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Famous Athletes Who Could Have Dominated a Second Sport By   [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?"

Print Blog View 1 Views: 3825    Items: 28
Rank     Name Born Nationality Birthplace
  1. 1
    Up 40
    1976
    United States of America
    Torrance
    Dominated college football and basketball, including playing in the 1997 Sweet Sixteen, before enjoying a successful professional football career
  2. 2
    Up 16
    1980
    United States of America
    Detroit
  3. 3
    Up 21
    1975
    United States of America
    Los Angeles
    Succeeded in college basketball and was drafted into the WNBA while enjoying a long Olympic track and field career
  4. 4
    Up 24
    1936
    United States of America
    Philadelphia
    Before becoming a legend in the NBA, he was sought after by nearly every sport from track, volleyball, boxing and football
  5. 5
    Up 13
    1936
    United States of America
    St. Simons
    added by: MarioKidd
    College letterman in Football, Baseball, Lacrosse and Track
  6. 6
    Up 22

    Eric Decker

    1987
    Drafted twice into Major League Baseball but declined to play in the NFL
  7. 7
    Up 21
    1960
    United States of America
    Port 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
  8. 8
    Up 22
    1977
    United States of America
    Webster
    In addition to spending time in professional wrestling, he once made the roster for the Minnesota Vikings
  9. 9
    Up 30
    Down 16
    1977
    United States of America
    San Mateo
    Drafted into the MLB, gave that up and went on to earn three Super Bowl rings in the National Football League
  10. 10
    Up 17
    1966
    United States of America
    Concord
    Selected in the NHL Draft (two rounds before Brett Hull) but declined and went on to enjoy a storied career in professional baseball
  11. 11
    Up 18
    Down 11
    1963
    United States of America, Nigeria
    Lagos
    Started a promising soccer career in his native Nigeria before coming to the United States to play basketball
  12. 12
    Up 25
    Down 18
    1975
    United States of America
    Hampton
    Earned all-state honors in high school football playing quarterback before joining the National Basketball Association
  13. 13
    Up 13
    1980
    United States of America
    Wilson
  14. 14
    Up 17
    Down 13
    1976
    United States of America
    Christiansted
    Planned to compete in swimming in the Summer Olympics but after his pool was destroyed by a hurricane, focused his energy on basketball
  15. 15
    1975
    United States of America
    Bartow
    added 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.
  16. 16
    Up 11
    1976
    United States of America
    Chicago
    Enjoyed success playing NCAA Basketball at Syracuse before giving up the round ball for the Super Bowl and spending several years in the NFL
  17. 17
    Up 11
    1986
    United States of America
    Daphne
    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
  18. 18
    Up 11
    Down 10
    1957
    United States of America
    Pontiac
    Before he was a baseball legend he was earning All-American honors playing wide receiver in NCAA Football
  19. 19
    1972
    United States of America
    Newark
    added by: Gookin
  20. 20
    1978
    United States of America, Germany
    Pasco
    added 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.
  21. 21
    Up 10
    Down 10
    1895
    United States of America
    Chicago
    The now-NFL legend for his leadership with the Chicago Bears once played pro baseball and was replaced by none other than Babe Ruth
  22. 22
    Up 10
    Down 12
    1977
    United States of America
    Ocala
    Dominated basketball in high school, went on to become a three-time Pro Bowl selection in the NFL
  23. 23
    Up 7
    Down 12
    1961
    United States of America
    Pittsburgh
    Declined a fourth-round offer in the 1979 MLB draft to play NCAA Football and set the stage to later become an NFL legend
  24. 24
    Up 6
    Down 10
    1945
    United States of America
    Rome
    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. 25
    Up 6
    Down 10

    Joe Nieuwendyk

    1966
    Canada
    Oshawa
    Won a championship in junior lacrosse before embarking on a successful career in the NHL
  26. 26
    1951
    United States of America
    Saint Paul
    added 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. 27
    Up 3
    Down 12

    Nate Robinson

    1985
  28. 28
    Up 2
    Down 10

    Jay Berwanger

    1914
    United States of America
    Dubuque
    Won the Heisman Trophy in college football, could have dominated professional track and field
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    1. G**kin
      Famous Athletes Who Could Have Dominated a Second Sport at 3/10/2012 6:38 PM
      Get this: Allen Iverson is a Pros Soccer plaer now so he should be up there

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