I was thinking about world class athletes that I would have loved to have seen live in their pomp, for me I would have loved to have seen George Best playing for United or even with Rodney Marsh, here is the wish list of my top ten.
1. Jack Batten, Armagh Harps and Armagh. Jack was a neighbor of mine and he was a collollus of a man, legendary full back for club and county and starred in the 53 final against the kingdom, number one hero of mine.
2. Carl Lewis, what an athlete, the man revolutionized the sport of athletics and he was all about coaching and helping aspiring youngsters and team mates alike.
3. Sugar Ray Leonard, quite simply the most natural pugilist the world has ever seen, he came from an affluent family and was gifted with intelligence, good looks and at his best no one ever came close to his greatness in my opinion.
4. Jim Thorp, Jim was a multi sport athlete, he came from a native American family that was dirt poor but he overcame prejudice and class discrimination to become an Olympic great and football icon.
5. Bo Jackson, quite simply Americas greatest ever multiple sport athlete, Bo was a blue chip athlete in track, football and baseball, he was blessed with incredible power, balance and speed, he got screwed out of his final year of baseball by the Dolphins who lied to and subsequently picked him in the draft, after him telling them he would never play fir them, he was a man if his word and they ended up losing him, he played baseball for much less money and his power with the bat and fielding skills are unmatched, as is his character.
6. Barry Sanders, I hate the Lions, he was the Lions, I loved me Barry Sanders, the man was tiny for a running back but he was strong like bull, could run like the wind and he could make moves that were incredible to make defenders miss, he quit at the height if his powers because the Lions lied to him, another principled megastar, and one who shunned the limelight.
7. George Best, flawed genius and folk hero, the enigmatic wait from east Belfast will never be forgotten for many reasons, mist good, some not so much, I loved him for his attitude, as sublime as he was on the field, if you tried to cut him in two he would hurt you back, he was blessed with incredible speed, balance and was always two moves ahead if anybody else on the field.
8. Diego Armando Maradonna: What can you say about thus man, bow legged footballing legend that gave a nation its pride back after absolutely abusing the English midfield AND defense in just seconds, he was an incredible player for clubs and country but saved his best for Argentina.
9. Pele.strength the face of Brazilian football this footballing God is considered by many as the greatest of all time, power and strength as well as a genius for scoring goals made Pele a hero and icon across the world, he would have been something to see at his best.
10.Muhammad Ali, strange one for me this, as great as greatness I was never a huge fan but I recognize his greatness all the same, in his pomp he could not be hit, I admired greatly his anti war stance and his rationale for not going to war, the world was robbed of his best years yet he is still one of the greatest ever to lace up a glove and certainly the most beloved.
Surely the legendary Armagh player was Jack Bratton, not Batten ?
Ali, Pele, Sugar Ray and Best definitely on my list as well.
When a member of the Galway 3 in a row team, who played with Sean Purcell, told me Pádraig Carney was the best he'd seen, that makes him good enough for my list.
I've seen Jordan live, but would love to have seen Bird v Magic in one of those massive matches.
I'll keep thinking......
Carl Lewis was a doper I used to be a huge fan but it pisses me off thinking about him nowl!! Hard to name a real track and field athlete who hasn't had some doubt cast over them. I'm sure Sonia wasn't doping so would have loved to see her in full flow.
I'd love to see some of the great basketball stars in the flesh like a Steph Curry/Jordan/LeBron as they are just so far ahead of the rest it is unreal.
I saw Ronaldo once at Lansdowne road but it was a horrible night and he didn't really do anything spectacular. The Duffer rattled him with a kick that drew the biggest cheer of the night. Again Pele, Messi, Zidane Best I would have loved to have seen.
Aside from that I don't know I've lost a bit of the love of sport that I once had I suppose the real world has got the better of me and where once I would have been a decent follower of Athletics/Swimming and cycling I've definitely lost my love of those sports
Quote from: muppet on November 28, 2016, 04:56:22 PM
Ali, Pele, Sugar Ray and Best definitely on my list as well.
When a member of the Galway 3 in a row team, who played with Sean Purcell, told me Pádraig Carney was the best he'd seen, that makes him good enough for my list.
I've seen Jordan live,
That last point in 05 was unreal.
I'll keep thinking......
Live as in, live in person? Or just live on TV?
I never saw MJ live in person. Saw Shaq alright, but never MJ. Saw Steve Young's last TD pass ever, which was to Jerry Rice. Aneas Williams then knocked him out of the game, and that was his last concussion. I've seen Gretzky and LeMieux. Dalglish, Rush, and that gang.
Sportsmen I never saw live in the flesh. Ali, Eric Dickerson, Walter Peyton, Joe Montana, Pele, Maradona, Platini. And MJ I suppose :)
Christy Ring, Mick Mackey
The 1960 Down team in that final
Cruyff
The 91 Red Star Belgrade team
I got to see Batistuta playing for Fiorentina and Joe Cooney playing for Galway and Whelehan for Offaly and the Donnellans 3.0 so it wasn't too bad. I saw Shearer playing for Englerland but I wouldn't do it again.
Iggy Jones
Will Grigg
Garrincha
The great Kerry team
Arkle
Michelle Smith in the Atlanta Olympics.
That horse Cian O'Connor drugged.
Quote from: Syferus on November 28, 2016, 05:55:55 PM
That horse Cian O'Connor drugged.
Waterford Crystal.
Jordan
Jonah Lomu
Romario
Ronaldo
Down legend Sean O'Neil
The brilliant Matt Connor
Ed Moses
Maradona at the height of his powers.
Maradona.
No point mentioning anybody else really because nobody else comes remotely close.
Quote from: sid waddell on November 28, 2016, 06:28:48 PM
Maradona.
No point mentioning anybody else really because nobody else comes remotely close.
"Lol"
Pheidippides , Cuchulainn, Jesse Owens
Stew, you're hurting my eyes.
Would Longford Slashers count?
Anyone with a hammer but I don't know any hammer throwers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hms_GdvOKZY
Noel Cantwells daughter played with the ladies GAA team down here back in the 90's. She was telling me that the apprentices at Man Utd used to babysit her when she was a kid as her dad was the club captain, George Best was one of her babysitters.
Quote from: Mourne Rover on November 28, 2016, 04:52:15 PM
Surely the legendary Armagh player was Jack Bratton, not Batten ?
Thank you, fat fingers and posting with cellphone. Sorry.
I'd have loved to have seen Jesse Owen sticking it to Hitler and the Nazis.
Quote from: Hardy on November 28, 2016, 06:49:08 PM
Stew, you're hurting my eyes.
He meant "Athletes you wish you had've seen in competition but didnt."
Quote from: ziggy90 on November 28, 2016, 08:17:37 PM
I'd have loved to have seen Jesse Owen sticking it to Hitler and the Nazis.
True, he made the mad bastard leave the stadium early. )
Quote from: Tony Baloney on November 28, 2016, 08:28:43 PM
Quote from: Hardy on November 28, 2016, 06:49:08 PM
Stew, you're hurting my eyes.
He meant "Athletes you wish you had've seen in competition but didnt."
He probably meant "Ahletes you wish you'd seen in competition, but didn't."
Most have been mentioned......Best, Jordan, Maradona, Ali undeniably on my list. As for others:
- As a Sligoman I'd have loved to see Micheal Kearins in his heyday.
- Bryan Robson was my hero as a kid and I never saw him live. Would have loved to see him hurtling up and down the pitch in the mid 80's, a sheer force of nature. That night in 1984 against Barcelona when United came from a first leg deficit of 0-2 to win 32 on aggregate....that would be nice!
- Walter Payton for me will never be surpassed. Played most of his career on poor teams facing loaded boxes but his numbers speak for themselves. Perfect mixture of elegance, power and speed.
Golf Bobby Jones or Tommy Armour
Boxing Jack Dempsey
Baseball Babe Ruth
Track Field Jesse Owens
Ice Hockey Eddie Shore
Rugby Willie John McBride
GAA Football My Uncle
Mick O'Connell
Seán O'Neill
Pele
George Best
Eric Cantona
Quote from: 5 Sams on November 29, 2016, 12:09:36 AM
Mick O'Connell
Seán O'Neill
Pele
George Best
Eric Cantona
Mick O'Connell
Christy Ring
Would like to see if they were worth the hype. Probably not. I'd say in terms of raw footballing talent and the purity of the basic skills, the Gooch would more than likely equal if not surpass O'Connel.
Iggy Jones
I've seen Geraghty, Giles, Stafford.
I'm happy enough.
Sean Flanagan et al.
Cliff Lazarenko.j
Quote from: grounded on November 28, 2016, 06:27:55 PM
Down legend Sean O'Neil
The brilliant Matt Connor
Ed Moses
Maradona at the height of his powers.
Brilliant call on Ed Moses, one of the best of all time.
Quote from: seafoid on November 28, 2016, 05:13:08 PM
Christy Ring, Mick Mackey
The 1960 Down team in that final
Cruyff
The 91 Red Star Belgrade team
Good call on the Red Star team Seaf; the final apart, they were brilliant in their run to the '91 European Cup final that year.
Would have loved to see Sean Purcell in action to see if he was as good as the older people maintained.
All GAA fans should see Joe Canning play live at least once in their lives; seldom fails to produce something at least once a game that no-one else is capable of doing.
Socrates in the Sigerson final.
Ronny Delaney winning Olympic gold in Melbourne.
Quote from: mouview on November 29, 2016, 11:44:30 AM
Quote from: seafoid on November 28, 2016, 05:13:08 PM
Christy Ring, Mick Mackey
The 1960 Down team in that final
Cruyff
The 91 Red Star Belgrade team
Good call on the Red Star team Seaf; the final apart, they were brilliant in their run to the '91 European Cup final that year.
Would have loved to see Sean Purcell in action to see if he was as good as the older people maintained.
All GAA fans should see Joe Canning play live at least once in their lives; seldom fails to produce something at least once a game that no-one else is capable of doing.
I often saw Joe Cooney playing for Sars long after the newspaper circus had moved on and he was on a level far above the other players. Especially the Turlough lads.
Tiger Woods
Especially thon time the wife went at him with the 4 iron
Only the one ............ Maradonna.
I've seen Best, Micko and Sean O'Neill but I'd trade all that for Matty Forde in his pomp.
If I could go back to being a teenager I would go to see Nudie playing for Monaghan. And Dermot Earley playing for Roscommon.
Quote from: seafoid on November 29, 2016, 12:21:13 PM
Quote from: mouview on November 29, 2016, 11:44:30 AM
Quote from: seafoid on November 28, 2016, 05:13:08 PM
Christy Ring, Mick Mackey
The 1960 Down team in that final
Cruyff
The 91 Red Star Belgrade team
Good call on the Red Star team Seaf; the final apart, they were brilliant in their run to the '91 European Cup final that year.
Would have loved to see Sean Purcell in action to see if he was as good as the older people maintained.
All GAA fans should see Joe Canning play live at least once in their lives; seldom fails to produce something at least once a game that no-one else is capable of doing.
I often saw Joe Cooney playing for Sars long after the newspaper circus had moved on and he was on a level far above the other players. Especially the Turlough lads.
Saw Joe Cooney in the flesh the day he came on for Sarsfields against Dunloy. Sarsfields were in a bit of bother until he hobbled on (a few Sars fans around us said he'd surgery to repair a hernia a week or two earlier), pointed a sideline ball from midfield with his first touch and then dominated proceeding from centre back and just about got Sarsfields over the line.
I haven't seen the like of it since and whilst I was disappointed Dunloy got beat it was good to see such an artist at work.
Also got to see John Fenton and Nicky English play in a Munster final in a packed Thurles, two hero's of mine back in the day.
Ring is revered and no doubt would have been a fine hurler, but with no TV and only radio back in the day (unless you managed to get to a game) a lot could be down to the likes of Michael ÓHeír on the radio, but would still be interesting to watch live all the same.
As for other sports it would have been unreal to watch the likes of Roberto Duran and Sugar Ray Leonard go at it, loved Duran, hard as coffin nails.
I'd loved to have seen Peter Canavan. Especially when I was supposed to be marking him.
Ring would have been like Shefflin.
Mackey could bring the whole county with him.
I never felt the cats had that passion when they were winning. Just from observing them in pubs. They had a machine. But Mackey would have had emotion . Mayo need someone like him.
Quote from: muppet on November 29, 2016, 01:49:30 PM
I'd loved to have seen Peter Canavan. Especially when I was supposed to be marking him.
Your best bet would have been to bust him when the ball was threw up!
After that you and everyone else would have been fecked!
Cycling is a bit shit as a spectator sport to be at imo - unless you're on the lash at Dutch corner or something - but I would've loved to have watched Sean Kelly in his pomp.
Sugar Ray Leonard as well.
Quote from: bennydorano on November 29, 2016, 03:16:55 PM
Cycling is a bit shit as a spectator sport to be at imo - unless you're on the lash at Dutch corner or something - but I would've loved to have watched Sean Kelly in his pomp.
Sugar Ray Leonard as well.
Kelly winning in Flanders. They loved him.
Quote from: muppet on November 29, 2016, 01:49:30 PM
I'd loved to have seen Peter Canavan. Especially when I was supposed to be marking him.
You weren't the only opponent that couldnt see a Tyrone player. Colm Cooper couldn't see them either.
More likely that Colm couldn't see probably because he had two swollen black eyes after being assaulted in a tyrone swarm.
Quote from: stew on November 29, 2016, 11:26:36 AM
Quote from: grounded on November 28, 2016, 06:27:55 PM
Down legend Sean O'Neil
The brilliant Matt Connor
Ed Moses
Maradona at the height of his powers.
Brilliant call on Ed Moses, one of the best of all time.
Yeah he was just just a dominant figure for so long, practically unbeatable. True class both on and off the track.
I suppose if it was an actual sporting moment it would have to be Bob Beamon's Olympic Record long jump. Simply breathtaking.
The black power salute in the 72 Olympics.
68
Quote from: grounded on November 29, 2016, 07:24:45 PM
Quote from: stew on November 29, 2016, 11:26:36 AM
Quote from: grounded on November 28, 2016, 06:27:55 PM
Down legend Sean O'Neil
The brilliant Matt Connor
Ed Moses
Maradona at the height of his powers.
Brilliant call on Ed Moses, one of the best of all time.
Yeah he was just just a dominant figure for so long, practically unbeatable. True class both on and off the track.
I suppose if it was an actual sporting moment it would have to be Bob Beamon's Olympic Record long jump. Simply breathtaking.
I can remember that Beamon jump like yesterday, he just seemed to stay airborne forever.
Quote from: ziggy90 on November 29, 2016, 09:07:08 PM
Quote from: grounded on November 29, 2016, 07:24:45 PM
Quote from: stew on November 29, 2016, 11:26:36 AM
Quote from: grounded on November 28, 2016, 06:27:55 PM
Down legend Sean O'Neil
The brilliant Matt Connor
Ed Moses
Maradona at the height of his powers.
Brilliant call on Ed Moses, one of the best of all time.
Yeah he was just just a dominant figure for so long, practically unbeatable. True class both on and off the track.
I suppose if it was an actual sporting moment it would have to be Bob Beamon's Olympic Record long jump. Simply breathtaking.
I can remember that Beamon jump like yesterday, he just seemed to stay airborne forever.
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Right, it was just phenomenal..One of those moments were just everything went perfect. Looking at it back on video it looks almost video edited as if he was somehow suspended in mid air! His reaction on seeing the distance is also brilliant.
I think his record lasted until 91, when Mike Powell and Carl Lewis had that famous duel in the 1991 world championships. Powell s record still stands to this day I think! I
Jim Brown
Jesse Owens - pride of Cleveland East Tech
George Best
Paddy Doherty
Tony Reddin
Eric Penick - Notre Dame tailback who won the Ohio high school track team title on his own
2002 Armagh team - never saw them live
Quote from: Oraisteach on November 29, 2016, 11:31:52 PM
Jim Brown
Jesse Owens - pride of Cleveland East Tech
George Best
Paddy Doherty
Tony Reddin
Eric Penick - Notre Dame tailback who won the Ohio high school track team title on his own
2002 Armagh team - never saw them live
That last one blows my mind Orais!
You would have been proud.
Stew, I've never felt more joy and pride and at the same time sadness that I couldn't be home to witness it and join in the celebrations.