Famous Athletes Who Could Have Dominated a Second Sport By The Round Mound [53 more lists]
Famous athletes who could have dominated a second sport tell the story of men and women with so much athletic ability that they shouldn't be limited to being the best at just one sport when they could easily find success in several sports. Many athletes have tried to become successful two-sport athletes and few have succeeded but dozens more have the potential.
This list isn't about the notable two-sport athletes like Deion Sanders, who won both the Super Bowl and a World Series, or Hershel Walker, who won the Heisman Trophy, appeared in the Winter Olympics in bobsled and competed in mixed martial arts, or Michael Jordan, who returned after retiring from the NBA to play in the MLB, or Bo Jackson, who enjoyed success playing professional football and baseball during his career. This list is about the athletes who despite having the talent to dominate two sports, stuck to one and became one of the best to ever play.
For many athletes, this choice between two sports was an early one. Tom Brady for instance was selected in the MLB Draft but declined to play football. His three Super Bowl rings and numerous NFL records show he made a wise choice. Kirk Gibson was one of the best wide receivers in NCAA Football but chose the MLB contract offer over the one from the NFL. He went on to win two World Series and is still active as a highly successful MLB manager. Wilt Chamberlain had the choice of track, basketball, volleyball, boxing and football in his early years. He picked basketball and for that is now a household name.
These big names and so many more from professional football, basketball, baseball, hockey and other sports could have easily dominated a second sport. For one reason or another they made the tough decision to focus on one primary sport and in many cases went on to become legends in that sport. It would be tough to think that they regret the decision but one they certainly look back upon and wonder "what if?"
- 11976United States of AmericaTorrance“ Dominated college football and basketball, including playing in the 1997 Sweet Sixteen, before enjoying a successful professional football career „
- 21980United States of AmericaDetroitadded by: AdamKoalaSchoenberg
- 31975United States of AmericaLos Angeles“ Succeeded in college basketball and was drafted into the WNBA while enjoying a long Olympic track and field career „
- 41936United States of AmericaPhiladelphia“ Before becoming a legend in the NBA, he was sought after by nearly every sport from track, volleyball, boxing and football „
- 51936United States of AmericaSt. Simons
- 6
Eric Decker
1987“ Drafted twice into Major League Baseball but declined to play in the NFL „ - 71960United States of AmericaPort Angeles“ Spent time in the minors for the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals before going on to become one of the best football players ever „
- 81977United States of AmericaWebster“ In addition to spending time in professional wrestling, he once made the roster for the Minnesota Vikings „
- 91977United States of AmericaSan Mateo“ Drafted into the MLB, gave that up and went on to earn three Super Bowl rings in the National Football League „
- 101966United States of AmericaConcord“ Selected in the NHL Draft (two rounds before Brett Hull) but declined and went on to enjoy a storied career in professional baseball „
- 111963United States of America, NigeriaLagos“ Started a promising soccer career in his native Nigeria before coming to the United States to play basketball „
- 121975United States of AmericaHampton“ Earned all-state honors in high school football playing quarterback before joining the National Basketball Association „
- 131980United States of AmericaWilsonadded by: AdamKoalaSchoenberg
- 141976United States of AmericaChristiansted“ Planned to compete in swimming in the Summer Olympics but after his pool was destroyed by a hurricane, focused his energy on basketball „
- 151975United States of AmericaBartowadded by: KirkSaw“ Boxing Legend Bert Sugar claimed that the heavyweight division is lacking because athletes who historically would become boxing's stars in the premier division now go to other sports. He said that the best two heavyweight boxers in the world are NFL linebackers Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher. „
- 161976United States of AmericaChicago“ Enjoyed success playing NCAA Basketball at Syracuse before giving up the round ball for the Super Bowl and spending several years in the NFL „
- 171986United States of AmericaDaphne“ Selected four times in the MLB Draft and even signed with the Kansas City Royals after he was cut from the Miami Dolphins in the NFL „
- 181957United States of AmericaPontiac“ Before he was a baseball legend he was earning All-American honors playing wide receiver in NCAA Football „
- 191972United States of AmericaNewarkadded by: Gookin
- 201978United States of America, GermanyPascoadded by: KirkSaw“ Boxing Legend Bert Sugar claimed that the heavyweight division is lacking because athletes who historically would become boxing's stars in the premier division now go to other sports. He said that the best two heavyweight boxers in the world are NFL linebackers Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher. „
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- 211895United States of AmericaChicago“ The now-NFL legend for his leadership with the Chicago Bears once played pro baseball and was replaced by none other than Babe Ruth „
- 221977United States of AmericaOcala“ Dominated basketball in high school, went on to become a three-time Pro Bowl selection in the NFL „
- 231961United States of AmericaPittsburgh“ Declined a fourth-round offer in the 1979 MLB draft to play NCAA Football and set the stage to later become an NFL legend „
- 241945United States of AmericaRome“ Selected in the 1967 NFL Draft and the 1967 NBA Draft and played several seasons in the NBA before becoming one of the best basketball coaches of all time „
- 25
Joe Nieuwendyk
1966CanadaOshawa“ Won a championship in junior lacrosse before embarking on a successful career in the NHL „ - 261951United States of AmericaSaint Pauladded by: KirkSaw“ Baseball HoFer was also a star basketball player at U of Minnesota. Coach Bill Musselman called him the best rebounder he's ever seen. „
- 27
Nate Robinson
1985added by: AdamKoalaSchoenberg - 28
Jay Berwanger
1914United States of AmericaDubuque“ Won the Heisman Trophy in college football, could have dominated professional track and field „
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Famous Athletes Who Could Have Dominated a Second Sport at 3/10/2012 6:38 PM