how many sportsmen are 'immortal'?
Discussion
In view of the fact that we have just lost Muhammad Ali I thought that this might be an interesting Q. As it says on the tin - how many sportsmen/women could be said to have transcended sport of people know who they are even if they are a cave dwelling hermit in Nepal?
There is obviously Ali and (IMO) Jesse Owens but then who? Possibly Pele or Bolt(?)
There is obviously Ali and (IMO) Jesse Owens but then who? Possibly Pele or Bolt(?)
bearman68 said:
Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, possibly Don Bradman.
Micheal Phelps?
David Beckham / Messi / Maradona.
Schumacker.
Joe Dimaggio.
Johnny Weissmuller
Joe Brown (personal entry)
quality sportsmen all but.... say any of those names to my step-daughter and she'll have heard of 3 or 4 at best. Tendulkar is a demi-god in India but to the non-sporting public most other places in the world it's a case of "say who now?" Beckam will be forgotten in the next 10 years as will (I suspect) Maradona and Messi wouldn't even register on her radar even now when he is (arguably) the greatest player on the planet.Micheal Phelps?
David Beckham / Messi / Maradona.
Schumacker.
Joe Dimaggio.
Johnny Weissmuller
Joe Brown (personal entry)
If you're talking to sports fans then yes most names are a given but otherwise....
irocfan said:
If you're talking to sports fans then yes most names are a given but otherwise....
This is the crux of the matter. A "personality" will only be idolised and subsequently immortalised by those who know and revere them. For the vast majority of others these sports men and women are unknowns and an irrelevance. It's only when their fame or notoriety transcends their chosen sport that they have a chance of becoming a household name and this only happens to very few sports people. For instance, of the list already developing I have heard of very few and those I am aware of I have little knowledge of their sport or their part in it.
Ali? Yep, a boxer who fought erm, umm - don't know, but he's famous for a few mildly amusing one liners.
Beckham? Famous footballer, he played for England and married a Spice Girl.
Ooh, Bannister? I know him, four minute mile in, erm, 19something somewhere. It was filmed in black and white so it was a while ago. No idea what he looks like.
Impasse said:
This is the crux of the matter. A "personality" will only be idolised and subsequently immortalised by those who know and revere them. For the vast majority of others these sports men and women are unknowns and an irrelevance.
It's only when their fame or notoriety transcends their chosen sport that they have a chance of becoming a household name and this only happens to very few sports people. For instance, of the list already developing I have heard of very few and those I am aware of I have little knowledge of their sport or their part in it.
Ali? Yep, a boxer who fought erm, umm - don't know, but he's famous for a few mildly amusing one liners.
Beckham? Famous footballer, he played for England and married a Spice Girl.
Ooh, Bannister? I know him, four minute mile in, erm, 19something somewhere. It was filmed in black and white so it was a while ago. No idea what he looks like.
Not really, it just depends on how much you keep up with sport in general. I personally cannot stand to watch football but I am aware of all the great players. I love all sports and through my enjoyment I recognise most names and have an idea of what they have achieved.It's only when their fame or notoriety transcends their chosen sport that they have a chance of becoming a household name and this only happens to very few sports people. For instance, of the list already developing I have heard of very few and those I am aware of I have little knowledge of their sport or their part in it.
Ali? Yep, a boxer who fought erm, umm - don't know, but he's famous for a few mildly amusing one liners.
Beckham? Famous footballer, he played for England and married a Spice Girl.
Ooh, Bannister? I know him, four minute mile in, erm, 19something somewhere. It was filmed in black and white so it was a while ago. No idea what he looks like.
coopedup said:
Not really, it just depends on how much you keep up with sport in general. I personally cannot stand to watch football but I am aware of all the great players. I love all sports and through my enjoyment I recognise most names and have an idea of what they have achieved.
I think you've just proved my point. You follow sport. Despite what Sky and the rest of the media try to tell you, the vast majority of people do not. They will sometimes get caught up in the fever surrounding well promoted tournaments, but usually sport doesn't feature in their everyday lives and neither do the people who play them.Impasse said:
coopedup said:
Not really, it just depends on how much you keep up with sport in general. I personally cannot stand to watch football but I am aware of all the great players. I love all sports and through my enjoyment I recognise most names and have an idea of what they have achieved.
I think you've just proved my point. You follow sport. Despite what Sky and the rest of the media try to tell you, the vast majority of people do not. They will sometimes get caught up in the fever surrounding well promoted tournaments, but usually sport doesn't feature in their everyday lives and neither do the people who play them.Ali
Owens
Beckham (and that only 'cause she's English)
and now I'm coming up on empty
I guess that the trick has to be to find someone who has transcended sport and actually influenced or been part of) history
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