Tommy G Posted 29 June 2009 Posted 29 June 2009 I'd probably agree with Tiger Woods if it was just current sports stars.Though, give Bolt another couple of Olympics and who knows. Don't quote me statto but I think the Olympics is the most watched worldwide sporting event in the world when it's on...which is two weeks every 4 years. Therefore Bolt has a small window to make an impression. Whereas football is over 40 weeks of the year so people like Beckham have more of an opportunity to make an impact week in week out to increase their popularity
Koke Posted 29 June 2009 Posted 29 June 2009 I think if we go a bit further and say the most famous/popular/recognizable person in the world in any field, I would say Michael Jackson, and then followed by David Beckham [maybe], Osama Bin Laden and one or two others, in no particular order of course.
Finnegan Posted 29 June 2009 Posted 29 June 2009 Don't quote me statto but I think the Olympics is the most watched worldwide sporting event in the world when it's on...which is two weeks every 4 years. Therefore Bolt has a small window to make an impression. Whereas football is over 40 weeks of the year so people like Beckham have more of an opportunity to make an impact week in week out to increase their popularity Sure but Beckham does fook all week in, week out. Beckham has scored a couple of free kicks that will perhaps be remembered by the English and that's it. Everything else he does is just advertising and gimics. Compare that to watching Usain Bolt at the last Olympics and it's just no way near. His performances in the 100m and 200m were just iconic and completely unbelievable. You can sell your soul to every consumer whore on the planet but at the end of the day it's generally the sport itself that really makes you recognisable internationally. If Bolt pulls off similar performances in the next couple of Games and World Championships then he'll be remembered for sure. I mean he's younger than me and he's already shit all over Michael Johnson.
James. Posted 29 June 2009 Posted 29 June 2009 You can sell your soul to every consumer whore on the planet but at the end of the day it's generally the sport itself that really makes you recognisable internationally. In the case of Beckham I would disagree. I think the very fact that he has sold his soul to every consumer whore on the planet has made him internationally recognisable on an enormous scale. I'm very confident if I gave the world a photo of Beckham and a photo of Bolt and asked for their names then Beckham would win by a mile. Now, and probably in two years time. In an ideal world you'd be right. But as it is I think brand comes above ability, in this case anyway.
Finnegan Posted 29 June 2009 Posted 29 June 2009 Oh sure I'd not argue the case now, I just think by the end of his career Usain Bolt has the potential to be something our generation was incredibly lucky to have witnessed - something they'll talk about in years to come. And if that's the case then his miracles on the track will carry him into a the sort of recognition and more importantly rememberance that Beckham just won't have when his looks fade, his muscles sag and he's left to be another shadow.
MC Prussian Posted 29 June 2009 Posted 29 June 2009 As of right now, Roger Federer. Is still getting loads of media coverage. Tennis players, golfers, F1 pilots in general, as they are sports of individuals. Before that, it used to be Tiger Woods. Or Michael Schumacher. I'm not counting out Beckham, but he hasn't been that much in the spotlight as of recently.
General Smuts Posted 29 June 2009 Posted 29 June 2009 Would still say Michael Jordan. Ridiculous how long his name took to pop up. As soon as i saw the thread title i was going to post Jordan and i kept waiting for his name to pop up. Space Jam > Bend It Like Beckham (which he wasn't even in)
DB11 Posted 29 June 2009 Posted 29 June 2009 Here's another sportsman bigger than Beckham.. Yes. I haven't a clue who he is
Shrenchel Posted 29 June 2009 Posted 29 June 2009 I'd probably agree with Tiger Woods if it was just current sports stars.Though, give Bolt another couple of Olympics and who knows. I couldn't pick Usain Bolt out of a crowd. Was on holiday during the Olympics so saw fook all of it really, and I dunno what it's like in England but in Spain I havent seen one television programme or newspaper article about him since. It's ridiculously unlikely he'll ever have the global recognition of someone like Beckham.
Ultra Posted 29 June 2009 Posted 29 June 2009 Yes. I haven't a clue who he is A billion south Asians do. South Asia has a bigger population than the US and Europe combined.
Koke Posted 29 June 2009 Posted 29 June 2009 Personally, the way I measure these things is quite simple. When I go to the African village my mum was born in and ask 10 people who David Beckham is, I can guarantee you at least 9 will know who he is. Probably the same result with Mohamed Ali. My late grandfather knew who Beckham was, even though he knew fuck all about sports at all. Here in the Western world we have Internet, cable TV and all that crap so all these sports athletes are exposed more to us. I know who Reggie Bush is and I don't even watch NFL - in fact I hate it but I still know who he is. The reason for such exposure is because we live in a sports mad Western world. Think about it, we know who Usain Bolt, Michael Jordan and all these athletes are, because we love sports in general, but ask a white old lady from Hartlepool if she knows who Jordan is - she'll probably say Katie Price. Basically, if some poor African or Indian kids know who you are, then you are damn famous. That's how I see it anyway, and for that Beckham is the undisputed Champion.
Samilktray Posted 29 June 2009 Author Posted 29 June 2009 Id say Jordan was probably bigger in Africa than most athletes.
Hugo Sanchez Posted 29 June 2009 Posted 29 June 2009 A billion south Asians do. South Asia has a bigger population than the US and Europe combined. Ok again you made yourself look stupid. So he's known in South Aisa, I'm pretty sure the billions of people living in south asia have heard of David Beckham. Plus europe, plus Afica, plus south America, plus north america. = David Beckham is more popular ...
Koke Posted 29 June 2009 Posted 29 June 2009 Id say Jordan was probably bigger in Africa than most athletes. I think the fact that football is the no.1 sport in most countries around the world gives Beckham the edge of Jordan. Beckham got the entire Asia on lock down. And in USA he is pretty known now as well. The rest of the world are footballing nations, so they automatically know who Beckham is. It's not that easy to draw conclusions with these kind of popularity contests though, but I personally believe Beckham is no.1
Finnegan Posted 29 June 2009 Posted 29 June 2009 You know. The more I think about this the more ridiculous I think it is that we haven't just concluded it's Ali.
David Guiza Posted 29 June 2009 Posted 29 June 2009 Although i said Woods i am suprised by the lack of people who have said Ali.
Samilktray Posted 29 June 2009 Author Posted 29 June 2009 I think Tyson is more recognizable than Ali, daft as it sounds.
Ben Posted 29 June 2009 Posted 29 June 2009 Michael Jordan is the greatest sportsman of all-time. No question.
Sly Posted 29 June 2009 Posted 29 June 2009 Michael Jordan is the greatest sportsman of all-time. No question. In his day yes, it would have been Jordan. As Pele, Tyson and Ali were before that. Every generation has a sporting star and today's is Beckham. Altough he is at the end of his run. Tomorrows would be Woods or Ronaldo I'd imagine. You could also add Hulk Hogan to that list .... not sure if you'd class that as a sport though.
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