Schumacher, "The Best Athlete"?

I'd put him up there at least with Jordan if they're talking about fitness,the boxer winning out though.In terms of achievements, he's on equal terms with Ali and Jordan. In fact Scumi is what Jordan is to basketball and Ali to boxing,they've made and evolved their respective sports what they are today and the benchmark for the future.But to say he's not in the same class as Tiger? Please

 

Tiger Woods? Are you kidding me? The most athletic thing he does is walk to the goddamned hole. No golfer is even close to being an athlete. As far as Jordan and the like i would have to say maybe Shumacher isn't quite at thier level but who am i to say. The physical skill required are so different and specialised in racing and other sports that you can't really compare. I would think a basketball player or boxer would be a slightly better athlete. What i do know is this, The last time i drove a racing car i did so comfortably for about 40 laps. The last time i tried to play basketball i damned near passed out after a couple of minutes, lol.

 

Golf is not a sport. It is a hobby. Tiger Woods is currently one of the best at that hobby. Is croquet a sport?

But to call it a sport, to even compare it to true sports that require physical and mental conditioning, is, well, silly.

 

^ ^ while golf might not demand a lot physically, it does demand a lot of mentally.

Anyway, I'm not a great fan of MS but he is indeed greater than Ali, Jordan, Woods, and Agassi. No question.

Edit: .... who the hell is Paylai?

 

I think he meant Pele.

IMO, I don't think you can compare athletes from different times and/or sports. Each is great at what they do and I leave it at that.

 

First guys tapped to be astronauts were...













Big wave surfers

 

100% not true. Tiger Woods is in excellent physical condition, hes as good as he is at golf partially because of his strength.

Saying that all that tiger woods does is walk to the hole is like saying all the MS does is flick his wrists and tighten his neck muscles.

good point golf does not at all require mental conditioning, dufus!

 

What do you guys think of motocross racers as far as athletes?

 

swimming is the most honest sport fitness-wise.

 

Some concider hunting and fishing to be sport. I don't think it is because in a sport the opponent knows that you're playing. Anyways does this make a hunter or a fisher an athlete? I think not... What are some of yall's ideas?

 

That's pretty much the only strenuous thing he does. As far as physical strength, look at who you're comparing him to, other golfers. Sure are a lot of bodybuilders there. I'm not saying he's not in good shape but he could probably never workout and still play the same way. Golf is not a sport, it is a game and probably an art if you're that good, but to say you need to be in great shape to do it is ridiculous.

 

From what i unserstand you need pretty strong arms to do motorcross so i'd say yes.

 

Give the fish or the deer a gun then it's a sport.... : )

 

I think Gretzky is far and away the greatest sports figure ever (even Schumi’s records pale in comparison at this point, Gretzky was “that” much better than everyone else), but in terms of sheer athleticism he is pretty horrible (when he entered the NHL at 18yrs, he was 140lbs and couldn’t bench 100lbs). The same goes for Jordan, Ali, etc. They are good at their respective sports, but as overall athletes none of them is really great. Semantics, but being good at a sport and being an athlete are largely exclusive IMO.

F1 drivers are generally pretty small, it would have to be an exception for one to be a world class athlete in the pure sense. The job tends to require them to be too finely focused in one direction (thin, small -> light, great cardio). That said, MS borders on being that exception. He is in great shape and decent size.

Although I’m pretty indifferent about the sport, I’d have to vote for soccer producing the best overall “athletes.” They seem to have an excellent combination of explosive power and cardio shape. Most other sports tend to lean too far towards power (football, boxing, baseball) or cardio (cycling, running). I know, I know, boxers are in great shape, Terrell Owens runs x miles a day, etc., but overall balance I think soccer players have it. (now if only they could stop crying like girls, and whining for the penguin to pull a little card out of his pocket – is there anything more ridiculous in sports?).

 

It depends on what you mean by "athlete." To me, an athlete demonstrates a host of physical skills and strengths involving the entire body in motion- hand-eye coordination, strength, speed, agility, stamina, reflexes, the ability to overcome pain and opponents, and the particular demands of a given sport.
When I see Formula One drivers, or any other racecar driver, I don't think "athlete," I think "incredibly skilled driver."
When I see a film of Pele or Ali or Jordan or Sampras or Lance Armstrong or Carl Lewis or Bo Jackson, I think "supreme athlete."
It's for no small reason that Larry Bird said Jordan was "God on the basketball court." Someone said something similar about Pele. When was the last time you heard another F1 driver say that about Schumacher?
Having said that, Schumacher is clearly one of a handfull of masters of his sport.


Forza,


Cavallini

 

Precisely my thoughts.


Forza,


Cavallini

 

So far all the posts have been about the physical aspects of an athelete...

The mental strength of an athelete is what actually makes the difference.

Michael Schumacher has greater mental strength then Tiger Woods, Jordan or even Ali.

 

Well, critters always have their game suits on, so whaddaya expect?

 

Turbo6........I was thinking the same......... For duration, a Moto-X guy (real stuff not this stadium crap)........ and if you've never done it you cant appreciate the total body stress it puts on.......they would outlast any of the others. I'd the put a olympic swimmer in there also.

 

I did not say F1, and high-level racing in general, is not very demanding and F1 drivers are not incredibly skilled, nor did I say they are not athletes, unlike professional golfers.

My point, and please excuse the reflex opening line, is that the word "athlete" is a very serious word. As I mentioned in this thread, to me, "athlete" means-- speed, strength, agility, hand-eye coordination, overall coordination, mental and physical stamina, the ability and will to overcome pain and opponents over and over again, AND the specific demands and skills of their chosen sport.
If we accept this definition of the word athlete then rank the sports accordingly, F1 will not be at the top.

Does this mean their skills are not incredible and truly awe-inspiring? No.

Does it mean I would put Schumacher on the level with Jordan or Lance Armstrong or Pele or Sampras? No.

I would put him in the same league as Gretzky- someone with a brilliant, masterful ability in the specific demands of his sport.

As for driving a stick-shift in a Kart car, I would gladly do that if you would come and train with me on the stairs, in the mountains and on the field, in the snow, in the rain, and in 95 degree heat....before we spend hours and hours on the tennis and basketball courts to perfect and polish the sports-specific skills.

Then we'll discuss the word "athlete."


Forza,


Cavallini