[Mick]

Messi greatest athlete of all time probably. What a game. Wow!!!!

Is he even considered the greatest soccer player? I thought that was Pele.  Greatest athlete?  That’s impossible to answer. 

I remember years ago Sports Illustrated had a contest in which numerous great and famous professional athletes played a punch of things - tennis, golf, bowling, ran sprint and distance, swam I think. 

The winner …. Danny Ainge.

If I had to pick the greatest athlete of my lifetime, I’d probably go with Wilt.

Wilt's a great choice. As a high schooler, Chamberlain high jumped 6 feet, 6 inches, ran the 440 yards in 49.0 seconds and the 880 yards in 1:58.3, put the shot 53 feet, 4 inches, and long jumped 22 feet. Can you imagine how he would have done in the decathlon? Assuming his best marks, as a high schooler, he would have been 3rd in the 400m, 3rd in the long jump, 1st (by far) in the high jump, 1st in the shot put. His 100m time at Kansas wouldhave given him a 2nd place finish. Given his stamina (he once missed just 8 minutes of an entire NBA season), he could have excelled in the 1500m, would have done great in the javelin and discus with training. The only event that might have given him trouble was the pole vault.

[Mick]

Messi greatest athlete of all time probably. What a game. Wow!!!!

Is he even considered the greatest soccer player? I thought that was Pele.  Greatest athlete?  That’s impossible to answer. 

I remember years ago Sports Illustrated had a contest in which numerous great and famous professional athletes played a punch of things - tennis, golf, bowling, ran sprint and distance, swam I think. 

The winner …. Danny Ainge.

If I had to pick the greatest athlete of my lifetime, I’d probably go with Wilt.

Wilt's a great choice. As a high schooler, Chamberlain high jumped 6 feet, 6 inches, ran the 440 yards in 49.0 seconds and the 880 yards in 1:58.3, put the shot 53 feet, 4 inches, and long jumped 22 feet. Can you imagine how he would have done in the decathlon? Assuming his best marks, as a high schooler, he would have been 3rd in the 400m, 3rd in the long jump, 1st (by far) in the high jump, 1st in the shot put. His 100m time at Kansas wouldhave given him a 2nd place finish. Given his stamina (he once missed just 8 minutes of an entire NBA season), he could have excelled in the 1500m, would have done great in the javelin and discus with training. The only event that might have given him trouble was the pole vault.