By popular demand, here is my top 10 list I shared on air.
Michael Phelps has been touted by NBC, Sports Illustrated, and Time as the "greatest athlete ever." No way!
Greatness involves more than on-field or on-court accomplishments. That is part of greatness. But real Greatness would also include faith, generosity, intelligence, family and marriage, and citizenship contributions to the nation. THAT is greatness.
Phelps is just 23 years old. Other than Olympic achievement, we have little else to measure him with. It is too early to tell whether he will become truly great.
Here are my top 10 greatest athletes ever:
10)Andre Agassi – 8 Grand Slam titles and launched a $50MM foundation to serve kids in poverty
9)Roberto Clemente - 3000 hits, family man, great right-fielder, and sacrificed his life on a mission of mercy to assist earthquake victims in Nicaragua
8) Hank Aaron - 755 HR, Hall of Famer, successful businessman, strong character
7) Tiger Woods - What can you say about his golfing? Then he gives away $9.5MM in 2006
6) Dikembe Mutombo - Given and raised a total of $20MM for Congo hospital, NBA defensive player of the year on multiple occasions, strong marriage, speaks 9 languages, and a degree from Georgetown
5) Charlie Ward – Heisman Trophy winner, NBA player for 10+ years, MLB draftee. Quite a combo. Plus won a national champ in football, FCA giant, strong marriage, and the list goes on
4) Warrick Dunn – Homes for 74 single moms and their 197 dependents, Katrina relief, humility, national champ at FSU, and met on death row with murderer of his mother
3) Jackie Robinson – changed the face of America, endured persecution with grace, MVP, World Series champ, Hall of Famer, solid marriage, activist
2) Jesse Owens – Olympic success in Berlin, rebuke of Hitler, winner in charity and citizenship
1) David Robinson Get this:
Naval Academy degree in math
Healthy Marriage and family life
Faith giant
National player of year in college, NBA MVP, 2X NBA champ
2 Olympic Gold medals
2 years active military service
AND
$11MM gift to create Carver Academy for kids in poverty in San Antonio– perhaps largest gift ever by athlete at one time