Which sport has the best overall athletes?

[Busta Rib]

Occasionally, I have had debates with friends/colleagues about which sport has the best overall athletes. Typically, it comes down to NBA vs NFL, but this discussion shouldn't exclude other sports like boxing, hockey, MMA, etc. So, I am curious, which sport do YOU think has the best overall athletes when it comes to strength, speed, agility, endurance/stamina, toughness, and hand-eye coordination?

At the moment, I believe Lebron James is the best overall athlete in the world. It's difficult to imagine another athlete with the size, speed, strength, leaping ability, agility, coordination, AND stamina that he possesses. At 6'8", 250 lbs, he is a physical specimen. I believe he could easily play in the NFL if he wanted to. The only question would be if he has the toughness to play football. MMA, hockey, and Australian Rules Football, and Rugby are some of the toughest sports out there.

So, whom do you think is the best overall athlete and what sport produces the best overall athletes, all things being equal? Here is one study that attempts to rank athletes by sport: Top 10 Most Athletic Sports- Best Player Athletes in NFL Football, NBA Basketball, Tennis, Soccer

Let the debate begin...

[Schrup]

I vote for the Ironman, lot of world class athletes. I'm partial though.

[Buckterrier]

most skilled athlete

Kinda-sorts-maybe the same thing?

[Busta Rib]

Originally Posted by Buckterrier

most skilled athlete

Kinda-sorts-maybe the same thing?

That is a similar but different debate, IMO. A skill is a learned ability (e.g., hitting a baseball, shooting a free throw, hitting a tennis ball, executing a roundhouse kick, etc). All of these skills require innate athleticism and attributes like speed, strength, agility, hand-eye coordination, endurance, etc. What I am talking about is overall athleticism, not skill. Granted, a great athlete will have world-class skill in his/her chosen sport. But they could likely apply their athleticism to other sports.

A great athlete can ostensibly learn hit a baseball, shoot a basket, wrestle, drive a car with coaching, practice, repetition, etc. But you cannot teach or acquire great speed, strength, coordination, and the like simply with practice and coaching. I'm curious to know overall, which sport do you think has the best overall athletes. Of course, athletes will excel in their chosen sport, but if there were a universal test that you could have these athletes compete in, which sport would likely produce the best competitors?

[Schrup]

In that case I would have to give it to NFL TEs & DEs. Most are freaks of nature.

[pwd72s]

Back in the stone age, when ABC sports held a superstars team competition, the major league baseball guys whipped the NFL crowd. Surprised the hell out of me.

[Racerbvd]

Cyclist, they ride lots of miles, without a break, there is even a 24 hour Mountain bike race which some riders do the race alone..

They have to be in peak physical condition, heart, lungs, legs, arms, ect..

[stealthn]

Decathletes

[Seahawk]

In this country?

Football players. All of them.

They literally get beat up like clockwork during the season...most people have no idea of the physical violence that occurs at the college and professional level. None.

The speed, the athleticism, the size of the players, the mental aspect, the danger involved has no rival in professional sports. Hockey is close.

And they get beat up every week, then asked to recover and do it all again. The collisions are something most here wouldn't survive once, let alone over the course of a season. I frankly wonder who anyone plays the sport.

I played Div I baseball and could have played D II football.

The biggest no-brainer of all time.

[URY914]

I remember on the silly show "The Superstars" back in the late '70's. The pro baseball players beat the pro football players in the tug-o-war.

[72doug2,2S]

I can't believe no one has posted synchronized swimming yet.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Back in the stone age, when ABC sports held a superstars team competition, the major league baseball guys whipped the NFL crowd. Surprised the hell out of me.

What were they doing? Bowling?

[Jeff Alton]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

In this country?

Football players. All of them.

They literally get beat up like clockwork during the season...most people have no idea of the physical violence that occurs at the college and professional level. None.

The speed, the athleticism, the size of the players, the mental aspect, the danger involved has no rival in professional sports. Hockey is close.

And they get beat up every week, then asked to recover and do it all again. The collisions are something most here wouldn't survive once, let alone over the course of a season. I frankly wonder who anyone plays the sport.

I played Div I baseball and could have played D II football.

The biggest no-brainer of all time.

All of them?? Come on.......

There are plenty that fit the bill for sure, and some may be the best athletes. But plenty that I would not consider an athlete at all. I have a hard time associating "athlete" with a guy who has a gut hanging out a foot over his belt and has suspect cardio. But just MHO......

Yes, they are tough SOBs, not doubt about it but....

[regency]

Milers, simple as that, Just try to go under 4 minutes.

Steve

73 911 T MFI Coupe, Aubergine

[skinnerd]

Hard to beat a tri-athelete....or professional tennis player for endurance and relative strength.

Sheez....football players get to rest every 10 seconds or so.
Stack up some rugby players against them...rugby hardly ever gets a break...nonstop action all the time....without pads....now that's a tough sport.

Baseball players....forget about it.
I've fallen asleep at baseball games before since there was so little action.

[Jeff Alton]

Baseball is a leisure activity that requires amazing hand-eye coordination....

[chapo]

I have played both football and rugby. Sheer violence? Football hands down. The speed and collisions are incredible compared to rugby. Rugby has more "dirty" contact, pokes, gouging, etc.

[JavaBrewer]

Originally Posted by Jeff Alton

Baseball is a leisure activity that requires amazing hand-eye coordination....

With bursts of speed and athleticism every now and then. Hard.

I agree with the OP - the top NBA guys are really on a level few can match.

[gprsh924]

I think there is a difference between the sport that requires you to be in the best physical shape vs the sport with the best athletes.

Being "athletic" isn't just about how long you can run for or how fast, it's the combination of those things along with how well you can control your body, how quickly you can change direction, etc.

From this definition, Lebron James is the best athlete right now. Insane speed, agility, and all done with his 6-10, 270lb frame

[Nostril Cheese]

Motocross