I almost derailed the NFL thread… so creating a new “off-season” thread for this (yeah, it is still basketball season, but…).
Chat amongst us all… who are the All-time, All-sport, International GOATS? My suggested criteria includes on-the field results, game-changing impact, and culture impact.
My first candidates to kick it off…
(Admittedly, this is a pretty USA-centric list. Help me out.)
Messi, Ronaldo, Federer, Nadal, Djokovich, Usain Bolt
what about that guy that climbs mountains without ropes?
Serena Williamns, Ma long ( Table tennis) , Usian Bolt, Simone Biles.
Here’s a good reference list - ESPN’s SportsCentury, although it’s 20+ years old now
Bolt - good idea.
Federer, Nadal, Djokovich - Not yet. They can’t even settle their own current era tennis GOAT debate.
Plus, tennis seems to be dropping in international appeal in this generation (maybe it’s just me).
Messi, Ronaldo - I was wondering about them. Have they elevated the game enough? Seems like Pele started the worldwide appeal for individual players. Maradona?
How about female athletes? FloJo, Jackie Joyner Kersee,… Olga Korbut? Nadia C.? Martina Navratilova?
That’s cheating! (But that’s how I started my Blue Blood Analysis, so who am I to complain.)
Serena - yes
Biles - perhaps
Probably dead.
Just kidding - not sure who you’re referencing.
But - maybe the famous Mt. Everest Sherpa dude would be a candidate for this.
Gretzky (I had to go to @OKCDave 's list. But hockey never comes to my mind immediately.)
I am adding 2 non-negotiables for me. Jesse Owens and Jackie Robinson.
Football-
TB12, Jerry Rice, The GOAT Barry Sanders, LT,
Hoops:
MJ, Kobe, Larry Legend, Magic, Shaq Diesel
Golf:
Tiger, Arnold Palmer, The Golden Bear,
Hockey:
The Great One, Sid the Kid, Mario Lemeiux, Boxing:
Iron Mike, Ali,
Baseball:
The Babe, Big Mac and Slammin’ Sammy, Jackie Robinson
Soccer:
Ronaldo, Messi, Pele’,
Tennis:
Djokavich, Nadal, Federer, Agassi,
Track and Field: Jesse Owens, Michael Johnson, Usain Bolt
Swim: Michael Phelps
Love those 2 picks. Just a quick thought, not to derail this great topic….a case could be made that Jackie did more for Civil rights than Dr. King.
That guy is…he’s on another level. I’m not sure he’s even human.
My daughter always picked 42 when she had choice of her jersey number. Won’t get any argument from me!
Only 22 over the Top 10 limit! 
Brady
Lawrence Taylor
Ali
Tiger
Gretzky
MJ
Bron
Pele
Ryan/Clemens/Rivera
Babe/Bonds/Williams
my ten, the last two for baseball I would be fine with any of the three
Daxx Garman
Now we are getting to the real list.