The Greatest U.S. Athletes of All Time

Per SBF's suggestion, let's debate the greatest U.S. athletes of all time. I narrowed it down to U.S. to make the list a bit easier. Therefore people like Pele, Gretzky and Martina are ineligible. We could make it worldwide if people prefer.

So what defines greatness? I suppose it's based on accomplishments. With that in mind, I'll throw out these names (in no particular order):

Michael Jordan
Muhammad Ali
Pete Sampras
Lance Armstrong
Carl Lewis

Mia Hamm
Jesse Owens
Tiger Woods

my list would be Lance Armstrong, Jim Thorpe, Jesse Owens, Bo Jackson, Roy Jones Jr., and Bruce Jenner.

the greatest american women athletes would be serena williams, marion jones, jackie joyner kersey, mary lou retton, and billy jean king.

what about bonnie blair?

I forgot about her, plus that swimmer who'se won a lot of medals the past few olympics. I can't remember her name though. something evans I think.

Sammy Baugh [Hall of Famer in 3 Positions QB, DB,Punter]
Ali [ If you saw him...he's on the list]
Jordan [He was the next level]
Jesse Owens [Spanked Hitler & a Horse]
Lance Armstrong [He's got "ballz"]

IMHO

peace
mike

the greatest american women athletes would be serena williams, marion jones, jackie joyner kersey, mary lou retton, and billy jean king.

You gotta stick Hamm on that list too. Mia Hamm is the best women's soccer player in the world, and the best women's soccer player ever, by most accounts. She's like Gretzky or MJ: she's just better than everyone else around her. And she's been doing it for a long time, but she'll still captain the US team in Athens and at the next women's world cup.

Serena may be slipping! I can't believe she got crushed like that at Wimbeldon.

Tiger? Arnie? Jack? Is golf a sport? j/k!

for every person who considers racing a sport, 2 consider golf and poker as sports... kinda odd.

i'd throw gretzky on the list, cause i don't care... he was that good.

Tiger? Arnie? Jack? Is golf a sport? j/k!

u might as well add a nascar driver on there,lol.

and thats a good point about mia hamm. is landan donovan an american born player?