Pele.

michael jordan and jerry rice

Mohamad Ali - brilliant guy.

Early last century, Max Woosnam played football for Corinthian Casuals and Chelsea FC. He then went off to fight in the first world war. After the war he took part in Wimbledon and won several doubles titles at tennis. He also went on to captain Manchester City FC, played football for England and was also selected to captain the British football team at Olympics, but refused, having already committed himself to the tennis team (in which he won a gold medal). In addition to this, Woosnam also captained the Davis Cup team at tennis, scored a century for England at Cricket, scored a maximum 147 break at snooker and was a scratch golfer. Oh and he also drove a bus during the general strike. What a guy!

'Greatest' is difficult because there are so many sport genres, but Jim Thorpe came to mind because he didn't have the training or priviledge of many modern athletes and he was the victim of racism. Jacobus Franciscus "Jim" Thorpe (Meskwaki: Wa-Tho-Huk) (May 28, 1888–March 28, 1953[1]) was an American athlete. Considered one of the most versatile athletes in modern sports, he won Olympic gold medals in the pentathlon and decathlon, played American football collegiately and professionally, and also played professional baseball and basketball. He subsequently lost his Olympic titles when it was found he had played two seasons of minor league baseball before competing in the games (thus violating the amateur status rules). Thorpe was primarily of Native American ancestry. He was raised as a Sac and Fox, and named Wa-Tho-Huk, roughly translated as "Bright Path". He struggled with racism throughout much of his life and his accomplishments were publicized with headlines describing him as a "Redskin" and "Indian athlete". He also played on several All-American Indian teams throughout his career, and barnstormed as a professional basketball player with a team composed entirely of Native Americans. Thorpe was named the greatest athlete of the first half of the twentieth century by the Associated Press (AP) in 1950, and ranked third on the AP list of athletes of the century in 1999. After his professional sports career ended Thorpe lived in abject poverty. He worked several odd jobs, struggled with alcoholism, and lived out the last years of his life in failing health. In 1983, thirty years after his death, his medals were restored.

The Great One! – Wayne Gretzky

Joe Louis "I just give lip service to being the greatest. He was the greatest." -- Muhammad Ali

It's impossible to logically arrive at the "greatest sportsman of all time". It has to be looked at sport-wise. Even then it's extremely difficult. There have been a lot of eminent people who've shaped sports, so it wouldn't do justice to really name just a few.

Gosh, that would have to be Dick Cheney and his superior hunting skills!

Roger Federer

you might want to check out this link to see an analysis of the greatest "active" sportsman http://yoursportingly.blogspot.com/

Toss up. Jim Thorpe or Jesse Owens

Jackie Robinson, he wasn't just a baseball player. He excelled at every sport he ever tried. Everything about the man wass amazing.

for me the greatest sportsmen ever, fom an achievmnt point of view is MICHAEL SCHUMACHER

Mahammed Ali

Lord Byron was a good one.

Strictly a matter of opinion. But I enjoyed watching Ronnie Lott play. =)

Bob Uecker

Tiger Woods

Arnold Schwarzenegger