest ticket to get (yes, smaller venue) but it’s also always the prime time event.

 

[dawglurker]

i don't really consider running fast and swimming fast as sports. i know i'm wrong, and i love watching it, but i'm out on Bolt and Phelps.

Hard alternates: Jim Brown, Jerry Rice, Babe, Hank Aaron, Dale Earnhardt, Mickey Mantle

Running and swimming aren't sports but driving a car is? Thank you, Mississippi.

 

[Forrest4Moore]

It's a bit early, but in a few years Mikaela Shiffren is going to shatter all of the all-time skiing records.

Also a smoke show.

 

[UpTheMiddlex3Punt]

Mine:

Pele - Greatest player in the world's most popular sport
Jim Thorpe - Succeeded at practically any sport he attempted
Roger Federer - Representing the individual sports competitors
Babe Ruth - Unless you're the kid from The Sandlot, you've heard of him

 

[archdog]

Jim Thorpe
Jordan, Chamberlin, Bill Russell, Dr. J
Tiger, Jack, Bobby Jones
Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon
Ty Cobb, Lou Gehrig, Babe, Mantle, Bonds, Cy Young, Pete Rose
Tom Brady, Montana, Emmitt Smith, Deon Sanders, Barry Sanders, Reggie White, Dick Butkis, Walter P

Bo Jackson and Dave Winfield - For all sports

Bolt, Owens

Belichek, Madden, Parcels,

Joe Torre, LaRussa, Bobby Cox

 

[Maroon Eagle]

Merckx - Ali - Jordan - Pele

 

[CookieMonster.sixpack]

Ooooooooo He runs fast....... i can pee harder than you! ****

Jordan
Tiger
Pele
Thorpe
Brady - as much as i hate typing that

i don't really consider running fast and swimming fast as sports. i know i'm wrong, and i love watching it, but i'm out on Bolt and Phelps.

Hard alternates: Jim Brown, Jerry Rice, Babe, Hank Aaron, Dale Earnhardt, Mickey Mantle

Yeah, being the fastest human ever is nothing compared to...

*checks notes*

...driving a race car.

 

[Crazy Cotton]

I second Merckx the cannibal. Dude won the tour 5 times and smoked like a pack a day. If you measured his VO2max (oxegen efficiency) against other athletes, it would blow your mind.

 

[EngDawg]

Ruth, Gretzky, Pele, and Jordon.

 

[stateu1]

True, but swimming has no cultural relevance. It gets some publicity every four years. If you want to leave golf off in favor of Basketball, baseball, soccer, football, tennis, and track, that's absolutely fair. Not sure how it relates to hockey. In the US, I would say golf is more relevant, but guessing that's not true in most parts of the world.

Wait. The Olympics aren't culturally relevant?

 

[seshomoru]

Those are the most legendary players from the four most popular sports the world over. This question does in fact have an answer.

Ali would get consideration for societal impact, but that is another list that includes Jackie Robinson, Magic Johnson, and Jesse Owens.

 

[CochiseCowbell]

They already made a cartoon for this: Gretzky, Jordan, Bo...& Will Clark.*

I won a county-wide short story contest writing about the adventures of those 4 plus Pele in 3rd Grade.

 

[Grove Sh*tter]

OJ
Tonya Harding
Aaron Hernandez
Ray Lewis

Honorable mention Oscar Pistorious
**

 

[Dawg1979]

Running and swimming aren't sports but driving a car is? Thank you, Mississippi.

you GD right. Weeeeeeeee! apparently my asterisks need to be on every line.

 

[Herbert Nenninger]

Surprised no one has mentioned Simone Biles

 

[aTotal360]

True. She'd have to be on it. Arguably the most dominant person in any sport ever.

 

[KentuckyDawg13]

What was his VO2 max? I have never seen it mentioned. I know LeMond's was 92 which is freakish. Lance Armstrong was 87. Most elite athletes are in the 60s/70s.

 

[tbaydog]

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