akshayxyz Posted November 20, 2011 Posted November 20, 2011 As the title says. Don't have to be all time great in terms of 'statistics', but in terms of - when in full flow these players make the game look like child's play. Let me start with these snooker/billiards greats. 1. Ronnie O'Sullivan. Undoubtedly most gifed snooker player of current generation (as I have not seen most of oldies). Why: you do not need to look beyond his fastest 147. And IIRC top 3-4 fastest 147 in the top ten. Besides, this guy can beat any of the top players left handed. 2. Alex Higgins He was the original Sehwag of snooker. Out of text book technique, flamboyant style, and some of the best under pressure snooker breaks. Also, he used to drink beer while playing in tournaments and yet won 3 world titles!!! Crowds loved him absolutely. 3. Walter Lindrum Don Bradman of billiards. And coincidentally he was Don's contemporary. Some of the records that he has left behind are Bradmanesque and most likely would never be broken (due to change in rules too) Interestingly, at very early age he lost the tip of index finger of right hand (IIRC) and forcefully learnt to play with the wrong hand. Would play 14 or so hours a day, and famously said that his records would never be broken as no one would ever be as crazy as him ( to play extremely long hours). 4. Jimmy White. Popularly known as "people's champion", one of the most interesting players to watch playing. One of the most naturally gifted player to have never won World Title. He lost in 6 finals!!! One can say "ultimate choker" :)
akshayxyz Posted November 20, 2011 Author Posted November 20, 2011 One more from Pool Efren Ryes Affectionately nick named - "The Magician". This guy is 57 and still a top player... enuff said.
surajmal Posted November 20, 2011 Posted November 20, 2011 Bo jackson was the most gifted athlete in professional sports ever. He played baseball and Football (american). A knee injury fvcked his career up but in terms of natural ability, no one comes close (maybe lebron james if he decides to pick up another sport)
akshayxyz Posted November 20, 2011 Author Posted November 20, 2011 "Lance Armstrong" I know many people would not like his name mentioned, and there have been 3-4 more, more naturally gifted cyclists than him. But whatever you say - coming back from cancer-bed to win 7 Tour-de-France - is not possible w/o a combination of natural gift and extreme willpower. He was recorded to have one of the highest VO2 Max (a parameter to evaluate Oxygen carrying capacity of blood).
akshayxyz Posted November 20, 2011 Author Posted November 20, 2011 jhangir khan Yea, heard that name - paki squash guy. Please add a bit of info about the player. Esp the "natural gifts" part of the sportsman - and not # of records.
panther Posted November 20, 2011 Posted November 20, 2011 Yea' date=' heard that name - paki squash guy. Please add a bit of info about the player. Esp the "natural gifts" part of the sportsman - and not # of records.[/quote'] During that time he won 555 games consecutively, the longest winning streak by any athlete in top-level professional sports as recorded by Guinness World Records i guess being able to do that makes you naturally gifted
punjabi_khota Posted November 20, 2011 Posted November 20, 2011 Gotta be Federer (if you understand tennis)
akshayxyz Posted November 20, 2011 Author Posted November 20, 2011 Gotta be Federer (if you understand tennis) May be best in tennis, but having seen them both - I would pick Ronnie O'Sullivan above him - in terms of natural gift.
Sarkar Posted November 20, 2011 Posted November 20, 2011 Where is Sachin sach has more talent than any one
Malcolm Merlyn Posted November 20, 2011 Posted November 20, 2011 Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher:Racing Tiger Woods:Golf Maradona:football Dhyanchand:Hockey
Yoda-esque Posted November 20, 2011 Posted November 20, 2011 Roger Federer - He changed the way I looked at Tennis
Cricket Tragic Posted November 20, 2011 Posted November 20, 2011 Woods >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Federer
akshayxyz Posted November 20, 2011 Author Posted November 20, 2011 ^ Haven't seen Woods play, but have you seen Ronnie ?
Yoda-esque Posted November 20, 2011 Posted November 20, 2011 Woods >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Federer Can't compare people across disciples..it takes different skills to play different games. Besides I dont consider golfers as athletes or golf as a sport for that matter. Is it a game? Yes Is it a Sport? No
Sachin=GOD Posted November 20, 2011 Posted November 20, 2011 Goddy, Lara, Warne, Viv Richards - cricket Maradona and Messi - football Senna - F1 Rocky Marciano - boxing (haven't seen much of him but whatever little I saw was awesome) Fedex and McEnre - tennis
punjabi_khota Posted November 20, 2011 Posted November 20, 2011 yeah but if you would rather watch paint dry than a sport (cough ...golf...cough), that 'sport' doesn't really count.
akshayxyz Posted November 20, 2011 Author Posted November 20, 2011 Can't compare people across disciples..it takes different skills to play different games. Besides I dont consider golfers as athletes or golf as a sport for that matter. Is it a game? Yes Is it a Sport? No Don't underestimate the physical and mental demands of Golf/Snooker. Besides, you always have to beat the competition. If its easy, its easy for everyone - so you still will have to push the 'natural' limits.
Yoda-esque Posted November 20, 2011 Posted November 20, 2011 Don't underestimate the physical and mental demands of Golf/Snooker. Besides' date=' you always have to beat the competition. If its easy, its easy for everyone - so you still will have to push the 'natural' limits.[/quote'] Yes hes pushing his natural limits :winky:
akshayxyz Posted November 20, 2011 Author Posted November 20, 2011 http://www.golfmagic.com/news/images/bigjohn01.jpg[/] Yes hes pushing his natural limits :winky: and there is a reason he would be miles behind likes of Woods :).
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