Greatest raw athlete ever?

[futurefields]

Lawrence Taylor

 

[highland145]

Bo Jackson

 

[SandEagle]

what's a raw athlete?

 

[SlowSpyder]

Bo Jackson

Was going to post this. A real shame his career ended so quickly, he could have set some records.

 

[Anubis]

Bo Jackson

This or Jim Thorpe

 

[highland145]

Was going to post this. A real shame his career ended so quickly, he could have set some records.

Amen

This or Jim Thorpe

Sadly, I don't know much about him. Might have to look him up.

 

[Mayne]

Kelly Gruber

 

[smackababy]

Vincent "Bo" Jackson. There is no debate.

 

[QueBert]

Hershal Walker or Brock Lesnar. Brock tried out for the Vikings and would have been on he team if he had gone to Europe for a year or 2 to learn the plays. He didn't even play Football prior to that.

 

[highland145]

Vincent "Bo" Jackson. There is no debate.

Is this a parroty review?

j/k

Love the ESPN segment on him.

 

[z1ggy]

what's a raw athlete?

Yeah I don't get wtf a "raw athlete" is. Is it a guy you think would be the best at multiple sports or something? If so, I don't think you could even name one as sports utilize so many different skills. One guy might be able to be a successful pro in football & baseball, but good luck competing with pro's in tennis, hockey, golf, etc that require a totally different set of physical abilities.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Herschel Walker and Bo Jackson are probably the two that immediately jump to mind.

 

[mcurphy]

LT was awesome, but Bo Jackson was better.

 

[LevelSea]

Bo knows ATOT

 

[KeithTalent]

Darrell Green or Magnus Ver Magnusson.

KT

 

[futurefields]

Vincent "Bo" Jackson. There is no debate.

Yes there is.

Jim Brown beats prime Bo rather handily.

 

[futurefields]

LT was awesome, but Bo Jackson was better.

I disagree, and one might say Bo's body breaking down proves he was not as durable an athlete...

 

[Sho'Nuff]

what's a raw athlete?

An uncooked athlete, of course.

I think what OP is getting at is who is the best "pure athlete," i.e., someone who's success in a sport is attributable to their intrinsic athletic/physical capability, as opposed to capability that was developed over time.

For example - it is alleged (however improbable) that Bo Jackson never lifted weights. At least not before his professional career. Yet he was gifted with incredible physical fitness and ability that allowed him to reach the professional level in 2 sports.

 

[highland145]

I disagree, and one might say Bo's body breaking down proves he was not as durable an athlete...

Weird foot plant that pinches off blood flow to the hip....maybe a durability issue but no bearing on raw talent, imo.

 

[Krazy4Real]

Herschel Walker and Bo Jackson are probably the two that immediately jump to mind.

This.

 

[highland145]

An uncooked athlete, of course.

I think what OP is getting at is who is the best "pure athlete," i.e., someone who's success in a sport is attributable to their intrinsic athletic/physical capability, as opposed to capability that was developed over time.

For example - it is alleged (however improbable) that Bo Jackson never lifted weights. At least not before his professional career. Yet he was gifted with incredible physical fitness and ability that allowed him to reach the major leagues.

One of my Clemson room mates was built like a brick wall and rarely lifted. He was very active in sports though.

Edit: Just looked him up on an old program 5'10" 215lbs.

 

[smackababy]

Yes there is.

Jim Brown beats prime Bo rather handily.

Not even close. If you said "football player" I'd agree, but you said athlete. Bo was a multi sport PROFESSIONAL athlete.

 

[Gibsons]

Bo.

World class speed, crazy strong, amazing arm.

 

[smackababy]

I disagree, and one might say Bo's body breaking down proves he was not as durable an athlete...

It is reported that had Bo's legs not been as strong, him striking his foot so hard it dislocated his hip, causing a much more serious injury that didn't go disagnosed for a long time (which lead to him needing hip replacement) is a testament to exactly how strong he was. Not only was he strong, he was the fastest player. Not fast, THE FASTEST. Nobody has ever beaten his NFL combine time. Michael Vick got close (who was am amazing athlete himself), but it didn't happen.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

it is alleged (however improbable) that Bo Jackson never lifted weights.

I think you are mixing him up with Herschel Walker.