Greatest athlete you've seen in person?

[utisdabomb12]

Mine is hands down Michael Jordan. I was able to see him play in person a couple times against the Spurs when I was a kid. A moment I'll never forget is Jordan walking off the court at halftime yelling at his teammates to give him the ball because he was going to win the game. It wasn't an in your face type yell either. It was a "I got this now give me the damn ball" type yell. I don't know why but that's stuck with me over the years.

 

[java]

Earl Campbell, enough said.

 

[monarch]

akeem olajuwon​

ralph sampson​

mario elie​

steve francis​

robert horry ​

kenny smith​

clyde drexler​

sam cassell​

jeremy lynn​

james harden​

charles barkley​

yao ming​

 ​

warren moon​

earl campbell​

earnest givens​

haywood jeffires​

lamar lathon​

bruce matthews​

robert lyles​

sean jones​

jack pardee​

bud adams​

curtis duncan​

jeff alm​

tony boselli​

david carr​

dom capers​

aaron glenn​

duane brown​

arian foster​

andre johnson​

 ​

 ​

to name a few...​

 ​

 

[drgilbert]

I got to watch Troy, Emmit and Michael Irvin. I loved if.

 

[streettopeschel]

you beat me to it monarch. bud adams was on my list of greatest athletes too. damn it.

 

[castlebravo1]

I can't say that I'm a fan of the player or the sport, but the greatest I can think of is seeing Tiger Woods at the Masters a few years ago.  I think you can make a case of Tiger and MJ, and perhaps Peyton Manning as the only athletes who have played in modern times and have absolutely dominated their respective sports.

 

[Shevis Irons]

I faced David Clyde three at bats in High School. I went one for three. Before you get to impressed the hit was a dribbler to the mound and and David fell down. But with my speed he still had time to almost get me had hed not thrown it in the dirt and the first baseman let it roll to right field. i did not advance. I was just to winded or something from beating out what appered as a full swinging bunt.

That said, I've stood next to Tiger and watched him hit probably 80-100 shots no one else on Tour would have attempted much less pulled off. As a cameraman we always had to keep our composure but believe me we can hear all the whoopin and hollerin going on in the truck over our IFR when he pulled one out of his ass.

I can't say that I'm a fan of the player or the sport, but the greatest I can think of is seeing Tiger Woods at the Masters a few years ago.  I think you can make a case of Tiger and MJ, and perhaps Peyton Manning as the only athletes who have played in modern times and have absolutely dominated their respective sports.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Earl Campbell

Billy Simms

David Overstreet

Thomas Everett  (played HS ball with him)

Roger Staubauch (I have a photo with him)

Troy Aikman

Herschel Walker (i have a photo with him, he worked out with me)

 

[Matt Cotcher]

I was fortunate enough to see both Jordan and Tiger Woods, but the most dominant player I've seen in person was Michael Vick. On a field full of the most gifted athletes on the planet, Vick's athleticism was on a whole 'nother level.

Knucklehead? For sure. But that wasn't the question.

 

[Lukus Alderman]

Vince Young.

 

[bcherry168]

E. J. Holub ( all pro on both offense and defense)( played against him in Jr Hi and Hi School) He played at Tech and for Kansas City at LB and center.

Bobby Layne

Earl Campbell

Vince Young

Not necessarily in that order, but close.

 

[jrcruz1026]

I stood on the sideline at a Cowboys practice as a kid next to Michael Irvin, probably the best receiver in Cowboys history, he's a great dude

 

[Duke C #11]

I played against Burt Hooton in high school. I literally ran into Earl Campbell at Jester in '77. I was at DKR for Ricky's 60 yard run against A&M. I was in the Rose Bowl for VY's encore as Rose Bowl MVP.

 

[doc longhorn]

The Rose, VY, Kevin Durant, Wilt Chamberlain, Doak Walker (I was just a sprat), James Street (football and baseball and basketball and track and skittles, and hockey and rugby and soccer and golf - you get the point - he could excel at any sport and he was usually better than most, he was a freak and people didn't really know it)

 

[MikeV73]

Vince Young.

I second that!

 

[Capn Hook]

E. J. Holub ( all pro on both offense and defense)( played against him in Jr Hi and Hi School) He played at Tech and for Kansas City at LB and center.

Bobby Layne

Earl Campbell

Vince Young

Not necessarily in that order, but close.

I was a year behind E. J. at Lubbock High, and the most disappointing thing was that he didn't play much at all (if any) his senior year.  Tech took a shot on him because his talent was so damned obvious.

I saw him play against Arkansas in Lubbock 1960.  The week prior he was named the National defensive player of the week for making 23 tackles, eight unassisted.  Against Arkansas he had 25 tackles, ten unassisted and he intercepted a pass and ran it back for Tech's only score, but an Arkie LB made player of the week.  The Arkie player was damned good, but I thought that was a travesty.

I know it's strange that I would remember those stats, but I was so pissed that Holub didn't win two weeks in a row that they are indelibly etched in my brain.

 

[popdaddy]

Greatest = 1 = Earl Campbell \m/

 

[java]

I thought we were supposed to list only one, sorry.

I saw Stan Musiel's last game played in Texas.  Watched James Street play baseball and football.  Saw Wooster and Bertlesen play.  (Bertlesen always claimed that he could read a beer can at 50 yards before a game.  He was a riot.)  Sat on the 50 when Ricky broke the record.  It was awesome.

I loved watching Earl run.  The combination of power and grace he possessed is something that is not often seen.  My Dad loved watching Earl, as well, but he never stopped talking about Bobby Layne & Tommy Nobis.  I don't remember seeing them play.  Too young.

I saw Kevin Durant, TJ Ford, Earl Thomas, Derrick Johnson, Ross, Vasher, Huff, all the DBU guys.

I've also seen some great gymnasts in person.  As athletes, female gymnasts reach their peak at 16-18 years of age.  They have a narrow window that doesn't allow for screw-ups.  They are some of the greatest, mentally tough athletes I have ever witnessed.  If you don't believe it, try performing on a 4 inch wide beam, performing aerial stunts with grace, no breaks, and no falls.  At the same time, exhibit strength, flexibility, and dance training.  Then dismount, without giving up a 10th of a point by nailing the landing, usually blind, while twisting and turning, with your success or failure (and that of your team) depending on the performance.  That, my friends, is an athlete.

A group of kids I knew were convinced that men invented balance beams and panty hose.

 

[pringlelake]

J J Watts deserves mention. the guy is an incredible athlete. Watch him do a 55" vertical jump.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTaQ1_dEAZE