Skeets, I consider being able to stand up by yourself when you are sitting on the floor "athletic." Nobody in the NBA seems to be able to do that. <g> Seriously, a lot of these guys are not quick. Barkley, Shaq "quick?" By snail standards, certainly.
Endurance? Not really. That is why they have all the time outs and subs.
Hand eye coordination. For the guards and forwards, you bet. But have you seen Shaq or Barkley shoot free throws? They wouldn't win any prizes at a carnival.
Body control? The ones who can do that are the "stars." That has to mean the others don't have much.
Strength? Nope.
Flexibility? Some have it, others don't.
Jumping ability? I don't think any of these folks made their college track team as high jumpers, though I could be wrong. But high jumping requires more leg strength and running speed than the avg. NBA player has. Standstill vertical jump? Yeah, some of the littler guys have it.
On the fight concept, most fights outside of boxing are busts. Football is the worst. Do you really want to hit a guy wearing a helmet? <g>
However, I will say my definition was too broad. Yes, I do consider decathalon athletes the most athletic people in the world. Biathlon guys are pretty good, too. I have cross country skied and I can't imagine shooting at a target during a race in that killer sport. Before steroids, the guys in the 198 pound class in weightlifting were superb all around athletes, but the drug abuse has taken their endurance down to nothing. Gymnasts are pretty good all around, with a lot of strength, speed and coordination. Hockey players are also pretty all around athletic unless you are having a corn on the cob eating contest. <g> |
