Twenty Five Coolest Athletes of All Time

A couple of weeks ago I was listening to Mad Dog Radio on Sirus.  They were talking about a GQ article titled above. I thought what a cool idea, I would build my own list and then compare.  Knowing the way most of these things go the publications list would be tilted toward the more recent athletes.

Here is my list.

1. Muhammad Ali, a boxer of unmatched skill, not my favorite mind you, I was a Frazier fan, poetic, handsome and great with the press.
2. Paul Hornung, the "Golden Boy", Heisman Trophy winner, gambled, an aura of cool even now.
3. Willie Mays, the "Say Hey Kid", as a young man the embodiment of joy in baseball.
4. Joe Namath, quarterback, brash enough to guarantee a Super Bowl win, popular enough to model pantyhose.
5. Wilt Chamberlin, arguably the best basketball player ever, banged all those women, an unabashed man's man.
6. Walt Frazier, Clyde the Glide, played with cool precision in the biggest NBA town in basketball, a career that formed a persona that lasts today.
7. Mickey Mantle, The Mick, with the Yankees of the 50's and 60's, set the standard in the Big Apple for making bars and nightclubs popular, hard drinker and a fantastic baseball player.  Best switch hitter ever.
8. Joe DiMaggio, Joltin Joe, the man who married Monroe, played baseball with unparalleled grace.
9. Don Meredith, Dandy Don, not the greatest athlete but a very good quarterback, his singing and enjoyment of life made Monday Night Football what it is.
10. Dizzy Dean, the Cardinal pitcher of the Gas House Gang, a ringleader of the coolest baseball team ever.
11. Dennis Rodman, started as the shy kid draft to the Pistons after John Salley, became the best rebounder of his era, crazy enough to dress any way he wanted, started the tattoo fad present now in the NBA.  Bagged Madonna, which I guess is not that big of a deal, and tons of white trash hooker types.  A man who just doesn't give a shit what people think.
12. Michael Jordan, I had trouble with this one, but his drive as a player made him the marketing man of his time, if he backed it, it sold.
13. Fred Williamson, The Hammer, good looking football player of the 60's, got his ass handed to him by Donnie Anderson in the first Super Bowl, moved on to movies and 40 years later is still at it.
14. Walter Payton, joy for the game and an illustrious career, made this tough running back a favorite of all. 
15. Yogi Berra, the catcher for the Yankees during their most successful run, a smart man who managed as well, a penchant for saying in an inarticulate but fun way.
16. Babe Ruth
17. Casey Stengel,  the first baseball manager that worked the press, successfully, while winning tons of games.
18. Jim Brown, the greatest running back, handsome, a decent actor who in the Dirty Dozen made himself immortal for the second time. 
19. Ted Hendricks, The Stork, smart smart smart football player, marches to his own piper, great player.
20. Jimmy Conners, played tennis like a demon over along career, dated Chris Evert and married a Playboy Playmate.
21. Bjorn Borg, another tennis player, cool under pressure, dominating for an extended period.
22. Joe Montana, cool in all the big games of his career, another handsome quarterback who had enough sense to stay within his game.
23. Satchel Paige, when he made it to the majors he was already an old man, knocked em dead, great mannerisms.
24. Pele, brought soccer to North America, a man of boundless joy for his sport.
25. Wayne Gretsky, the best hockey scorer ever, handsome, lots of trophies.

 Here's the list from GQ.

1. Muhammad Ali:  A MATCH
2. Mario Andretti:   I guess I can see it, but if you have Mario, wouldn't Richard Petty be a better choice, a more accomplished driver, with a far more recognizable persona.  I DO NOT AGREE.
3. Arthur Ashe:  No freaking way! Granted a torch bearer for his race, a good man who died far too young. But, the man was a dullard.  I DO NOT AGREE.
4. George Best:  Don't know about the guy, I guess he was a soccer player.  I DO NOT AGREE.
5. Bjorn Borg: A MATCH
6. Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen, at a NY gala in 2009. Montana = Brady so I guess I have to agree, six of one, half dozen of the other.  I ACCEPT.
7. Jim Brown:  A MATCH
8. Julius Erving: Dr. J still sets the record as the nickname that causes the most excitement with the fewest letters.  Erving > Rodmann.  I ACCEPT.
9. Walt Frazier: If Denzel Washington had ever decided to do a biopic of an NBA player, Clyde is who he would have played. A MATCH
10. Bob Gibson: A mean SOB, great player but a mean SOB.  I DO NOT AGREE.
11. Allen Iverson:  Poster boy for selfish behavior, will do prison time after his basketball career ends.  I DO NOT AGREE
12. Bo Jackson: Great football player, above average baseball player but he was no Jim Brown and his career was way too short.  I DO NOT AGREE
13. Michael Jordan:  A MATCH
14. Jean-Claude Killy:  A skier, their careers last what about one winter season.  I DO NOT AGREE
15. Evel Knievel:   Unique.  I ACCEPT.
16. Tim Lincecum: A three year pitcher who can't talk? No way. DO NOT AGREE
17. Pete Maravich was a ball-handling marvel.  Pistol Pete was so artistic with a basketball he made two generations of sportswriters look up the spelling on Baryshnikov. I like the style.  I ACCEPT.
18. Joe Namath: His Super Bowl guarantee was so cool that we're willing to overlook that thing with Suzy Kolber. A MATCH
19. Arnold Palmer: He's the only man in U.S. history who got to have his own army without going to boot camp. If you have to include golfers, ok. I ACCEPT.
20. Pelé:  A MATCH
21. Gary Player:   One golfer was pushing it and Player wasn't Palmer. DO NOT AGREE
22. Derek Sanderson: The guy must have played hockey in New York because they think everybody there is the greatest, Gretsky has no equal.  DO NOT AGREE
23. Kelly Slater: Never heard of him.  Is he the burn out that does the American Express commercials?  DO NOT AGREE
24. Ken Stabler:  A cool customer on the field, had some personality but still a stretch. DO NOT AGREE.
25. Ted Turner: Is anyone in a yachting cap cool? Only if they owned the Braves and squired Jane Fonda for a few years.  As relates to sports, the Braves and the Americas Cup, a definitely cool man. I ACCEPT.

Seven matches.
Six more that I agreed with their choice over my own.
That leaves twelve that GQ completely whiffed on.
The losers need to keep to judging metrosexual clothing for gay men.

I like my list better.