This: HOW WE DID IT: We gave the performance stats and achievement records of 79 male athletes to a panel of 5 judges, and asked them to rank the competitors based on six criteria: speed; vision and reflex; stamina and recovery; coordination and flexibility; power, strength and size; and success and competitiveness. The final category examined success—records held and victories—as well as competitiveness, based on the sport's popularity. Soccer, for example, the world's most popular sport, was judged the most competitive. The panel gave a total score for each athlete in the first round. Sixty athletes were eliminated in the second round, either because of low scores or because they were not first in their field. Our panelists then made the final ranking. Yale statistician John Emerson helped normalize the scores so no single panelist could exert undue influence.
...is hopelessly muddy.
Is success, the category they elaborate on, still only 1/6 of the scoring? If so, the raw physical criteria, which makes up the other 5/6, should dominate the rankings. Also, they're smart enough to make the distinction of dominance relative to the sport...meaning sports like soccer get higher precedence than, say, darts. But, even with that, there's clearly choices on the list that represent "skill and athleticism" and choices that represent "dominance and success." Trying to mix the two is idiotic, because there's no way you can accurately place people from one category in relation to the other. They have to pick one or the others, or make two lists. Otherwise, it becomes instantly invalidated by absurd amounts of subjectivity.
As for the list itself, Lebron, Crosby, Ronaldihno, and A-Rod are arguably not even the best at their sport (or even best on their own team, in Crosby's case, and this coming from a Pens fan). I'd say A-Rod is the most skilled baseball player, but the other three are highly contentious. They include a couple gold medal winners, one of whom is "seeking" a world record. Apparently a multiple gold-medal winner, and multiple world record holder, like Michael Phelps isn't athlete enough....I can't fathom the logic, maybe that running is more athletic than swimming (not true). Can't argue with LT and Federer, regardless of criteria, but those are about the only indisputable things about the list.
As usual with such things, horrible list but good for discussion. The next logical step is naming our own, but maybe another time. I'd have to break it down more so than I have time for right now.
true enough...although it's arguable that some of the ones listed are already being bettered now....federer by nadal...ronaldinho by the likes of messi and others
i think it's also obvious that it's highly Americanised...but then that's only to be expected given it's an American publication
if they did only take into consideration the stats of modern athletes out of the 70+ that were tested then i think it would be highly interesting if they did it with athletes of the past as well
although given that records are constantly being broken then i guess the cold hard facts would dictate that in any sport...modern athletes are bigger, faster and more superior in almost every way than their predecessors
Nadal is still only better on clay. Federer is still King on everything else. Plus this isnt just about pure skill or talent. Most would say kobe is a better pure basketball player than Lebron. But on the same point they would (or should) agree Lebron is likely the better *athlete*.
Which again is why mixing success and athleticism makes no sense. Kobe's clearly on one list, Lebron's clearly on the other, but trying to mix them up is entirely too subjective.
Though to their credit, they have Lebron on the list, which is presumably 5/6 athleticism and only 1/6 success, so they're at least consistent with their criteria.
while everyone said last year that federer would never beat nadal on clay and nadal would never beat federer on grass...this year i think nadal will edge it...he's faster and more powerful than he has ever been...he has 4 years on federer...and he destroyed federer at the french open 6-1, 6-3, 6-0....if ever he's stands a chance of ripping the grass court king title from federer...this year would be it...he looked awesome against murray...some of the shots he played were just unbelievable
but granted...the two of them are leagues above everyone else...with maybe the exception of djokovic who is not that far behind
The list is a bit of a joke, isn't it? The simple fact that Ronaldinho is on it despite being fat, injured and adverse to training for the last few years proves how out of touch it is. Someone like Michael Essien is a far superior athelete, but obviously he's not the marquee name they were looking for.
__________________ Full fathom five thy father lies;
Of his bones are coral made;
Those are pearls that were his eyes:
Nothing of him that doth fade
But doth suffer a sea-change
Into something rich and strange.
i remember them saying the exact same thing about ronaldo before he silenced his critics at the world cup by becoming the highest scorer in world cup history
It's an American list. Soccer fans should be thrilled they even remembered to put a soccer player on it.
That said, I'll partially agree with you, but we do have to consider the source. Whining from soccer fans shouldn't be allowed when it comes to American opinions, because the entire country (including the "experts) are blind as bats concerning the sport, save for the biggest 2-3 names. American sports fans have heard of Beckham, Christiano, Ronaldinho, and Henri from those razor commercials with Tiger and Roger. No one else has ever been heard of.
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but still reppin naija
Bah, federer still takin wimbledon this year. His complete meltdown at the french open has been put behind him. The french open was really a shame too as roger had come pretty close to takin nadal in two previous masters series on clay.
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Jun 30th, 2008 02:23 AM
