[Sussex] Ronnie O'sullivan speaks the truth

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Muhammed Ali was well beaten in several of his later fights, as well as losing the heavyweight title twice. Lance Armstrong was massively improved by performance-enhancing drugs, so I wouldn't put either of them in the mix.
Tom Brady and Don Bradman would be in the conversation. Maybe Jahangir Khan also. Phil Taylor, obviously. Jack Niklaus?

I wasn't being serious about Armstrong.

I thought about 'The Power' but couldn't recall his actual name. Brilliant drummer, too, the Philthy Animal!

As a big fan of pitch and put, Arnold Palmer sprang to mind, too.

(Alas, I'm not taking this sufficiently seriously, I suspect).

 

[Machiavelli]

Is O'Sullivan the most talented sportsman at his own sport that we've seen?

Yes is the answer. Was saying something similar earlier, following on from the Triple Crown stats

 

[Guinness Boy]

Self confessed “clean freak” Ronnie O’Sullivan will only fist bump at the end but keeps touching his nose with his hand.

Odd.

 

[Seagull58]

I wasn't being serious about Armstrong.

I thought about 'The Power' but couldn't recall his actual name. Brilliant drummer, too, the Philthy Animal!

As a big fan of pitch and put, Arnold Palmer sprang to mind, too.

(Alas, I'm not taking this sufficiently seriously, I suspect).

Arnie won next to f all once Jack arrived on the pro golf scene.

 

[herecomesaregular]

Self confessed “clean freak” Ronnie O’Sullivan will only fist bump at the end but keeps touching his nose with his hand.

Odd.

edit - keyboard mind of it's own here

 

[Bozza]

Is he intentionally NOT picking up the trophy?

 

[Paris]

Strange finish to the final. It was like a couple of old drunks in a back street snooker club during that final frame.

 

[Triggaaar]

Cassius Clay

Well played - over generous and offensive all in one

 

[Triggaaar]

Muhammed Ali was well beaten in several of his later fights, as well as losing the heavyweight title twice.

Ali was great, but not the greatest. I've never understood why people believe his own hype.

 

[chaileyjem]

Ali was great, but not the greatest. I've never understood why people believe his own hype

Ha ! Explain why not ? (Does anyone in boxing dispute this ? )

 

[chaileyjem]

Hard to think of many but If horse racing counts then Frankie Dettori might want a word.- ie being good /top of your sport for decades.

 

[Triggaaar]

Ha ! Explain why not ? (Does anyone in boxing dispute this ? )

His record was similar to Frazier and Foreman. He outsmarted Foreman in their one fight, fair play, but then dodged the rematch (just as smart as he was in the ring the first time). The fights against Frazier were great, and it probably should have finished 1-1 with the last fight as a draw. Had the two corners felt differently, it could have finished 2-1 to Frazier.

He was of course a great boxer, he was also a great showman and self-publicist. I doubt he was the greatest boxer, let alone the greatest by a distance, which the best in some other sports are. Usain Bolt for example.

 

[chaileyjem]

His record was similar to Frazier and Foreman. He outsmarted Foreman in their one fight, fair play, but then dodged the rematch (just as smart as he was in the ring the first time). The fights against Frazier were great, and it probably should have finished 1-1 with the last fight as a draw. Had the two corners felt differently, it could have finished 2-1 to Frazier.

He was of course a great boxer, he was also a great showman and self-publicist. I doubt he was the greatest boxer, let alone the greatest by a distance, which the best in some other sports are.

He was also prevented from boxing during his peak (25-29) and you don’t mention his run during the 60s cut short by the draft. Depends how you define greatness I guess but few in sport or boxing - even to this day - argue that he didn’t live up to being dubbed “the greatest”. But fair enough you’re one of em ha ha !!. (I think if anyone deserves it - then Ali does)

 

[Triggaaar]

He was also prevented from boxing during his peak (25-29) and you don’t mention his run during the 60s cut short by the draft.

If we're talking about greatest sportsperson, we shouldn't be needing to make excuses. A boxers prime is often late 20s early 30s, I'm not sure he suffered by getting a rest in his late 20s. In the fights he did have, he was at a similar level to the other great boxers I mentioned.

Depends how you define greatness I guess but few in sport or boxing - even to this day - argue that he didn’t live up to being dubbed “the greatest”

Really? How about Sugar Ray?

If we're going to discount any concerns of doping in all sports, then I'd say the greatest sportsman (not so sure about greatest sportswoman) of all time is Bolt. He was in a sport that basically everyone tried, and he was by far the best at it.

 

[essbee1]

He was also prevented from boxing during his peak (25-29) and you don’t mention his run during the 60s cut short by the draft. Depends how you define greatness I guess but few in sport or boxing - even to this day - argue that he didn’t live up to being dubbed “the greatest”. But fair enough you’re one of em ha ha !!. (I think if anyone deserves it - then Ali does)

Did he not refuse to serve in the army during Vietnam (conscientious objector)?

 

[chaileyjem]

Did he not refuse to serve in the army during Vietnam (conscientious objector)?

Yes. He didn’t fight at all between 1967-70 as a result and relinquished his title.

 

[chaileyjem]

If we're talking about greatest sportsperson, we shouldn't be needing to make excuses. A boxers prime is often late 20s early 30s, I'm not sure he suffered by getting a rest in his late 20s. In the fights he did have, he was at a similar level to the other great boxers I mentioned.




Really? How about Sugar Ray?

If we're going to discount any concerns of doping in all sports, then I'd say the greatest sportsman (not so sure about greatest sportswoman) of all time is Bolt. He was in a sport that basically everyone tried, and he was by far the best at it.

As with these things it’s hard to nail what we mean. The “greatest”, the greatest boxer ? Heavyweight ? Sportsperson ? As decided by ??

For me Ali is up there certainly as a boxer both for what he did inside a d outside the ring. But of course it’s a subjective thing (although plenty of others still take that view as well - but yes Bolt, Federer, etc will have their cheerleaders. But few rivals have Ali’s political dimension. )

 

[dangull]

Ali is my favourite sports person bar none. He was voted sports personality of the centuary by the BBC.
Greatest boxer of all time? Not sure, Sugar Ray Robinson and in recent times Floyd Mayweather (Unbeaten in 50 odd fights and many world titles) just not the charisma or the public on his side throughout his career.
Phil Taylor 16 times champion of the world at darts and Ronnie are the greats of their sport, but not known around the world.
It's all subjective, but Muhammed Ali will always be the greatest for me because of his exploits in and out of the ring.

 

[chaileyjem]

If we're talking about greatest sportsperson, we shouldn't be needing to make excuses. A boxers prime is often late 20s early 30s, I'm not sure he suffered by getting a rest in his late 20s.

A rest

 

[Guinness Boy]

Hard to think of many but If horse racing counts then Frankie Dettori might want a word.- ie being good /top of your sport for decades.

He was, indeed, very good at sitting on the fastest horse in the race.