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Rossi rated as one of the best world athletes of the Decade

Discussion in 'Other Racing' started by SpeedLimit?, Jan 7, 2010.

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  1. SpeedLimit?

    SpeedLimit? Karting

    May 19, 2009
    115
    #1 SpeedLimit?, Jan 7, 2010
    Valentino Rossi rated as one of the best world athletes of the decade | The Official MotoGP Website
    As is the norm at the end of the year, and also the decade, the world media has offered its view on the top athletes of the last ten years. With seven premier class World Championship titles since his entry into the category back in 2000, Rossi has secured his spot at the pinnacle of the sport and is now considered one of the best sport stars of the past decade.

    Assessment methods vary; in some cases the athletes themselves vote and set the rankings, while in others it is the readers of prominent publications who decide who has the honour of being considered the best.

    In Italy, Rossi tops the rankings. Over 40% of Gazzetta dello Sport readers consider the 30 year-old to be the best, well ahead of Swiss tennis star Roger Federer (13.8%) and Olympic and World 100m and 200m champion Usain Bolt (8.8%), with Michael Schumacher (7.4%) and the Italian national football team (6.3%) also featuring in the poll.

    There was a similar trend in Tuttosport, with Rossi taking a sizeable 48.6% of the vote, and Bolt 12.4% and Federer 11%.

    In Spain, daily El Mundo registered nearly 30,000 votes from readers with Rossi taking second place with 17% of the share, behind Federer (27.1%) and ahead of Phelps (12.2%).

    El Pais asked the athletes themselves to choose the top stars of 2009, with Rossi coming second with 16 votes, behind Bolt who amassed 47. FC Barcelona forward Lionel Messi came third with seven votes, while Rossi beat Spanish stars such as NBA basketball player for the Memphis Grizzlies, Marc Gasol, as well as cyclists Samuel Sánchez, Carlos Sastre and Alejandro Valverde. Rossi also came ahead of Spanish motorcyclists Toni Bou and Marc Coma, and tennis players David Ferrer and Juan Carlos Ferrero.

    Journalists of the prestigious French paper L’Equipe also developed a specific method for deciding their selection, in which Rossi placed third behind Bolt and Federer, but ahead of Messi and World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb.
     
  2. 2000YELLOW360

    2000YELLOW360 F1 World Champ

    Jun 5, 2001
    19,800
    Full Name:
    Art
    #2 2000YELLOW360, Jan 7, 2010
    G.O.A.T. is an accurate description of his ability. However, he is a major practical joker. Major. If you ever get to go out to dinner with him, make sure that you don't leave him an opening to play a practical joke on you.

    Art
     
  3. GuyIncognito

    GuyIncognito Nine Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jun 30, 2007
    99,802
    #3 GuyIncognito, Jan 7, 2010
    such as? I've always heard that about him, but never heard any specific stories.
     
  4. starboy444

    starboy444 F1 Veteran

    Oct 7, 2006
    7,265
    Toronto, Canada
    Full Name:
    Lucas
    #4 starboy444, Jan 7, 2010
    I agree.........these are all ratings which are "worldwide". Including athletes from Germany, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, etc.


    I read some stupid article about calling Tiger Woods, Brett Favre, and Jeff Gordon included on a best decade 'list'.......What a joke. World athletes do exist outside of NA you know.
     
  5. 2000YELLOW360

    2000YELLOW360 F1 World Champ

    Jun 5, 2001
    19,800
    Full Name:
    Art
    #5 2000YELLOW360, Jan 7, 2010
    I'm not going to post those on a public site. Just remember that motorcycle racers have a definite culture of practical jokes on each other, and leave it at that.

    Art
     
  6. tundraphile

    tundraphile F1 Veteran

    May 16, 2007
    5,083
    Missouri
    #6 tundraphile, Jan 7, 2010
    I think it is safe to call Tiger Woods one of the best world athletes considering he competes worldwide against players from around the globe.

    Rossi remains undoubtedly the best motorcycle racer on the planet and has been for ten years at least. He shows no signs of slowing down and will likely have every record of significance in bike racing before he retires. Agostini's records were considered untouchable and it is just a matter of time before VR holds them all.

    On the subject of motorcycle racers I would include Ricky Carmichael on the dirt side, similar to Rossi as the best of all time in his discipline. He ran the table winning every moto in the US outdoor series. Twice. This was against the best riders in the world (US series is the world championship). I have to admit I always rooted against him, but since 2000 the guy was simply the fastest guy with knobbies in all of the classes and on all the brands he raced. I followed MX/SX for a long time and if they could all race in their prime I can't see any Smets/DeCoster/Hannah/RJ/Bayle/McGrath/Bubba beating RC in a full series.
     
  7. william

    william Two Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jun 3, 2006
    27,647
    #7 william, Jan 10, 2010
    As ranking goes, any list of athletes that doesn't include the moto-cross leading riders has to be a joke.

    Moto-cross is extremely punishing on the whole body and demands exceptional fitness. It is probably physically the most demanding sport there is. The heart rate achieve substained beating rate that are seen in NO other sport, including running or boxing.

    Moto-cross is extremely punishing on the whole body and demands exceptional fitness.
     

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