The Blogger Challenge: Most Influential Sporting Figures of All-time

Sports go as far back as the existence of human beings; from the times of "hurling" (hockey) in Ireland almost two-thousand years ago, "harpastum" (rugby) in Rome and "polo" in Persia. From the dawn of time, creatures have competed, whether to win over a young mate, conquer an empire or simply leave with a sense of pride. Sports surround our culture like flies on...well, you get it.


My challenge to you is to think of the most influential sports figures ever. No rules, no specificities, just sporting figures. Doesn't matter the sport, gender or if they were a coach, player or animal. Give me your favorite, and greatest, sporting figures of all time. Toss a picture up of the person and your reasoning behind the choice!

Here are a few of my choices (not in order or rank):

Muhammed Ali: He talked smack, said he was the greatest, and he definately was. Three time Heavyweight Champion of the world.

Michael Jeffery Jordan: Was there any doubt? MJ was high-flying, charismatic, competitive and was a true winner. He won six NBA Championships, five MVP awards, 14All-Star game appearances and had 10 scoring titles. Out of his six NBA Championships, he won the MVP in each one. Off the court, he transcended the marketable athlete, winning over NIKE and Gatorade.

Mildred Ella ("Babe") Didrikson Zaharias: You may wonder why I chose Babe. She goes down in history as one of the most all-around female athletes to ever step foot on this earth. She was a famed track and field star, where she won two gold medals and one silver medal in the 1932 Los Angelas Olympic Games. She was an All-American in basketball, played organized AAU baseball and softball, rowed, dived, bowled and then picked up golf. Her gold career began in 1935 and in 1938 she was the first woman to ever compete in a male PGA tour event, the Los Angelas Open, in which she shot a respective 81 and 84. She is the founding member of the LPGA.