Best Athletes By the Numbers
 

SI did a really nifty thing and picked the best athletes to wear a number. For example: The best athlete to wear #16 was Joe Montana. See the rest of the list:

00-31
32-65
66-99

Debate and discuss amongst yourselves.

Pretty cool. my Boston bias showed on the first one (00) when i wanted Chief Parrish to be the one. I would like to get drunk and argue about these sometime (with other people, of course :)

I'm glad to see they included racecar drivers, at least in the runners-up.

That's actually a pretty cool idea for a list. But I have to admit that I'm disappointed that Cal Ripken Jr. was on the list for number 8 rather than Steve Young. And no, I'm not a 49er fan. :no:

I'm more disappointed that they didn't pick Troy Aikman for #8. But Ripken's consecutive games played streak is an impressive one.

Come to think of it, we could go on for days about who was the best athelete to wear #32

I know SI is a US publication, but why oh why could they not look much outside baseball, football and and basketball? Especially at 1-11 - the numbers worn by the best soccer players in the world.

BTW, Beckham as an honourable mention at number 7 - I like Becks but there have been half a dozen number 7s better than him. He also has worn 23 at Real madrid.