The ten greatest sports figures of all time...it's a fraternity that is perhaps the most difficult to get into.
There have been tens of thousands of professional athletes who have entertained us with their talents, but only ten are worthy of being on this respected list. The qualifications to make it on this list were as follows: dominance, effect on sport, effect on community, "it" factor, championships, and clutch performance.
So, without further adieu, let's get started.
10) BO JACKSON
If it wasn't for his devastating hip injury, he probably would be higher on this list. He had a combination of size (6'1", 228 lbs.), speed (4.1 40 time), and strength (just look at the guy) that had never been seen before. If you simply go to youtube.com and type in his name, you will see some of the most dominating highlights in the history of sports.
His aura was so big that he had a string of commercials where the catch phrase was "Bo knows". He also gets credit for being great in both the MLB and the NFL. He was a star for the Royals, White Sox, and Angles in the MLB—and even won the MVP award in the 1989 All-Star game.
In the NFL, he was a devastating runningback for the Oakland Raiders; where he still holds the record for most rushing yards in a single game on Monday Night Football with 221. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1985, and is the only player ever to be named an All-Star in two professional sports.
9) WILT CHAMBERLIN
Perhaps he is most famous for scoring 100 points in a single NBA game on March 2, 1962, between the Philadelphia Warriors and the New York Knicks.
An interesting side note: that infamous game was not televised, only a radio broadcast remains of the historic achievement.
Wilt Chamberlin was 7'1" and between 275-300 lbs, depending on which point in his career you point to. He holds many different scoring and rebounding records, and is the only player to ever average more than 40 points, and then 50 points, in an NBA season.
He won seven scoring titles, nine field-goal percentage titles, and eleven rebounding titles. As a center, he even led the league in assists one year.
He won two NBA championships, four MVP's, and one Finals MVP. He was also selected for 13 All-Star games, is a member of the Hall-of-Fame, and was named to the list of 50 greatest NBA players.
8) MICHAEL PHELPS
Yes, he is a swimmer, but he is a swimmer who has become mainstream after his dominating performances in the last two Olympic Games. Before Phelps, when was the last time you saw a swimmer have several nationally promoted commercials? Exactly.
Phelps qualifies in every single category for this list; if he wasn't a swimmer, his accomplishments would probably place him higher than number eight. He has won the second most medals in Olympic history (16), more gold
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