Front Office Football Central  

Go Back   Front Office Football Central > Archives > FOFC Archive
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Mark Forums Read Statistics

Reply
 
Thread Tools
Old 02-08-2005, 07:32 PM   #1
judicial clerk
College Benchwarmer
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Portland, OR
Best of the best

Admist all of this talk regarding dynasties and the like, I came up with a question. What player or team (past or present) has the most irrefutable claim to being the best ever. Another way to put the question might be what player or team outshined or outshines their competition by the widest margin or what player or team is the best ever by the widest margin. For example, many people might agree that Jerry Rice is the best NFL reciever of all time by a wide margin or that John Wooden is the best ever college basketball coach ever by a wide margin or that USC’s current team is the best college football team ever by a wide margin.

Who is the bestest by the mostest?

judicial clerk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-08-2005, 07:35 PM   #2
SackAttack
Head Coach
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Green Bay, WI
I would argue that the 2003 Detroit Tigers were better at losing than any baseball team in modern history. The 1962 Mets had an excuse - they were an expansion franchise, full of castoffs and rejects. The 2003 Tigers were the product of management building its own team.

SackAttack is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-08-2005, 07:42 PM   #3
Joe
Pro Starter
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Minneapolis
Quote:
Originally Posted by judicial clerk
Admist all of this talk regarding dynasties and the like, I came up with a question. What player or team (past or present) has the most irrefutable claim to being the best ever. Another way to put the question might be what player or team outshined or outshines their competition by the widest margin or what player or team is the best ever by the widest margin. For example, many people might agree that Jerry Rice is the best NFL reciever of all time by a wide margin or that John Wooden is the best ever college basketball coach ever by a wide margin or that USC’s current team is the best college football team ever by a wide margin.

Who is the bestest by the mostest?


Ray Guy
Joe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-08-2005, 07:46 PM   #4
MikeVic
Head Coach
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Hometown of Canada
I'd say Gretzky.
MikeVic is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-08-2005, 08:29 PM   #5
Radii
Head Coach
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Mia Hamm, or the North Carolina womens soccer team for what, 20 years? Iowa wrestling?

In a more favored sport

Michael Jordan, absolutely no contest in my mind. Jordan IMO is so far ahead of whoever would be second best all time in the NBA(Bill Russel? Chamberlain? Oscar? West? Magic? Bird? dont' give me that kobe bullshit.) that he seems to me to be the perfect answer to this question.
Radii is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-08-2005, 08:47 PM   #6
KWhit
Coordinator
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Conyers GA
The Babe.
KWhit is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2005, 06:53 AM   #7
Senator
FOFC's Elected Representative
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: The stars at night; are big and bright
Charles Paddock
__________________
"i have seen chris simms play 4-5 times in the pros and he's very clearly got it. he won't make a pro bowl this year, but it'll come. if you don't like me saying that, so be it, but its true. we'll just have to wait until then" imettrentgreen

"looking at only ten games, and oddly using a median only, leaves me unmoved generally" - Quiksand
Senator is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2005, 08:29 AM   #8
sachmo71
The boy who cried Trout
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: TX
I was hoping for the Eric Roberts and James Earl Jones in this thread.

"No Tommy! No!"
sachmo71 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2005, 11:23 AM   #9
Franklinnoble
Banned
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Placerville, CA
Franklinnoble is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2005, 11:33 AM   #10
revrew
Team Chaplain
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Just outside Des Moines, IA
Ditto for Mia Hamm, Wayne Gretzky, and Michael Jordan

I disagree with the Babe, as even his own teammate, Lou Gehrig, would give him a run for the money in being the arguably best. Babe's pitching gives him a definite edge, but I think best baseball player is too close of a contest.

I'll give you Jerry Rice as WR, also, but that may be the only football winner.
__________________
Winner of 6 FOFC Scribe Awards, including 3 Gold Scribes
Founder of the ZFL, 2004 Golden Scribe Dynasty of the Year
Now bringing The Des Moines Dragons back to life, and the joke's on YOU, NFL!
I came to the Crossroad. I took it. And that has made all the difference.
revrew is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2005, 11:34 AM   #11
Raiders Army
Coordinator
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: The Black Hole
Michael Jordan: Basketball and Shoes
Jerry Rice: NFL Receivers
Lance Armstrong: Cycling
Wayne Gretzsky: Hockey
Hulk Hogan: Professional Wrestling

That soccer guy from South America escapes me for a moment.
Raiders Army is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2005, 11:35 AM   #12
Lathum
Favored Bitch #1
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: homeless in NJ
Cy Young
Lathum is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2005, 11:36 AM   #13
Lathum
Favored Bitch #1
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: homeless in NJ
Quote:
That soccer guy from South America escapes me for a moment.

Pele
Lathum is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2005, 11:37 AM   #14
Raiders Army
Coordinator
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: The Black Hole
Thanks.
Raiders Army is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2005, 11:43 AM   #15
condors
College Starter
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
football-Jerry Rice is there a record he doesn't have?

baseball-Barry Bonds(if we can take away his numbers due to roids then babe ruth)

basketball-Wilt Chamberlain (although MJ is the more popular vote Wilt lead the league in scoring, rebounding and assists, if a kid coming out of college put up the same numbers Wilt did today they would be calling him the best ever). There is this Shaq guy who is pretty good as well.

hockey:Wayne Gretzky not sure we will ever see another player like him again.
Although Patrick Roy could be argued(it has been on a website) was more important to his teams during his career.

Soccer: i can't say Pele or Maradonna as both were amazing, if i was building a team i would hard pressed not to take a young Oliver Kahn(similar to hockey get a top keeper) to build my team around but i believe you could throw another other names into the mix and i wouldn't disagree with you that strongly.

I want to mention Lance Armstrong but i don't want to start a debate that he doesn't do all the races etc but his tour de france wins are very impressive
condors is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2005, 11:48 AM   #16
VPI97
Hokie, Hokie, Hokie, Hi
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Kennesaw, GA
Cael Sanderson

Alexandre Kareline
VPI97 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2005, 12:08 PM   #17
moriarty
College Starter
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: A negative place
Jenna Jameson
moriarty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2005, 12:09 PM   #18
Lathum
Favored Bitch #1
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: homeless in NJ
I have to comment on Gretzky. Now before everyone jumps down my throat, I do think he is the best to ever play, but I don't think it is by that huge of a margin. An argument can be made that if Lemieux didn't get hurt he could have put up similar numbers to Gretzky, and Lemieux didn't have half the talent Gretzky had playing around him. I think an argument can also be made for Gordie Howe based on longevity in a era of the sport that was much rougher. Howe never had "enforcers" that watched his back, he had to take care of himself.
Lathum is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2005, 12:12 PM   #19
rkmsuf
Head Coach
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Takeru Kobayashi
__________________
"Don't you have homes?" -- Judge Smales
rkmsuf is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2005, 12:45 PM   #20
Franklinnoble
Banned
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Placerville, CA
Jim Brown
Franklinnoble is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2005, 12:53 PM   #21
Swaggs
Coordinator
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
People seem to have a short memory in college football these days and are giving USC way too much love. They had a great season and have had a nice 3-year run, but I don't see them as being any better than some of the Nebraska, Oklahoma, Miami, Florida State or Michigan teams from the last 15-20 years.

I keep hearing the guys on ESPN talking about them threepeating. I guess LSU's national championship doesn't count anymore.
__________________
DOWN WITH HATTRICK!!!
The RWBL
Are you reading In The Bleachers?
Swaggs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2005, 12:58 PM   #22
Kodos
Resident Alien
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Lance Armstrong. He spotted everyone a bout with cancer and still kicks everyone's ass.
Kodos is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2005, 12:59 PM   #23
AnalBumCover
College Starter
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: La Mirada, CA
Quote:
Originally Posted by rkmsuf
Takeru Kobayashi
Good one. That little guy is amazing.
__________________
ABC's Game Giveaway list
AnalBumCover is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2005, 01:01 PM   #24
Karlifornia
Grizzled Veteran
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: San Jose, CA
Ken Jennings
__________________
Look into the mind of a crazy man (NSFW)
http://www.whitepowerupdate.wordpress.com
Karlifornia is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2005, 01:15 PM   #25
Lathum
Favored Bitch #1
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: homeless in NJ
Not sure if it is spelled right but Saduhara Oh
Lathum is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2005, 01:29 PM   #26
Desnudo
Coordinator
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Here and There
Ty Webb
Desnudo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2005, 03:33 PM   #27
judicial clerk
College Benchwarmer
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Portland, OR
I a no wrestling expert, but Alexandr Karelin was pretty bad ass. He could do moves that no other superheavyweight could do and he only lost one time in a career that spanned maybe five olympics.

Another good one is Eric Heiden. Five gold medals and five world records in speed skating in one olympics.
judicial clerk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2005, 03:34 PM   #28
rkmsuf
Head Coach
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Eric Heiden. Bah, Kobayashi would eat circles around that guy.
__________________
"Don't you have homes?" -- Judge Smales
rkmsuf is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2005, 05:01 PM   #29
Swaggs
Coordinator
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
What about Tecmo Bowl Bo Jackson or Lawrence Taylor?
__________________
DOWN WITH HATTRICK!!!
The RWBL
Are you reading In The Bleachers?
Swaggs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2005, 05:02 PM   #30
tdydynasty
Banned
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
UCLA's basketball teams of the 60's and 70's. 10 championships dominated by Lew Alcindor and Bill Walton. John Wooden was the bestest basketball coach (pro or college) ever. They would had 1 more if not for the freshmen not elgible for varsity. Lew Alcindor's freshmen team beat the varsity. They were number 1 that year but Texas Western won that championship in 1966.
tdydynasty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2005, 05:06 PM   #31
Franklinnoble
Banned
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Placerville, CA
Quote:
Originally Posted by Swaggs
What about Tecmo Bowl Bo Jackson or Lawrence Taylor?

Winner.
Franklinnoble is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2005, 06:29 PM   #32
Abe Sargent
Hall Of Famer
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Catonsville, MD
You may not like this answer - but WVU and Riflery has got to be the most dominating of virtually any sport.

The current head coach is 146-8 over 15 seasons. They've had 12 Olympians, 65 NCAA All Americans, 20 Individual NCAA Champions, and 13 NCAA Team Championships!

13 years saw WVU as the National Championship! 20 years saw the best player from WVU! That's pretty solid domination there.

-Anxiety
__________________
Check out my two current weekly Magic columns!

https://www.coolstuffinc.com/a/?action=search&page=1&author[]=Abe%20Sargent
Abe Sargent is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2005, 06:38 PM   #33
bhlloy
Coordinator
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lathum
I have to comment on Gretzky. Now before everyone jumps down my throat, I do think he is the best to ever play, but I don't think it is by that huge of a margin. An argument can be made that if Lemieux didn't get hurt he could have put up similar numbers to Gretzky, and Lemieux didn't have half the talent Gretzky had playing around him. I think an argument can also be made for Gordie Howe based on longevity in a era of the sport that was much rougher. Howe never had "enforcers" that watched his back, he had to take care of himself.

Could not agree more, Gretzky was great but he's not so far out of Lemieux's league. Lemieux in his prime was incredible and had a physical element that Gretzky didn't have. Don't get me wrong Mario wasn't half the playmaker Gretzky was, but for pure talent he's equal IMO. Also don't forget about Bobby Orr - changed the way the game was played. Don't think Gretz belongs here.

Pele is definitely not in the clear "best ever" category either. Eusebio, Maradona, Zidane, Garrincha, Puskas, Di Stefano off the top of my head are in the same league and there must be a ton more.

Personally only one person obviously comes to mind here - Jerry Rice. No reciever even comes CLOSE to his dominance.
The other football player I will throw out there is Lawrence Taylor... pretty dominant and changed the way his position was played.
bhlloy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2005, 06:47 PM   #34
Radii
Head Coach
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Quote:
Originally Posted by Anxiety
The current head coach is 146-8 over 15 seasons. They've had 12 Olympians, 65 NCAA All Americans, 20 Individual NCAA Champions, and 13 NCAA Team Championships!

I think UNC Womens Soccer is slightly more dominant than that.

NCAA Womens tourney started in 1982. UNC has won 17 of the 23 tournaments including 16 of the first 19.

8 seasons without a loss from 1986-1993 (record: 186-0-9)

In its first 25 years of existance as a program, UNC's record: 532-25-15, all under the same coach.

EDIT: Also found this info:

"Since 1985, UNC has had 42 of its alumnae compete with the U.S. National Team at one time or another."

No luck finding a list of all americans though.
This feels silly arguing, eh? But fun, I suppose

Last edited by Radii : 02-09-2005 at 06:50 PM.
Radii is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2005, 08:52 PM   #35
ahbrady
High School JV
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
The University of Arkansas in Men's Cross Country and Track and Field. I don't have their exact numbers right now, but they are pretty impressive.
ahbrady is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-10-2005, 04:05 AM   #36
Ragone
Pro Rookie
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Kansas City, Mo
Its rather shameful that Muhammed Ali hasn't been mentioned yet
Ragone is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-10-2005, 04:23 AM   #37
Tigercat
College Starter
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Federal Way, WA
Quote:
Originally Posted by ahbrady
The University of Arkansas in Men's Cross Country and Track and Field. I don't have their exact numbers right now, but they are pretty impressive.

Arkansas's overall track program has been impressive, and their men had a streak of 8 straight years with titles for a while there.

But, even more impressive was the LSU Women's track team which won 11 straight titles from 1987-1997. As much parity as there is in track and field with the variety of athletes available, both records are quite impressive.
Tigercat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-10-2005, 04:28 AM   #38
Darkiller
FOF2 Guy
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Paris, France
FOF.
__________________
FOF2 lives on / Continue to support the best game ever !
- Owner of the San Francisco 49ers in FOF2
- Charter member of the IHOF and owner of the Paris Musketeers franchise (FOF2004)
- Chairman of the IHOF Hall of Fame
- Athletic Director of the Brigham Young Cougars in TCY
FOF Legend: Hall of Fame QB Brock Sheriff #5, one of the most popular player in Front Office Football history.
Darkiller is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-10-2005, 04:28 AM   #39
Vince
Pro Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Willow Glen, CA
**Homer alert**

Dynasty talk and best of the best...I was watching the (I don't know if it was NFL Films or ESPN) 'Matchup of the Milennium,' where they pitted the 4 great dynasties (60s Pack, 70s Steelers, 80s Niners, 90s Cowpies) against one another, and tried to find out who would win...and I really think the 49ers of the '80s were the best team to ever play football. The best QB ever, the best WR ever, the best S ever, and some of the greatest role-players ever. They had one of the most incredible offenses ever -- Rathman, Craig, Montana and Rice made for such an amazing spread of ability. Add in Solomon, Clark or Jones and you've got a ridiculously difficult task in defending that. The defense outside of Ronnie Lott escapes me largely at this point, but I'll claim that's because it's 2:30 AM

**End Homer Alert**

Feel free to bash the hell out of that clearly biased opinion
__________________
Every time a Dodger scores a run, an angel has its wings ripped off by a demon, and is forced to tearfully beg the demon to cauterize the wounds.The demon will refuse, and the sobbing angel will lie in a puddle of angel blood and feathers for eternity, wondering why the Dodgers are allowed to score runs.That’s not me talking: that’s science. McCoveyChronicles.com.
Vince is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-10-2005, 08:51 AM   #40
tdydynasty
Banned
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Stanford's athletic programs have won 10 Director's Cups for most outstanding athletic program in Divsion 1 since its founding in 1993-94. They know how to recruit smart and talented athletes.
tdydynasty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-10-2005, 09:32 AM   #41
MIJB#19
Coordinator
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Maassluis, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
I find this a tough discussion to point out names, the criteria are too wide open.

To go by a stated example, in cycling Lance Armstrong takes the crown for being the best ever in the most important race (le Tour de France). But when going by the entire sport and putting in all the other important races, he'd just barely made an all-time top 10, if at all. Not even mentioning how much the team element in cycling has been involved in Armstrong's success.

Also, a good point made by someone else in some thread about the Patriots' "dynasty" should be concidered too: How big of a competition was there? Otherwise it would be easy to claim that the Dutch korfball team is the most dominant team in the world.
__________________
* 2005 Golden Scribe winner for best FOF Dynasty about IHOF's Maassluis Merchantmen
* Former GM of GEFL's Houston Oilers and WOOF's Curacao Cocktail
MIJB#19 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-10-2005, 09:51 AM   #42
Maple Leafs
Coordinator
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lathum
I have to comment on Gretzky. Now before everyone jumps down my throat, I do think he is the best to ever play, but I don't think it is by that huge of a margin. An argument can be made that if Lemieux didn't get hurt he could have put up similar numbers to Gretzky, and Lemieux didn't have half the talent Gretzky had playing around him. I think an argument can also be made for Gordie Howe based on longevity in a era of the sport that was much rougher. Howe never had "enforcers" that watched his back, he had to take care of himself.
Agreed, and of course many people would also argue for Bobby Orr. As good as Gretzky was, he was the best ever at this position. Orr actualyl changed the way his position was played.

(I'd still take Gretzky as the best of all-time and by a wide margin, but it's not in the Jerry Rice category of being no contest.)
__________________
Down Goes Brown: Toronto Maple Leafs Humor and Analysis
Maple Leafs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-10-2005, 12:53 PM   #43
JPhillips
Hall Of Famer
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Newburgh, NY
40s-50s Cleveland Browns. Their AAFC record with Otto Graham was 52-4-3. When they moved to the NFL they dominated until Graham finally retired for good after the 1955 Championship. With Graham as QB they played in ten straight title games winning four AAFC titles and three NFL titles.

50s-60s Boston Celtics. From 1957 to 1969 they won every NBA Championship save one. Once they added Bill Russell they dominated for over a decade.
JPhillips is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:56 PM.



Powered by vBulletin Version 3.6.0
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.