Top 10 Sporting Icons - Dead or Alive

[algarve addick]

i/ Muhammad Ali
then in no particular order:
ii/ George Best
iii/ Mark Spitz
iv/ Teofilio Stevenson
v/ Evander Holyfield
vi/ George Foreman
vii/ Paul Gascoigne
viii/Steve Ovett
viiii/Daley Thompson
x/ Jesse Owens

[baggieb]

Good choices there but i would have Pele instead of Gascoigne.

[algarve addick]

Fair point.I guess I was looking more from a British angle at the footballers, and you're right insofar as Pele is recognised as probably the greatest footballer of all time - bar none.
But when compiling my list (albeit rather hastily) I was thinking as much about the individuals' characters and personalities, as much as their sporting achievements.
For this reason, I included Gazza, whose infectious personality created mirth, sadness, excitement and awe in equal measures.

[baggieb]

Don't get me wrong, i agree with you about his personality and he was a very talented footballer. But with his "off the field" problems he has had i wouldn't class him as an icon or role model.
If he had got his head sorted out he would have been up there with the best of them.

[Lizard]

O J Simpson.