In all the history of world sports, professional or amateur.....as hard as it is for me to say it, I have to go with the New York Yankees. The franchise started in 1901 in Baltimore before moving to New York City in 1903 and since that time have won 18 division titles, 40 AL pennants and 27 World Series championships - all MLB records. Forty-four Yankees players and 11 Yankees managers have been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. To name just a few:

Babe Ruth
Lou Gehrig
Joe DiMaggio
Mickey Mantle
Whitey Ford
Yogi Berra
Phil Rizzuto
Reggie Jackson
Goose Gossage
Derek Jeter (Future Induction)
Casey Stengel (Manager)
Joe Torre (Manager)

Throw in one of the more recognized sports brands in terms of the team logo, uniform (pinstripe) and team name in one of the most recognized cities in the world.

football: jim brown
basketball: Michael Jordan
Coaching: Lombardi
Baseball: Babe Ruth
Soccer: Pele

Franchise: Yankees
College Team: Michigan

Boxer: Muhammad Ali

Coaching: John Wooden

Boxing: "Gentleman Jim" Corbett - The man who beat John L. Sullivan. Corbett is often referred to as the "Father of Modern Boxing" because of his scientific approach and innovations in technique.

(06-26-2014 03:58 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  Boxer: Muhammad Ali

Ali and Jesse Owens was first come to mind.
I agree with the Yankees... probably Man U too.

Hockey isn't my sport, but I'd mention Wayne Gretzky since nobody else has. There really is no argument for anyone else as far as best hockey player ever. Every other sport has at least argument.

Football - Montana, Manning, Brady, Barry Sanders, Jim Brown
Basketball - Chamberlain, Magic, Bird, Jordan, Kobe, LeBron
Soccer - Pele, Diego Maradona
Golf - Woods, Nicklaus
Boxing - Ali, Tyson

Gretzky was on a completely different level with no peer.

Rugby Football Union

It's been there a long time and is a central player in the 6 nations. Plus, money.

Futbol: ManU...... Mele
Football: Steelers..... Jim Brown
Basketball: Lakers...... Jordan
Baseball: Yankees...... Babe Ruth
Hockey: Canadiens...... Mario Lemiuex

College Football: Notre Dame
College Basketball: Indiana

Only Green Bay is known as Titletown, CP.

I have a slight bias

(06-27-2014 05:55 PM)ClairtonPanther Wrote:  Futbol: ManU...... Mele
Football: Steelers..... Jim Brown
Basketball: Lakers...... Jordan
Baseball: Yankees...... Babe Ruth
Hockey: Canadiens...... Mario Lemiuex

College Football: Notre Dame
College Basketball: Indiana

I'm biased too. Jim was the MAN and played for only 9 seasons when the total games played per season were 12 and 14 respectively.
Rushing yards: 12,312
Rushing average: 5.2
Rushing TDs: 106

(06-27-2014 06:22 PM)ClairtonPanther Wrote:  I have a slight bias

Imagine that...

(06-27-2014 07:10 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  

(06-27-2014 06:22 PM)ClairtonPanther Wrote:  I have a slight bias

Imagine that...

"Prestige" is not a quality that can be measured precisely.

But speaking broadly here, I'd say that Babe Ruth had the greatest prestige in his own lifetime of any "sports figure" (retrospectively: Jackie Robinson), and Notre Dame football the greatest of any "team".

Calumet Farms.

When you run the sport of Kings you sort of stand alone.

I would say the Yankees would be the greatest team, or most prestigious.

For their global notariety:

Tiger
Ali
Man-U

Pele still has a good bit of global appeal for soccer fans.

Michael Jordan and Wayne Gretzky as far as figures are concerned. There are no other athletes which can't be kicked off their pedestals right now.