Top 10 Athletes of All Time: According to MSN

[HD MM]

I don't really have a problem with the names on the list, I'm not so sure they really needed to be ranked. Kind of like comparing apples and oranges, isn't it?

Yep. That's what we decided I thought. That's why we're trying to compile a list (unranked) with just 1 player representing each sport. The MSN list has been thrown out a while ago....

 

[Paul Wozniak]

Sorry Matt, I missed your post when I read through this thread. My apologies.

 

[hancox]

Keep in mind these are NHL regular-season-only numbers

Goals in a season:
Gretzky 92 (81-82)
Gretzky 87 (83-84)
Brett Hull 86

Career Goals:
Gretzky 894 (20 seasons)
Gordie Howe 801 (26 seasons)


Assists in a season (get ready!):
Gretzky 163 (85-86)
Gretzky 135 (84-85)
Gretzky 125 (82-83)
Gretzky 122 (90-91)
Gretzky 121 (86-87)
Gretzky 120 (81-82)
Gretzky 118 (83-84)
Gretzky 114 (88-89)
Mario Lemieux 114
Gretzky 109 (80-81)
Gretzky 109 (87-88)

Career Assists:
Gretzky 1963 (20 seasons)
Ron Francis 1249 (23 seasons)

 

[hancox]

I decided to stop You guys can see where I'm going here - Gretzky was the Babe Ruth of his sport. Jordan was great, but no Gretzky.

 

[jwfgeol]

With Jordan, I don't just think it's individual statistics, it's what the league was with him and without him. He wins three championships in a row, leaves for two seasons and plays baseball, then comes back and wins another three in a row. The two championships that Houston won in the middle some consider "tainted" because Jordan wasn't playing. That's how big of an impact he had on the game. Not comparing him with Gretzky, I just think it's more than personal stats. Also, Jordan was an outstanding defensive player (winning the NBA Defensive POY in 1988), something that doesn't show up in the stats.