Athlete of the Decade: Who ya got?

[Beef03]

From hockey Nicklas Lidstrom and Martin Brodeur should at least be in the discussion.

Lidstrom's won 6 norris trophies, a conn smyth as playoff MVP and two stanley Cups this decade, four in his career. Plus won gold at the 2006 winter Olympics.

This decade Brodeur has won four Vezina's and two Jenning's trophies (lowest GAA in league) --four jennings in his career -- and two stanley Cups, three in his career. In the process he has also rewritten the record book for goalies. This decade has also won gold at the olympics in 2002 - ending a 50 year drought for Canada -- and then backstopped Canada to gold at the World Cup.

Apparently AP doesn`t consider hockey players athletes of the same calibre as drivers of cars, long distance runners, and female golfers and basketball players.

 

[cjericho]

From hockey Nicklas Lidstrom and Martin Brodeur should at least be in the discussion.

Lidstrom's won 6 norris trophies, a conn smyth as playoff MVP and two stanley Cups this decade, four in his career. Plus won gold at the 2006 winter Olympics.

This decade Brodeur has won four Vezina's and two Jenning's trophies (lowest GAA in league) --four jennings in his career -- and two stanley Cups, three in his career. In the process he has also rewritten the record book for goalies. This decade has also won gold at the olympics in 2002 - ending a 50 year drought for Canada -- and then backstopped Canada to gold at the World Cup.

Apparently AP doesn`t consider hockey players athletes of the same calibre as drivers of cars, long distance runners, and female golfers and basketball players.

is it just me or is Lidstrom underrated/underhyped. it seemed like when Borque was playing there was so much talk about him, maybe because he never won with the B's. maybe also because Yzerman was always the face of the Red Wings, but it just seems like Lidstrom is one of the all time greats, maybe i'm just used to anyone good being overhyped.

back to the athlete of the decade, does anyone know what fastest woman means?

Pamela Reed, Distance running, outright winner of Badwater Ultramarathon in 2002-03; fastest woman in 2005.

because if she beat everyone in the 100 meters and won an ultramarathon she probably is athlete of the century.

 

[JC]

You would be correct about Lidstrom. The way he plays is so cerebral that you just take him for granted.

 

[friend of the friendless]

Sirs, Madames,

One slight digression re Lidstrom.

I took him to dinner in my neighbourhood in hockey-mad Toronto. We walked a mile down a busy street (Danforth for those who know), passed open patios of sports bars ... and not a soul recognized him. We walked by the Detroit Grill (the owner is a Wings fan) and he didn't get stopped

The most nondescript great athlete of his generation and a very nice guy. It was just a social thing (not business for me) but he snuck out and paid the table for our table and a table of strangers next to us who made small talk with us -- and didn't recognize him either.

o-<

 

[outofplace]

From hockey Nicklas Lidstrom and Martin Brodeur should at least be in the discussion.

Lidstrom's won 6 norris trophies, a conn smyth as playoff MVP and two stanley Cups this decade, four in his career. Plus won gold at the 2006 winter Olympics.

This decade Brodeur has won four Vezina's and two Jenning's trophies (lowest GAA in league) --four jennings in his career -- and two stanley Cups, three in his career. In the process he has also rewritten the record book for goalies. This decade has also won gold at the olympics in 2002 - ending a 50 year drought for Canada -- and then backstopped Canada to gold at the World Cup.

Apparently AP doesn`t consider hockey players athletes of the same calibre as drivers of cars, long distance runners, and female golfers and basketball players.

pish-poor work by AP not listing any hockey players at all.

 

[snuffy2]

Thanks for including Bolt in this list of dipshirt media laughables. Add Mayweather. Add Rulon Gardner. Add Meseret Defar. Add U.S. journalist winning the ultra parochial marathonic twittering stupidity trophy.

 

[Stoney]

Wow, I know it's a suggested list, but no Manning and no Tomlinson?

Exactly my thought when I looked at it. That list has two WNBA players, four soccer players, three golfers, but only one football player. What the fork?

 

[PopeDirkBenedict]

I would vote for Lance Armstrong as Asshole of the Decade, but that's about it.

 

[Starman]

Here's the thing: by picking Armstrong, who dominated his sport and likely won't between 2010-19, you would have less chance of a repeat. Woods could just be hitting his prime, could decimate Nicklaus' record in the next decade and could all-out rule golf even more than he is already.

For me, it's a two-man race.

You can't worry about the 2019 selection while you're making your 2009 pick. If Tiger Woods is the best athlete of 2000-2009, it doesn't matter what he does from 2010-2019. If he repeats, he repeats.

 

[Simon_Cowbell]

Woods... by the length of one of his drives over Pujols

 

[IllMil]

If it's international it's Schumacher, and I don't know that it's close.

But it's for athletes, not people who drive cars.

Edit: I see several others made the same comment. Good to see.

 

[buckweaver]

1. Woods
2. Federer
3. Armstrong
4. Phelps
5. Bonds

(I also think, to be considered athlete of the decade, casual fans should have at least heard of you for more than half of those 10 years. That's why Phelps > Bolt.)