http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=080109/seasons

25. Marcus Allen, USC Trojans, 1981
Allen became the first player in Division I history to rush for more than 2,000 yards. His 2,342 yards and 212.9 yards per game have been eclipsed just once (by Barry Sanders in 1988). He was the first player to rush for 200 yards in five straight games, a record he shares today. His eight games of 200-plus yards still stand as the single-season record. Allen was a durable workhorse for the Trojans, setting the record for rushes in a season with 403. All of this made him the fourth USC running back to win the Heisman Trophy.

24. Ted Williams, Boston Red Sox, 1941
Williams became the last player to hit .400 -- and also the youngest of the 20th century. Heading into the final day of the season, Williams' average stood at .39955, which would have been rounded up to .400 had he sat out. However, Williams played both games of a doubleheader, going 6-for-8 and finishing at .406. While the Red Sox finished second behind the Yankees, Williams hit .471 in 22 games against New York. He led the league in home runs, runs scored and slugging percentage. He just missed the triple crown, trailing Joe DiMaggio by five RBIs. His amazing .553 on-base percentage was the best ever until Barry Bonds surpassed it in 2004.

23. LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers, 2006
Tomlinson rewrote the NFL record book, breaking 11 single-season marks in the most prolific scoring season in history. He rushed for 28 touchdowns, breaking Shaun Alexander's record. Tomlinson's 31 total touchdowns and 186 points also broke NFL records -- and those numbers don't include his two touchdown passes. He became the first player in league history with at least three rushing touchdowns in three straight games. The Chargers won a franchise record 14 games, and Tomlinson won the MVP award.

22. Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls, 1987-88
Jordan led the NBA in scoring at 35.0 points per game, and was also the best defensive player in the league, averaging 3.2 steals and 1.6 blocks. No other player has won the scoring title and Defensive Player of the Year award in the same season. Not surprisingly, Jordan also won his first MVP trophy. Jordan also took over All-Star weekend, winning the dunk contest and scoring 40 points in front of his home crowd.

21. Martina Navratilova, 1984
No tennis player has ever had a more dominant stretch than Navratilova's 74-match win streak in 1984. During that stretch, she won a record 13 straight singles titles. Navratilova won three majors, losing only in the Australian Open semifinals to Helena Sukova to end her win streak. On the year she went 78-2, posting the third-best winning percentage and second-most wins ever. To top it off, Navratilova and doubles partner Pam Shriver won all four majors and did not lose a match all year.

20. Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins, 1992-93
Lemieux started the season with goals in the Penguins' first 12 games and by January was making a run at Wayne Gretzky's single-season scoring record. But on Jan. 12, Lemieux announced he had been diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease. He missed nearly two months of action while undergoing radiation treatment. On March 2, Lemieux returned to the ice on the same day as his final radiation treatment, scoring a goal and an assist against the Flyers. Upon his return, he trailed Pat LaFontaine by 12 points for the scoring title. But Super Mario surpassed him, while leading the Penguins on an NHL-record 17-game win streak. Lemieux finished the season with 160 points (69 goals, 91 assists) and won the Art Ross Trophy despite missing 24 games. His 2.67 points per game put him on a pace for 224 points over a full 84 games.

19. Pedro Martinez, Boston Red Sox, 1999
Martinez had a lower ERA in 2000, but his memorable performances made 1999 his greatest season. He won the pitching triple crown with a 23-4 record, a 2.07 ERA that is especially impressive when the league ERA was 4.86, and 313 strikeouts in 213 1/3 innings, a rate of 13.2 per nine innings, the best in history at the time. He struck out 15-plus batters in consecutive games, including 17 against the Yankees. Despite battling injury, Martinez turned in one of the most memorable playoff pitching performances of all time. Coming on in relief, Martinez pitched six innings of no-hit ball in the deciding Game 5 of the ALDS against Cleveland.

18. Richard Petty, 1967
Petty set two NASCAR records in 1967 that likely will never be topped. He won 27 of the 49 races that season (only Petty himself has even approached that mark, with 21 wins in 1971). Petty also won a record 10 straight races. His 19 poles are the second-most in history, just one shy of the record. He finished in the top 10 in 40 of 49 races. But perhaps the best illustration of Petty's dominance in 1967 is the nickname he earned that year: The King.

17. Lew Alcindor, UCLA Bruins, 1966-67
It didn't take Alcindor long to prove his dominance. In his first varsity game, the sophomore center scored a school-record 56 points against rival USC. He went on to finish second in the nation in scoring (29.0), the best single-season average in UCLA history. Alcindor also set an NCAA record at the time in field-goal percentage (66.7). He led UCLA to a 30-0 record and the NCAA championship. Alcindor was named AP Player of the Year and the NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

16. Bobby Jones, 1930
In 1930, Jones was pursuing a career in law in Atlanta, already possessing degrees from Georgia Tech and Harvard. He was also an amateur golfer. He set aside the 1930 season to do something no other golfer had ever done: win all four major golf tournaments (at the time, the U.S. Open and Amateur and the British Open and Amateur). After captaining the U.S. to a Walker Cup win, Jones won the British Amateur at St. Andrews. Two weeks later, he won his third British Open. Jones returned to the U.S. to a ticker tape parade in New York City. At Interlachen, he won his fourth U.S. Open. Two months later, Jones won the U.S. Amateur in Philadelphia. Atlanta sportswriter O.B. Keeler dubbed this unprecedented achievement the Grand Slam. Several weeks after completing the Grand Slam, Jones retired from competitive golf at the age of 28.

15. O.J. Simpson, Buffalo Bills, 1973
Simpson ran for 2,003 yards, the first running back to surpass 2,000 and the only one to accomplish that feat in a 14-game season. Simpson's 143.1 yards per game projects to a record 2,289 yards over a 16-game season. Simpson had 1,584 yards after 12 games, but went off for 219 and 200 yards in the final two games of the season. His rushing total nearly doubled Green Bay's John Brockington, who was Simpson's closest competitor at 1,144 yards. Simpson was named the NFL's MVP and the AP Male Athlete of the Year.

14. Steffi Graf, 1988
Graf won all four Grand Slams as well as Olympic gold in Seoul -- an unprecedented feat known as the Golden Grand Slam. But Graf's Grand Slams alone don't illustrate her dominance in 1988. She won 11 singles titles, including eight consecutive. She finished the year with a 72-3 record, at one point winning 46 straight matches. She lost only 20 games in the entire French Open and 23 games en route to the U.S. Open title. At Wimbledon, she beat Martina Navratilova, who had won the previous six singles titles at the All-England Club.

13. Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati Royals, 1961-62
The term "triple-double" would not be coined for another 18 years, but in 1961-62, Robertson showed us how it was done. He averaged 30.8 points, 11.4 assists and 12.5 rebounds, marking the only season a player has averaged a triple-double. It shouldn't be surprising that his 41 triple-doubles are also a record. Overshadowed by Wilt Chamberlain's monstrous scoring effort that season, Robertson surpassed Bob Cousy's single-season assists record by a whopping 184 with 899.

12. Dan Marino, Miami Dolphins, 1984
In just his second year in the league, Marino had the greatest season the NFL had ever seen by a quarterback. He threw for 5,084 yards, breaking Dan Fouts' record of 4,802. The MVP's 48 touchdown passes obliterated the previous record of 36 shared by Y.A. Tittle and George Blanda. For a quarterback infamous for never winning the Super Bowl, 1984 also represents Marino's only Super Bowl appearance.

11. Jerry Rice, San Francisco 49ers, 1987
Rice caught a record 22 touchdowns in 1987 -- and he did it in only 12 games. Despite missing four games because of the players' strike, Rice still had the greatest season ever by a wideout. Over a full 16-game schedule, those 22 touchdowns prorate to 29-plus. No other receiver has ever had more than 18 until Randy Moss broke Rice's mark with 23 touchdowns this season.

10. Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins, 1969-70
Orr revolutionized the way defensemen played the game. In 1970, he became the only defenseman to lead the NHL in points. At the time, his 87 assists set an NHL record and his 120 points were six shy of the record. Orr became the only player to win all four major awards: Hart (MVP), Ross (scoring), Norris (defenseman) and Conn Smythe (playoff MVP). His season ended with perhaps the most famous goal in league history, the game winner in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup finals, when he was sent airborne. It was the Bruins' first Stanley Cup in 29 years.

9. Bob Gibson, St. Louis Cardinals, 1968
In the Year of the Pitcher, Gibson dominated with a 1.12 ERA, the fourth-best all time, over 304 2/3 innings. He threw 13 shutouts, tied for the third most. During one ridiculous stretch of 10 starts in the middle of the summer, Gibson allowed two runs in 90 innings. His 22-9 record is quite misleading: Gibson had a 2.14 ERA in his nine losses, games in which the Cardinals scored only 12 total runs. His brilliance continued in the World Series against the Tigers. He gave up just one run in winning Games 1 and 4. Even after being touched up for four runs in a Game 7 loss, he wound up with a 1.67 ERA.

8. Pete Maravich, LSU Tigers, 1969-70
Simply put, Maravich is the greatest scorer in college basketball history. In 1969-70, he set D-I records for scoring average (44.5) and total points (1,381). Pistol Pete notched 50-plus points 10 times, including three games over 60 points. He scored 69 against Alabama, which stood as a D-I record for 21 years. Maravich's season-low scoring output was 29, which is more than any D-I player averaged in 2006-07. And just imagine what he would have done with a 3-point line.

7. Barry Bonds, San Francisco Giants, 2001
Despite the cloud of controversy surrounding Bonds, there is no denying his superhuman statistics in 2001. Everyone knows about the record 73 home runs, but Bonds set several other records on his way to the MVP. His .863 slugging percentage broke Babe Ruth's single-season record of .849. With 177 walks, he broke Ruth's 1923 record (Bonds has since exceeded that total twice). His .515 OBP was the best since Ted Williams in 1957, and he hit .328 with 137 RBIs.

6. Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State Cowboys, 1988
Emerging from the shadows of Thurman Thomas, Sanders had the greatest season in college football history. The Heisman winner set the record for rushing yards (2,628), all-purpose yards (3,250), rushing touchdowns (37), and total touchdowns (39). And those stats don't even count his 222 yards and five TDs in a 62-14 Holiday Bowl win over Wyoming. Sanders had four 300-plus rushing games that season -- more than anyone else has had in a career. Sanders scored at least two touchdowns in every game and scored three or more nine times.

5. Tom Brady, New England Patriots, 2007
Here's what you might already know: Brady set an NFL record with 50 touchdown passes. He did so while leading the Patriots, the highest-scoring offense in league history, to the NFL's first 16-0 regular season. Brady also topped all NFL quarterbacks in passing yards (4,806) and passer rating (117.2). Here are a few things you might not know: He had three or more touchdown passes in 12 games, including 10 consecutive, both of which are records; Brady probably could have made a case for the Pro Bowl based solely on his performances in the second quarter, when he threw 20 TD passes (only 12 quarterbacks had more on the whole season); Brady threw only eight interceptions, fewer than Marino (17) and Peyton Manning (10) had in their record-setting campaigns.

4. Tiger Woods, 2000
Woods won nine tournaments in 2000, the most in a year since 1950. Those wins included three consecutive majors, making Woods the second pro to win three in a year. However, Tiger's great season was not just about wins -- it was about dominance. He won the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach by a major championship record 15 strokes. At 12-under, he broke the U.S. Open record in relation to par. Tiger won the British Open by 8 strokes. At 19-under, he broke the major championship record in relation to par. Tiger went on to win the PGA Championship in a three-hole playoff. He finished at 18-under, giving him a share for the PGA record. In all, Woods set or tied 27 PGA Tour records.

3. Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers, 1981-82
After winning the Hart Trophy the two previous seasons, Gretzky had already established himself as the best player in the NHL. With his 1981-82 season, he showed he might just be the best of all time. Gretzky destroyed the record book with 92 goals and 120 assists, both records at the time (Gretzky later broke his own records for assists and points). Most famously, the Great One broke Rocket Richard's record for reaching 50 goals in the fewest games. Gretzky netted five goals on Dec. 30 to reach 50 in the Oilers' 39th game (Richard's record was 50 games). He also had 10 hat tricks that season, setting an NHL record that he would later tie. For this great season, Gretzky became the only NHL player ever selected as AP Male Athlete of the Year.

2. Babe Ruth, New York Yankees, 1921
Ruth set records at the time with 59 home runs -- eclipsing the totals of eight other teams -- and 177 RBIs. His totals for runs (177), extra-base hits (119), and total bases (457) still stand as records. The Bambino also led the league in on-base percentage (.512), slugging percentage (.846) and walks (145). He hit .378, third in the league, and led the Yankees to their first World Series, where Babe hit .313 despite being limited by injuries (the Giants beat the Yankees in the series 5-3).

1. Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Warriors, 1961-62
Chamberlain averaged 50.4 points and 25.7 rebounds. He set the NBA record with 4,029 points -- Michael Jordan is the only other player in league history to crack even 3,000. Chamberlain scored 50-plus points 45 times. Just how impressive is that? Michael Jordan cracked 50 points 37 times in his entire career. Chamberlain's 100 points on March 2 against the Knicks is perhaps the most famous single-game performance in sports history. Chamberlain also logged 48.5 minutes per game, playing all but eight minutes the entire season. To put all this in perspective, take Tim Duncan's best scoring and rebounding season -- then double it.

Richard Petty and Tiger Woods should not be on that list, it isnt THAT hard to steer a fucking car (I have drove a Nascar Once) and I do play Golf and that shouldn't even be considered a sport, it is an activity, it's really not that hard to hit a fuckin little ball hundreds of yards to hit it again and into a hole in the ground. WAR BOBBY ORR.

I dunno man. I've never played golf, but to have been able to DOMINATE that many world class players all year like he did. I think it is worthwhile to be on the list.

Also it is hard to me to look at guys like Wilt and Babe and try to imagine then playing the game today. With advanced scout and all that, I don't know that they put up those kinds of numbers in today's game. With that being said, they get big props for being ahead of their time.

oj simson is way to low on that list.

where is roger federer on this list?

Babe Ruth should be #1.

Look at the stats, the guy hit like 60 homers one year, the next guy on the list was "Home Run Baker" with like 9.

Still that list is average.

Babe Ruth should be #1.

Look at the stats, the guy hit like 60 homers one year, the next guy on the list was "Home Run Baker" with like 9.

Still that list is average.

I'm a baseball first guy, and I've still gotta say no way to that. Just read the first two lines of Wilt's explanation and it cements it. Averaging over 50 a game, and over 27 boards a game. Scoring over 4000 points that season, when only one guy (Michael Jordan) broke 3000 in a season. That's just straight mind blowing.

I'm a baseball first guy, and I've still gotta say no way to that. Just read the first two lines of Wilt's explanation and it cements it. Averaging over 50 a game, and over 27 boards a game. Scoring over 4000 points that season, when only one guy (Michael Jordan) broke 3000 in a season. That's just straight mind blowing.


First off, Babe had more than 6x the amount of Home Runs as the next guy, and that season he single handedly changed the game. Home Run Baker was a Home Run hitter, and couldn't hold Babe's jock. Do I think he is the best athlete ever? No, but for his era, probably. I've read Wilt's biography and many other documents and he didn't have the will to win like other great champions, he was more concerned about if the public thought he was a winner, and thought he was great. These are very comparable arguments IMO, as they were both able to capitalize against "less advanced competition".

But also, I have other reasons to disagree about why 50/27 is the best season ever... and I'll tell you why:

It's worth noting that Wilt played in an era with like 20% more offense, which obviously means more points, more assists, more rebounds, more everything.

Today there is a greater emphasis on the half-court game; teams aren't running around and jacking up 105 shots a game like they were in 1960. Golden State took 85 shots a game last year and they led the league. NBA teams average about 80 shots a game.

Randomly chose 1961-1962 as a year for more examples of why it wasn't as impressive (based on my perspective):
- 2 players shot over 48% for the year. Only 2. Wilt Chamberlain and Walt Bellamy. As opposed to many players these days.
- 1 player shot over 85% free throws. Dolph Schayes. Just used to show that people sucked.
- 4 players averaged over 18 rebounds per game. Wilt Chamberlain. Bill Russell. Walt Bellamy. Bob Pettit. Elgin Baylor averaged 18.6rpg that year but was injured half the year. He was only 6'5. They had a FEW great big men, other than that they would get to play against 6'4 PF's and 190 lb. Centers.

I guess you could discredit what Babe was doing because of less-advanced competition, but he was the one and only to capitalize among that era and put up the monstrous numbers. Wilt was one among a few to put up ridiculously inflated numbers during that period.

I guess you could discredit what Babe was doing because of less-advanced competition, but he was the one and only to capitalize among that era and put up the monstrous numbers. Wilt was one among a few to put up ridiculously inflated numbers during that period.

You pretty much said it for me right there. I try to avoid breaking down the level of competion of different eras, because I know in the end I'll have trouble NOT saying that a guy probably couldn't do it in todays game. With advanced scouting, and the high levels of competition competing for a select number of roster spots, it's hard to imagine players from a more basic time being able to compete.

I'm with you on the fact that what Babe did that season was impressive because it was exponentially better than what anyone else did that season. However, I can't say that it is better than what Wilt did, mearly for the fact that Wilt's numbers still hold water. They're still the tops, by a long shot for scoring. So if scoring was up that much, you'd think there would be someone close to his number. Fact is, there's one guy in the history of the game who has reached 3000 points in a season, and Wilt hit 4000. The competition he played against and the era he played in is irrelevant, just like Babe's era is irrelevant, just because they both played in a more primitive time, with less talented players all around, less scouting, and didn't have the decades worth of info to study we have now. Both men dominated their time. Wilt's numbers just stand stronger IMO, because they still stand up today. Whereas Babe's have been surpassed. So We'll agree to disagree.

#1 2008 Michael Phelps Beijing Olympics 8 Gold metals 6 WR's I'm calling it now

and I do play Golf and that shouldn't even be considered a sport, it is an activity, it's really not that hard to hit a fuckin little ball hundreds of yards to hit it again and into a hole in the ground. WAR BOBBY ORR.

tumbleweed

I'm a baseball first guy, and I've still gotta say no way to that. Just read the first two lines of Wilt's explanation and it cements it. Averaging over 50 a game, and over 27 boards a game. Scoring over 4000 points that season, when only one guy (Michael Jordan) broke 3000 in a season. That's just straight mind blowing.

those were the days when there was less rules,no 3 point line,and the rest of the centers were like 6'4-6'9 while wilt was like 7'0-7'1 with a huge windspan. i dont discredit his numbers, but it was a completely different game. wilt wouldnt have averaged more than 10-14 rebounds in modern day basketball.

Richard Petty and Tiger Woods should not be on that list, it isnt THAT hard to steer a fucking car (I have drove a Nascar Once) and I do play Golf and that shouldn't even be considered a sport, it is an activity, it's really not that hard to hit a fuckin little ball hundreds of yards to hit it again and into a hole in the ground. WAR BOBBY ORR.


lol what an idiot


speaking of golf, what about Byron Nelson's record of 11 consecutive PGA Tour victories or his 18 wins in one season.

oj should be in the top 3 if not #1. he ran for 2,000 in only 14 games when defenses were built to stop the run.

oj should be in the top 3 if not #1. he ran for 2,000 in only 14 games when defenses were built to stop the run.


tru but i don't think it's #1 though... and would you believe i saw that live on tv in '73 :wah:

2. Babe Ruth, New York Yankees, 1921
Ruth set records at the time with 59 home runs -- eclipsing the totals of eight other teams -- and 177 RBIs. His totals for runs (177), extra-base hits (119), and total bases (457) still stand as records. The Bambino also led the league in on-base percentage (.512), slugging percentage (.846) and walks (145). He hit .378, third in the league, and led the Yankees to their first World Series, where Babe hit .313 despite being limited by injuries (the Giants beat the Yankees in the series 5-3).


^^^^ this should be #1 IMO

tru but i don't think it's #1 though... and would you believe i saw that live on tv in '73 :wah:

lucky you. how old were you in 1973? 39? lol

lucky you. how old were you in 1973? 39? lol

lol you got one number right... i was either 3 or 9.


i remember a lot of shit from when i was 3 :no:

lol what an idiot


speaking of golf, what about Byron Nelson's record of 11 consecutive PGA Tour victories or his 18 wins in one season.



why for you call me an Idiot ???

why for you call me an Idiot ???


Oops sorry bro, i forgot that was you... but you did call my sport an activity and that hurt me deeply. :cray:

golf is most def a sport.

Oops sorry bro, i forgot that was you... but you did call my sport an activity and that hurt me deeply. :cray:

It's all good Brudda, I just don't think Tiger needs to be on that list, by the way I love Golf. WAR Michelson.

golf is most def a sport.

do you think Bowling and Fishing are sports ???

oj should be in the top 3 if not #1. he ran for 2,000 in only 14 games when defenses were built to stop the run.

not to discredit oj, but technically barry did it in 14 as well. he had negative total yardage in two games the season he broke 2000. and he did it with no other offense at all.

not to discredit oj, but technically barry did it in 14 as well. he had negative total yardage in two games the season he broke 2000. and he did it with no other offense at all.


yeah but how many people has he killed

yeah but how many people has he killed

2 less than oj by my math.

not to discredit oj, but technically barry did it in 14 as well. he had negative total yardage in two games the season he broke 2000. and he did it with no other offense at all.

see that's what you got with barry. his shiftyness could be good and could be bad. he got tackled behind the los more than any other great rb

see that's what you got with barry. his shiftyness could be good and could be bad. he got tackled behind the los more than any other great rb

Exactly.

I like Barry and he was as exciting as any back could ever be (as far as I can imagine)... but he had so many plays where he would lose yards, and make impossible situations for his offense. Not to take anything away from him, but he sacrificed some yards in hopes that he could break long runs to make up for it.

You can't just not count 2 games because he played like shit.

Exactly.

I like Barry and he was as exciting as any back could ever be (as far as I can imagine)... but he had so many plays where he would lose yards, and make impossible situations for his offense. Not to take anything away from him, but he sacrificed some yards in hopes that he could break long runs to make up for it.

You can't just not count 2 games because he played like shit.

shut em down! killa!

Exactly.

I like Barry and he was as exciting as any back could ever be (as far as I can imagine)... but he had so many plays where he would lose yards, and make impossible situations for his offense. Not to take anything away from him, but he sacrificed some yards in hopes that he could break long runs to make up for it.

You can't just not count 2 games because he played like shit.

im not discounting anything because he played like shit. he lost a net of 53 yards in the first two games of that season, and came back to get over 2000 in the next 14. it was a bigger deal when oj did it by far, as he was the first. but 2k in 14 games is 2k in 14 games. and barry didnt make impossible situations for his offense. a shitty o-line, no receivers, and a sub-par at best QB is what made impossible situations for them. i know, ive had to watch the lions week after week for 25 years now.

im not discounting anything because he played like shit. he lost a net of 53 yards in the first two games of that season, and came back to get over 2000 in the next 14. it was a bigger deal when oj did it by far, as he was the first. but 2k in 14 games is 2k in 14 games. and barry didnt make impossible situations for his offense. a shitty o-line, no receivers, and a sub-par at best QB is what made impossible situations for them. i know, ive had to watch the lions week after week for 25 years now.

2nd and 13 is/was impossible for Scott Mitchell and crew. Herman Moore could make a miracle catch, but otherwise, they were fucked.

2nd and 13 is/was impossible for Scott Mitchell and crew. Herman Moore could make a miracle catch, but otherwise, they were fucked.

2nd and 4 was impossible for scott mitchell. as it was for erick kramer, and chuck long, and erick hipple, and gus ferotte, and charlie batch, and andre ware, and rodney peete, and on and on and on. for the 20+ years ive been watching the lions, they have always had shitty o-lines, and crappy qbs. herman moore was young for what little time he was with barry, and shitty qbs are shitty qbs. barry would handily own every rushing record ever if he had a line to protect him or a qb that could throw the ball.

2nd and 4 was impossible for scott mitchell. as it was for erick kramer, and chuck long, and erick hipple, and gus ferotte, and charlie batch, and andre ware, and rodney peete, and on and on and on. for the 20+ years ive been watching the lions, they have always had shitty o-lines, and crappy qbs. herman moore was young for what little time he was with barry, and shitty qbs are shitty qbs. barry would handily own every rushing record ever if he had a line to protect him or a qb that could throw the ball.


yeah I gotta agree with Eightbit here, being 45 min. away from Detroit and seein how my Dad, Uncle and Many cousins were/are Lions Fans I have heard em all (excuses), Barry did infact lose yards All the time but he was trying to make a play because everyone else around him SUCKED ass and can't make their own bed let alone make a good play and still he was ONE of the best, now you take a O-Line (in that era) say like the Cowboys or Steelers or Redskins ECT...... Barry would own many a records in the NFL and that would most def. be the Rushing Record and It would be a long time before anyone would be able to break it. but since he had the shittiest O-line in football everyone now calls him a good back, but he coulda been Great. also you guys got to remember that Barry retired WAYYYYYY to early he had a good 8-10 years left in that body but gave it up cause he was tired of trying to always make the play

I agree Barry's team sucked and that may have played a factor in his running style, BUT that is what Barry was. I was never a huge fan of his (like my father was) because of this fact. He was exciting and would have broken every rushing record (yard-wise) if he had continued to play. I doubt I'll ever see someone who can do the things he can, but he just isn't my style of a back. I want a guy moving forward, falling forward, and Barry wasn't that. When he was at Oklahoma State he was absolutely unbelievable, but he still played with the risky style. It both helped and hurt his teams. He could do the impossible and break amazing runs and he needed to to help the offense produce, but at the same time, his team was so bad, if he had one bad run on a series, it would literally kill the series (unless he could pull a miracle).

As I said, I was never a big fan of his, but I'm surprised more people don't mention Barry as GOAT.

And if Barry had hit the hole full speed all the time he wouldn't have had nearly as many breakaway runs either.

We also wouldn't be talking about him right now.

I agree Barry's team sucked and that may have played a factor in his running style, BUT that is what Barry was. I was never a huge fan of his (like my father was) because of this fact. He was exciting and would have broken every rushing record (yard-wise) if he had continued to play. I doubt I'll ever see someone who can do the things he can, but he just isn't my style of a back. I want a guy moving forward, falling forward, and Barry wasn't that. When he was at Oklahoma State he was absolutely unbelievable, but he still played with the risky style. It both helped and hurt his teams. He could do the impossible and break amazing runs and he needed to to help the offense produce, but at the same time, his team was so bad, if he had one bad run on a series, it would literally kill the series (unless he could pull a miracle).

As I said, I was never a big fan of his, but I'm surprised more people don't mention Barry as GOAT.
you weren't a barry fan cause you were an Emmitt Smith fan:sifone:

you weren't a barry fan cause you were an Emmitt Smith fan:sifone:

nobody was an emmitt smith fan. it was all your imagination.

nobody was an emmitt smith fan. it was all your imagination.

Rushing
Year Team G Att Att/G Yds Avg Yds/G TD Lng 1st 1st% 20+ 40+ FUM
2004 Arizona Cardinals 15 267 17.8 937 3.5 62.5 9 29T 41 15.4 4 0 4

2003 Arizona Cardinals 10 90 9.0 256 2.8 25.6 2 22 15 16.7 1 0 2

2002 Dallas Cowboys 16 254 15.9 975 3.8 60.9 5 30T 48 18.9 5 0 2

2001 Dallas Cowboys 14 261 18.6 1,021 3.9 72.9 3 44 47 18.0 7 1 1

2000 Dallas Cowboys 16 294 18.4 1,203 4.1 75.2 9 52 65 22.1 6 1 6

1999 Dallas Cowboys 15 329 21.9 1,397 4.2 93.1 11 63T 85 25.8 10 2 4

1998 Dallas Cowboys 16 319 19.9 1,332 4.2 83.2 13 32 89 27.9 8 0 2

1997 Dallas Cowboys 16 261 16.3 1,074 4.1 67.1 4 44 47 18.0 5 1 1

1996 Dallas Cowboys 15 327 21.8 1,204 3.7 80.3 12 42 75 22.9 3 1 2

1995 Dallas Cowboys 16 377 23.6 1,773 4.7 110.8 25 60T 107 28.4 10 3 7

1994 Dallas Cowboys 15 368 24.5 1,484 4.0 98.9 21 46 101 27.4 7 1 1

1993 Dallas Cowboys 14 283 20.2 1,486 5.3 106.1 9 62T 74 26.1 11 3 4

1992 Dallas Cowboys 16 373 23.3 1,713 4.6 107.1 18 68T 91 24.4 10 2 2

1991 Dallas Cowboys 16 365 22.8 1,563 4.3 97.7 12 75T 77 21.1 7 2 0

1990 Dallas Cowboys 16 241 15.1 937 3.9 58.6 11 48T -- -- -- -- --

TOTAL 226 4,409 19.5 18,355 4.2 81.2 164 75 962 21.8 94 17 38
bitch!

Rushing
Year Team G Att Att/G Yds Avg Yds/G TD Lng 1st 1st% 20+ 40+ FUM
2004 Arizona Cardinals 15 267 17.8 937 3.5 62.5 9 29T 41 15.4 4 0 4

2003 Arizona Cardinals 10 90 9.0 256 2.8 25.6 2 22 15 16.7 1 0 2

2002 Dallas Cowboys 16 254 15.9 975 3.8 60.9 5 30T 48 18.9 5 0 2

2001 Dallas Cowboys 14 261 18.6 1,021 3.9 72.9 3 44 47 18.0 7 1 1

2000 Dallas Cowboys 16 294 18.4 1,203 4.1 75.2 9 52 65 22.1 6 1 6

1999 Dallas Cowboys 15 329 21.9 1,397 4.2 93.1 11 63T 85 25.8 10 2 4

1998 Dallas Cowboys 16 319 19.9 1,332 4.2 83.2 13 32 89 27.9 8 0 2

1997 Dallas Cowboys 16 261 16.3 1,074 4.1 67.1 4 44 47 18.0 5 1 1

1996 Dallas Cowboys 15 327 21.8 1,204 3.7 80.3 12 42 75 22.9 3 1 2

1995 Dallas Cowboys 16 377 23.6 1,773 4.7 110.8 25 60T 107 28.4 10 3 7

1994 Dallas Cowboys 15 368 24.5 1,484 4.0 98.9 21 46 101 27.4 7 1 1

1993 Dallas Cowboys 14 283 20.2 1,486 5.3 106.1 9 62T 74 26.1 11 3 4

1992 Dallas Cowboys 16 373 23.3 1,713 4.6 107.1 18 68T 91 24.4 10 2 2

1991 Dallas Cowboys 16 365 22.8 1,563 4.3 97.7 12 75T 77 21.1 7 2 0

1990 Dallas Cowboys 16 241 15.1 937 3.9 58.6 11 48T -- -- -- -- --

TOTAL 226 4,409 19.5 18,355 4.2 81.2 164 75 962 21.8 94 17 38
bitch!

totally fictional. there never was an emmitt smith. it was all in your head.

Damnit BBR, you absolutely got me there.

EMMITT>>>>>>>BARRY 4 LIFE

//nuthugging

Damnit BBR, you absolutely got me there.

EMMITT>>>>>>>BARRY 4 LIFE

//nuthugging

lol did you know barry sanders has the most negative yard rushes in nfl history?

lol did you know barry sanders has the most negative yard rushes in nfl history?

and yet it still took emmitt how many years after he retired to break his record?

and yet it still took emmitt how many years after he retired to break his record?

sanders > the rhinestone wearing dancing cowboy

and yet it still took emmitt how many years after he retired to break his record?

2 more seasons. Emmitt also played in a much tougher division. but hey emmitt was 2 busy winning playoff games. speaking of playoff games, let's take a look at how great barry was in playoff games.

1/5/92 against Dallas 12 attempts for 69 yards and 1 td. longest run was 47 (w )
1/12/92 at washington 11 attempts 44 yards no tds. long was 23
(L)
1/8/94 against GB 27 attempts 169 yards no tds. long was 44
(L)

12/31/94 at GB 13 attempts -1 yards no tds. long was 7
(L)

12/30/95 at philly 10 attempts 40 yards no tds. long was 9
(L)
12/28/97 at tampa bay 18 attempts 65 yards no tds long was 15.

as you see in bold barry ran like shit when it matters especially against the nfc east teams that emmitt faced atleast 6 times a year. barry had -1 yard rushing in a playoff game for christs sake. but he's the greatest:gojerkit: that's a prime example of why his dancing running style was great for highlight reels but not good to win games. the guy only had 1 td rushing and recieving combined in 6 playoff games. but he's the greatest. hahaha

2 more seasons. Emmitt also played in a much tougher division. but hey emmitt was 2 busy winning playoff games. speaking of playoff games, let's take a look at how great barry was in playoff games.

1/5/92 against Dallas 12 attempts for 69 yards and 1 td. longest run was 47 (w )
1/12/92 at washington 11 attempts 44 yards no tds. long was 23
(L)
1/8/94 against GB 27 attempts 169 yards no tds. long was 44
(L)

12/31/94 at GB 13 attempts -1 yards no tds. long was 7
(L)

12/30/95 at philly 10 attempts 40 yards no tds. long was 9
(L)
12/28/97 at tampa bay 18 attempts 65 yards no tds long was 15.

as you see in bold barry ran like shit when it matters especially against the nfc east teams that emmitt faced atleast 6 times a year. barry had -1 yard rushing in a playoff game for christs sake. but he's the greatest:gojerkit: that's a prime example of why his dancing running style was great for highlight reels but not good to win games. the guy only had 1 td rushing and recieving combined in 6 playoff games. but he's the greatest. hahaha

in 30 years, will we still be seeing emmitt smith on greatest rushes ever shows? nope. dont even see him on them now. and despite all these statistics you cling to to validate an OPINION, it doesnt change the FACT that it took emmitt smith 2 years to break the record of a man who was his teams sole source of offense. and by your own admission lost a ton of yards in the process. emmitt also had a good o line, a good qb, and a good receiver to take up the slack. barry had...... scott mitchell. for a guy to even come close to setting a record let alone making it look as effortless as barry did with the team he had is amazing. emmitt should have never had to break barrys record. if he was as great as you make him out to be, it would have been his from the start. and i can tell you that if the teams were reversed and barry was a cowboy, you wouldnt even know who emmitt smith was. hed just be another nameless failure on the lions. emmitt succeeded as much because of his talent as he did because of his team. barry succeeded in spite of his team.

in 30 years, will we still be seeing emmitt smith on greatest rushes ever shows? nope. dont even see him on them now. and despite all these statistics you cling to to validate an OPINION, it doesnt change the FACT that it took emmitt smith 2 years to break the record of a man who was his teams sole source of offense. and by your own admission lost a ton of yards in the process. emmitt also had a good o line, a good qb, and a good receiver to take up the slack. barry had...... scott mitchell. for a guy to even come close to setting a record let alone making it look as effortless as barry did with the team he had is amazing. emmitt should have never had to break barrys record. if he was as great as you make him out to be, it would have been his from the start. and i can tell you that if the teams were reversed and barry was a cowboy, you wouldnt even know who emmitt smith was. hed just be another nameless failure on the lions. emmitt succeeded as much because of his talent as he did because of his team. barry succeeded in spite of his team.
ya know barry sanders had a few probowl offensive linemen too. if it was so much of Emmitt's team than how come when he missed games the other rbs who stepped in for him couldn't do shit. why do you keep mentioning barry's record? what record are you talking about? anyways like i said before Emmitt smith played in the toughest division in football while barry played in a soft division. plus Emmitt was a more complete back. emmitt could recieve and block better than barry "I Quit" sanders

Emmitt was the greatest, both in heart and skill.

What made him a favorite of mine, was that he wasn't the fastest, wasn't the quickest, but he WAS the most determined. Very much like Walter Payton. He may not have all the highlight runs, but who gives a fuck? This isn't And1, let's win football games.

Oh yeah, it doesn't hurt that Emmitt won 3 rings. Also, approx in 1997, Emmitt was at one point a "shadow" of his former self and struggling statistically, but he worked so hard that he got back to top form and continued playing great.

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Barry simply didn't have the same love and respect for the game that Emmitt had. Take all your physical gifts, and you can still be a great back, but there aren't too many guys like good ole' #22.

you schooled him killa. fact is emmitt had more heart than barry.

Jim Brown was better than the both of them... plus Jim fucked Rachel Welch so :stfu:

:pooh_lol:

Jim Brown was better than the both of them... plus Jim fucked Rachel Welch so :stfu:

Jimmy may have been the best for a while, but he quit playing before his 30th birthday.

That said he absolutely revolutionized the sport and I can't really argue with him being called the best, because he simply dominated his era.

Also, admittedly, I am bias towards the more modern athletes in "Greatest Ever" controversies, unless overbearing evidence points elsewhere, simply because I think all sports evolve, and have evolved at an amazing pace over the past 1/2 century.

If you watch old school football and current football you would think humans evolved entirely. It is far too hard to compare eras IMO, but in their respective eras, these guys were all among the best.

And it is a shame Bo Jackson had his hip problems, that dude had all the talent to become the next Jim Brown IMO. I don't know if we'll ever see another 235 pound fierce competitor, natural athlete who can run a 4.12 40. Goddamn.

I agree that athletes in all sports have and will continue to evolve but i still think, when considering who's best, you have to compare what they did against the competition of their time.

For instance, Mark Spitz won 7 gold medals and set 7 world records in the '72 Olympics but eight years later none of those times would even qualify a swimmer for the U.S. trials. But, there's no way i'm going to say that all the hundreds and hundreds of guys that can beat Spitz's times are better than he was when they haven't won shit.

...And it is a shame Bo Jackson had his hip problems, that dude had all the talent to become the next Jim Brown IMO. I don't know if we'll ever see another 235 pound fierce competitor, natural athlete who can run a 4.12 40. Goddamn.


Bo was hell of an athlete for sure but i don't believe he ever ran a 4.12. We've all heard many stories about guys running incredible times but most all those times are bogus IMO. About four or five years ago there was a feature story in SI that quoted records from the NFL combine and the fastest time ever recorded in the 40 yard dash was 4.39 by Deion Sanders.

Bo was hell of an athlete for sure but i don't believe he ever ran a 4.12. We've all heard many stories about guys running incredible times but most all those times are bogus IMO. About four or five years ago there was a feature story in SI that quoted records from the NFL combine and the fastest time ever recorded in the 40 yard dash was 4.39 by Deion Sanders.

a lot of the bogus times claimed in track & field or the 40 are because they're hand-timed instead of digitally timed by daktronics like you see at the olympics

if someone is hand-timed by their own coach its almost always bogus

Doodle turned in a 3.9 the other day :no:



she's fat

Wrong Wimmer. Chad Jackson of the Patriots ran a 4.32 at the combine and in Sports Illustrated it has been noted that Bo had a 40 time of 4.12. Also pre-knee injury Willis Mcgahee ran a 4.2.

i think 40 times are overrated anyways. look at Emmitt for example. but the fact is these kids run the 40 in shorts and not in full pads and cleats. ive never understood why that is.

There are many athletes who choose to skip the combine and only run on their specific pro-day. Tracks like Virginia Tech are notoriously fast, as is the field turf in Indy (where the combine is). That said most of these times are actually electronically timed and legitimate. That doesn't mean the guy who runs the fastest 40 time is necessarily the fastest player on a football field.

Wrong Wimmer. Chad Jackson of the Patriots ran a 4.32 at the combine and in Sports Illustrated it has been noted that Bo had a 40 time of 4.12. Also pre-knee injury Willis Mcgahee ran a 4.2.


lol Wrong Wimmer

How am i wrong when i'm just quoting a story i read. Maybe chad johnson ran that time after the article i referred to was written. ever think of that?

No because I'm talking about Chad Jackson not Chad Johnson but yeah you were right I didn't see where you said it was an older article but also now there have been times faster than the one you listed.

No because I'm talking about Chad Jackson not Chad Johnson but yeah you were right I didn't see where you said it was an older article but also now there have been times faster than the one you listed.


pwnt


yeah i'm sure there have been faster times since that article, i'm just skeptical when i hear about this guy and that guy running 4.1's. But 4.32 is believable.

War Chad Jimmerson?

pwnt


yeah i'm sure there have been faster times since that article, i'm just skeptical when i hear about this guy and that guy running 4.1's. But 4.32 is believable.

War Chad Jimmerson?

lol

FYI the fastest computerized recorded (through micro chips or what not) was a 4.18 run by Donte Stallworth while he was at the U of Tenn.

FYI the fastest computerized recorded (through micro chips or what not) was a 4.18 run by Donte Stallworth while he was at the U of Tenn.

lol where did you here that?

Theres no doubt though that even when your article was written there had been faster recording times of the 40 maybe just not at the combine. Bo Jackson clearly was faster than a 4.39 years ago.

Theres no doubt though that even when your article was written there had been faster recording times of the 40 maybe just not at the combine. Bo Jackson clearly was faster than a 4.39 years ago.

just another reason why 40 times are overhyped. gamespeed is totally different when you got the emotions and adrenaline pumping. would you rather time a player running a 40 in shorts and a t-shirt or a player running a go route in a college game.

lol where did you here that?

To confirm the Bo Jackson 40 time: http://espn.go.com/classic/s/jacksonboadd.html

I heard it years ago, but if you really want, I'm sure I can find a link.

EDIT: While I don't think the following list is entirely accurate (I found a few omissions), I think it is pretty decent.

http://www.nflfortyyarddash.com/

FASTEST CURRENT NFL PLAYERS (according to any recorded 40 times)

1) Michael Bennett (4.13 @ Wisconsin Pro Day, 4.37 @ 2001 NFL Combine)[3]

2) Laveranues Coles (4.16 @ Florida State University, 4.29 @ Jets Media Guide, broke Deion Sanders school record)

3) Ike Taylor (4.18 @ University of Louisiana at Lafayette Pro Day)

4) Joey Galloway (4.18) and bench presses 415 at 185 lbs.

5) Ahman Green (4.19 @ Pre-Draft Workout in Nebraska)

6) Kevin Curtis (4.21 @ Utah State Pro Day)

7) Donte Stallworth (4.22 @ 2003 Tennessee Pro Day, fastest digitally recorded time ever)

8) Willie Parker (4.23 @ 2004 North Carolina Pro Day)

9) Randy Moss (4.25 @ Marshall University)

9) Fabian Washington (4.25 @ 2005 NFL Combine)

11) Champ Bailey (4.28 @ 1999 NFL Combine)

11) Jerome Mathis (4.28 @ 2005 NFL Combine)

11) Willis McGahee (4.28 @ Miami Pre-Injury)

Just to note that these times don't necessarily mean anything, Devin Hester (often coined the NFL's fastest man, ran a 4.46 at Miami Pro day, and a 4.50 at the combine). Jerry Rice probably ran a 4.6 or 4.7, yet he could burn "Primetime" on occasion.

Also, with a little research, I found that either you were mistaken, or that article you read years ago was bogus, Wimmer.

Darrell Green ran a 4.22 at the OFFICIAL NFL combine in the early 80s. He ran an unofficial 4.09 in training camp for the Washington Redskins.

DeAngelo Hall, a cornerback currently playing for the Atlanta Falcons, ran a 4.15 second 40 yard dash (on a rubber track, which is considered informal for the 40 yard). On a regular dirt track he ran a 4.24.

You win, killah.. i'm convinced.


now will you please donate me one million points so i can have some fun?


ps... you are MMA guru and more handsome than Heath Ledger :smile:

You win, killah.. i'm convinced.


now will you please donate me one million points so i can have some fun?


ps... you are MMA guru and more handsome than Heath Ledger :smile:

ahh wtf, why not... just make sure you rep me every time you see my beautiful name.

ahh wtf, why not... just make sure you rep me every time you see my beautiful name.



you are my father



but i only rep you every other time since you shorted me half a mil. :biggrin:

you are my father



but i only rep you every other time since you shorted me half a mil. :biggrin:

the other 1/2 is coming, i only had 800,000 in my bank

the other 1/2 is coming, i only had 800,000 in my bank


golfing shooooooooooooooooooooooot!

Cowboys WR Randal Williams apparently ran a 4.04 in camp for them. He absolutely sucks at football, however.

Some of these times are under scrutiny for good reason, however, to quote from an article, regarding the day of Ben Johnson's steroid-induced world record run in the hundred meters at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, "Timing officials have since broken down that famed race into 10-meter increments, and Johnson was so preposterously fast that he went through 50 meters in 5.52 seconds and 60 meters in 6.37 -- both under the current world records at those distances. He went through 40 yards that day in 4.38 seconds."

Cowboys WR Randal Williams apparently ran a 4.04 in camp for them.





bull shit :bolt:

Cowboys WR Randal Williams apparently ran a 4.04 in camp for them. He absolutely sucks at football, however.

Some of these times are under scrutiny for good reason, however, to quote from an article, regarding the day of Ben Johnson's steroid-induced world record run in the hundred meters at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, "Timing officials have since broken down that famed race into 10-meter increments, and Johnson was so preposterously fast that he went through 50 meters in 5.52 seconds and 60 meters in 6.37 -- both under the current world records at those distances. He went through 40 yards that day in 4.38 seconds."


No seriously though, if as fast as johnson was, and he only ran a 4.38, doesn't that tell you something?