Better Athletes - Football or Basketball players?

[FondestMemory]

this is a debate dan patrick has on his show quite often with guests from the nfl and nba. it's actually a pretty interesting debate. figured i'd put it here to see what people thought.

[guccimaneburrrr]

i went football players but i am on the fence

to me it really depends on the position of the player

i think a point guard is more athletic than an offensive lineman but a wide receiver is more athletic than a center

[LastPlaceRocks]

Well there's a lot of different types of athletes just in football and both sports cater to different athletic sets (a short-term anaroebic boost v. having more aerobic endurance), so it really depends on what type of athletic achievement you favor.

[FondestMemory]

overall. generally, which requires more athleticism?

[jimjam32]

pro? hands down no contest football players. i just hardly see basketball players in the NBA run. i can't even watch the nba anymore. college basketball vs college football? toss up.

[guccimaneburrrr]

you can't discount basketball players in this discussion because nba players don't give as much effort as nfl players.

[FondestMemory]

where the argument always ends up going is this:

how many nba players could go play in the nfl and have success?

how many nfl players could go play in the nba and have success?

which transition would be easier to make?

[LastPlaceRocks]

The NBA->NFL jump is easier, but a lot of that has to do with the size equation rather than athletic ability.

[guccimaneburrrr]

i think nba to nfl would be an easier transition

example: antonio gates (played ncaab not nba)

[sleepyseanzzz]

where the argument always ends up going is this:

how many nba players could go play in the nfl and have success?

how many nfl players could go play in the nba and have success?

which transition would be easier to make?

seeing as defense doesn't exist in the NBA im pretty sure it would be a lot easier for an NFL player to give up the life of getting hit on every play and just go shoot some hoops seeing as no one will be guarding them very hard. the NBA is a joke. football wins this one. best athletes = MMA fighters and college/olympic wrestlers

[guccimaneburrrr]

using the "nba is a joke/they don't give any effort" is not a valid reason IMO in this argument

[guccimaneburrrr]

and there is no way that MMA fighters are the best athletes

[FondestMemory]

i think nba to nfl would be an easier transition

example: antonio gates (played ncaab not nba)

this always comes up. gates played basketball in college and never played football, suddenly he's a superstar in the nfl.

i really don't think it helps answer the question though. i think there are more nba players who could play in the nfl and have success than vice versa, but i still think nfl players are the better athletes by far.

[FondestMemory]

yeah, mma fighters wouldn't even enter the discussion.

and if you wanna get into overall best athletes it'd be decathletes by far.

but that's not the discussion.

[baseballfreak19]

and there is no way that MMA fighters are the best athletes
I disagree with that. The endurance it takes to throw punches and kicks for 3 5 minute rounds is ridiculous even when you're not getting hit. Doing it while getting hit is even harder.

[sleepyseanzzz]

and there is no way that MMA fighters are the best athletes

as a wrestler and knowing that they are in better shape than football and basketball players im pretty sure grappling for 15-25 minutes and getting punched or kicked in the face, straight balls to the wall is tougher than playing a game of basketball (which isnt very intense) or football (where you get breaks after 4 seconds of playing)

[guccimaneburrrr]

getting your ass kicked and being able to take it doesn't make you a better athlete than people in other sports

[sleepyseanzzz]

getting your ass kicked and being able to take it doesn't make you a better athlete than people in other sports

an argument in any other sport leads to a fight. fights on the football field, fights in the stands at basketball games, bench clearing baseball brawls...it all boils down to one thing and that's fighting. toughest sport in the world, best athletes. hands down. thats why not everybody can do it

[LastPlaceRocks]

That makes no sense.

[guccimaneburrrr]

that's the most flawed logic i've seen

[TEAMRAMROD]

This guy can't be serious.

[StuGrimson]

Every sport requires a different kind of atheticism to play it so I think its hard to call one group of athletes more athletic than another. Measuring athleticism isnt exactly a formula.

[FondestMemory]

an argument in any other sport leads to a fight. fights on the football field, fights in the stands at basketball games, bench clearing baseball brawls...it all boils down to one thing and that's fighting. toughest sport in the world, best athletes. hands down. thats why not everybody can do it

first off, this logic makes zero sense whatsoever.

secondly, anybody can get into a fight. any two people can start beating on each other. not everybody can ice skate, so by your argument wouldn't that make hockey players and figure skaters better athletes than mma fighters?

[Mibabalou]

tennis ftw

[inthemidst]

I personally get more fatigued after playing a full-court basketball game, then after playing a football game. I think it's because of the rest you get in between plays, as opposed to constantly running up and down the court until there's a foul called, or someone turns it over.

[TEAMRAMROD]

If we're talking conditioning then soccer is near the top of the list.

[sleepyseanzzz]

first off, this logic makes zero sense whatsoever.

secondly, anybody can get into a fight. any two people can start beating on each other. not everybody can ice skate, so by your argument wouldn't that make hockey players and figure skaters better athletes than mma fighters?

for your argument - football players are better athletes than basketball players, they have to put their bodies through tougher physical environments to be successful than basketball players

my argument - mma fighters are the toughest athletes in the world because they can go longer than any other athlete can in a fight, it's the world's oldest sport and one of man's most basic instincts. to be able to totally dominate another human being in basic hand to hand combat where there is no other factors (like being on ice skates, or being fully padded) and achieve success and the feeling that your opponent knows you just conquered him is better than any victory achieved in any team sport covered up by pads

[iihungrieii]

id say nfl players are more athletic

[Two Headed Girl]

based on pure athleticism I'd say basketball. Football players may be more powerful/stronger, but in certain cases positions require little athletic ability. kids at my high school who were just big but had no athletic ability played football, not basketball. over the course of a game there are more things in basketball that make me go "wow he's athletic" than in a football game. on the football field at a given time there tends to be great athletes in the backfield on offense and at the receiver positions, and d-backs, cornerbacks, safetys on defense then on the lines there are people who are very strong and powerful but not necessarily athletic. then there are positions like kickers who have specialized a great single skill but are not super athletic. in basketball, they all just tend to be more athletic IMO.

[LastPlaceRocks]

first off, this logic makes zero sense whatsoever.

secondly, anybody can get into a fight. any two people can start beating on each other. not everybody can ice skate, so by your argument wouldn't that make hockey players and figure skaters better athletes than mma fighters?
Hockey players also fight on ice skates, so obviously it does according to that logic.

for your argument - football players are better athletes than basketball players, they have to put their bodies through tougher physical environments to be successful than basketball players

my argument - mma fighters are the toughest athletes in the world because they can go longer than any other athlete can in a fight, it's the world's oldest sport and one of man's most basic instincts. to be able to totally dominate another human being in basic hand to hand combat where there is no other factors (like being on ice skates, or being fully padded) and achieve success and the feeling that your opponent knows you just conquered him is better than any victory achieved in any team sport covered up by pads
Don't boxers have longer bouts?

[S/T]

To move away from that mind numbing stupidity for a moment, I would go with basketball. It seems to me that the mechanics behind dribbling, shooting, passing, etc. are something that every player is involved with, where in football your job might just be hit this guy or block this guy. That's really dumbed down, I know, but I think basketball requires more coordination just to play, where in football if you know how to knock someone's head off they can find a spot for you.

[Two Headed Girl]

first off, this logic makes zero sense whatsoever.

secondly, anybody can get into a fight. any two people can start beating on each other. not everybody can ice skate, so by your argument wouldn't that make hockey players and figure skaters better athletes than mma fighters?
agreed, the combination of they tasks that hockey players do WHILE ice skating is mind blowing

If we're talking conditioning then soccer is near the top of the list.

soccer players are in great shape, i wouldn't say that makes them overly athletic

[Andy Young]

Poker players.

[Two Headed Girl]

To move away from that mind numbing stupidity for a moment, I would go with basketball. It seems to me that the mechanics behind dribbling, shooting, passing, etc. are something that every player is involved with, where in football your job might just be hit this guy or block this guy. That's really dumbed down, I know, but I think basketball requires more coordination just to play, where in football if you know how to knock someone's head off they can find a spot for you.

this sums it up quite well

[TEAMRAMROD]

agreed, the combination of they tasks that hockey players do WHILE ice skating is mind blowing



soccer players are in great shape, i wouldn't say that makes them overly athletic
Then I'd say we have different definitions of "athletic".

[MonopolyMan]

I disagree with that. The endurance it takes to throw punches and kicks for 3 5 minute rounds is ridiculous even when you're not getting hit. Doing it while getting hit is even harder.

i agree with this...i train mma myself..not on a professional level but i do train and know that those guys in the UFC work just as hard if not harder than any other guys in sports out there. It's physically and mentally more challenging than most sports in general. A championship bout lasts 25 mins long. You gotta be in insane shape to hold up to a 25 min ass kicking, any average man wouldnt last 2 mins before gassin out and or getting laid out. MMA IMO is the toughest most challenging sport around and is home to some of the elite athletes in the biz...but again this is off topic hah i voted football...

[Mibabalou]

To move away from that mind numbing stupidity for a moment, I would go with basketball. It seems to me that the mechanics behind dribbling, shooting, passing, etc. are something that every player is involved with, where in football your job might just be hit this guy or block this guy. That's really dumbed down, I know, but I think basketball requires more coordination just to play, where in football if you know how to knock someone's head off they can find a spot for you.

let me make this easier

http://rodonline.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c6d4753ef0120a6391cc5970c-400wi

[sleepyseanzzz]

Hockey players also fight on ice skates, so obviously it does according to that logic.


Don't boxers have longer bouts?

boxers dont kick, work to submit, grapple, or even end up on the ground. if i was in a fight my first instinct would to try and take it to the ground and that is where most fights end up. but they are up there with mma fighters and wrestlers in my opinion for best/toughest athletes because they get punched in the face and those fights can last an eternity.

[Two Headed Girl]

Then I'd say we have different definitions of "athletic".

fair enough

[FondestMemory]

based on pure athleticism I'd say basketball. Football players may be more powerful/stronger, but in certain cases positions require little athletic ability. kids at my high school who were just big but had no athletic ability played football, not basketball. over the course of a game there are more things in basketball that make me go "wow he's athletic" than in a football game. on the football field at a given time there tends to be great athletes in the backfield on offense and at the receiver positions, and d-backs, cornerbacks, safetys on defense then on the lines there are people who are very strong and powerful but not necessarily athletic. then there are positions like kickers who have specialized a great single skill but are not super athletic. in basketball, they all just tend to be more athletic IMO.

all valid points, except for the bolded part. the offensive and defensive lines require great athleticism. they require loads of speed, endurance, toughness, strength and agility. and on top of that, they require the bodies to do all that while weighing 300+ in most cases.

kickers and punters would be the only positions i would say require little athletic ability, even though a lot of the kickers and punters in the nfl happen to be great athletes.

To move away from that mind numbing stupidity for a moment, I would go with basketball. It seems to me that the mechanics behind dribbling, shooting, passing, etc. are something that every player is involved with, where in football your job might just be hit this guy or block this guy. That's really dumbed down, I know, but I think basketball requires more coordination just to play, where in football if you know how to knock someone's head off they can find a spot for you.

solid point. and to add to it, an argument could be made that basketball requires more awareness to play as well. a lot of positions on the football field (quarterback excluded) require one on one matchups. corners locked up on a wr, guard lined up on a d tackle, matchups like that where your main objective is what your job is exactly. football is more specialized individually, but basketball players need to be more aware of what is going on around the entire court at all times.

[LastPlaceRocks]

boxers dont kick, work to submit, grapple, or even end up on the ground. if i was in a fight my first instinct would to try and take it to the ground and that is where most fights end up. but they are up there with mma fighters and wrestlers in my opinion for best/toughest athletes because they get punched in the face and those fights can last an eternity.
That's all I wanted to know.

[guccimaneburrrr]

for your argument - football players are better athletes than basketball players, they have to put their bodies through tougher physical environments to be successful than basketball players

my argument - mma fighters are the toughest athletes in the world because they can go longer than any other athlete can in a fight, it's the world's oldest sport and one of man's most basic instincts. to be able to totally dominate another human being in basic hand to hand combat where there is no other factors (like being on ice skates, or being fully padded) and achieve success and the feeling that your opponent knows you just conquered him is better than any victory achieved in any team sport covered up by pads

notice the title of the thread. it's not toughest athletes, it's better athletes.

[LastPlaceRocks]

Where would you guys place hockey players in this discussion?

[startBBtoday]

I'm going with football based on the fact that in most cases, they are faster and stronger than basketball players.

[JawsTheme182]

boxers dont kick, work to submit, grapple, or even end up on the ground. if i was in a fight my first instinct would to try and take it to the ground and that is where most fights end up. but they are up there with mma fighters and wrestlers in my opinion for best/toughest athletes because they get punched in the face and those fights can last an eternity.

Herschel Walker is a 47 year-old NFL retiree and just won an MMA fight against someone 20 years younger than him. Dude can't play in the NFL anymore, but can win an MMA fight? I go with NFL.

To whoever said decathletes are the most athletic, I'm going to have to agree. They are by FAR the most athletic. Now take participants from each sport (football, baseketball, soccer, MMA/wrestling) and put them into a decathlon; I'm gonna have to say a soccer player would win.

[Two Headed Girl]

Where would you guys place hockey players in this discussion?

I respect hockey players a lot. Not everyone can do what they do, I've never been able to learn how to skate.

[StuGrimson]

Where would you guys place hockey players in this discussion?

Its such a different type of athleticism that isnt as noticable as basketball and football players. Its not about muscles and who can run the fastest. I cant even compare the two

[startBBtoday]

to be fair, if mma fighters or decathaletes were really better athletes than nfl or nba players, wouldn't they want to make shitloads of money and play either football or basketball?

[guccimaneburrrr]

why are so many people intent on focusing on strength and stamina as deciphering who is the better athlete.

there are so many more factors that go into athleticism besides strength and stamina. those are two of the things that you can actually work on and improve.

[LastPlaceRocks]

to be fair, if mma fighters or decathaletes were really better athletes than nfl or nba players, wouldn't they want to make shitloads of money and play either football or basketball?
No, the money situation just depends on the popularity of the sport and the market value.

[Two Headed Girl]

Herschel Walker is a 47 year-old NFL retiree and just won an MMA fight against someone 20 years younger than him. Dude can't play in the NFL anymore, but can win an MMA fight? I go with NFL.

To whoever said decathletes are the most athletic, I'm going to have to agree. They are by FAR the most athletic. Now take participants from each sport (football, baseketball, soccer, MMA/wrestling) and put them into a decathlon; I'm gonna have to say a soccer player would win.
Take someone from any other sport and put them on a hockey rink? This isn't the best logic.

to be fair, if mma fighters or decathaletes were really better athletes than nfl or nba players, wouldn't they want to make shitloads of money and play either football or basketball?

Agreed. I feel the same way with people who do like competitive break dancer. If you can jump that high and flip and everything why not play basketball? The answer, they can't shoot, dribble, pass, defend.

[preppyak]

To whoever said decathletes are the most athletic, I'm going to have to agree. They are by FAR the most athletic. Now take participants from each sport (football, baseketball, soccer, MMA/wrestling) and put them into a decathlon; I'm gonna have to say a soccer player would win.
Why? I'd believe an NBA player would hold their ground well in the 1500, and the NFL/NBA guys would probably dominate them in the strength events...and I could easily see an NFL WR having a better 100m than a soccer player.

Soccer players have great endurance in running, but a decathlon uses basically none of that

[spiffa0]

The NBA isn't a real sport.

[FondestMemory]

just when you thought you couldn't hear anymore stupidity in this thread...

[LastPlaceRocks]

The NBA isn't a real sport.
Sorry to be the one to break this, but things do exist outside of Pittsburgh.

[spiffa0]

Sorry to be the one to break this, but things do exist outside of Pittsburgh.

It's not because there's no pro team in Pittsburgh. It's because the NBA is so inferior to college basketball. It's basically the first to score 100 pts in an NBA game wins. No defense. Each player only cares about themselves. Ridiculous league.

[Mibabalou]

Herschel Walker is a 47 year-old NFL retiree and just won an MMA fight against someone 20 years younger than him. Dude can't play in the NFL anymore, but can win an MMA fight? I go with NFL.

To whoever said decathletes are the most athletic, I'm going to have to agree. They are by FAR the most athletic. Now take participants from each sport (football, baseketball, soccer, MMA/wrestling) and put them into a decathlon; I'm gonna have to say a soccer player would win.

i agree with you 100% about both points

[JawsTheme182]

Take someone from any other sport and put them on a hockey rink? This isn't the best logic.



Agreed. I feel the same way with people who do like competitive break dancer. If you can jump that high and flip and everything why not play basketball? The answer, they can't shoot, dribble, pass, defend.

I'm saying the dude was 47 and beat someone who was 20 years older than him. If MMA is the most athletic sport, that should NEVER happen.

[Two Headed Girl]

I'm saying the dude was 47 and beat someone who was 20 years older than him. If MMA is the most athletic sport, that should NEVER happen.
Not what I was talking about, I was talking about how you said soccer player would fair in a decathlon.

[LastPlaceRocks]

It's not because there's no pro team in Pittsburgh. It's because the NBA is so inferior to college basketball. It's basically the first to score 100 pts in an NBA game wins. No defense. Each player only cares about themselves. Ridiculous league.
Still is a real league and watch the Bobcats if you don't believe there's defense.

[Two Headed Girl]

It's not because there's no pro team in Pittsburgh. It's because the NBA is so inferior to college basketball. It's basically the first to score 100 pts in an NBA game wins. No defense. Each player only cares about themselves. Ridiculous league.

Looks like someone read a negative article on the NBA once, congrats.

[moosehas spoken]

probably football, but I guess it does depend on certain things.

[moosehas spoken]

Looks like someone read a negative article on the NBA once, congrats.
...or watched a few games.

[JawsTheme182]

Why? I'd believe an NBA player would hold their ground well in the 1500, and the NFL/NBA guys would probably dominate them in the strength events...and I could easily see an NFL WR having a better 100m than a soccer player.

Soccer players have great endurance in running, but a decathlon uses basically none of that

I'm just saying take one player from each sport (football has to choose a position, by your logic a WR since they're the most rounded athletes on a football field) and the soccer player would win. The WR might stand a chance in the 100m, but the 400m and 1500m would most likely go to a soccer player. I have no idea why you think an NBA player would hold their ground in the 1500m. You also underestimate the upper body strength of a soccer player. Just look at that picture of Oguchi Onyewu posted a page or two back, the dude is built exactly like that WR that you would put in the competition.

[guccimaneburrrr]

so you're basing who is a better athlete only on speed?

[JawsTheme182]

Not what I was talking about, I was talking about how you said soccer player would fair in a decathlon.

Well then your post makes no sense because the decathlon was just an example as to how we could compare athletes from each sport, and in my opinion a soccer player would fair the best. They'd all be out of their element so it's not like it would be unfair.

[JawsTheme182]

so you're basing who is a better athlete only on speed?

No, but the soccer player would win more events than anyone from any other sport. I said their upper body strength is about the same as a wide receiver. Sure another football player would be stronger, but they would be slower. Most athletic in my opinion is most well rounded. I believe the most well rounded athlete is a soccer player. Upper body strength, lower body strength, speed, agility, awareness... they've got it all.

[vodka red bull]

I think between the 2 sports, i'd say the best athletes come from football, the strength that is needed along with the agility is crazy.

although the best athletes in the world is easy for me...water polo players are the best athletes in the world.

[spiffa0]

Looks like someone read a negative article on the NBA once, congrats.


Or not?

[startBBtoday]

It's not because there's no pro team in Pittsburgh. It's because the NBA is so inferior to college basketball. It's basically the first to score 100 pts in an NBA game wins. No defense. Each player only cares about themselves. Ridiculous league.

you know it's 2010, not 1995, right?

[a nice person]

It's not because there's no pro team in Pittsburgh. It's because the NBA is so inferior to college basketball. It's basically the first to score 100 pts in an NBA game wins. No defense. Each player only cares about themselves. Ridiculous league.

haha. i love college basketball, but the nba is so far superior. just because a team scores 100+ points doesn't mean that no defense is being played. the fact is, the offensive talent in the nba is superior to the defensive talent. i don't care how good a defender you are, there is only so much you can do when guarding someone one-on-one. like lebron for instance. when he makes his move toward the basket on the defender, there is no way that lebron sprinting forward can be matched by a defender back-pedaling. without help from another defender, lebron will beat him to the spot the majority of the time. also, you fail to realize that the size of the courts in the nba and college are different. therefore, the offensive player/team has the advantage in spreading the floor and isolating players.

[sleepyseanzzz]

Herschel Walker is a 47 year-old NFL retiree and just won an MMA fight against someone 20 years younger than him. Dude can't play in the NFL anymore, but can win an MMA fight? I go with NFL.

To whoever said decathletes are the most athletic, I'm going to have to agree. They are by FAR the most athletic. Now take participants from each sport (football, baseketball, soccer, MMA/wrestling) and put them into a decathlon; I'm gonna have to say a soccer player would win.

jose conseco fought in mma too. herschel walker got a scrub to beat so he could get more fights

[JawsTheme182]

jose conseco fought in mma too. herschel walker got a scrub to beat so he could get more fights

That scrub is still a professional and Herschel walker is still 47.

[sleepyseanzzz]

That scrub is still a professional and Herschel walker is still 47.

i didnt know which one of your quotes to reply to but herschel is a great athlete. hes one of a few that can do that. also there are many organizations (not as prestigious as UFC and WEC) that employ fighters so technically they are professional too. kimbo got thrown a scrub in his first fight too. builds hype.

[redeyes]

pro? hands down no contest football players. i just hardly see basketball players in the NBA run. i can't even watch the nba anymore. college basketball vs college football? toss up.

your ignorance is insulting.

[cory-182]

Basketball. No OLB could make it during a 48 minute basketball game.

Of course, there's the argument that Yao Ming couldn't make it through an NFL game...

[FondestMemory]

what? olb's are some of the best athletes in the league.

[guccimaneburrrr]

why did you choose OLB of all the NFL players not a 360 pound lineman?

[Scrandon]

Basketball probably takes more skill

Footballs just about being Big and Fast

[FondestMemory]

Basketball probably takes more skill

Footballs just about being Big and Fast

yeah, it requires zero hand/eye coordination, agility, game intelligence, grace, awareness, endurance...

[startBBtoday]

Basketball probably takes more skill

Footballs just about being Big and Fast

dude you're so right.

[Scrandon]

yeah, it requires zero hand/eye coordination, agility, game intelligence, grace, awareness, endurance...

I know but i was talking more about skills specific to the game.

Rather than things like endurance and speed that are really in every sport.

[Chris M.]

You've never played football if you think it takes no skill.

[Schmidty Says]

Came in to say hockey players :-p

I went with basketball players, but seeing as I watch neither sport I honestly don't know. When I catch college basketball, it always seems as if the players are almost always going all out, which means being a good athlete.

Please don't tear me apart for this!

[Illadelphia]

Impossible to tell. I'd say it really depends on the individual. Some people are just amazing athletes, regardless of what they end up playing.

[S/T]

Sorry to be the one to break this, but things do exist outside of Pittsburgh.

I hope you aren't discounting the Pittsburgh Pythons.

[LastPlaceRocks]

No, only the Pipers and Condors.

[muchoawesomeo]

i am not a fan of football so i may be wrong but, each player is basically assigned one task right?

[TEAMRAMROD]

Wrong.

[<*)))><]

i am not a fan of football so i may be wrong but, each player is basically assigned one task right?
To win.

[<*)))><]

I honestly don't think you can look at NFL players and NBA to tell who is the best athlete because their bodys are so adapted for their sports. I think basketball because from my personal experience from playing with my friends I'm more tired and preform worse then when we play football.

[davehennessy]

I honestly don't think you can look at NFL players and NBA to tell who is the best athlete because their bodys are so adapted for their sports. I think basketball because from my personal experience from playing with my friends I'm more tired and preform worse then when we play football.

Agreed. Football is about size, speed, and brute strength, while basketball is more about being agile and having quick reflexes. Of course you have to be athletic to play either of course, but I would probably say basketball.. it's much more tiring over a long period

[a nice person]

"Football is like rock-and-roll...and basketball is like jazz."

- Michael Scott

[Killadelphia]

Football.

You have to be very athletic to be able to play football and succeed, that is not the same for basketball. You just need a good shot, size, or a high vertical.

Professionally, they're all obviously athletic, for the most part, and many of them could probably play both sports on some level.

[imirish06]

I picked football. And since other people have been mentioning theirs, I really don't see a team sport in the world that's tougher to play than Rugby. They cover just as much ground during 80 minutes as a soccer player would and have the strength, athleticism, and body of an American running back/skill player

[QuikTrig]

I picked football. And since other people have been mentioning theirs, I really don't see a team sport in the world that's tougher to play than Rugby. They cover just as much ground during 80 minutes as a soccer player would and have the strength, athleticism, and body of an American running back/skill player

i'm not familiar with rugby really, so don't take this as a knock on the sport, but how much skill/finesse is required? i've seen games and i don't see a lot of "skill" per se, as required in soccer. seems it relies heavily, even solely, on physical attributes (i know its kinda off topic from OP)

[beccasaysXRAWRX]

no question.Volleyball

[derekmoyer4]

no question.Volleyball
get the fuck out! ha.

[showmethefever]

lol at volleyball and MMA.

[imirish06]

i'm not familiar with rugby really, so don't take this as a knock on the sport, but how much skill/finesse is required? i've seen games and i don't see a lot of "skill" per se, as required in soccer. seems it relies heavily, even solely, on physical attributes (i know its kinda off topic from OP)

I say their skill level is on par with pro american running backs. Not totally sure what games you have witnessed but if it were American Rugby, I wouldn't like into that much lol. There are also a few different forms of Rugby and some are more challenging than others.

[showmethefever]

I don't know a whole lot, but I would agree with rugby being the toughest/most physical sport there is. In my opinion though, there are sports that take much more skill.

[robat19]

hockey players are up there.

[dignan]

My favorite thing about baseball is the fact that you can be a fat overweight degenerate slob and be successful. just ask David Wells.

[startBBtoday]

anyone saying basketball because they're more tired after they play it with friends... are you getting tackled by 300 pounders while wearing full pads when you're playing with your friends?

[LastPlaceRocks]

No, only 200 pounders - but it's on ice and we're going 25MPH.

[Moth To A Flame]

I like how most of you say that lineman pretty much aren't athletic because they are big and fat. Most of them are still extremely athletic. They pretty much have to force themselves to maintain that weight. They may not be fast or agile as the skilled position but given their weight they are still athletic. I am sure there are some lineman in the NFL that could out run most of us.

[startBBtoday]

I like how most of you say that lineman pretty much aren't athletic because they are big and fat. Most of them are still extremely athletic. They pretty much have to force themselves to maintain that weight. They may not be fast or agile as the skilled position but given their weight they are still athletic. I am sure there are some lineman in the NFL that could out run most of us.

nfl linemen could outrun pretty much 95% of us

[FondestMemory]

nfl linemen could outrun pretty much 95% of us

Exactly. I make that point quite often.

[startBBtoday]

i think most people have no idea how fast nfl linemen are. nfl linemen and your typical pocket qb are about the same speed and obviously they are MUCH different sizes.

[zac_montucky]

I don't see how people think it's easier for basketball players to transition to football. I would think a wide receiver or tight end could play basketball fairly easily, but an NBA player would have to re-train their body to adjust to absorbing hits.

I'm not saying a very strong NBA player couldn't do it, just that I think it would be harder.

[KillTheMusic]

No, only 200 pounders - but it's on ice and we're going 25MPH.

Don't forget while standing on an 1/8" piece of sharpened steel.

[Deadbolt23]

Gymnasts are the best athletes.