Greatest Athlete of all time regardless of sport!

[Walking Dead]

Valentino Rossi.

8-time World Champion.

- 1 time 125cc World Champion
- 1 time 250cc World Champion
- 6 time MotoGP (500cc, 990cc and 800cc) World Champion

Brought the sport of motorcycle roadracing into mainstream by dominating it with his racing and personality for the last 10 years.

[Woodsy the Lar]

John Conteh.

[Gun Grape]

Valentino Rossi.

Ok you might not agree with Freddy Spencer. But I would have expected a "King" Kenny Roberts , not this youngster.

[osage18]

Anyone who "rides" or "drives" something isn't an athlete. Sorry.

[Albany Rifles]

Anyone who "rides" or "drives" something isn't an athlete. Sorry.

How about if you ride the bench?

[snowhole]

Raúl González Blanco. Earlier today he just played in his 500th La Liga game for Real Madrid, and scored the 212nd league goal (305 overall, just 2 away from the legend Alfredo Di Stéfano). Always shall be the greatest athlete for me.

[osage18]

How about if you ride the bench?

Touche. Good catch. I'm sure you know what I meant.

I have to listen to fools at work try to explain how NASCAR drivers are great athletes.

[Kernow]

John Conteh.

Never. A joke, right?

[Kernow]

Ok you might not agree with Freddy Spencer. But I would have expected a "King" Kenny Roberts , not this youngster.

I agree on that one. How about Barry Sheen up there too?

[Kernow]

Anyone who "rides" or "drives" something isn't an athlete. Sorry.

Could most athletes be able to stand the 'G-Force' of an F1 Car?

[Walking Dead]

Anyone who "rides" or "drives" something isn't an athlete. Sorry.

http://www.crash.net/motorsport/moto...the_rider.html

http://www.mensfitness.com/sports_an...eme_sports/112

What an ignorant statement.

Next time you take a bike from 210 mph to 30 and stuff it in a corner battling for 1x3 foot space, inches away from 5 other bikes, let me know.

You think this is done by some crazy magic - think the bike does it itself? Ha! These men train at near-Olympic levels. More fit then the "ATHLETES" they call Baseball Players. These men are your standard triathletes - many actually compete in Iron Man competitions and MOAB mountain bike events.

Just because Webster's does not define them as athletes does not mean they are not. And don't lump these guys with car drivers - that's even more ignorant.

[Walking Dead]

Ok you might not agree with Freddy Spencer. But I would have expected a "King" Kenny Roberts , not this youngster.

Not sure if I can agree here. I am speaking in terms of complete and utter domination of the sport on all facets - including being one of the top paid athletes in the world (and yes, Osage, when it comes to salaries as well, all ATHLETES are in the same list - football players, soccer players, golfers and motorcycle racers - all ATHLETES, within their respective disciplines).

Back to my original point, I also took in consideration the effect this individual's accomplishments had on his discipline. King Kenny has done a lot, including the invention of the knee dragging technique but, overall, I think Vale has him beat.

[Monk]

Sachin "bloody" Tendulkar

[osage18]

They have guts, still not athletes

What an ignorant statement.

Next time you take a bike from 210 mph to 30 and stuff it in a corner battling for 1x3 foot space, inches away from 5 other bikes, let me know.

I'm not contesting the fact they have GUTS. Very risky sport. So would you include demolition derby drivers as athletes?

You think this is done by some crazy magic - think the bike does it itself? Ha! These men train at near-Olympic levels. More fit then the "ATHLETES" they call Baseball Players. These men are your standard triathletes - many actually compete in Iron Man competitions and MOAB mountain bike events.

Don't know; I'd question if that's true or not...but I won't argue.

The bottom line is: what do these riders "do" during competetion? They sit. They sit down on their butt the entire race. Why do they need elite cardiovascular ability? They don't.

At least Golfers walk...but that's a different discussion.

[Herodotus]

I had an English teacher back in high school who rode bikes; semi-pro. He wasn't what I would call athletic though it is one case and he was semi-pro. Still I don't think it is an apt comparison between MotoGP riders and baseball players who play 162 games in 182 days roughly, not including spring training and playoffs.