Greatest Sports Performance of all time

[findar]

god bless america.

[Banal]

Nolan Ryan is such a bad ass.

Edit - from wikipedia:

After Ryan hit Robin Ventura of the Chicago White Sox, Ventura charged the mound in order to fight Ryan, who was 20 years his senior. Ryan secured the 26-year-old Ventura in a headlock with his left arm, while pummelling Ventura's head with his right fist six times before catcher Iván Rodríguez was able to pull Ventura away from Ryan. Videos of the incident were played that evening throughout the country. While Ventura and White Sox manager Gene Lamont were ejected, Ryan–who had barely moved from his spot on the mound in the fracas–was allowed to remain in the game and pitched hitless ball the rest of the way.

[Thorpe]

Originally Posted by Banal

Nolan Ryan is such a bad ass.

Edit - from wikipedia:

After Ryan hit Robin Ventura of the Chicago White Sox, Ventura charged the mound in order to fight Ryan, who was 20 years his senior. Ryan secured the 26-year-old Ventura in a headlock with his left arm, while pummelling Ventura's head with his right fist six times before catcher Iván Rodríguez was able to pull Ventura away from Ryan. Videos of the incident were played that evening throughout the country. While Ventura and White Sox manager Gene Lamont were ejected, Ryan–who had barely moved from his spot on the mound in the fracas–was allowed to remain in the game and pitched hitless ball the rest of the way.

Just ignore the retarded music.

[Thorpe]

On the same note as the Ryan fight, my favorite is is #4.

[Gigfc]

Originally Posted by Thorpe

Just ignore the retarded music.

Rofffffffl at the music.

[Blumpster]

Dude, NEVER fight old guys. They're tough as shit.

[Eomer]

Wow, I forgot what pussies baseball players are. Their idea of a fight is 30 sweaty, fat guys jumping into a huge pile playing grab-ass. Awesome.

[Thorpe]

Originally Posted by Eomer

Wow, I forgot what pussies baseball players are. Their idea of a fight is 30 sweaty, fat guys jumping into a huge pile playing grab-ass. Awesome.

[Aulirophile]

Originally Posted by Burkex

First off, I don't even think Horse Racing or Car Racing qualify as sports, so I wouldn't say they were the greatest sports performance of all time. Yes they were good accomplishments but it is a car and a horse.

Have you ever raced a horse? Pound for pound race jockeys are some of the strongest athletes in the world. I can't imagine why you wouldn't qualify someone who needs to train constantly to be good enough to get everything out of a good horse as a non-sport. Jockeys have broken legs in training riding a horse just from the strain it puts on their bodies to ride a powerful horse.

[Mario Speedwagon]

I despise jockeys ever since I was forced to read part of seabiscuit. Little creepy bastards. And pound for pound doesn't count for shit when an average man can overpower you.

[Eomer]

I think it's silly to dis-include some sports because there's too much "machinery" in them. Technology and equipment has made a massive difference in virtually every sport. Yes some are more techno-centric than others, Formula Unnnnh for example, but that doesn't mean that the guys winning at it aren't exceptionally talented athletes.

[Moontayle]

Originally Posted by Eomer

I think it's silly to dis-include some sports because there's too much "machinery" in them. Technology and equipment has made a massive difference in virtually every sport. Yes some are more techno-centric than others, Formula Unnnnh for example, but that doesn't mean that the guys winning at it aren't exceptionally talented athletes.

Most people wonder how hard it can be to drive a car but it's physically demanding. I think I read somewhere that a ctudy was done which showed NASCAR drivers exhibited the same adrenaline levels as a marathon runner at the conclusion of a race.

[Ironhawk]

I don't think adrenaline has that big of a correlation between running 26.2 miles or driving a car 200mph. Personally, I think they're diminishing the meaning of the term 'athelete.' I was watching ping pong on ESPN12 or something one day and the announcer said something to the effect of, "What a shot! He is such an athelete!"

I'm sorry, people can rule at a competetive game, but the terms 'sport' and 'athlete/athletics' is being killed. Does NASCAR take talent? Yes, I can admit that. Is it athletecism? I strongly disagree.

[Grimmlokk]

Just because you have to be in great shape to compete at something doesn't make me consider it athletic.

Also, no one said shit about jockeys. They said the horse was the most bestest.

If we're stretching the boundaries further I'd nominate something like Dean Karnazes entering a 200 mile relay foot race alone. He finished last sure, but he finished. Solo. Or him running 50 marathons in 50 days.

[Eomer]

Most people wonder how hard it can be to drive a car but it's physically demanding. I think I read somewhere that a ctudy was done which showed NASCAR drivers exhibited the same adrenaline levels as a marathon runner at the conclusion of a race.

I've personally never much liked NASCAR, nor do I think the racers are particularly talented or even in that good of shape. If Kyle Petty at 50+ can compete, that tells you something.

But series that you know, actually turn both directions, those drivers put up with some pretty incredible stresses over the two hour race. 3-4 lateral G's in most turns, and they're turning, braking or accelerating almost constantly. All while maintaining a pretty incredible amount of precision. That to me requires talent and athleticism.

If baseball players are considered athletes, despite the fact that they're only exerting themselves perhaps 5% of the time, then race car drivers are certainly athletes.