My 20 Favourite Athletes.

I love sport. I love the majority of those people who professionally partake in sport. So I decided that I’d put my head down and figure out which athletes have won me over the most. Here’s my top 20; just remember that them being my favourite doesn’t necessarily mean they're the best, though I can promise that they’re all pretty darn good. Also, I limited it to athletes currently active in their chosen sport. Enjoy.

20. Haile Gebrselassie.
I read an interview with this guy in an Alpha magazine a few years ago and he won me over. Started off running to school each morning and he hasn’t stopped. His exuberance when he crosses the line after each race is great and that ridiculous WR he set in 08 won’t be beaten any time soon. His work ethic and training regimes are a thing of wonder.

19. LeBron James.
I don’t like LeBrons decision to go to Miami. I’m not a big fan of his cockiness, or some of the dubious calls he’s made over the years either. Where Lebron has won me, and many others over is with his prodigious talent. When I watch leBron play I couldn’t care less that he said he’d leave the NBA if the price was right, it all melts away and you’re left with an amazing athlete. Is essentially unstoppable, and certainly has justified ‘The Chosen One’ tag.

18. Tommy Haas.
Tommy’s a journeymen. One of the more consistent players of the last decade, and will go down as one of the best players never to win a slam. His ability on the court is rivalled only by his work with the ladies off it. I won’t soon forget that backhand down the line.

17. Adam Cooney.
Being such a passionate Carlton supporter, my contempt for opposition players is generally unequivocal. Cooney’s an exception though. Can disappear for a half, and then from nowhere turn it on. Is a great goal kicker, and his speed and athleticism see him break the lines regularly. One of the most damaging and exciting players in the AFL.

16. Jason Lezak.
While most people would find swimming the anchor leg in a relay intimidating, Lezak relishes the opportunity. He is the sort of swimmer that swims literally seconds faster when the heat is on; he is all clutch. Most swimmers tend to hang up the swimsuit in their mid to late 20s, but Lezak is 35, going strong, and has his eye on London next year.
Watch this > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVZrne7X5ww. Amazing.

15. Thierry Henry.
Is languishing in the USA these days, but let’s not forget some of his triumphs. Scored over 200 goals for the Gunners (a record), and led France to their one and only world cup, among many other achievements. Once he’s on the run, there’s no stopping him. Immensely enjoyed watching him play, he’ll forever be remembered as a very ‘handy’ player.

14. Ray Allen.
Three things I’ve noticed about Ray: How quickly he is able to get his shot off, how accurate his shot is, and his knack for getting open as he comes off screens and runs through traffic. Put those three attributes together, and you know why he is pretty much unguardable. Can break your heart in seconds, and will soon have Reggie’s 3 pt scoring record. Can’t wait.

13. Sanath Jayasuriya.
Over the last 15 years, the Sri Lankan cricket side as a whole has been pretty embarrassing. Jayasuriya made sure their fans always had something to cheer about however, with his incredible strike rate and ruthlessness towards any bowling attack. Thrashed bowlers around for almost two decades, and was the reason I always looked forward to Sri Lanka touring down under.

12. Jarrad Waite.
At 26 this swingman still doesn’t really seem to have a set position, but I’m OK with it. Has done some great defensive jobs on the likes of Nick Riewoldt over the years, and can go forward and kick goals as well. His athleticism and great hands hold him in good stead all over the ground. A great player with plenty more good games left in him.

11. Ronaldinho.
Ronaldinho was never particularly fast or strong; his game has always been about sheer skill. The best dribbler of our generation revolutionised soccer with his ‘Joga Bonito’ style of play. Has scored many memorable goals, both in general play, and at set pieces. As he returns to the Brazilian league (which is comparable to the A-League), the soccer world will really miss one of the superstars of his era.

10. Andy Roddick.
Has rubbed plenty of people the wrong way over the years, particularly chair umpires, with his cocky personality and argumentative nature. No one could deny his ability though. His second serve is better than most first serves on the circuit. His forehand is blistering; he’s every bit of a machine. A consistent grand slam performer, with a sense of humour that gets me every time.

9. Cameron White.
It feels like he has been around forever, but he is still only 27. One of the more exciting players in Australian cricket, and a great leader. ‘The bear’ is an international calibre player; one can only hope that the selectors realise that soon. Has every shot in the book, and when he frees his arms, the crowd is left ducking for cover.

8. Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo broke many hearts when he left EPL, but he has continued to hone his craft at Madrid. He has an incredible strike rate when it comes to scoring goals, which is even more remarkable when you consider that he often plays in the midfield. Most of the elite players have one defining attribute that has propelled them to stardom. Ronaldo however is the complete package; he is a showcase for everything that is good about soccer. The scary thing is, he’s only at the half way point of his career.

7. Kevin Garnett.
Garnett could do anything a point guard could do, and his 6”11 frame has allowed him to do the ‘big-man’ stuff as well. His passion and intensity is unrivalled throughout the league, and seeing him spot up from mid range is a sight to behold. He is a deserving MVP winner, and his championship in 2008 was a testament to years and years of hardwork. Thankfully, this year KG has found a second wind in what has already been a remarkable career; as he looks to take the Celtics to glory once again.

6. Kevin Pietersen.
South Africa must be kicking himself that this guy slipped through their fingers. Many cricketers almost seem automated these days; so the honesty, cockiness and flamboyance of KP has been a breath of fresh air for mine. A scintillating player with an impeccable record, but what I love about him the most is that he never backs down. He has always played differently; whether it be in his decision to charge against pace bowlers, or some of the dubious decisions he has made when facing spin bowlers. It is fair to say that this unique approach has paid dividends for KP however, as this human highlights reel has engineered the resurrection of English cricket.

5. Brendan Fevola.
Fev was there during the darkest era of the Carlton Football Club. While we were getting our behind handed to us week in, week out, Fev was one thing we had in our favour. He gave us hope that there was light at the end of the tunnel. A truly one-of-a-kind player, who did things that have never been seen before on a football field. I sometimes look at that goal against Adelaide off the boundary from time to time, it’s hard to go past. There were plenty of other huge performances on his part as well, often on the big stage. While some of his off-field antics hurt the club, his heart was always in the right place, and his blood has always bled blue.

4. Ricky Ponting.
There was an extended period in Ponting’s career where he was averaging a century every second test. He would go out there, and you would be surprised if he was dismissed for less than a tonne. He has been amongst the leading run scorers each calendar year going back to the 90’s, due to his incredible skill and concentration. His style of play has always been eye-catching; even from ball one, he has always batted with a sense of authority that let the bowlers know that he was undoubtedly in charge. It didn’t matter whether Australia was 1/300 or 3/2, he played with the same mindset and would still hit through the air if he felt the shot was on. There has hardly ever been a dull moment when Ponting has been at the crease, which is why I have enjoyed his career so much.

3. Roger Federer.
I can’t imagine tennis without Roger Federer, it’ll be a sad day when he retires. When that day comes, he will be the most decorated player of all time. More and more ‘powerhouses’ seem to be cropping up in mens tennis, but Fed has never subscribed to that style of play. He is everything of a wizard, with the way he works the ball around the court. The angles and spin he often employs are downright ridiculous, and I’ve seen him hit shots that I’m pretty sure don’t exist yet. Apart from the fact that he is the best ever, Federer has also won the hearts of many because he is a gentleman. The way he handles himself off the court is as flawless as his display on it. He’s nearly always clinical when playing, but the best Fed moments are when he is challenged. It is in these moments that you really see the fire ignite in his belly, and his competitive streak really rears its head (circa Federer v. Berdych, Aus open 2009). When that happens, watch out.

2. Chris Judd.
what an acquisition he has been for the Carlton football club. Since he donned the navy blue, you could honestly attribute at least a quarter, if not half of CFC’s wins to CJ. I’m not saying he was instrumental in those games, I’m saying he literally threw the team on his back, and single-handedly won the game, while the other 43 players on the ground watched in awe. Carlton has, and has had, plenty of other good players, but none during my lifetime have ever rivalled Chris (Sorry Stix). While being at Carlton has required him to do a lot more of the ‘grunt’ work and far less of the outside play he hung his hat on at the Eagles, Judd has embraced the change, and made the transition admirably. His trophy cabinet is really starting to reflect just how good he actually is. Like Federer, he too is a gentleman, and has always carried himself well off the field. With Judd, it all comes down to the fact that he is a winner. I have no doubt that no matter what he chose to do with his life, he was always destined to succeed. I’m just grateful he chose our sport, and more specifically, my football team, as the avenue through which he would go about his winning ways. Bravo Juddy.

1. Michael Phelps.
Phelps is a funny guy. He’s down to Earth, and doesn’t even mind getting on the Ganja from time to time. But this isn’t why he is my favourite athlete; he is my favourite athlete because he is the greatest athlete I have ever seen. It is true that Phelps has been dealt a good hand; he’s tall and slender, with a huge a wingspan and massive feet, all of which is perfect for swimming. But by God, has he made the most of his talent. Having only been to two Olympics, he already has 14 gold medals to his name, which pretty much speaks for itself. While most swimmers have one stroke that they pride themself on and try to hone, Phelps blitzes in all of them. There is no chink in his armour; he has destroyed records in a variety of strokes and over a range of distances, it’s unbelievable. In the lead-up the Beijing Olympics, Phelps was practically bigger than the games themselves. People were no longer talking about which country would top the medal tally; all the hype was about whether Phelps could score eight gold medals, and eclipse the previous record. He delivered, as champions do, and set seven world records in the process. His come from behind victory against Cavic in the 100m butterfly is one of the best things I’ve ever seen. Michael once said ‘records are made to be broken’, but I’m not sure anyone will ever revamp the record books to the same extent as MP. I feel lucky to have witnessed his glittering career, and I can’t wait til London 2012.





Well, there you have it. Please excuse any spelling errors; unlike the perfect specimens above, I'm only human.