Biggest sports star ever?

[sc52]

Tiger Woods.....hands down

[Bo the Golfer]

Tiger Woods.....hands down

I am a huge Tiger fan but I think we have to think longer than the last 10 years. I would have to say all things considered that Muhamed Ali would be my choice. The modern athlete has the internet and a 24 hour news cycle to their advantage but Ali was and still is huge.

[Grndslmhttr3]

[varga89]

I would have to say Jordan first then tiger second. only for the fact that Jordan actually retired from basketball tried to play baseball then came back to basketball and won a championship...(the first time he retired not when he went to the wizards). Golf has been made big televised alot because of Tiger he has changed the golfing world.

[Bauer]

David Beckham is not the biggest star in the world and NOT the biggest soccer player in the world. Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Fernando Torres, to name a few, are bigger than Becks is now. We must think beyond the realm of the USA. Another thing we must do is refine the question. Who is the best known athlete today based on the answers of people today? Who makes up the majority of people today? If it is people my age, 22, then it isn't Pele. As sad as it is, a fair number of people I know don't know who Pele is really. Almost every one of them can tell me who Ali is, Tyson, Tiger, Babe, Cristiano Ronaldo. The question begs for controversey from people 40+ and people in their 20's. I honestly believe that the most well known name in any sport, or activity similar to a sport, is Tiger Woods. This is also based on people in the 18-70 age range. I can ask anyone who Tiger Woods is and they know, but I know a few people (girls) who don't know who Muhammed Ali is.

[Gambler]

I feel like I'm in the movie "Training Day" for some reason...

[nownot]

jordan or tiger

[justgettingstarted]

I would like to throw out a curve ball and say Jim Thorpe but that would be just America. I will have to agree that Tiger is the biggest name in any sport ever.

[DMaxwell]

Tiger Woods would be up there for sure.

There are a few soccer players that would definitely be up there.

I think another big name would be Yao Ming. A billion plus in China, plus basketball has basically become a global game in the last 10 years, largely due to him and other foreign players.

[Tulsa]

Golf related, Arnie, hands down.

Other sports - Ali - Ruth and Gehrig - Jim Brown - Jordan - Andretti - Borg
Cereberal Sports - Fisher

[motley]

MJ, Ali, Tiger

[sp33d]

Tiger brought golf to people who never cared, and took golf to another level.

Pele, if def on the top of the list. Ali too.

But the thing about these guys is, they brought their games to the WORLD, not just a region or country. So in their own right each is the best. Example no one (or vast majority) of people in america gave two craps less about soccer, Pele brought it here and made it uber popular.

I hate to say this but Lance Armstrong as well, hes just an amazing athlete, and very positive role model. I mean for god sake ESPN was covering road racing and it wasn't even some goofy English guy announcing.

[flap]

Muhammed Ali has not been in the ring for 30 years and still everyone in the world knows his face.He trancended all sports and races and countries.

[MPforthewin]

I agree with Ali and Pele 100%, but if we are talking about the most dominant athlete in his sport ever, Tiger has a serious arguement.

[AndreasS]

FACT: Golf is ONLY as popular as it is now because of Tiger... it was a dying sport pre-Tiger

I would like to see what kind of turnover golf equipment companies made pre tiger and post tiger

[Dario]

Pele ?????? jajaaaja

[AndyS]

Michael Jordan

[jns575]

Michael JORDAN