In an individual sport. Been the best or there about's for 15 years. Easily in my lifetime at least. Can only think of Usain Bolt who's had the same kind of aura about them. Anyone from back in the day more impressive?
Muhammed Ali, Rocky Marciano, Floyd Mayweather, Tiger Woods, Ronnie O'Sullivan, Stephen Hendry, Phil Taylor.
Woods was ranked number 1 on off between '97 and '10. He's been woeful as of late but he was an unbelievable talent when his head was right.
In terms of the rare combination of immense talent, will to win and likability Federer's right up there. I was just saying before he's probably the best tennis player there's ever been so from that perspective he's at least equal to the greats from other sports.
I think it's the likability factor. Win, lose, under pressure or on top he never seems to break sweat, get too wound up or too cocky.
He has that quality where people who don't even like tennis will enjoy watching him play, my wife loves him even though she's not really into tennis. Same with snooker, she can't stand it but if Ronnie's playing she'll watch it.
Just hope he ****s Djokovic up but that guy is an absolute machine and if a raping is to be handed out I can only see it being for Federer
Nowt special about Federer, all he has done is win a shed full of grand slams and produced two sets of twins when he is not playing.
You ain't wrong there. I have been a Federer fan from the beginning when he could barely speak English and burst into tears on his first Wimbledon win. A few thousand more sportsmen like him would do me. Nearest Englishmen in the likeability stakes for me is Justin Rose.
Yep, good call. Big fan of Darren Clarke as well (yeh, I know, an Ulsterman, but bagfull of class and dignity). I'll probably get wiped out here for this, but I'm a big fan of Beckham! Always the first on the training pitch, and last off it. Always wore his heart on his sleeve for England.
I like the way Beckham has handled himself, but there is just a touch of selfishness about putting himself first in club career.
Haile Gabreselasi (sp) for me I love the guy, he's a living legend. FedEx is the greatest male tennis player in history, untouchable at his peak, it's a crying shame if he doesn't get number 8 this year to separate himself from Sampras who is vastly inferior to RF. Greats come and go, on a purely entertainment level nobody gets near Mike Tyson for me, utterly devastating athlete.
