Whos the more dominant athlete? Michael or Michael?

[vwc228]

If anyone watched Pardon the Interruption today, they talked about whether Phelps is the greatest all time olympian (assuming he wins everything). It was interesting to see people who actually know something bout olympics history (not just 2 weeks of it like most of us) talk about some of the greatest achievements and the great atheletes in olympics past. Anyways, the consensus was that no, Phelps cannot be declared the greatest olympian ever. Just thought its interestin to hear....

[Roger Murdock]

This question makes no sense.
Dominating a team sport is MUCH harder for an indivudual to do.

Phelps can win like 8 gold medals in 1 olympics if he plays perfectly.
Jordan can win 1 title if he plays perfectly and his teammates dont blow it.

Neither athlete ever got outplayed when it matters individually, so there are equal i guess.
Phelps is the best swimmer in everymatch, just like jordan was the best player.

[conleyorbust]

The amazing thing about Phelps is that he's doing it in multiple strokes in a very short amount of time.

I like this comparison better than one about golf or something because swimming is hard as hell. Tiger is a good athlete and a great golfer, Phelps is a great athlete and a great swimmer.

Most people have brought up the fact that one is team and the other individual but I will say this about Phelps. The way he beats people, its like he's not trying.

On another note, I hear he's a jackass in person and takes his shirt off while playing beer pong at uofm.

[Fobbie]

not sure how you can compare these 2 guy. Phelps is doing all of this by himself. He control his own outcome. While Jordan have to rely on 4 other guy. yea sure he can win game by himself, but heck to even win a title he still gotta win 4 other game, before that he have to win 3 other series.. Then take into the fact that Phelps gets 8 opportunity to win every 4 year. for the sake of argument, let say final mvp, reg season mvp are medal.. Jordan would have to do it 4 seasons in a row. But what Phelps doing is really amazing.

[Celtsfan1980]

The better comparison for Jordan would be to Ruth, and it's safe to say that the Bambino wins there. I was just watching one of the news stations who had a segment about this, and the pools they're using do give swimmers an advantage over previous swimmers. It makes Phelps look less dominant if that's true.

It's hilarious that some people think Jordan would dominate in one-on-one. Jordan would win a majority, but it's safe to say that Bird and Magic and maybe a few other players would win at least 2 times out of 10.

[Celtsfan1980]

He's honestly dominating on a bigger stage then Jordan did. And I know people are going to try to tear it apart but it's the truth. It would be like MJ going to a world tournament and winning a Three point shooting contest, a free throw contest, a team free-throw contest, a dribbling contest, a dunk contest, a team dunk contest, and a one on one contest all in the same year.

Didn't Jordan have one of the worst performances in the history of the 3-point contest at the all star break? At least that's what I've read.

[Jase]

Phelps has MUCH less threatening competition. I can't even see making this comparison.

[cb4_89]

eh, if you knew who phelps was there is no way you just brush him off like you did. mvps? phelps has 10 combined. titles? phelps has 9 gold medals. records? phelps has 28 world records, closing in on the most all time.

what exactly makes this jordan EASILY?

Ok, I didn't realize he had that many. I mean, I guess you can put him over the top since he dominates his sport. But people are underrating what Jordan has done in his career. I don't think you can really make this comparison anyways, like people said, individual sport vs. team sport doesn't really go together.

LOL stop backtracking. You didn't know how good phelps was and just decided that you didn't care and that nobody could come close to jordan.

In terms of the question, the answer is easily michael phelps.

[HarlemHeat37]

meh..I don't consider swimming to be a sport..I consider it to be a relaxing activity, or an activity to do if it's hot outside..

[tkb]

To add to his 9 Olympic gold medals, Phelps has:
17 world championship gold medals.
25 world records (before Olympics where he has broken world records at every event he has participated in).

I have to say I'm impressed by his resume although I'm not going to make that Jordan comparison because of their sports.

[G35]

This question makes no sense.
Dominating a team sport is MUCH harder for an indivudual to do.

Phelps can win like 8 gold medals in 1 olympics if he plays perfectly.
Jordan can win 1 title if he plays perfectly and his teammates dont blow it.

Neither athlete ever got outplayed when it matters individually, so there are equal i guess.
Phelps is the best swimmer in everymatch, just like jordan was the best player.

You can play that the other way. Without Pippen to help guard Magic Johnson who knows how Jordan's first finals appearance turns out. Without Phil Jackson does Michael win anything. He went through 3 coaches before Phil made it all work. Without Tex Winter does the triangle work as well. Without John Paxson and Steve Kerr hitting last second 3pt shots do the Bulls still win. Without the ref's allowing Jordan to pushoff Bryon Russell he doesn't get to shoot that last shot. Without Toni Kukoc do the Bulls still win? Without signing Dennis Rodman do the Bulls dominate defensively?

Teammates can carry a star when he is off just as much when a star carries. That's why they call it a team.......

[NO-KG-AI]

I dunno how this can't be phelps. I respect Jordan more as an athlete, but that's not really the question here....

[deNIEd]

However, if Basketball had a 1 on 1 event at the Olympics, does anybody really think that Jordan wouldn't have won it every time? Create a dozen different varieties of 1 on 1 basketball events, and don't you think that Jordan would still win gold in every event he entered?

Phelps is dominating at every type of swimming.
It would be if the Olympics had, a game to 21 as an event, 3 point shootout, dunk contest, skills challenge, game of horse, etc.

Jordan would not win every single time.

If you are good at 100m fly, the chance is that you are also pretty good at 200m fly.
If you are good at 200m im, the chance is that you are also pretty good at 400m im.
If you are good at 200m freestyle, the chance is that you are also pretty good at freestyle relays (well other 3 guys should be good as well).

again, i think there are way too many medals in swimming alone and that's why phelps even has the chance at the greatest olympian ever. alexander karelin was just as dominant in wrestling but hes not considered the greatest olympian ever.

im not taking anything away from phelps tho. the guy is simply amazing.
maybe im just ignorant to the differences in distance and styles in swimming.

This is somewhat true, but also completely wrong.

I never swam, but I've done track and field for about 10 years.

Yes, if you're fast at one event, you'd be fast at any other event. However, every single event is different. There are different strategies, different focus points, different criteria's for winning. Like for track, 100m vs 200m vs 400m vs 800m is completely different events. 400 was my event, I was fast at the 100 and 800, but wouldn't ever be able to win anything in those events in a big meet.

For basketball, if you are good at basketball, you are good at 3pt shooting, free throw shooting, defense, rebounding, passing, etc. For Jordan to be on Phelps level, it would require him to be the best at every single aspect of the game, he was clearly one of the best, but I don't think you can say he was the best at every single one.

Michael Jordan.


Phelps is really lucky that Ian "The Thorpedo" Thorpe retired from participating in olympics. Even phelps admitted 4 years ago that he wasn't even as close as good when compared to Ian Thorpe.


Only kiddies who started watching olympics this year will only say that Phelps is too good. If you had seen olympics 8 years ago, you'll know Thorpe was the man in swimming.

This is beyond stupid.

Times are there. Phelps destroys Thorpe's time.
That's the difference between timed sports, it doesn't matter when a person is competing, you can also compare him/her to others throughout history.

[deNIEd]

I just watched Phelp's races today, and he simply beats his competition every single time. It isn't even close.

Say basketball, had an 1 on 1, 21 game type of an event. In order for Jordan to be near Phelp's dominance, he would have to win by at least 6 every single time.

Now, if you had Jordan vs
Reggie Miller, John Stockton, Charles Barkley, Pippin, Bird, Hardway, Hill, Dumars, Thomas, Drexler, Payton, etc.

EVERY SINGLE TIME.

On top of that, dominate every single game for 6 years straight.

Jordan isn't on Phelp's level.

[Jsun947]

In case you've lost count. 5 events. 5 world records. 5 gold medals. 4 days.

It wouldn't just be Jordan winning every event, it would be winning every event or skill and setting the world record every time he did it against all the best basketball players in the world.

[pillwenney]

First off: As somebody who has been around swimming his entire life (my sister was a nationally ranked swimmer), some people here are severely underestimating the respect that these people deserve. I have never met a basketball player that works nearly as hard as they do (not saying that many don't, just that swimming is an absurdly competitive sport). When you're highly competitive, it is your life.

There are many things about Phelps that are especially stunning. Many have brought up his versatility, and that is a big one. To dominate across the board like he does is absolutely insane. And the thing that amazes me the most is how, at times, it really does seem like he's toying with people--especially at the olympic trials. The dude was saving energy for other races in the middle of races. Everybody else there was swimming their ass off to come in second. That is incredible dominance.

[SactownHrtBrks8]

Phelps. Phelps doesn't rely on anyone but himself. Jordon had the refs that would never foul him out and give him 20 free throw attempts per game. Tiger and Phelps is datable because they are more individual sports and there is no outside factors

[Basketball1]

Phelps. The number of of gold medals seems to change by the the hour
along with the workd records that he sets.

[JimmyTD3]

Phelps, easily.

This guy just crushes any competition he has, in any stroke he participates in. He's quite possible the greatest Olympian ever. He sets world records, then comes out the next year, and breaks his own world records, every year. Everyone else just kind of watches...