Who's the greatest?

[Al_Davis 28]

 

 

 

Edited September 2, 2010 by Al_Davis

[atlas2 4,329]

He was born with the right name.

[Tarl 1]

Not really, I don't think he was given the name Pele by his parents, that was his nickname. But even though it is the name of a cool goddess of fire and lightning and dance, it does seem an appropriate irony.

[Idefix 2,275]

He was born with the right name.

Not really, I don't think he was given the name Pele by his parents...

I think Atlas2 was speaking about Best, not Pele...

 

BTW it's the first time I heard of George Best...

Ok, Wikipedia tell me he was a great player in Ireland, well known in UK and from football specialists, and that Pele mentioned him in his "Best 100" list...

I voted Pele. Everybody heard of him

[joekicker 53]

A tangent to this line. Scientists have proved that Roberto Carlos' 115-footer against France in 1997 was no fluke.

 

 

By firing plastic balls into a tank of water, the boffins showed that if a football's spin speed remains constant, "its trajectory follows an exponential spiral", with the bend "surprisingly" increasing as drag slows the ball down.

 

.

Edited September 2, 2010 by joekicker

[pcdodger 2]

George Best was a brilliant footballer but anyone who has seen both players

could never have a doubt, Pele was THE World`s Greatest player.

[harro1 256]

Misleading topic title.

Ali was the greatest

Soccer is gay

[pcdodger 2]

Misleading topic title.

Ali was the greatest

Soccer is gay

 

 

Agree completely with your take on Ali

 

But, re FOOTBALL your an idiot

[Al_Davis 28]

George Best was a brilliant footballer but anyone who has seen both players

could never have a doubt, Pele was THE World`s Greatest player.

 

This was the kind of perspective I was hoping for. Im 45 now, so in Pele's prime, I would have been too young to appreciate his talents. Plus, here in the States, Soccer got no real coverage. George Best, I only heard of because I work with an Irishman and he asked me to find a clip of George and tell him what i think. I know talent and skill when I see it from playing sports myself. Ive known and played with guys lucky enough to play in the NFL, MLB, and NBA and let me say, what Best could do with a ball was just plain sick. The only way for him to control the ball any better would have been to carry it in his arms. His Speed was so Fuk'n explosive. Pele looks as if he could do the same but I wonder how George Best would be viewed if he had played for Pele's teams? What could George have done on Brazils world cup teams? I'd like to hear opinions of long life fans of Football/soccer.

[atlas2 4,329]

Not really, I don't think he was given the name Pele by his parents...

I think Atlas2 was speaking about Best, not Pele...

 

BTW it's the first time I heard of George Best...

Ok, Wikipedia tell me he was a great player in Ireland, well known in UK and from football specialists, and that Pele mentioned him in his "Best 100" list...

I voted Pele. Everybody heard of him

 

 

Yes I did mean Best..........He was just so contemptuous. There's a great clip of him in his later years tackling his own team mate (Rodney Marsh) for the ball. They were both chasing each other round the pitch in the middle of the game. Of course they'd both be shot for that in the Premiership.

 

Not as much chance to shine on the world stage as Pele. And therefore Pele will always edge out any others for most people . Pele's a perfect mixture of incredible talent and fame.

 

A bit like the 'Beckham effect', though with much more justification and likely longevity ...........Pele the first name people think of.

 

I enjoyed the compilations and the music they were put to. Thanks to the OP for that.

[pcdodger 2]

This was the kind of perspective I was hoping for. Im 45 now, so in Pele's prime, I would have been too young to appreciate his talents. Plus, here in the States, Soccer got no real coverage. George Best, I only heard of because I work with an Irishman and he asked me to find a clip of George and tell him what i think. I know talent and skill when I see it from playing sports myself. Ive known and played with guys lucky enough to play in the NFL, MLB, and NBA and let me say, what Best could do with a ball was just plain sick. The only way for him to control the ball any better would have been to carry it in his arms. His Speed was so Fuk'n explosive. Pele looks as if he could do the same but I wonder how George Best would be viewed if he had played for Pele's teams? What could George have done on Brazils world cup teams? I'd like to hear opinions of long life fans of Football/soccer.

 

George was the same age as me, and the talent was incredible, I saw him destroy my team one Saturday

when he was playing for Manchester United, you had to admire his skill though.

The fact that the was Irish without doubt held him back, there was never enough talent in an Irish team to compliment him

and he would have walked into any international team, including Brazil.

Sadly, the booze and the women that were there for him were his downfall, as is well documented, perhaps in a different world

if he would have had better advice or guidance he would still be with us.

On the other hand, given that this is a mongers forum, he had one hell of a good time while it lasted.

[midlifecrisis 4,048]

Pele was far more athletic and I imagine (though I can't prove it) faster. He was a better passer and better team player.

 

Of the two, in this modern era, Pele would still be as successful. I think the faster players of today would better contain Best.

 

It is hard (and probably not fair) to rate players out of their own eras though. Would Babe Ruth still hit 714 homeruns against modern pitching?

 

My money is on Pele as far as this poll is concerned.

 

And I once thought football was gay until I started watching the Premiership a few years ago to be involved with the fantasy leagues setup by guys on boards like this. I have become a fan and it has not dampened my enthusiasm for other sports.