SKY One 8pm.
Greatest Sporting Legends.
Tonight it looks at the greatest Boxers of all time.
Boxing on SKY ONE tonight.
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Rocky Balboa
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 1851
- Joined: 24 Jan 2004, 16:38
Ali will win without a doubt because of what he achieved out of the ring aswell as in it, things like throwing his Olympic medal away after suffering racist abuse and when he refused to join the army all add to his appeal as a human being and everyone loved his personality.
If it was based on pure boxing ability I'd go for Sugar Ray Robinson but he wasn't the most charismatic person to say the least and never formed the kind of bond between the public and himself like Ali did.
If it was based on pure boxing ability I'd go for Sugar Ray Robinson but he wasn't the most charismatic person to say the least and never formed the kind of bond between the public and himself like Ali did.
I'll be watching, but I hate these sort of shows. Too much interpretation: Just by using the title 'Greatest Sporting Legend', you make things unclear: Are we talking about the most gifted? Or those who had the biggest social impact? Or some unhappy combination of the two?
And, like all these television shitlists (See Channel 4's endless '100 Best' shows) the final decision lies in the hands of the public. And, let's face it, the general public know fornicate all, and should never be allowed to vote on anything. :x
Ali will win tonight, and he should win overall. The show asks for a 'Legend', and in fairness, he has transcended sport more than any other athlete. Pele is probably the closest, but even he didn't achieve the worldwide recognition that Ali did. Jesse Owens is another good candidate, mind you.
On a happier note, it's good to see that boxing gets a show to itself in this series: I believe golf and tennis are sharing an hour later in the series, and 'Olympic Sports' are just being bunched together. Just goes to show the enduring appeal and impact of the 'Sweet Science', even after these lean years.
And, like all these television shitlists (See Channel 4's endless '100 Best' shows) the final decision lies in the hands of the public. And, let's face it, the general public know fornicate all, and should never be allowed to vote on anything. :x
Ali will win tonight, and he should win overall. The show asks for a 'Legend', and in fairness, he has transcended sport more than any other athlete. Pele is probably the closest, but even he didn't achieve the worldwide recognition that Ali did. Jesse Owens is another good candidate, mind you.
On a happier note, it's good to see that boxing gets a show to itself in this series: I believe golf and tennis are sharing an hour later in the series, and 'Olympic Sports' are just being bunched together. Just goes to show the enduring appeal and impact of the 'Sweet Science', even after these lean years.
It will not be mentioned on ability because the likes of Ricardo Lopez would be right up there, but more to do with publicity, hype and bull-shit.
Hence we have Archie Moore in the list yet his 3time conquerer does not get a mention, but when he had a shot at the heavyweight title he won it...Ezzard Charles.
Joe Louis ( not Joe Louie as some mis-pronounce it) made the biggest impact and did the most good for all concerned but because the era that really remembers him are dead or close to it he gets some what over-looked now.
Ali is always remembered because he had mass coverage due to terestrial TV at the right time, and the older generation look back with rose tinted glasses when they remember him, and brain wash the younger fans into believing he was loved from day one till the day he retired.
Somebody on the show said Ali said that Ray Robinson was the greatest, but Ray Robinson in turn called Joe Louis the greatest.
Ali will get the vote because the larger audience will have heard his name mentioned more than the others, on ability I vote Ezzard Charles on the biggest impact I`d vote Joe Louis.
Hence we have Archie Moore in the list yet his 3time conquerer does not get a mention, but when he had a shot at the heavyweight title he won it...Ezzard Charles.
Joe Louis ( not Joe Louie as some mis-pronounce it) made the biggest impact and did the most good for all concerned but because the era that really remembers him are dead or close to it he gets some what over-looked now.
Ali is always remembered because he had mass coverage due to terestrial TV at the right time, and the older generation look back with rose tinted glasses when they remember him, and brain wash the younger fans into believing he was loved from day one till the day he retired.
Somebody on the show said Ali said that Ray Robinson was the greatest, but Ray Robinson in turn called Joe Louis the greatest.
Ali will get the vote because the larger audience will have heard his name mentioned more than the others, on ability I vote Ezzard Charles on the biggest impact I`d vote Joe Louis.
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Chopping Right
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 588
- Joined: 08 May 2005, 17:39
Not a bad list, very shocked to see Oscar De La Hoya there - there was so many contendors I'm sure the panel decided on DLH because they had to pick a current star. They were trying to make out that it was Watt's call, but hearing him on sky he's not a huge fan.
Chavez, Jones Jnr, Jofre, Whittikar, Lopez, Pep, Saddler, Holmes, Johnson, Marciano, Tyson, Both Lewis', Benny Leonard, Wilde, Holyfield, Foreman, and many others could have made that list without much complaint from here - a hard task.
On another note, I am shocked and a little dissapointing that Tennis is only having a 30 minute segment. It is possibly the closest sport to boxing to really decide - especially as Male and Female is not seperated. The contendor list for Tennis is huge also.
Borg, McEnroe, Navratalova, Sampras, Graf, Venus Williams, Serana Williams, Jean King, Becker, Edberg, Agassi, Lendl, Connors, Laver, Nucombe, Federer, Seles, Evert, Little Mo, Hingis - not as long as boxing but I think one that would have a closer call than most sports. Personally my choice would be between Agassi and McEnroe.
Golf though pretty easy head to head there with maybe a few offering a limited debate (Watson, Palmer, Player, Faldo, Jacklin) and thats about it.
Chavez, Jones Jnr, Jofre, Whittikar, Lopez, Pep, Saddler, Holmes, Johnson, Marciano, Tyson, Both Lewis', Benny Leonard, Wilde, Holyfield, Foreman, and many others could have made that list without much complaint from here - a hard task.
On another note, I am shocked and a little dissapointing that Tennis is only having a 30 minute segment. It is possibly the closest sport to boxing to really decide - especially as Male and Female is not seperated. The contendor list for Tennis is huge also.
Borg, McEnroe, Navratalova, Sampras, Graf, Venus Williams, Serana Williams, Jean King, Becker, Edberg, Agassi, Lendl, Connors, Laver, Nucombe, Federer, Seles, Evert, Little Mo, Hingis - not as long as boxing but I think one that would have a closer call than most sports. Personally my choice would be between Agassi and McEnroe.
Golf though pretty easy head to head there with maybe a few offering a limited debate (Watson, Palmer, Player, Faldo, Jacklin) and thats about it.
I think it will be Natratalova who will probably be the favourite to win, probably the deserving winner, transended the womens game. She is in her mid 40's and can still compete in a singles competition on grass.lvlarc_uk wrote:In the tennis I would go for Sampras myself but I think Jean King will get the most votes
I really do admire Agassi though, to win Wimbledon with his game is a remarkable achievement. To win all four slam tournaments is also rare, to still be very competitive at 36 years of age and still a threat is again remarkable.
However, the thing that steals it for me is how he came back from being ranked 1 or 2 in the world, in the mid 90's losing that ranking through a compination of injury and form and sliding all the way down to the 200's in the world - and gradually climb his way back to the top when all his peers told him not to embarress himself and pack it in.
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DIRT SUGAR
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 1200
- Joined: 29 Aug 2003, 11:48
Someone posted how to get the free tickets for the filming so I was in the audience.
It's so hard to compare like for like when everything - styles, competition, activity, rules, weight divisions, belts - is so different in the modern game.
As has been said for boxing talent it should be SRR but we talking about "legends" so Ali it is. I wonder what % of the tv audience had ever heard of Monzon?
It was nice to have a bit of boxing discussion on the tv but was pretty pointless from the POV of the hardcore fan.
It was nice to see old Colin getting to spout off about the old-timers rather than feign interest in current fighters. I'd never heard that stat about Homicide Hank before either - what was it? 5 title fights in 21 days or something unbelievable?
It's so hard to compare like for like when everything - styles, competition, activity, rules, weight divisions, belts - is so different in the modern game.
As has been said for boxing talent it should be SRR but we talking about "legends" so Ali it is. I wonder what % of the tv audience had ever heard of Monzon?
It was nice to have a bit of boxing discussion on the tv but was pretty pointless from the POV of the hardcore fan.
It was nice to see old Colin getting to spout off about the old-timers rather than feign interest in current fighters. I'd never heard that stat about Homicide Hank before either - what was it? 5 title fights in 21 days or something unbelievable?
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Lefthookhappy19
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 968
- Joined: 16 Apr 2004, 19:15
Missed the show, did Leonard get a mention? Oscar was in it? Thats crazy.
The show would have pissed me off anyway. The football one was crap, too many English legends in what was supposed to be a global thing. They spent all their time talking about Bobby Moore whilst not giving a second of air time for Johan Cruyff (sp?) who was imo the 3rd greatest ever. On pure talent and skill the list is imo. But of course Maradona won't win as usual in these polls. He won the big Fifa poll back in 2000 but they altered it and ended up giving out a joint award to Pele and Maradona. What a joke.
1. Maradona
2. Pele
3. Cruyff
The show would have pissed me off anyway. The football one was crap, too many English legends in what was supposed to be a global thing. They spent all their time talking about Bobby Moore whilst not giving a second of air time for Johan Cruyff (sp?) who was imo the 3rd greatest ever. On pure talent and skill the list is imo. But of course Maradona won't win as usual in these polls. He won the big Fifa poll back in 2000 but they altered it and ended up giving out a joint award to Pele and Maradona. What a joke.
1. Maradona
2. Pele
3. Cruyff
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DIRT SUGAR
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 1200
- Joined: 29 Aug 2003, 11:48
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EddieShredder
- Heavyweight
Twas meShirow wrote:Someone posted how to get the free tickets for the filming so I was in the audience.
I was in the audience too, sat at the back hiding from the wanker doing all the warm ups 
I was a bit upset they confiscated my weapons on the way in..... when's the next time i'm going to get Warren and Jim Watt in the same room together? :x
It was worth the trip, not a bad show, but was obviously geared towards your average sky one viewer than a real boxing fan. Was good to see Bruno get a good reception as always.
Also great to see the lovely Georgie Thompson up close
Cheers Eddie, couldn't be arsed to search and check.
I think it was just you and me not dancing to YMCA then.
Everyone else don't ask
I wasn't expecting much. It was good enough for me that some great boxers got some tv time devoted to them, i'd also never been to see i tv programme made so that was quite interesting.
Frostie and Des are a couple of cheerful old codgers aren't they?
But if i was pocketing 5 figures for reading an autocue for an hour i'd be the most jovial bastard in the world.
I think it was just you and me not dancing to YMCA then.
Everyone else don't ask
I wasn't expecting much. It was good enough for me that some great boxers got some tv time devoted to them, i'd also never been to see i tv programme made so that was quite interesting.
Frostie and Des are a couple of cheerful old codgers aren't they?
But if i was pocketing 5 figures for reading an autocue for an hour i'd be the most jovial bastard in the world.
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EddieShredder
- Heavyweight
Yeah... Des was funny I thought. When that Georgie left and des goes "see you at mine later"Shirow wrote:Cheers Eddie, couldn't be arsed to search and check.
I think it was just you and me not dancing to YMCA then.
Everyone else don't ask
I wasn't expecting much. It was good enough for me that some great boxers got some tv time devoted to them, i'd also never been to see i tv programme made so that was quite interesting.
Frostie and Des are a couple of cheerful old codgers aren't they?
But if i was pocketing 5 figures for reading an autocue for an hour i'd be the most jovial bastard in the world.
Fuckin YMCA. I was sat down... arms folded :x
The ten fighters that you can vote for.Lefthookhappy19 wrote:Missed the show, did Leonard get a mention? Oscar was in it? Thats crazy.
1) Robinson
2) Monzon
3) Hagler
4) Duran
5) Ray Leonard
6) De La Hoya
7) Armstong
8) Moore
9) Louis
10) Ali.
Hart also mentioned Ted Kid Lewis and Jimmy Wilde as two he'd personally have in the 10.
Cooper said Lennox Lewis was there or thereabouts. I don't think any other fight got a mention.
Warren said the Oscar shouldn't have been near the top 10 and Watt did say he is some way off the other nine, so not sure how he did make it.
As for my Ali comment, obviously a touch of sarcasm there but I am a little fed up of boxing fans seeming now to underate him because the global sports fans love him. I've had conversations with very knowledgable boxing fans who wouldn't have Ali in the top 3 heavyweights let alone the top ten of all time. I think it is a bit rediculous, I haven't read one person here saying Ali deserves it for his boxing. The guy is CLEARLY the greatest heavyweight of all time and I think was even more skilled than Ray Robinson. Personally think Leonard, Ali and Robinson (in that order) are the 3 most skilled fighters I have seen with Jones Jnr and Tyson making up the top 5.
I absolutely beg people to watch the Clevland Williams fight again and say that Ali definately doesn't deserve this award for his boxing. Only two unavenged losses also.