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1. 

   6/17/08

   crkian

   Sir Steve Redgrave
   
   George Best
   
   Pete Sampras
   
   Joe Calzaghe
   
   
   Babe Ruth

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   1. 

      6/17/08

      gosmelltheflowers

      GLOBAL Icon?
      
      The aiblity to move society not just those who follow the sport?
      
      Who is your No 1?
   2. 

      6/17/08

      crkian

      Come on all are global icons besides maybe Steve Redgrave
      
      
      Pele
2. 

   6/17/08

   pointlessbanter

   Um... Michael Jordan.

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   1. 

      6/17/08

      Shadow1000

      *echo*
3. 

   6/17/08

   HighlanderCMI

   Isn't golf just "a good walk spoilt"?
   
   I'd vote for Muhammad Ali or Pele or howsabout David Beckham? (kidding about that last one obviously)

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4. 

   6/17/08

   kaguvkov

   A sport icon from "GOLF" are you kidding. There are a lot of Sportsman out there who had a better achievement than him!

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   1. 

      6/17/08

      TheBigRuski

      If you don't view golf as a sport...I would reconsider!
      
      Tiger is the most dominate figure in his sport and probably the most dominating anyone has been in a particular sport. There have been similar stretches of dominance from Barry Bonds, Joe Montana, Kobe Bryant, Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Babe Ruth, and Wayne Gretzky.
   2. 

      6/17/08

      gosmelltheflowers

      For example KAGUVKOV????
      
      Reached China, South America and the rest of the world?
      
      Do tell...
   3. 

      6/17/08

      wolfcreek

      But, its the minute details and ever changing variables that separate Tiger from the other sports icons.
      
      In a sport where winning once a year is considered good, Tiger is a legitimate threat to win every tournament he plays. That's a real icon.
5. 

   6/17/08

   mitch972

   Ali. I realize some of you are too young to remember. But he did win a title match with a broken jaw.
   
   He's truly the greatest and most recognized sports figure in the world. Not just the modern developed world...but also 3rd world countries

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6. 

   6/17/08

   RTBjr73

   By the time he is done, I believe he will be the Sport Icon of all time. Keep in mind, he is at the top of his game now, and only, what, 33? He's got 17 years before he can play on the Senior PGA, where he could dominate like no other for a good five to ten years, while STILL competing at the majors on the PGA.

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7. 

   6/17/08

   BlueSunshine

   I think that Micheal Jordan would be the number one sporting icon. No one dominated their sport like he did.
   
   Also, Fedor Emelianenko should be in here as well, as he's the worldwide icon in mixed martial arts. He has a record of 28-1, and the one loss was because they had to stop the fight due to a cut. He's never been knocked out or has submitted in his career.

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   1. 

      6/17/08

      wolfcreek

      As MMA gains popularity, I think you could be right.
8. 

   6/17/08

   wolfcreek

   On a global stage its Tiger. Ali wasn't as well identified globally, but in the modern age, Tiger is still against Michael Jordan in the states and such.
   
   I'm not a bandwagon jumper, but I love Tiger's game. In this day and age, there is something amazing about a GOLFER of all things registering such consistency and being a model athlete.

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9. 

   6/17/08

   aningeniousname

   What about Diego Armando Maradona.

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   1. 

      6/17/08

      wolfcreek

      Or Pele
   2. 

      6/18/08

      gosmelltheflowers

      Pele perhaps for soccer but Maradona - not a chance - An overweight cocaine addict as an idol - you have to be kidding!
      
      Icon, people, icon - any more challenges for Tiger?
      
      Think China, playstation, Nike, that swing, those teeth...
   3. 

      6/18/08

      aningeniousname

      Hey I'm English I have as much reason to dislike the cheating dwarf as anyone, but it has to be said, he is the best player I have ever seen and is a face that is globally known, so I would think that qualifies him as a "Sporting icon"
10. 

    6/17/08

    RTBjr73

    Diego Armando Maradona played with a team, not to mention that he isn't the first person that most people would look at as a global icon, given his personal life.
    
    Tiger is out there all by himself, him against the field.

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    1. 

       6/17/08

       aningeniousname

       But Maradona near enough won the 1986 world cup single handedly, plus he made Napoli a force in European football and as for his personal life I don't think that should disqualify his talent or status as the finest player the world has seen. I think most non Americans would immediately mention Maradona.
    2. 

       6/20/08

       gosmelltheflowers

       Maradona - sorry - no - how an an icon like that be an example to others? Madonna is more appropriate!
    3. 

       6/20/08

       aningeniousname

       Hardly, John Lennon is an icon to many and he was an heroin addict. Just because someone has a problem it shouldn't detract from their talent.
       Sure he lived a debauched life but so did many of the worlds greatest writers, artists and musicians.
11. 

    6/17/08

    RTBjr73

    As far as Michael Jordan, he is up there, I still remember him in college like it was yesterday, but he also was on a team. In college, played with Sam Perkins and James Worthy. He was NEVER the number one guy under Dean Smith's offense.
    
    When he went to the Bulls, he could never win it on his own. The Bulls didn't win their first championship until they brought in pieces like Scottie Pippin, Horace Grant, etc.
    
    Do I think he is the Sporting ICON in basketball all time? Yes, by far.
    But not the Sporting Icon of Sports all-time.

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    1. 

       6/17/08

       wolfcreek

       To me...icon would imply the lasting legacy, not the how-to. Team players are just as subject to the title, and frankly, an icon to me is marketability, not just sports prowess.
       
       Tiger, Pele, M.J. and others are marketable, which makes them more icon-ish (?) and certainly provides the basis I think that icons would be settled upon.
    2. 

       6/17/08

       RTBjr73

       I have also thought about this, Wolfcreek...
       
       How much water would the "icon" glass hold if Pele, Maradona, Ali, Dempsey, Snead, Hogan...would have had the population and the technology that we have today. Internet, TV, satelite radio?
       
       Shoot, Nike Would be richer than the Vatican.
    3. 

       6/17/08

       wolfcreek

       Hmmmm...but it took them to pioneer for today...
       
       No offense, but I hate the "then vs now" contemplations. It is of no relevance.
       
       We wouldn't have fire if one of the cavemen hadn't found flint rock first...but trying to bring him into an age with current fire builders is pointless to me...he had to set the bar so others could go over it.
12. 

    6/17/08

    DVS

    Golf. Hate it. Why not just put the small white ball down the hole and cut right to the bar?

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13. 

    6/17/08

    Theresa111

    I love that Tiger Woods! He has the most perfect smile.

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    1. 

       6/20/08

       gosmelltheflowers

       Those teeth are even brighter in real lie - the man is a machine!
14. 

    6/17/08

    gmoney

    Tiger Woods is GOLF, I have heard that Tiger Woods is responsible for the 1billion dollar growth in golf.

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    1. 

       6/22/08

       gosmelltheflowers

       Agreed!
15. 

    6/18/08

    fineartathome

    I always thought sports requires physical exertion. They should make chess a sport. Would that make Kasparov the sporting icon of all time?

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16. 

    6/20/08

    RTBjr73

    Now that Tiger Woods is out until the end of the year, does he get to claim disibility checks? FLMA?
    
    hahahahaha

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17. 

    6/22/08

    Treasureblog

    "I" an Icon?

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