Best of Both Worlds: The 20 Greatest Two Sport Athletes of All-Time

This article courtesy of Rip City Report

Everyone knows that kid.

The Ringer.

The one that is great at everything they do.

The one that you can't beat.

You hate him for it, but you know that you can't touch him.

You despise him for it.

Well guess what. This is like that, but times 10.

These are people that have done what many could not, be very good at two different sports.

Whether that is professionally or in college, they were good at what they did.

Please enjoy and thank you for reading.

This article courtesy of Rip City Report

Julius Peppers

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Julius Peppers is a defensive end for the Chicago Bears. In terms of being a defensive threat, he is right up there with the best.

Peppers' football career started in 2002 when he was chosen with the second overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft.

Peppers is also the proud owner of these achievements:

Chuck Bednarik Award (2001), Lombardi Award (2001), Bill Willis Award (2001), NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (2002), 5× Pro Bowl selection (2004, 2005, 2006, 2008,2009), 2× First-Team All-Pro selection (2004, 2006), 2× Second-Team All-Pro selection (2008, 2009), NFL 2000s All-Decade Team.

I'm sure you are saying, "That's it?".

But no, it's not.

During his collegiate career he was able to rack up these achievements:

Sporting News Freshman All-American (1999), First-team All-ACC (2000), Second-team AP All-American (2000), Second-team Football News All-American (2000), Consensus First-team All-ACC (2001), Consensus First-team All-American (2001), Bronko Nagurski Trophy finalist (2001).

So where does his basketball career fit in?

Julius Peppers was also a key role player on a UNC Tar Heels team that made it to the 2000 Final Four. Eventually, Julius decided that football had more in store for him and chose to quit basketball to focus solely on football.

Tony Gonzalez

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Tony Gonzalez is a tight end for the Atlanta Falcons who is near the end of a very successful career.

Just to sum up Tony's professional achievements, I thought that a direct quote from wikipedia would probably be best due to the length of his success.

"Kansas City Chiefs

• Career receptions (916 as of December 30, 2008)
• Career receiving yards (10,940 as of December 30, 2008)
• Career receiving touchdowns (76 as of December 30, 2008)
• Career yards from scrimmage (10,954 as of December 30, 2008)
• Consecutive games with a reception (130 as of December 30, 2008)

NFL

• Receptions in a single season for a tight end (102, 2004 season)
• Career receiving yards for a tight end (11,760 as of December 21, 2009)
• Career receptions for a tight end (994 as of December 21, 2009)
• Career receiving touchdowns for a tight end (82 as of December 21, 2009)
• Most seasons with 1,000+ receiving yards by a tight end (4)
• 11,000 receiving yards"

-Wikipedia 

Another quick factoid about Tony Gonzalez. Or Rather a question.

Is Tony Gonzalez the only vegan athlete in the National Football League?

In 2007, Tony suffered from a bout with Facial Paralysis and after reading a nutrition book, decided that a vegan diet would be the best.

Eventually he decided that a little meat would be ok.

So, what about his Basketball career? (What'd you think about that segue?)

Tony Gonzalez played in 28 games, averaging 6.8 points and 5.4 rebounds. But then he decided he would forfeit his last year of eligibility to enter the NFL Draft.

...and now the rest is history.

Antwaan Randle El

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For a player that will always be known for his double-reverse 43-yard clinching touchdown pass in the Super Bowl, Antwaan Randle El will be remembered by some for his Collegiate Basketball career.

As a point guard under Bob Knight at Indiana, Randle El was a decent backup at the time. It turns out that he was also a varsity Baseball player during the 2000 season with Indiana.

His Basketball and Baseball careers will always be overshadowed by his Football talents.

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Tom Glavine

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The Lefty has 164 victories during the 1990s.

Tom Glavine is a very good pitcher to say the very least.

Tom was the second winningest pitcher in the National League, second only to teammate Greg Maddux. Tom is a five-time 20-game winner and two-time Cy Young Award winner.

Glavine is one of only 24 pitchers in major league history to earn 300 career wins.

This is probably why we haven't heard of Glavine's Hockey career. In fact, Tom probably would have been playing with the likes of Wayne Gretzky.

He was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the fourth round.

Tom eventually opted to play for the Atlanta Braves (drafted in the second round of the 1984 draft).

Kenny Lofton

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With a career .299 batting average, 130 home runs, and 622 stolen bases. It is no secret that Kenny Lofton was a solid baseball player. But did you know he was a decent collegiate basketball player?

In college, he was the backup point guard for the Arizona Wildcats team that made it to the Final Four of the 1988 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament.

He also set season and career school records in steals. Lofton was the starting point guard the following year when Arizona made it to the Sweet Sixteen.

Lofton is one of only two men to play in a college basketball Final Four (1988, the first for the Arizona Wildcats) and a Major League Baseball World Series.

All in all, Lofton was a solid Basketball player and a very good baseball player.

This Article Courtesy Of Rip City Report

Derrick Lee

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Derrick Lee is a current Major league Baseball player for the Chicago Cubs. He has a lifetime battling average .282, 991 RBI, and 351 home runs.

But it turns out that Lee was also a collegiate basketball player.

In the biggest game of his collegiate career, the National Championship game, Derrick Lee was guarding Chris Webber when he called the infamous timeout.

That cost Michigan the National Championship and gave The Tar Heels the title.

John Elway

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For a player known for "The Drive," it is hard to imagine that John Elway was pretty good at another sport.

At Stanford, Elway played both Football and Baseball. As a Baseball player Elway played both right field and pitcher. He ended his collegiate career with a .361 batting average .

As a pitcher, Elway's senior season ended with a 5-4 record with a 4.51 ERA.

John went on to play Football and was drafted by the Colts with the first overall selection in 1983 NFL Draft.

Elway refused to play for the Colts because he felt that the Colts would not allow him to succeed. The organization eventually caved and Elway was traded to the Broncos.

Thus, the legacy begins.

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Donovan McNabb

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As the second overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft, Donovan McNabb has most definitely lived up to the hype.

Thus far in his career, Donovan is a 6× Pro Bowl selection (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003,2004, 2009), 2004 NFC Offensive Player of the Year, Philadelphia Eagles 75th Anniversary Team, 3× Big East Offensive Player of the Year (1996-1998), Syracuse All-Century Football Team, NFC's Player of the Month 9/05, Big East's Offensive Player of the Decade for the 1990s, Big East Rookie of the Year, 2008 Pudding Pie Award winner, FedEx Air Player of the Week (Week 1 of 2008 season).

But he also had a decent basketball career as a reserve for Syracuse and would eventually go on to lose to Kentucky in the 1996 National Championship game.

This is another case of one outweighing the other.

Charlie Ward

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Charlie Ward was a three sport athlete, and a good one at that. He was an NBA player, Heisman-winning collegiate football player, and draft pick for a major league baseball franchise.

As a basketball player, Charlie was drafted out of Florida State with the 26th pick in the first round to the New York Knicks.

Through the entirety of his career, Ward would play for two other teams, the San Antonio Spurs and The Houston Rockets, amassing 3,947 points, 2,539 rebounds, and 1,648 assists.

Here is a story about why Ward chose Basketball over the NFL:

"Upon graduation, Ward stated he was undecided about professional basketball or football and made it clear that he would not consider playing in the NFL unless selected in the first round of the 1994 NFL Draft. Ward proclaimed that he "deserved to" be a first rounder.

Ward’s mother reported that the family was told he "was probably a third-to fifth-round pick." 

Because teams did not want to waste a first round pick on a player that might eventually choose the NBA, and because of his smaller stature, Ward was not selected in the 1st round of the NFL Draft.

Instead of pursuing a career as a football player in the NFL, and having been chosen in the 1st round (26th overall) of the 1994 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks, he began his career in the NBA as a point guard.

An inquiry was made during Ward's rookie year with the Knicks to become the backup quarterback for Joe Montana of the Kansas City Chiefs, but Ward declined."

-Wiki

So would Ward have been a first-round draft selection if he would have told scouts he was dedicated to the NFL? Probably.

But we will never know.

All we do know is that Ward was an excellent football player, too. As a collegiate athlete, Ward played Basketball, Football, and Baseball. He was drafted into the MLB, but decided to pursue both Football and Basketball.

As a Football player, Charlie was stellar. Winning the Heisman, Jonny Unitas award, James E. Sullivan Award, Walter Camp, Maxwell, Davey O'Brien, and the NCAA Top Quarterback Of The Year all in 1993.

In 2006, he was voted into the College Hall Of Fame.

Although he went professional in Basketball, his legacy was left behind on the gridiron.

Todd Helton

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Todd Helton could very well be one of the best true sluggers in baseball. As a 5-time all star, 4-time silver slugger award, 4-time National League player of the month, and a 3-time Golden Glover, there is little to argue about Helton being included on this list.

Not to mention that he has the third highest batting average in the league among active players. 

Again, among active players, Helton is also second in on-base percentage (.425), fifth in slugging percentage (.559), sixth in intentional walks (175), and tied for fourth in doubles (519).

Helton is a very good baseball player.

But how was he at football?

While at Tennessee, Helton was the quarterback, but struggled to find his place. Helton was continually stuck between Heath Shuler and Peyton Manning on the depth chart, but would eventually be given the chance when Shuler fell to injury, although he struggled with injuries as well and would eventually be replaced by Manning.

He did win the Gatorade Player of the Year award.

So in this case, Helton's baseball career covers up for Helton's collegiate football career.

Deion Sanders

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Known as Prime Time, Deion Sanders could very well be the most versatile professional athlete ever.

As a two-sport athlete in both Football and Baseball, Deion played at the highest level. As a football player, Deion was an Atlanta Falcon, San Francisco 49er, Dallas Cowboy, Washington Redskin, and a Baltimore Raven.

He was able to win an NFL Championship twice, once with the 49ers and once with the Dallas Cowboys.

A List of Deion's accomplishments as an NFL player:

8 time Pro Bowler

6 first team selections

2 second team selections

2 time Superbowl Champion

NFL defensive player of the year

two time NFC defensive player of the year.

Voted into the 1990's all Decade team

Deion was definitely prime time.

But it doesn't end there, Deion was also a Baseball player.

Drafted by the Yankees, Sanders was able to play part-time and appear in 641 games for 4 different teams.

He would end his career with the Reds with a .263 batting average, 558 hits, and 186 stolen bases.

Deion Sanders is truly the definition of a prime time athlete.

Danny Ainge

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Danny Ainge was a professional basketball player who won two NBA Championships with the Boston Celtics, as well as a Major League Baseball player for the Toronto Blue Jays.

His career as an athlete started in high school. As a native Oregonian, Danny led Eugene high school to two consecutive state Championships in football 1976-1977.

Danny Ainge is the only person to ever be voted onto a high school first team in Football, basketball, and baseball.

His high school career eventually led him to BYU (Brigham Young University) to play basketball for the Cougars. His career will be remembered by many for his game winning shot during a game against Notre Dame in 1991.

Ainge went coast to coast with seven seconds remaining to give the Cougars a March Madness victory.

While still in college, Ainge was drafted to the Toronto Blue Jays, the team that he would spend his entire career with. Eventually, Ainge made it to the big leagues and played second and third base.

He lasted three years in the majors, but was able to become the youngest player to ever hit a home run (20 years and 77 days).

After his collegiate career, Ainge was drafted by the Boston Celtics in the second round. He amassed 11,964 points, 2,768 rebounds, and 4,199 assists.

He was an NBA all-star and a two-time NBA champion.

Bo Jackson

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Bo Jackson was the first athlete to be named into the all-star game in two different major American Sports.

As a football player, Jackson was drafted first overall as a running back for the Los Angeles Raiders.

Unfortunately, his career was ended by a hip injury after four seasons and was only able to amass 2,782 yards and 16 touchdowns.

The same hip injury hampered his baseball game. 

Although he was able to play through the injury, he was never the same player.

He ended his career with a .250 batting average, 141 home runs, and 415 RBI.

Brian Jordan

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Brian Jordan was a Major League Baseball Outfielder and a National Football League Safety from the late 80's and through the 1990's.

As an outfielder, Jordan was originally drafted in the first round of the 1988 MLB draft. Throughout his career he bad a batting average of .282 with 184 home runs.

He was selected the the All-Star game once in 1999.

As a football player, Jordan was drafted in the 7th round by the Buffalo Bills but was cut before training camp.

Eventually he signed up with the Atlanta Falcons from 1989-1991 while he was working his way through farm system of the Cardinals.

In those two years, Jordan recorded five interceptions and four sacks, but chose to drop football to pursue his career in Baseball.

Stephen Neal

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Stephen Neal is a current New England Patriots offensive lineman. He went undrafted in 2001 and was a practice squad player trying to get a chance with an NFL team.

Once he did, he stuck.

With the Patriots, Neal has won 3 NFL Championships (XXVI,XXVII, and XXXIX).

But Football isn't where Neal's fame comes from.

In fact, Stephen Neal didn't even play football in college, instead he was one of the top wrestlers in the nation at Cal State-Bakersfield.

His overall record was set at 151-10 and won back to back collegiate titles and won the Dan Hodge Award (like the Heisman trophy for collegiate wrestling).

Neal went on to coach Brock Lesnar, who is now the UFC Heavyweight champion.

Tony Gwynn

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Tony Gwynn was arguably the most productive San Diego Padre to ever put on a uniform.

In 20 years with the Padres, Tony Gwynn never batted below .309 in a full season. Never.

Not to mention that he batted as the clean up batter and wasn't ever a power hitter. Just one of the most consistent hitters in Major League Baseball history.

He only struck out 434 times in 9,288 career at bats.

At the end of his career, the Address of Petco Park, the venue for San Diego Padres games, was changed to 19 Tony Gwynn Drive.

He would eventually go on to be elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

At first, Tony wasn't as interested in pursuing a career in baseball as he was in playing basketball.

As a standout point guard for the San Diego State Aztecs, Tony set the school record for assists and would eventually go on to be selected in the 10th round of the NBA draft.

But decided to pursue his baseball career instead.

He was drafted 58th overall by the Padres and never looked back.

Jim Thorpe

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Jim Thorpe is an athlete.

Two time gold medalist, promising collegiate football player, professional basketball, and a pro Baseball player.

At one point, Jim Thorpe's gold medals were revoked because he violated amateur rules because he had played in the pros.

But after his death, the olympic committee reinstated those gold medals to his name.

Much of Thorpe's fame came from his collegiate days. It all started in the middle of the day in 1907 when Jim was walking by a track practice and out-jumped the high jumpers while in street clothes.

The Track coach snatched him up right away.

During his time at Carlisle, Thorpe also played football, baseball, lacrosse, and ballroom dancing.

Thorpe actually won the 1912 inter-collegiate ballroom dancing championship.

Thorpe was also an excellent football player but almost wasn't given the chance to play.

"Reportedly, Pop Warner was hesitant to allow Thorpe, his best track and field athlete, to compete in a physical game such as football.

"Thorpe, however, convinced Warner to let him participate in some plays against the school team's defense; Warner assumed he would be tackled easily and give up the idea of playing football. 

Thorpe "ran around, past, and through them not once, but twice." He then walked over to Warner and said, "Nobody is going to tackle Jim," while flipping him the ball."
-Wiki

In 1911, Thorpe shocked the world when he led Carlisle, as the running back, defensive back, placekicker, and punter, to a 18-15 upset over Harvard. A game in which Jim scored every single point for his team.

That season Carlisle ended the season with an 11-1 record and the very next year Carlisle won the National Championship with a victory over Army.

In the 1912 season, Thorpe scored 25 touchdowns and 198 points.

As a baseball player, Thorpe played for the New York Giants and then ended his career with the Boston Braves, batting .252 over the span of his career and recording 176 career hits,

Thorpe's career as a baseball player was cut short due to the Great Depression.

After that, Thorpe struggled to get by. He took a number of odd jobs but eventually subsided to alcoholism and lived the rest of his life in poverty.

Jim Brown

Jim Brown.

Actor, Runner, Football Player, Lacrosse Athlete, Baseball player, and basketball star.

He earned 13 varsity letters in high school. Just 13?

During college, Jim continued his ways, running track, excelling in Lacrosse, and dominating in basketball.

Not to mention Football.

In the final game of Jim Brown's senior year of football at Syracuse, he rushed for 197 yards, scored six touchdowns, and kicked seven extra points.

That still stands as a school record with a single player scoring 43 points.

Amazing.

Jim Brown went on to play in the NFL and was the sixth pick in the first round.

He went on to be selected to 9 Pro Bowls, 8 first team selections, 1 second team selection, three NFL MVP's, three UPI NFL MVP's, three pro bowl MVP's, and was also selected to the Lacrosse Hall Of Fame.

Name another player with those kinds of accomplishments.

This Article Courtesy Of Rip City Report

Scott Burrell

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Scott Burrell was an American basketball player that won an NBA Championship with the Chicago Bulls and was also highly sought after pitching prospect.

Scott Burrell was the first professional athlete to be a first-round selection in two different sports.

He vowed to play baseball in the summer, while the NBA was on its breaks, but wanted to keep his focus within the NBA.

Although Scott found his Baseball career to be rather stagnant while his Basketball career was taking off. 

Scott was originally drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays for baseball and The Charlotte Hornets for basketball.

Michael Jordan

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Who is more famous than Michael Jordan? And which player has had a more shocking career switch than the best basketball player to ever play the game turned mediocre baseball player?

No one.

If I may, I'd like to quote an article of mine on Michael Jordan's achievements:

"For Michael's career, he averaged 30.1 points, 5.3 assists, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.35 steals on 50% shooting and 84% free throw shooting—in 1,072 games.

At 6-6, the shooting guard posted higher career averages in the playoffs than in the regular season. His best seasonal numbers were 38 points, 5 assists, 5 rebounds, and 3.16 steals in the 1987-1988 season.

Jordan had career highs of 69 points, 17 assists, 18 rebounds, 6 blocks, and 10 steals (56 minutes played), all in separate games.

He Is a five time most valuable player (1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998), Ten time All-NBA selection, six time NBA champion (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998), NBA defensive player of the year in 1988, nine time NBA all defensive First team, and two time NBA finals MVP.

Entering the 2002-2003 season he ranked first in NBA history scoring average at 31.0 points per game and is currently the Bulls all time leader in points scored, rebounds, assists, steals, games played, field goals made and attempted, and free throws made and attempted.

He owns the NBA record for times lead the NBA in scoring, at 10 times, and is widely regarded as the best basketball player of all time."

-Thanks to this article

There is nothing you can take away from this guy.

He was on top of his game.

And then his father was murdered by a group of teenagers at a highway rest stop.

This turn of events produced another turn of events.

Michael Jordan quit basketball for baseball.

Although his year-long baseball career would never live up to his basketball stardom, there is something to be said for a great athlete like Michael Jordan.

This Article Courtesy Of Rip City Report

Macho Man Randy Savage (Bonus)

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Macho Man Randy Savage was a Professional wrestler (actor on steroids) and a minor league baseball player.

To put his wrestling career in perspective, if you would have been as good(?) at baseball as he was at wrestling, then Randy Savage would be in the Hall Of Fame.

He was a huge icon for wrestling during his era.

During his baseball years, Randy Savage was an outfielder in the farm systems of the White Socks, Cardinals, and Reds. He injured his natural throwing arm and had to learn to throw with his left arm.

His last season in baseball was with the Tampa Tarpons in 1974.

This Article Courtesy Of Rip City Report

Thanks For Reading

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Thank You For Reading.

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