The document discusses how the sports world is highly symbolic and dramatic, with games, teams, language, and fans vicariously experiencing the sport. It also questions how to define and measure an athlete's greatness, considering factors like success, competition faced, longevity in their sport, influence on their sport, and following among fans. It briefly mentions some notable athletes in their sports who may have claims to greatness like Tyson, Woods, Henry, Hakkinen, and Maradona, as well as sports like rugby, rowing, and darts.
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The Passion Of Sport
1. The Passion of SportWho is the ‘Greatest’ Sportsman of All-Time ?
2. The Sportsworld is a lived world, like those of literature and the theatre, that is highly charged with human meaning. As a dramatic and symbolic world the Sportsworld has its own plots, scenes, characters, and settings. The games themselves are the ritual hub of the sports universe; the team provides social structure; sports language gives the world cohesion; fans play the game vicariously through the athletes. Underneath and penetrating all the dramatic appeals is the powerful symbolism of play. The success of the Sportsworld rests on its ability to build its symbolic structure on the memory of play, on the illusion of play, and, finally, on the fantasy of play
5. The Passion of SportHow Do ‘You’ Measure Greatness?Success ?Competition?Longevity?Influence on the Sport?Following?
6. So Who Has Missed Out?Tyson;Woods;Henry;Hakkinen;Maradona.RugbyRowingDarts (Sport?)
7. The Passion of SportHow Do ‘You’ Measure Greatness?Success ?Competition?Longevity?Influence on the Sport?Following?
Editor's Notes
#3: Sport – Generates a passion for both the athlete and the spectator;Introduces moments of magic, moments of fun, moments of awe and moments of inspiration
#4: You will see icons, you will see achievement both personal and as a ‘team’.
#6: Clearly, whoever it is has to also be the best in the history of their particular sport. But there are lots of sports, and equally many best players. Who's better - the greatest footballer, or the greatest golfer, or...?You could just pick your personal favourite. If you like soccer, then Pele, Best, Cryuff or Maradona are probably the greatest sportsmen. Those who prefer baseball would most likely plump for Babe Ruth, for hockey its would be Wayne Gretzky.But is there a way of objectively deciding who's the greatest of the great? It would have to be suggested that NO, we could all argue.Given the names indicated I have missed out some ‘greats’ who would make your top 5 all time greats...
#8: At the end of the day, its down to your own choice.How has the individual influenced your choice, was it the media, is it knowledge you have of the sport?My own opinion is that the ‘greatest’ sportsman is Ali. My ‘favourite’ sportsman is George Best – for the skill and the way he entertained the world in and out of football – till the end.Sport as I have said lives with many of us, its an escape, an entertainment and something we can aspire at any level.Any questions?