SA's Best?

[roostersgal4eva]

Hi all

Was listening to 5AA on the way to work (well dad was anyways ) and someone rang up about Lleyton Hewitt being SA's best ever sportsman.

It got me thinking for a while on who really is so Id throw the discussion open here!

How do we compare sports - how do determine which event is better to win?

Is winning wimbledon better than a gold medal or is a gold medal better than winning a stage of the Tour de france for example?

Ponderous Indeed!

 

[RoosterLad]

Barrie Robran

 

[Seanason]

Seanason

 

[kimirocks]

Darren Pfeiffer. Hands down.

Any of Russell Ebert, Ken Farmer, Peter "Super" Carey, Barrie Robran, Jack Oatey (including coaching), The Chappells (except for the nuff nuff Trev) and maybe Clem Hill as well. Hewy has been good, by no means is he close to being number 1.

 

[Seanason]

Michael Avon.

 

[sapaul]

Makybe Diva.

 

[Markthirtytwo]

Barrie Robran

We have the winner.

 

[Alex99]

Sir Donald Bradman – I know he is a ring in but he played the majority of his sport in SA.

 

[tribey]

Let's take a look at the nominees.

Aussie Rules: Russell Ebert, Barrie Robran, Mark Ricciuto, Craig Bradley, Stephen Kernahan, Bernie Smith, John Platten, Malcolm Blight

Basketball: Mark Bradtke, Paul Rogers, Brett Maher

Tennis: Lleyton Hewitt, Mark Woodforde

Football: John Aloisi, Aurelio Vidmar, Tony Vidmar, Alex Tobin

Netball: Michelle Fielke-Den Dekker, Kathryn Harby-Williams

Cricket: Jason Gillespie, Darren Lehmann, David Hookes, Victor Richardson, Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell

Squash: Chris Dittmar

Equestrian: Gillian Rolton, Wendy Schaeffer

Cycling: Stuart O'Grady, Mike Turtur

Swimming: Phil Rogers

Rowing: Kate Slatter, Sir Collier Cudmore

Archery: Simon Fairweather

Weightlifting: Dean Lukin

Heaps of people I'm forgetting, no doubt. Still, we've had stacks of achievers across a shedload of sports.

 

[Johnny Utah #9]

Let's take a look at the nominees.

Aussie Rules: Russell Ebert, Barrie Robran, Mark Ricciuto, Craig Bradley, Stephen Kernahan, Bernie Smith, John Platten, Malcolm Blight

Basketball: Mark Bradtke, Paul Rogers, Brett Maher

Tennis: Lleyton Hewitt, Mark Woodforde

Football: John Aloisi, Aurelio Vidmar, Tony Vidmar, Alex Tobin

Netball: Michelle Fielke-Den Dekker, Kathryn Harby-Williams

Cricket: Jason Gillespie, Darren Lehmann, David Hookes, Victor Richardson, Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell

Squash: Chris Dittmar

Equestrian: Gillian Rolton, Wendy Schaeffer

Cycling: Stuart O'Grady, Mike Turtur

Swimming: Phil Rogers

Rowing: Kate Slatter, Sir Collier Cudmore

Archery: Simon Fairweather

Weightlifting: Dean Lukin

Heaps of people I'm forgetting, no doubt. Still, we've had stacks of achievers across a shedload of sports.

Three quarters of these people are unknown outside of Adelaide! Get fair dinkum. Most of them are rubbish.

 

[finbarr]

Let's take a look at the nominees.

Aussie Rules: Russell Ebert, Barrie Robran, Mark Ricciuto, Craig Bradley, Stephen Kernahan, Bernie Smith, John Platten, Malcolm Blight

Basketball: Mark Bradtke, Paul Rogers, Brett Maher

Tennis: Lleyton Hewitt, Mark Woodforde, Darren Cahill (coach extrordinaire & US Open Semi Finalist)

Football: John Aloisi, Aurelio Vidmar, Tony Vidmar, Alex Tobin, Milan Ivanovic, Big Bad Dave Mitchell

Netball: Michelle Fielke-Den Dekker, Kathryn Harby-Williams

Cricket: Jason Gillespie, Darren Lehmann, David Hookes, Victor Richardson, Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell

Squash: Chris Dittmar

Equestrian: Gillian Rolton, Wendy Schaeffer

Cycling: Stuart O'Grady, Mike Turtur

Swimming: Phil Rogers

Rowing: Kate Slatter, Sir Collier Cudmore

Archery: Simon Fairweather

Weightlifting: Dean Lukin

Heaps of people I'm forgetting, no doubt. Still, we've had stacks of achievers across a shedload of sports.

Added some glaring ommissions.

 

[tribey]

Three quarters of these people are unknown outside of Adelaide! Get fair dinkum. Most of them are rubbish.

Name those that are rubbish?

 

[Campbell's Chunky]

Is goal kicking at Broadspectrum Oval during half time at the SANFL a sport?

And you can probably a Karen Rolton in there somewhere.

 

[finbarr]

Is goal kicking at Broadspectrum Oval during half time at the SANFL a sport?

And you can probably a Karen Rolton in there somewhere.

If not it should be.

 

[afc9798]

Let's take a look at the nominees.

Aussie Rules: Russell Ebert, Barrie Robran, Mark Ricciuto, Craig Bradley, Stephen Kernahan, Bernie Smith, John Platten, Malcolm Blight, Gavin Wanganeen

Basketball: Mark Bradtke, Paul Rogers, Brett Maher,Rachel Sporn, Michelle Brogan

Tennis: Lleyton Hewitt, Mark Woodforde,John Fitzgerald, Ken McGregor

Football: John Aloisi, Aurelio Vidmar, Tony Vidmar, Alex Tobin, John Kosmina

Netball: Michelle Fielke-Den Dekker, Kathryn Harby-Williams

Cricket: Jason Gillespie, Darren Lehmann, David Hookes, Victor Richardson, Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell, Bradman,

Squash: Chris Dittmar

Equestrian: Gillian Rolton, Wendy Schaeffer

Cycling: Stuart O'Grady, Mike Turtur, Bradley McGee

Swimming: Phil Rogers, Sarah Ryan

Rowing: Kate Slatter, Sir Collier Cudmore

Archery: Simon Fairweather

Weightlifting: Dean Lukin

Heaps of people I'm forgetting, no doubt. Still, we've had stacks of achievers across a shedload of sports.

Out of all these, it would be difficult to pick someone who played a sport that was limited to Australia or only played by a handful of nations. On that basis, at this point in time Lleyton Hewitt would be a legitimate pick. No. 1 the world for nearly two years, numerous titles, played against greats like Agassi and Sampras etc. etc.

He is one of the few who maintained a consistent presence at the top of his sport. I also added a few more to the list above....

 

[tribey]

Out of all these, it would be difficult to pick someone who played a sport that was limited to Australia or only played by a handful of nations. On that basis, at this point in time Lleyton Hewitt would be a legitimate pick. No. 1 the world for nearly two years, numerous titles, played against greats like Agassi and Sampras etc. etc.

He is one of the few who maintained a consistent presence at the top of his sport. I also added a few more to the list above....

I would've agreed wholeheartedly a few years ago when winning Grand Slams was procession-like, but it's all turned Michael Chang for him. Still amongst the top of the shortlist with our Olympic Gold Medallists though, obviously.

Just on Bradman, as nice it would be to claim him it would be very much like we as a country claim Crowded House, Russell Crowe and every other decent talent to have the good sense to cross the ditch.

New South Wales-born, made his first class cricket debut for NSW and had already been playing Test cricket for 7 years before relocating to Adelaide.

Be like Victoria claiming Braddles, Blighty or Sticks.

 

[jo172]

Vic Richardson would make a strong case judging by his list of achievments on the gate of Adelaide Oval, however comparing the contribution of blokes of different eras in different sports is always going to be difficult.

Obviously if the Don is counted then he wins hands down.

But as for athletes to have competed this century it's an interesting question.

I'd be thinking along the lines of:

Boof, Dizzy, Roo, Stuart O'Grady, Lleyton ...

And out of those i think you'd have to give it to Lleyton for being the best in the world for a decent amount of time in a very competitive sport

 

[- PC -]

Be like Victoria claiming Braddles, Blighty or Sticks.

Yes damn SOO

 

[roostersgal4eva]

Vic Richardson would make a strong case judging by his list of achievments on the gate of Adelaide Oval, however comparing the contribution of blokes of different eras in different sports is always going to be difficult.

Obviously if the Don is counted then he wins hands down.

But as for athletes to have competed this century it's an interesting question.

I'd be thinking along the lines of:

Boof, Dizzy, Roo, Stuart O'Grady, Lleyton ...

And out of those i think you'd have to give it to Lleyton for being the best in the world for a decent amount of time in a very competitive sport

I dont think the general public dont realise how good Stuey really is and more importantly how highly regarded he his is the Cycling world

Runner up green jurnesy 4 times TDF
2 TDF stage victories and wore the 'golden fleece' on 3 days
First Aussie Winner of the Paris-Roubaix (considered to be the best race out side the Tour if not better)
Aussie Road Champion
Olympic Gold Medal (Madison, Sydney 2000)

Some are saying lleyton is the best but that record give anyone a run (or a ride ) for their money

 

[- PC -]

Best sportsman/woman?

Wow Vic Richardson certainly has some claims

But who has dominated their sport for a long time

Vicki Cardwell/Hoffman come on down

 

[Damp Squarie]

Barry Robran
Russel Ebert


Peter Motley - before being tragically cut down.
I can recall him stitching up one G Ablett in a State of Origin game going back awhile...He couldve been anything.

Not really who you might call one of SA's Best but I reckon Garry McIntosh would've made a name for himself had he gone into that minor league ( VFL)

On grounds like Victoria Park, Moorabin, Windy Hill and Whitten Oval he would have carved 'em up.

While on the subject of these grounds, Port Power would still be trying to get into the eight if they had to go to these venues. They dont realise how easy theyve had it.

 

[Seanason]

Trevor Chappell. Underarms ftw