The BBC has a 'sports personality of the year' award, in which the athlete who has achieved the most that year in any sport, as determined in a public vote, is crowned. This bounty operates on a similar principle but we're looking for the greatest of all time (GOAT).
Pick any sport that you know well, tell us who is the GOAT, and give us an authoritative argument why.
Decently lengthy answers in writing or video, please! The seven best submissions get $5 each.
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First off, let's talk about Michael Jordan's "Airness" – i mean the guy was called "Air Jordan", the guy practically defied gravity! I mean, the man could fly. The dunk contest (pic included above and ill fire a video below too!) where he literally looked like he was flying was just incredible! (PS he defended his dunk crown he won in 87 again in 88!) He made slam dunks look spectacular in game and layups seem like a piece of cake. Watching him glide through the air and "posterize" the NBA's best was just something to behold!
Now, let's not forget MJ's killer instinct. The man had a competitive streak like no other. If you watch the netflix documentary "The Last Dance" its so cool to see how many times Mike "took things personally" against people he was competing with! He didn't just want to win; he needed to win. And boy, did he deliver! From buzzer-beaters to clutch plays, Jordan was the king of comebacks. He had nerves of steel and would take that match winning shot against the clock anytime he could!
But it's not just his on-court prowess that sets Jordan apart. It's his impact on the culture of basketball. MJ wasn't just a player... he was a global icon. As a kid in Scotland I had a huge Jordan poster on my wall and a big Chicago bulls poster too... that shows his global reach! His Air Jordan sneakers became a fashion statement and are still the coolest and most desirable sneaks of all time.
Plus, let's not overlook his SIX NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls. Six rings, people! Jordan didn't just dominate the game; he owned it. And he would have probably won even more if he didn't take a few years off to go play baseball after his fathers murder. Also the game back then when Jordan played had some incredible names in the League and was WAY more physical than it is now as the players are way more protected by officials now.
And here is the real reason you know hes the GOAT, every otehr amazing basketball player gets measured against Michael Jordan. its always "whos the best.. MJ or insert other basketball player name here". MJ's legacy continues to inspire generations of ballers. Kids everywhere still dream of being "like Mike" and emulating his moves on the court.
So there you have it, in my opinion Michael Jordan isn't just the greatest basketball player of all time; he's a cultural phenomenon, a legend whose legacy will soar higher than any slam dunk for generations to come!
Oh Yeah and he even beat the Goon squad in Space Jam at a game of basketball! And they are from another planet!
Thanks! The guy is really something special! I recommend everyone watch "The Last Dance" on netflix, even if you like sport or not its unreal to see this master at work!
Peter Sagan - isn’t just a cycling legend, he’s one of the greatest athletes of all time.
His incredible versatility shines through in his ability to dominate across various race types, a rare feat in cycling sport. His charismatic personality does more than just win races, it captivates audiences and brings a unique flair to cycling. I mean just how many tribute videos are made by fans! His tactical intelligence on the bike is incredible, often outsmarting competitors with strategies that redefine race dynamics, especially near finish lines.
But perhaps most importantly, his impact on cycling extends beyond victories. He's transformed the sport, inspiring countless young athletes and bringing cycling into the global spotlight. Sagan isn’t just a cyclist - he's a sporting icon.
The most successful rider in the history of cycling. He won... everything.
Unlike some of the more recent riders who won 5 Tour de France but never won one day races and always made a season built around the Tour de France, he was a complete rider, able to win everything throughout the season, from Monuments races to the three weeks Grand Tours, and everything in between. And not content to win some of the most prestigious races of the world once, he often won them multiple times.
Other names from other sports that would probably deserve a GOAT as well.
Freestyle skiing: Moguls
Mikaël Kingsbury, he is the most accomplished mogul skier of all time. 3 Olympic Medals, 13 World Championships medals and a plethora of world cup wins. He is another one that has won everything in their sport and multiple times but he is still competing, so the records has yet to settle on the snowy ground.
Alpine Skiing
Ingemar Stenmark: he is considered the greatest slalom and giant slalom specialist of all time and the most winning male skier ever. He is Stenmark, still a benchmark in the alpine skiing world.
Mikaela Shiffrin: she is the present of skiin and already the most winning alpine skier ever, the only one to have won across the six World Cup disciplines and other records. She is still going strong and I believe her records will only grow in the near future.
A GOAT for the future?
In Cycling, Tadej Pogačar is set to be the new Merckx, with the same completeness on the road and lust for victory. There is no race the slovenian rider cannot win.
In Alpine Skiing, Marco Odermatt is set to be a new Ingemar Stenmark. This year, continuing from the last, he won nearly all races in which he participated and he has a consistency of result like not many.
When it comes to F1, sure Hamilton and Schumacher share the stats. And there’s a good argument for the likes of Senna and Clark for their natural talent. It’s so hard to compare though because the regulations are constantly changing.
But one driver who I feel always flies under the radar is Sir Jackie Stewart. 3 world championships during one of the sport’s dangerous eras. He was a big advocate for better safety in the sport, particularly from circuits. And he retired after his 99th race. Many would be tempted to do that 100th race, but he’d had enough and didn’t want to risk his life any further.
Just see her performance here - there is so much power behind all her jumps and it comes across as effortless
She was the first woman to land a quad Lutz, quad flip, and quad toe loop jumps in competition, so I think that in itself is a testament to her ability. Her determination and dedication is so so evident. It was a shame that the most recent olympics seemed to break her down so much :( The only thing she's been criticised for is her lack of artistic ability, yet I think her clinical approach to ice skating is actually really interesting to watch. There is an element of the whole Madonna-Wh*re complex here, as she's seen as this femme fatale who therefore isn't as stylistically appealing in the eyes of judges. It's a real problem within women's skating in my opinion.
I've been watching football for all my life and have pretty good history on football knowledge.
I've personally watched him play in person and he's most certainly the biggest football personality in football, and that's Cristiano Ronaldo. For me, he's the best player of all time. You consistently get the back and forth of the Ronaldo vs Messi conversation, but this man has done it all. The level of professionalism he brings both on and off the pitch. Incredibly hard working, committed, dedicated to the store, a great leader, a captain, and a inspiration. Someone I look up to on a regular basis and I think a great idol for kids growing up in the sport.
Ha I love that we got nominations for both Ronaldo and Messi (courtesy of EveOnlineTutorials). Maybe we need a bounty dedicated to settling this debate...
Why? - This man has won every trophy possible in football.
His Status? - He is the Goat, literally given that status!
Why Goat? - Because in the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, in the finals of Argentina Vs France, go look it up, he stood out, he got there, and he acquitted himself!
Jarrod Bowen - underrated when it comes to the national team. He's got tons of passion, skill and attitude that every other footballer could learn from.
