The 5 Best Athletes Of All-Time
Considering that just about none of us were alive at the turn of the 20th century, it’s hard to write this article without at least a trace of bias.
If we weren’t around to see these athletes in action, we’ll never really know just how much they meant to the world at the time. Despite the fact that we’ve heard all of the stories, it simply isn’t the same. Having said that, I’m going to do my best to account for this too.
With that said, I’m going to do my best to list five of the athletes who I believe had profound impacts on the world and within their sport. Feel free to chime in with your comments if you disagree with these. Here goes.
The oldest of the bunch here is Ty Cobb. He came before Babe Ruth and played a major role in making baseball the biggest sport in the country at the time. If not for Cobb, Babe Ruth might not have enjoyed the big stage.
Next, we’ll rewind by about 40 years and recognize the impact that Muhammad Ali had on the entire world. While boxing isn’t as big today as it was back then, it’s partly due to the fact that no boxer today possesses the blend of talent and character that Muhammad Ali had.
In the soccer world, most will agree that Pele was the best man to ever play the sport. While soccer isn’t as big in the US, this is the world’s biggest sport. Pele could by and large be considered the most influential athlete in the world.
In baseball, no one gets more credit for shaping the sport than Babe Ruth does. He changed the way people watched the sport, and turned it into the biggest thing in the country. He also helped the Yankees to a dynasty that still lives on to this day.
Michael Jordan. He completely transformed the game of basketball, and inspired a generation of younger kids to want to be like him. He also has the biggest impact on the sports marketing world in the history of sports.
More about the author: A major sports fan, he also writes about bathroom light fixtures and bathroom ceiling lights.