The thankless task of choosing the greatest
With Roger Federer winning Wimbledon for the eighth time earlier this week, the inevitable discussion turns to whether he is the ‘‘Greatest of all time’’ (GOAT). Maybe the Swiss maestro is but it is up for debate. Members of the Otago Daily Times sports d
STEVE HEPBURN
➊ Michael Jordan
When one thinks of athletes, the name of Michael Jordan is never far away.
Had the ability to do things on the court that few could. And possessed an unmatched steel and determination.
Led many statistical categories when defences were better and the game was more challenging.
➋ Roger Federer
Tennis is a simple game which has been going on across the world for more than 100 years. But Federer is a class above everyone.
He has an allcourt game, and has won on all surfaces. Sure Nadal has beaten him more on clay but Federer is better on more surfaces.
Moves with grace and guile.
➌ Jackie JoynerKersee
She won two gold medals at the Los Angles Olympics and still holds the world record for the heptathlon, nearly 30 years after setting it. A worldclass long jumper.
Was also a top basketballer who could have gone a long way in that sport if athletics had not got in the way.
➍ George Best
A flawed genius and one wonders how good he could have been without the distractions.
Best was a character but backed that up with ability on the paddock. Should have done better but flaws were too much for him
Played for a top club, too.
➎ Sebastian Coe
Nothing is purer in sport than getting out and running, although perhaps it is not as pure as it used to be.
The blue riband event of the track is the 1500m and Coe was one of the best at it. Won two gold medals in a row in the 1980s during one of the sport’s golden eras.
ADRIAN SECONI
➊ Muhammad Ali
Ali told us he was the greatest. He was right. Who else could have wrestled alligators, tussled with a whale, handcuffed lightning and thrown thunder in jail? Brilliant in and out of the ring — he shook up the world by helping usher in social change as well.
➋ Pele
The man with the magic boots could find a way out of a maze in the dark if he was dribbling a football. His ability to beat a defender defied logic and gives him the nod over Diego Maradona. And he collected three World Cups without asking God for a hand.
➌ Don Bradman
Has the most famous average (99.94) in sport and was harder to pry from the crease than Winston Peters is from the halls of power. His cover drive brought joy to an entire nation and it is doubtful anyone has ever been, or ever will be, as utterly dominant.
➍ Nadia Comaneci
Noone is perfect with one exception — the Romanian gymnast. Comaneci became the first gymnast to be awarded a perfect 10. She picked up seven of them at the 1976 Montreal Olympics along with three gold medals, a silver and a bronze. Not a bad haul for a 14yearold.
➎ Peter Snell
Galloped down the finishing straight like a thoroughbred in a black singlet. Word is he has a heart so big it beats just once a year. Ran a million miles in training before collecting three gold medals at two Olympics.
JEFF CHESHIRE
➊ Usain Bolt
One of those athletes you stopped and held your breath to watch at a big event. Untouchable through his prime, with the exception of one disqualification in 2011, and noone even comes close to his world records.
➋ Donald Bradman
So far in front of every other cricketer it is hard to believe his career actually happened. Averaged 99.94 with the bat in an era of uncovered wickets, paperthin bats and dealt with Bodyline — which was so brutal it became outlawed.
➌ Michael Jordan
A ruthless competitor who adapted his game to remain basketball’s best even after his freakish athleticism began to fade. Won six rings to go with five MVPs and the most impressive legacy in the sport’s history.
➍ Diego Maradona
Elegant, graceful and simply brilliant. The greatest ever in the world’s most popular sport. Maradona was a genius on the move with the ball at his feet and had a knack of finding the back of the net. Inspired Argentina to win the 1986 World Cup, the peak of an illustrious career.
➎ Wayne Gretzky
Almost definitively the greatest of all time in a sport with a ridiculously high level of difficulty. One of ice hockey’s smartest players, the Canadian won the NHL MVP trophy nine times throughout the 1980s. Remains the leading scorer in NHL history, as well as having the most assists.
JONNY TURNER
➊ Donald Bradman
The Don defines everlasting greatness.
He was not only absolutely brilliant during his time, he has left a legacy that looks unlikely to be beaten. That is the definition of greatness.
➋ Michael Jordan
Jordan’s will and determination alone puts him on my list, his class only cements that place.
A sixtime NBA champion, sixtime NBA Finals MVP and 14time NBA AllStar, that will do me.
➌ Michael Phelps
Phelps is the most decorated competitor in the world’s most hallowed test of athleticism — the Olympic Games — with 28 medals.
The 23time goldmedal winner is simply a swimming phenomenon that is unlikely to ever be seen again.
➍ Paavo Nurmi
The runner nicknamed the ‘‘Flying Finn’’ dominated middle and longdistance running in the early 20th century.
Nurmi won nine gold and three silver medals in his 12 Olympic Games starts and also set 22 world records over distances from 1500m to 20km.
➎ Usain Bolt
When Bolt crouched at the starting line, the race result was never in doubt — he was clearly faster than any other human on the planet.
That proven brilliance has him just shading Jesse Owens who was cruelly robbed of the chance to show his class by a ruling over an endorsement deal in the amateur era — the very deals that helped Bolt fund his jetting across the world to compete.
And the winner is . . .
Donald Bradman
The Don is the most dominant sportsman in his era and beyond. He was so good they changed rules and tactics to curb his abilities. His test batting average will never be bettered and is nearly 40 runs better than the next best. To be as good as he was, a basketballer would have to score more than 42 points a game. But then again . . .
sport@odt.co.nz