19 New Jersey Devils
Credentials: For a franchise that made the playoffs just once in its first 13 seasons, New Jersey has turned into one of the NHL's most consistent organizations. The Devils have made the playoffs in 12 consecutive seasons (all nine this decade) and won two more Stanley Cups (1999-00, '02-03). The Devils also lost in the Finals to the Avalanche in seven games in 2000-01.
Drawbacks: Since the NHL lockout in 2004-05, the Devils have not made it past the conference semifinals. Despite winning three more Atlantic Division titles, New Jersey has won only two postseason series since its last Cup win in 2002-03.
As for their athletes of the decade: My only beef is that race car drivers and golfers should just have a separate category.
Thought that list was a joke, a hockey player didn't make it till #19 and it wasn't Marty, but Arod and his steroids made the list. In fact THREE Yankees made the list and just ONE hockey player.
Thought that list was a joke, a hockey player didn't make it till #19 and it wasn't Marty, but Arod and his steroids made the list. In fact THREE Yankees made the list and just ONE hockey player.
My thoughts exactly.
Brodeur should be on there with Lidstrom. Two guys that are true professionals and have done things the right way. We'll never know how baseball player's numbers would differ without the 'roids. Personally I have no respect for anyone that was caught cheating.
How can you have race car drivers above true athletes? There's a remarkable difference in sitting in a car for a few hours turning the wheel to the left and playing hockey, football, etc..
Brodeur should be on there with Lidstrom. Two guys that are true professionals and have done things the right way. We'll never know how baseball player's numbers would differ without the 'roids. Personally I have no respect for anyone that was caught cheating.
How can you have race car drivers above true athletes? There's a remarkable difference in sitting in a car for a few hours turning the wheel to the left and playing hockey, football, etc..
You'd be amazed at how hard it is to drive those cars that well. Where centimeters in either direction over the course of 100-200 laps can make the difference between 1st place and last. Not to mention those guys loose 10+ pounds sweating in those cars each race. They're all in really good physical and mental shape.
I hate NASCAR, but I respect it.
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"I learned not to question Cowbell's willingness to ban." - Brian Boyle
No Mayweather in the top 20 athletes of the decade? The guy who has had a major title in Super Featherweight (98-01), Lightweight (01-03), Light Welterweight (04-05), Welterweight (06), Light Middleweight (07), Welterweight (07 - completely outclassed and KO'd the then unbeaten Hatton who had just beaten a Pound-for-Pound fighter in Tzsyu)... retired for a year and then came back to completely dominate another Pound-for-Pound fighter in Marquez.
Thought that list was a joke, a hockey player didn't make it till #19 and it wasn't Marty, but Arod and his steroids made the list. In fact THREE Yankees made the list and just ONE hockey player.
I also had a big problem with Tim Duncan on that list over Marty. I like Duncan and he's accomplished a lot, but Marty will have a higher place in his sport when both are retired and he holds more records.
It's a contextual argument, but college teams really can't be labeled as "franchises".
I thought that was kind of weird too. But, considering the amount of turnover those teams have, it's almost more impressive if they can stay dominant for so long.
I thought that was kind of weird too. But, considering the amount of turnover those teams have, it's almost more impressive if they can stay dominant for so long.
it speaks more to their scruples than anything else. it's easy to run a big name college football program. it's an absolute joke now to run a big name college basketball program.
but to run a program that involves students and not mercs, that's impressive.
I also had a big problem with Tim Duncan on that list over Marty. I like Duncan and he's accomplished a lot, but Marty will have a higher place in his sport when both are retired and he holds more records.
Actually I don't mind Duncan chosen over Marty, mostly because there was worse choices than him so he didn't stick out much for me, plus I always thought the Spurs were the Devils of the NBA - if that's possible - and Duncan was their Marty.
No Mayweather in the top 20 athletes of the decade? The guy who has had a major title in Super Featherweight (98-01), Lightweight (01-03), Light Welterweight (04-05), Welterweight (06), Light Middleweight (07), Welterweight (07 - completely outclassed and KO'd the then unbeaten Hatton who had just beaten a Pound-for-Pound fighter in Tzsyu)... retired for a year and then came back to completely dominate another Pound-for-Pound fighter in Marquez.
Ridiculous.
Usain Bolt in the top 5? Terrible...
Agreed on all counts. One Olympic performance, although impressive, is not enough to outweigh that kind of boxing dominance.
I looked at just about all the lists. I'm not going to complain about the lists because my opinion differs, and the list of top 20 games reminded me of the 6 OT game between Syracuse and UCONN last year. Am I the only one who watched the entire game?
You'd be amazed at how hard it is to drive those cars that well. Where centimeters in either direction over the course of 100-200 laps can make the difference between 1st place and last. Not to mention those guys loose 10+ pounds sweating in those cars each race. They're all in really good physical and mental shape.
I hate NASCAR, but I respect it.
I used to really like NASCAR (Before the damn sport become the "Jimmie Johnson Show."), and everything you said is true...
It really is a sport about precision, strategy, and teamwork, and people don't lie when they tell you that it's one of the most physically demanding sports.
They're not race car drivers, they're athletes.
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i think that Nascar drivers are athletes, but i dont think Nascar is a sport. i know that doesnt make sense, but whatever
I guess I agree to disagree...
It is technically a "sport," however, many people don't see it as one because they think all you're doing is sitting for three hours, which is far from the truth.
It is technically a "sport," however, many people don't see it as one because they think all you're doing is sitting for three hours, which is far from the truth.
Well, if they're not sitting in a car for 3 hours and steering to the left, then what are they doing? And I'm not being sarcastic, just wondering..
It's great that we got some well deserved recognition but I lost all respect for SI when they gave athlete of the decade to Tiger instead of Roger Federer. Thats just the joke of the decade*.
*I'm a tennis player, hence my views are heavily biased.
Plus Michael Schumacher is only ranked 10th. What a joke.
I'd have to say that making a top athletes of the decade is much harder then top franchises of the decade and it takes a ton of work and personal opinion.
It's great that we got some well deserved recognition but I lost all respect for SI when they gave athlete of the decade to Tiger instead of Roger Federer. Thats just the joke of the decade*.
*I'm a tennis player, hence my views are heavily biased.
Plus Michael Schumacher is only ranked 10th. What a joke.
Race car drivers are not athletes. The car (specifically the engine) does all of the work.
It's great that we got some well deserved recognition but I lost all respect for SI when they gave athlete of the decade to Tiger instead of Roger Federer. Thats just the joke of the decade*.
*I'm a tennis player, hence my views are heavily biased.
Plus Michael Schumacher is only ranked 10th. What a joke.
I don't know. The G Forces in those cars is incredible and the drivers lose 10 pounds in a race on a hot day.
I'd say that in terms of fitness, it's more important for race car drivers than it is for baseball players.
Pretty accurate. Between sitting in the dugout chewing tobacco and standing in the outfield/infield waiting to be involved in a play they're probably active for about 5-10 minutes/game.
and I agree with you.
