Jim Thorpe

Haha!  You're definitely on the path to "GET OFF MY LAWN." 

I remember watching a movie about Jim Thorpe in like 5th grade?  That was about it

Don't worry about getting older.  Just by having paid attention to the world as we age gives us an encyclopedic knowledge that intimates the Google generation.

Remember learning about Jim Thorpe, yes.    I even remember learning that Johnny Weissmuller was an Olympic champion in swimming before becoming Tarzan.....     

Athletes were not covered much in school. But that could be regional or time period sensitive. However, as kids I can remember learning all kinds of athletic history and knowledge from the world around me, books, movies, etc.

So, what was the LB household decision on best athlete ever? Thorpe, Jim Brown, or someone else??? It is really hard to put different era's and/or sports against one another. Just to add to the conversation, did Chuck Conner make the list? He is one of  only 12 to have played both MLB and NBA.  Not that I think he was the greatest ever, but it is a cool designation.

One of the twins thought basketball players were the best athletes ever, and named Jordan as the greatest.  The other twin is a HUGE Prefontaine fan and may know more about his times than Pre's mother, buit she thinks IM triathlete winners like Macca and Crowie are the worlds best athletes.  My son?  Like it or hate it, his greatest motivation for the road he has chosen is/was/and likely always will be Lance Armstrong.

I think they're all full of it.

All fairly recent, Pre being the exception. That is the challenge with the discussion, our tendency is to concentrate on the now, or our own past, or our personal focus. Which is why I'd like to go with an ice hockey guy, but for all their abilities on the ice, I don't think that transfers to other arenas very well. Jordan proved out that baseball talents are not transferable and take a while to develop. I'd have to say Jim Brown or Jim Thorpe, or maybe Bo Jackson. I seem to be stuck on guys that played 2 of the 4 major pro sports in America. We all have a bias I guess.

You know, we watched a documentary about Bo Jackson recently and my kids were sufficently wowed....I wonder why none of us brought him up?  I agree....amazing athlete.

I'm from OKC so I've known about Thorpe for as long as I can remember.  That being said, I don't remember if I learned about him in school or just learned about him from family, friends and general osmosis.  

And while he played for the wrong team, (Oakland) I can honestly say I don't know if we will ever see another Bo Jackson.  He did things THEN that would be amazing NOW.  Truly a great, great athlete.  

All that being said, arguing who the best athlete ever across all sports ever played is never an easy discussion.  There are decathletes that could easily battle for that title.  Now, if we are talking most dominant in more than one sport, then yes, those mentioned are WAY up there.

Yep, just getting old

You have a decade or two on me but I remember hearing/learnng about him when I was younger.  Nothing in school but in social or sports conversations.

I also got a speeding ticket and had to go to Jim Thorpe, PA for court.  That was fun so I'll never forget him.  Plus the story about the town getting his name.

They were initially rescinded, but later the rescinding was rescinded.

I think we learned about Jim Thorpe around 6th grade, but I might be wrong.  I do know it was around that time that I read his biography.  He get's my vote for greatest ever.

Growing up in PA, though, it makes sense that we would have studied him because he went to the Carlisle Indian School which is only about 30 miles from where I live.  Plus, we have the town of Jim Thorpe.

As a bit of trivia, the Anthracite Triathlon is held in Jim Thorpe, PA.  It's a rather challenging race.  It's been said that even the swim is uphill.