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Dan
Chief Pontificator
Joined: 22 Mar 1999
Posts: 9334
Location: Salem, OR
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 Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2002 10:12 am Post subject: |
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Conway's lists(s) reminded me of a few omissions, so I added them in to my original post above. Still a lot of holes to fill in, though...
I think this is very similar to the age old question of best athlete ever in any given sport or event. There are very few people willing or capable of voting for someone who wasn't their favorite at their most impressionable time following the sport.
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Conway
Olympic Medalist
Joined: 25 Aug 2001
Posts: 3570
Location: Northen California
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| Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2002 11:19 am Post subject: |
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| Dan wrote: | Conway's lists(s) reminded me of a few omissions, so I added them in to my original post above. Still a lot of holes to fill in, though...
I think this is very similar to the age old question of best athlete ever in any given sport or event. There are very few people willing or capable of voting for someone who wasn't their favorite at their most impressionable time following the sport.
Dan |
True statement ... I can relate to that ... but as I sit here thinking about why my lists is heavy on "older" athletes I come up with the following: I found that watching athletes a decade or more ago they ran with more pure joy than today ... Today's athletes seem much more businesslike in their approach ...
For example, I love Allen Johnson but (for me ) he doesn't compare to the fluidity and joyfulness of a Rod Milburn or Renaldo Nehemiah ... Both of whom just flowed down the track ... And for me both had much more of an impact on the sport ....
another aspect for me is that in attending meets in the past the athletes were much more accessible ... They hung out while at the meet ... The only way you get to access today's athletes is if you are invited to the after party somewhere ...
While I am here lets try middle distance
800 - men
Wilson Kipketer
Joaquin Cruz
Billy Konchella
Davidi Mack
800 - women
Jarmila Kratochvilova
Ana Quirot
Kim Gallagher
1500 - men
Steve Ovett
Said Aouita
Sydney Maree
1500 - women
Paula Ivan
Svetlana Masterkova
Maricica Puica
Conway |
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Dan
Chief Pontificator
Joined: 22 Mar 1999
Posts: 9334
Location: Salem, OR
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| Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2002 11:47 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | I found that watching athletes a decade or more ago they ran with more pure joy than today ... Today's athletes seem much more businesslike in their approach ... |
I would agree with that.
Looks like our lists share a few common athletes, just yours is a bit more diverse. 
Dan |
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Conway
Olympic Medalist
Joined: 25 Aug 2001
Posts: 3570
Location: Northen California
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| Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2002 12:10 pm Post subject: |
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| Dan wrote: |
Looks like our lists share a few common athletes, just yours is a bit more diverse.
Dan |
I feel real fortunate that I grew up when and where I did ... I got to go to a lot of the meets that I have talked about and got to see so many world class athletes !!!! I saw the Rusians and East Germans in their prime ... Ben Johnson, Daley Thompson, Marita Koch, Valeri Borzov and others live and in person ... gives one a different perspective ... I feel for today's youth who can only read about their stars ... Maybe see them if they get ESPN ...
Conway |
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Conway
Olympic Medalist
Joined: 25 Aug 2001
Posts: 3570
Location: Northen California
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| Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2002 2:28 pm Post subject: |
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Let's try some the Jumps ...
LJ - men
Larry Myricks
Mike Powell
Mike Conley
Lutz Dumbrowski
Ralph Boston
Randy Williams
LJ - women
JJK
Heiki Dreschsler
HJ - men
Hollis Conway
Charles Austin
Dick Fosbury
Patrik Sjoberg
TJ - men
Mike Conley
Willie Banks
Jonathon Edwawrds
Chales Simkins
Kenny Harrison
TJ - women
not around long enough
PV - men
Sergei Bubka
Earl Bell
Mike Tully
Billy Olson
PV - women
not around long enough
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Distance_Guru
World Class
Joined: 09 Mar 2002
Posts: 1280
Location: Nebraska
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| Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2002 3:02 pm Post subject: |
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| wrote: | PV - women
not around long enough |
Weren't you just talking about how todays athletes are all about business and that athletes of the past had more joy. I don't think there are to many athletes out there today or at any other time that have more pure joy and as much fun as Staci Dragila! She's always getting the fans envolved, pumping her fists and is as pleasent as you could ask for in her interviews.
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Dan
Chief Pontificator
Joined: 22 Mar 1999
Posts: 9334
Location: Salem, OR
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| Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2002 3:24 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah, but those darn Oakley tan lines... :t-:
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Micah Ward
Olympic Medalist
Joined: 08 May 2000
Posts: 2152
Location: Hot&humid, GA
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| Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2002 3:56 am Post subject: |
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We had a great thread last year on the greatest in each event. But now that we are talking about favorites my list will be a little different. I am pressed for time right now so I will just list two and then come back.
Favorite track runner of all time:
THE DAUGHTER 
Favorite female long jumper:
THE WIFE
(2000 Masters State Champ in the 40-45 age group.)
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Conway
Olympic Medalist
Joined: 25 Aug 2001
Posts: 3570
Location: Northen California
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| Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2002 8:24 am Post subject: |
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| Distance_Guru wrote: | | wrote: | PV - women
not around long enough |
Weren't you just talking about how todays athletes are all about business and that athletes of the past had more joy. I don't think there are to many athletes out there today or at any other time that have more pure joy and as much fun as Staci Dragila! She's always getting the fans envolved, pumping her fists and is as pleasent as you could ask for in her interviews. |
I think Stacy has been great for the sport ... Just when I think of all time anything, I'd like to have something to compare to ... I haven't seen much of anyone outside of the US ... And aside from Stacy, I haven't been able to watch too many quality women's vaulters ... I guess I could list Stacy and Mary Sauer ... But seems kind of hollow to me ...
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Paul
Olympic Medalist
Joined: 28 Apr 2002
Posts: 1610
Location: Oregon
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| Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2002 8:41 am Post subject: |
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| Micah, what is your wife's athletic background?? And what was her distance in the Masters LJ ?? |
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Paul
Olympic Medalist
Joined: 28 Apr 2002
Posts: 1610
Location: Oregon
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| Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2002 11:17 am Post subject: |
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I was a huge fan of the Soviets in the 60's and 70's because I felt their training was on a whole different level from the West. This would include
Brumel HJ
Ter-Ovanesyan LJ
Saneyev TJ
Lusis JT
Borzov Sprints
I like Jozef Schmidt from Poland for his ground breaking TJ methods.
When the TJ was introduced for women, Sheila Hudson was heads and tails above the rest of the US in terms of style and distance.
Heike Drechsler for being on the world scene for half her life span.
Rosemarie Ackermann - women's first 2 meter high jumper (straddle, not flop, I might add)
...and last but not least, Seb Coe!!
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Conway
Olympic Medalist
Joined: 25 Aug 2001
Posts: 3570
Location: Northen California
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| Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2002 11:36 am Post subject: |
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I agree about the Russians ... And the East Germans ... Drug use aside, they were far and away ahead of use regarding training ... Their athletes were true technicians ... Borzov, for example, had NO wasted motion ... He got the most out of his abilities ...
I would have ot add Ackermann to my list ... She was not only good but a joy to watch ...
Question ... I've seen a couple of people mention Seb Coe ... But I think only myself has named Steve Ovett ... Any particular reason why Ovett get left off so many lists ??
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Paul
Olympic Medalist
Joined: 28 Apr 2002
Posts: 1610
Location: Oregon
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| Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2002 12:55 pm Post subject: |
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Coe was more personable, which did have some effect on my selections. Coe said in his autobiography that Ovett had tremendous range in his ability, something we've discussed on this Forum. Ovett could turn a sub 23 200m and Coe felt he could have set the half marathon world record in hs prime.
On another note, but too extensive for this site, would be a "where and what are they doing, now".
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Conway
Olympic Medalist
Joined: 25 Aug 2001
Posts: 3570
Location: Northen California
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| Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2002 1:00 pm Post subject: |
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Ovett did have tremendous range ... And was one of the sports ultimate competitors ... HE was quite cocky which was part of his competitive nature ... I think part of the "rift" between he and Coe was that Coe seemed to be the ultimate English gentleman ... Britain has always had a problem with cocky ...
A Where are they now, would be fun !!!
Conway
Last edited by Conway on Sat Sep 07, 2002 7:39 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Dan
Chief Pontificator
Joined: 22 Mar 1999
Posts: 9334
Location: Salem, OR
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| Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2002 1:14 pm Post subject: |
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Paul, utter nonsense!! Nothing is too extensive for this site. 
Dan |
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