greatest male T&F athletes (20th century)

[cemwriter]

I wrote this article on what I feel are the 4 greatest athletes in T&F for the 20th Century.
http://www.sportshaze.com/greatest-male ... ack-field/

[gh]

Re: greatest male T&F athletes (20th century)

Carl Lewis's mother did not compete in the Olympics; such claims are an enduring myth we've had to dispel for 30-odd years now.

[lonewolf]

Re: greatest male T&F athletes (20th century)

Interesting articles and I agree with your nominees but, nit-picking, 4 Olympics, 1984-1996, is only 12 years.

[Powell]

Re: greatest male T&F athletes (20th century)

Interesting articles and I agree with your nominees

I don't. It doesn't make sense that 3 of the 4 best athletes ever are people from before WW2. Yes, they may be legends, but the level of T&F back in the days was nowhere near that in more modern times. To my mind, Owens, Nurmi and Thorpe definitely were not greater than Michael Johnson, Geb and Daley Thompson.

[mump boy]

Re: greatest male T&F athletes (20th century)

where's Emil Zatopek ??

[Riff80]

Re: greatest male T&F athletes (20th century)

How does Edwin Moses always get overlooked whenever the greatest topics come up?

[TrainerPhil]

Re: greatest male T&F athletes (20th century)

How does Edwin Moses always get overlooked whenever the greatest topics come up?

Good point..........he certainly had one of the greatest win streaks in T&F history.

[Halfmiler2]

Re: greatest male T&F athletes (20th century)

Throwers get no respect. I think Al Oerter deserves some consideration.

And why isn't this thread on the historical board? :?

[vip]

Re: greatest male T&F athletes (20th century)

It's hard to compare eras and also athletes competing in different sports. As with all of these "greatest" lists, it comes down to personal interpretation and preferences and also experiences. For example, I never saw Jim Thorpe compete, or Jim Brown run, or Bill Russell ball, or Ted Williams hit, or Cy Young throw. But history tells me they were good, so I guess I've got to take history's word for it.

[Riff80]

Re: greatest male T&F athletes (20th century)

It's hard to compare eras and also athletes competing in different sports. As with all of these "greatest" lists, it comes down to personal interpretation and preferences and also experiences. For example, I never saw Jim Thorpe compete, or Jim Brown run, or Bill Russell ball, or Ted Williams hit, or Cy Young throw. But history tells me they were good, so I guess I've got to take history's word for it.

Completely agree. I've always believed in comparing those within the same era. You have people who will actually compare 100m times between someone who ran on a dirt or cinder track where they had to dig a whole in the ground for starting against current track standards, and don't even get into old spikes that weighed 2 pounds each. I've held some spikes from the 1940's and you would not believe how heavy they were.

[lonewolf]

Re: greatest male T&F athletes (20th century)

[ I've held some spikes from the 1940's and you would not believe how heavy they were.

I would. I have some around here. I take em to HS meets for the kids to laugh at.

[texan]

Re: greatest male T&F athletes (20th century)

Interesting articles and I agree with your nominees but, nit-picking, 4 Olympics, 1984-1996, is only 12 years.

Carl qualified for the 1980 Olympics, but then there was the boycott. Maybe that's what he meant.

[lonewolf]

Re: greatest male T&F athletes (20th century)

Interesting articles and I agree with your nominees but, nit-picking, 4 Olympics, 1984-1996, is only 12 years.

Carl qualified for the 1980 Olympics, but then there was the boycott. Maybe that's what he meant.

You are probably right. I thought about that, belatedly.
Anyway, any list of greatest or worst at anything for any period of time, short or long, is bound to include or omit deserving individuals.

[bambam]

Re: greatest male T&F athletes (20th century)

Carl Lewis's mother did not compete in the Olympics; such claims are an enduring myth we've had to dispel for 30-odd years now.

Garry is right, of course. She did compete in the Pan-Am Games, however.

[Halfmiler2]

Re: greatest male T&F athletes (20th century)

It's hard to compare eras and also athletes competing in different sports. As with all of these "greatest" lists, it comes down to personal interpretation and preferences and also experiences. For example, I never saw Jim Thorpe compete, or Jim Brown run, or Bill Russell ball, or Ted Williams hit, or Cy Young throw. But history tells me they were good, so I guess I've got to take history's word for it.

Completely agree. I've always believed in comparing those within the same era. You have people who will actually compare 100m times between someone who ran on a dirt or cinder track where they had to dig a whole in the ground for starting against current track standards, and don't even get into old spikes that weighed 2 pounds each. I've held some spikes from the 1940's and you would not believe how heavy they were.

Show them a trowel like Jesse Owens used instead of starting blocks. :wink: