Winning 4 GS is much harder than one Tour.
Plus, Armstrong is a doper!!!....he doesn't deserve to be on the list.
SI names Federer 'Athlete of the Decade'
- Thread starter Moose Malloy
- Start date
Winning 4 GS is much harder than one Tour.
Plus, Armstrong is a doper!!!....he doesn't deserve to be on the list.
Cindysphinx
G.O.A.T.
That's like saying tennis isn't a sport because you use a racket, but handball is a sport.
Carsomyr
Legend
Rhino
Legend
Great!!!
Though Where's Shumi again?or any football player?
I know, it's a bit of a joke. Great to see Federer up there but who the heck are Kobe Bryant, Albert Pujols, and Tom Brady? They should have a top ten list for Americans only, because 90% of the world doesn't care about those US sports, and yet other actual world-wide sports like soccer and formula one are getting no credit.
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
I'd put cricket in there too. Shane Warne, Gilchrist, Tendulkar, Ponting, Kallis etc... Some of the greatest players to play the sport in it's incredibly long history made their names throughout the 2000's.
I don;t personally agree with the list but I think awards should be broken down further, so you'd have sports-person(s) for an individual sport (e.g. tennis, boxing) & individuals associated with teams (e.g. football, cycling).
So with the lists would be for individuals would be:
1. Roger Federer
2. Tiger Woods
3. Michael Phelps
8. Usain Bolt
9. Serena Williams
And a list of undividuals in a team:
3. Lance Armstrong
5. Kobe Bryant
6. Albert Pujols
7. Tom Brady
10. Jimmie Johnson
So with the lists would be for individuals would be:
1. Roger Federer
2. Tiger Woods
3. Michael Phelps
8. Usain Bolt
9. Serena Williams
And a list of undividuals in a team:
3. Lance Armstrong
5. Kobe Bryant
6. Albert Pujols
7. Tom Brady
10. Jimmie Johnson
borg number one
Legend
Woods voted top athlete of the decade
(Federer finished 3rd in the vote behind Woods and Armstrong)
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/web/COM1164039/index.htm
December 16, 2009
Woods voted top athlete of the decade
Even after a shocking sex scandal that tarnished Tiger Woods, it was tough to ignore what he achieved on the golf course.
He won 64 times around the world, including 12 majors, and hoisted a trophy on every continent golf is played. He lost only one time with the lead going into the final round. His 56 PGA Tour victories in one incomparable decade were more than anyone except four of golf's greatest players won in their careers.
Woods was selected Wednesday as the Athlete of the Decade by members of The Associated Press in a vote that was more about 10 years of performance than nearly three weeks of salacious headlines.
Just like so many of his victories, it wasn't much of a contest.
Woods received 56 of the 142 votes cast by AP member editors since last month. More than half of the ballots were returned after the Nov. 27 car accident outside his Florida home that set off sensational tales of infidelity.
Lance Armstrong, a cancer survivor who won the Tour de France six times this decade, finished second with 33 votes. He was followed by Roger Federer, who won more Grand Slam singles titles than any other man, with 25 votes.
Record-setting Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps came in fourth with 13 votes, followed by New England quarterback Tom Brady (6) and sprinter Usain Bolt (4). Five other athletes received one vote apiece.
Woods, who has not been seen since the accident and has issued only three statements on his Web site, was not made available to comment about the award.
Few other athletes have changed their sport quite like Woods. His influence has been so powerful that TV ratings spiked whenever he played, even more when he has been in contention. Prize money has quadrupled since he joined the PGA Tour because of his broad appeal.
A new image emerged quickly in the days following his middle-of-the-night accident, when he ran his SUV over a fire hydrant and into a tree. He became the butt of late-night TV jokes, eventually confessed that he "let my family down" with "transgressions" and lost a major sponsorship from Accenture.
(Federer finished 3rd in the vote behind Woods and Armstrong)
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/web/COM1164039/index.htm
December 16, 2009
Woods voted top athlete of the decade
Even after a shocking sex scandal that tarnished Tiger Woods, it was tough to ignore what he achieved on the golf course.
He won 64 times around the world, including 12 majors, and hoisted a trophy on every continent golf is played. He lost only one time with the lead going into the final round. His 56 PGA Tour victories in one incomparable decade were more than anyone except four of golf's greatest players won in their careers.
Woods was selected Wednesday as the Athlete of the Decade by members of The Associated Press in a vote that was more about 10 years of performance than nearly three weeks of salacious headlines.
Just like so many of his victories, it wasn't much of a contest.
Woods received 56 of the 142 votes cast by AP member editors since last month. More than half of the ballots were returned after the Nov. 27 car accident outside his Florida home that set off sensational tales of infidelity.
Lance Armstrong, a cancer survivor who won the Tour de France six times this decade, finished second with 33 votes. He was followed by Roger Federer, who won more Grand Slam singles titles than any other man, with 25 votes.
Record-setting Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps came in fourth with 13 votes, followed by New England quarterback Tom Brady (6) and sprinter Usain Bolt (4). Five other athletes received one vote apiece.
Woods, who has not been seen since the accident and has issued only three statements on his Web site, was not made available to comment about the award.
Few other athletes have changed their sport quite like Woods. His influence has been so powerful that TV ratings spiked whenever he played, even more when he has been in contention. Prize money has quadrupled since he joined the PGA Tour because of his broad appeal.
A new image emerged quickly in the days following his middle-of-the-night accident, when he ran his SUV over a fire hydrant and into a tree. He became the butt of late-night TV jokes, eventually confessed that he "let my family down" with "transgressions" and lost a major sponsorship from Accenture.
THUNDERVOLLEY
G.O.A.T.
OP: Two tennis players, and certainly the far-and-away greatest of the decade. No problems with the selection.
...well, JBF, consider the source.
...well, JBF, consider the source.
jefferson
Semi-Pro
Listen tough guy: the point that I was trying to make is that 99 out of 100 people on Earth can ride a bike. Yes Lance and his team as well as other cyclists take it to a whole new level, but athlete of the decade? I give him all the credit in the world for his accomplishments and dedication to his craft.
As far as the Speed network, you are right. The coverage is on Vs. My bad. If this conversation took place in person, I would let you calling me a moron slide, but calling my daughter an idiot, I would not. So just take it easy. Sorry that I insulted the holy grail of cycling. IMO racing, bowling, hunting, fishing, etc are all great activities. I actually bowl, hunt and fish but I would never expect to win an athlete award for doing so. I don't know why Kevin VanDam is not the list?
davey25
Banned
Federer is great but Serena is really greater than Federer and should rank higher. She is potentially dominant on all surfaces which he isnt. She is unbeatable at her best, he is not. He has more records but Serena faces very tough competition most of her career, while Federer plays in a weak era of mens tennis relatively speaking.
If Armstrong didn't use illegal drugs, then there wouldn't be so much accusations
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...legations&aq=4&oq=lance+armstrong+drug&aqi=g7
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...rug+cheat&aq=5&oq=lance+armstrong+drug&aqi=g7
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...usations&aq=0&oq=lance+armstrong+drug+&aqi=g7
djokovicgonzalez2010
G.O.A.T.
The women's field in 07-09 was INCREDIBLY weak.
anointedone
Banned
Not only that but he has been lucky to be the leader of the strongest team on tour almost his whole career. That is the reason why he can only win the Tour de France and nothing else. Anything that requires a bit more of an individual effort he isnt so dominant over the rest. Last year he wasnt the clear leader of his team he returned to and he ended up as a whiny 3rd.
davey25
Banned
Serena won over half of her slams from 1999-2005 so the field from 1999-2005 is of more relevance to the competition she faced than 2007-2009. Just like the field Federer has faced has improved but he won most of his slams from 2003-2006/2007 vs such a weak field.
djokovicgonzalez2010
G.O.A.T.
03-05: Hewitt, Davydenko, Ferrero, Roddick
06-07: Nadal, Davydenko, early Djokovic, Nalbandian, Ferrer
08-present: Nadal, Djokovic, Murray, del Potro, Roddick, Davydenko, Soderling. Fed still reached all 4 Slam finals in 09 (For the 1st time? Or did he in '07?) Serena did not.
jamesblakefan#1
G.O.A.T.
Serena is NOT potentially dominant on clay at her best. Henin 2006 would smoke her on clay. Venus may be the better grass courter in her prime. And I disagree about her being unbeatable at her best.
You say Fed isn't unbeatable at his best? Ha. Real funny, that's all I've got to say about that. Outside of Nadal on clay, he is unbeatable at his best, but the same goes for Serena when she faces Henin on clay and Venus on grass.
davey25
Banned
Since you have a Hewitt avatar I take it you are a fan but really he isnt that great. He won only 2 slams even though he was lucky to peak around the worst year in mens tennis history- 2002 (mid 2001 to mid 2003). Roddick is also not that great. A poor mans Ivanisevic in everyway apart from a stronger mental game and consistency (especialy on hard courts) than Goran. Ferrero was done after 2003 when Federer was just getting started. Davydenko is a poor mans Kafelnikov. Nalbandian for all his talent hasnt achieved hardly anything in the sport.
Things did not start to improve until midway through 2007 with Djokovic coming on and with Nadal solidifying his abilities on grass and bolstering his hard court skills.
Serena in her career has faced off against Graf, Seles, Davenport, Venus, Henin, Sharapova, Clijsters, Mauresmo, Capriati, Pierce, Kuznetsova, the other Russians. Insane competition.
djokovicgonzalez2010
G.O.A.T.
I admit Federer in prime> Hewitt in prime, but he still isn't easy to mentally get past. All of the women's "greats" have lasted about a year then vanished.
davey25
Banned
Mary Joe Fernandez said while commentating just before the Henin-Serena French Open semifinal in 2003 this:
"and today Henin's knows the match is not in her hands. If Serena plays her best tennis that is too good."
So basically a highly respected former player and commentator who in her playing days reached 3 slam finals is saying Serena's best on clay > Henin's best on clay. That said I do agree Henin has to go down as the greater and superior clay courter for the simple reason she achieved alot more. Likewise Venus at this moment would go down as the greater grass courter (but alot closer between her and Serena here than Henin and Serena on clay). However even that said Serena's best is still unbeatable for Henin even on clay. If both played their best on clay Serena would win, despite that Henin is the more accomplished and greater clay courter.
Now as for Venus on grass, Venus's best ever tennis was 2000-2003. Yet Serena beat Venus at Wimbledon in both 2002 and 2003. Venus was injured in 2003 of course. So of the 3 times they met at Wimbledon when both were playing well- 2002, 2008, 2009, Venus won only once which was 2008 and Serena twice. At this moment Venus has the edge in Wimbledon titles (5 to 3), but it seems both in close to prime form Serena is the slight favorite in this matchup too.
Federer has lost many matches where he was playing great and was just outplayed. The 2008 Wimbledon final vs Nadal, nearly the 2007 Wimbledon final vs Nadal. Many of his losses to Nalbandian. The 2005 Australian Open semis vs Safin. His loss to Del Potro in the U.S Open final. Federer is overall the one to beat, but in general when Federer plays someone you dont feel the match is entirely in his own hands to the same extreme degree as Serena. You talk about what more the other guy should have/could have done after they lose to Federer. You often talk about their not being mentally tough enough, bowing down to Federer, faltering at key moments, and other things. With Serena you hardly ever talk about what the other player could have done differently or better. She basically controls her own fate completely to an extreme Federer does not.
Lastly when I said Serena was potentially dominant on clay I mean that she had a real chance of winning multiple French Opens. Did win in 2002. Might have won in 2003 without Henin's cheating in the 3rd set. Should have probably won this year since she was up a break on Kuznetsova in the 3rd set of their quarterfinal and choked. So atleast 3 years she could have won.
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It's laughable to compare Serena with Roger. She's the only one of the two player(Venus) to played a full decade, but didn't dominate the field. She should be at the top in weeks at #1, year #1, and total titles. Numberous players had better numbers than her despite not playing a full decade. She only has the most GS total, and it had to takes players like Justine/KIm to retire to get her 11.
She's grossly overrated!
She's grossly overrated!
davey25
Banned
The slams are all that really matter anyway. If weeks at #1, years at #1, and total titles were so meaningful than Lindsay Davenport is the greatest player of the most recent womens generation over Henin, Serena, and Venus, ROTFL!!! Most people consider Steffi Graf the greatest ever and not Navratilova or Evert despite that both have won about 60 more tournaments than her. It doesnt matter though, Graf won 4 more slams than both and that is all people really care about. If tournaments won meant anything than Evert or Navratilova would be picked as the greatest ever by more people instead of Graf (time at #1 is close between all of them).
Henin was playing some of her worst tennis ever in early 2008. It looks to me like she needed the break. How can you gaurantee her winning any slams in 2008 and 2009 the way she was playing at the time she retired for awhile, apart from the 2 French Opens which Serena didnt win anyway so wouldnt affect her.
TheFifthSet
G.O.A.T.
Well Baseball and Basketball are far more popular and have a greater audience than tennis (basketball worldwide, even if you were to forget about the US, is more popular than tennis. Baseball is also quite popular in many countries).
davey25
Banned
Basketball is very popular Worldwide. Not sure about baseball though, although it is increasing of late.
mandy01
G.O.A.T.
Nobody cares about cricket in the US just like most generally dont care about baseball in many countries in Asia and maybe even Europe ( not sure.).
jamesblakefan#1
G.O.A.T.
Baseball's actually huge in Asia (China/Japan).
AndyArodRoddick
Professional
Yap i laughed my but off when i didnt saw Scuhmacher.
I heard that 10th guy first time in my life...
I heard that 10th guy first time in my life...
mandy01
G.O.A.T.
Asia is a big continent comprising of many nations,big and small.:wink:
TheDreaming
Banned
Well deserved, but you could argue Tiger was far more dominant in his sport. I mean 3 career slams + 4 in a row says it all.
D
Deleted member 54563
Guest
I'm actually curious to see how Serena will fare this whole year, now that Henin and Clijsters are around.
Man, feels like the woman's tour is revitalized now.
Man, feels like the woman's tour is revitalized now.
davey25
Banned
Career slams hardly carry the same meaning in golf. There isnt a wide disparity between the playing conditions of the 4 majors like there are the various surfaces in tennis. There are probably a bunch of golfers with only 5 or 6 majors who managed the career slam since there is basically no difference in the skill set required to win each of the majors unlike in tennis.
Rhino
Legend
Not true. Here are the most popular sports in the world:
1. Football (that's soccer not American football) is the world's most popular sport to play and to watch. An estimated 3.5 billion people either watch or play football.
2. Cricket. An estimated 3 billion people watch or play cricket each year.
3. Field hockey, with an estimated 2 billion players or watchers, mostly in Asian countries, European countries, Australia and around Africa.
4. TENNIS. There are an estimated 1 billion players and watchers of tennis around the world.
5. volleyball. An estimated 900 million viewers or players around the world.
6. Table tennis, otherwise known as Ping Pong, with an estimated 900 million watchers or players.
After these sports, we have a triumvirate of more mainstream American sports including baseball, golf, American football and basketball, with each sport attracting between 400 and 500 million players or watchers worldwide.
jamesblakefan#1
G.O.A.T.
Not to be a butthole or anything, but could you give a link to your info please?
asafi2
Rookie
http://www.sportingo.com/all-sports/a11587_worlds-top-most-popular-team-sports
1. Soccer
2. Cricket
3. Basketball
4. Baseball
5. Rugby
6. Field Hockey
1. Soccer
2. Cricket
3. Basketball
4. Baseball
5. Rugby
6. Field Hockey
Carsomyr
Legend
99% of all people can also hit a tennis ball, drive a car, hit a golf ball, toss a basket ball, splash about in water, etc etc. And the list didn't exclude those sports (as flawed as the list itself may be anyways).
Coordination: Ever tried cornering on a bike over 30 or 40 miles an hour? Riding up a hill so steep that to balance your own body and get force and weight on the pedals is a struggle? Riding next to a car and collecting 15 full water bottles to deliver to your team? Riding in a race-line of 8 or 10 bikes millimetres from the wheel of the bike in front?
Agility: Ever tried riding in a bunch? A bunch where there are 30 or 50 other cyclists, inches apart, travelling at 30 miles an hour when they're only cruising?
Skill: Ever ridden a bike down a mountain at 60 miles an hour? Ever decided when, in a 150 mile stage of a race, had to decide when to make a critical move? Ever sprinted to a finish line against another rider banging shoulders at 35-40 miles an hour powered by only your legs?
Honestly, professional cycling is as related to your 3 year old pedalling a bike as professional tennis is to a mini-tennis class at your local park.
Wow, have you ever left the USA (or possibly your couch?) Go to europe and tell me cycling isn't a sport.
I can't believe that your final 'sport' argument is based on what US networks choose to broadcast on what channels....
Soccer is bigger worldwide than any US sport and probably many of the US sports combined....
The link you posted only includes team sports, not individual sports.
okdude1992
Hall of Fame
lmao :lol::lol: it takes lots of agility, stamina, coordination ect. of the thumbs.
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