Top 10 Athletes after 40 years old

[Datsyerberger 279]

I highly doubt you're doing 150-205mph on a public highway.

For 500 miles. With 50+ other cars all around you, at time an inch or two from your own vehicle. In a car running so hot that it's up to 170 degrees inside the cabin. And breathing in a steady stream of carbon monoxide fumes.

[Rikadyn 16]

For 500 miles. With 50+ other cars all around you, at time an inch or two from your own vehicle. In a car running so hot that it's up to 170 degrees inside the cabin. And breathing in a steady stream of carbon monoxide fumes.

while experiencing a constant 3-4 side G load.

and this is just NASCAR

I'm not a NASCAR fan, I find the ruling body to be a bit...conviluted, but saying race drivers aren't athletes is just...dumb...

Edited March 18, 2009 by Rikadyn

[Guest Shoreline]

I kind of surprised that with everyone bashing the Nascar driver as not an athlete no one has mentioned golf.

Golf is a fun game and I know walking a round can be a workout but it is not and will never be a sport.

I don't think any golf people were in that top 10, unless I went by too quickly, which is certainly possible. Still, I play golf and love golf but it's just as much a sport as NASCAR -- which is, not at all. Otherwise every time I go to Dave & Busters and go nuts on those fake ass racecars I'm suddenly being athletic unknowingly. Push a pedal, shift gears, turn a steering wheel to the left. Nothing special. The car is doing all the work.

[Datsyerberger 279]

I don't think any golf people were in that top 10, unless I went by too quickly, which is certainly possible. Still, I play golf and love golf but it's just as much a sport as NASCAR -- which is, not at all. Otherwise every time I go to Dave & Busters and go nuts on those fake ass racecars I'm suddenly being athletic unknowingly. Push a pedal, shift gears, turn a steering wheel to the left. Nothing special. The car is doing all the work.

You know, most of the time I respect you, but...

You can't honestly believe it's like driving around at 40 mph, chilling back and cruising while huffing on a doobie and listening to Slow Ride.

Edited March 18, 2009 by Datsyerberger

[Guest Shoreline]

You know, most of the time I respect you, but...

Sorry. It may be a pasttime, it may be entertaining (not to me though), and it certainly may be a waste of gas, but comparing guys like Petty to athletes who compete in the NHL or, hell, even the NFL (especially old timers like Blanda), is doing those players a major disservice and insulting their athleticism. Even Bowling is more athletic than driving a car very fast.

[Datsyerberger 279]

Sorry. It may be a pasttime, it may be entertaining (not to me though), and it certainly may be a waste of gas, but comparing guys like Petty to athletes who compete in the NHL or, hell, even the NFL (especially old timers like Blanda), is doing those players a major disservice and insulting their athleticism. Even Bowling is more athletic than driving a car very fast.

NASCAR: Paul Martin

Baseball: Babe Ruth

Compare physiques. Can you imagine how much better (and longer lasting) Ruth would have been with better physical conditioning? Can you imagine how much worse Martin would be without the proper sort of physical conditioning needed for NASCAR?

Fact is, even an especially athletic NASCAR driver like Paul Martin would get his ass handed to him in the NHL. Meanwhile, even an especially athletic hockey player like Hossa would be burned out and completely drained of energy after just 50 laps in NASCAR (except he'd probably lose control of the car well before that).

Not giving legendary drivers like Earnhardt credit where credit is due is a major disservice to their athleticism, even if the sport is a huge waste of gas and boring as all hell.

Edited March 18, 2009 by Datsyerberger

[Guest Shoreline]

NASCAR: Paul Martin

Baseball: Babe Ruth

Compare physiques. Can you imagine how much better (and longer lasting) Ruth would have been with better physical conditioning? Can you imagine how much worse Martin would be without the proper sort of physical conditioning needed for NASCAR?

Fact is, even an especially athletic NASCAR driver like Paul Martin would get his ass handed to him in the NHL. Meanwhile, even an especially athletic hockey player like Hossa would be burned out and completely drained of energy after just 50 laps in NASCAR (except he'd probably lose control of the car well before that).

Not giving legendary drivers like Earnhardt credit where credit is due is a major disservice to their athleticism, even if the sport is a huge waste of gas and boring as all hell.

Babe Ruth's conditioning was pretty common in that era of sports. Entirely different today. As for Hossa getting his ass handed to him, of course he would. I'm not saying it doesn't take skill to race. Just like it takes skill to play poker, which by some is also considered athletic solely because of the training needed for it. NASCAR racing is just not anywhere near the level of athleticism as hockey. And the only reason people look bulkier is for marketing's sake, and because fat people would require more magnitudes of force (since, again, the CAR is doing the work) to pull their ass in the car. Nothing at all to do with conditioning or athleticism.

Edited March 18, 2009 by Shoreline

[Datsyerberger 279]

Babe Ruth's conditioning was pretty common in that era of sports. Entirely different today. As for Hossa getting his ass handed to him, of course he would. I'm not saying it doesn't take skill to race. Just like it takes skill to play poker, which by some is also considered athletic solely because of the training needed for it. NASCAR racing is just not anywhere near the level of athleticism as hockey. And the only reason people look bulkier is for marketing's sake, and because fat people would require more magnitudes of force (since, again, the CAR is doing the work) to pull their ass in the car. Nothing at all to do with conditioning or athleticism.

Hossa would get his ass handed to him because of physical conditioning, not just because of skill. He and other hockey players aren't conditioned for NASCAR, just like NASCAR drivers aren't built for playing hockey.

There's more to physical conditioning and athleticism than muscles in the arms, legs, shoulder, and core muscles.

Edit: There's a variety of advantages that come about from having a better physique in NASCAR, including a greater ability to maneuver the car (which is not like turning the wheel on a Tonka truck) and more physical endurance. NASCAR, over the last few years, has been undergoing a physical renaissance which is increasing the level of competition.. just like happened with baseball, football, and a large number of sports. Golf is undergoing the same transition.

Edited March 18, 2009 by Datsyerberger

[Guest Shoreline]

Hossa would get his ass handed to him because of physical conditioning, not just because of skill. He and other hockey players aren't conditioned for NASCAR, just like NASCAR drivers aren't built for playing hockey.

There's more to physical conditioning and athleticism than muscles in the arms, legs, shoulder, and core muscles.

I never mentioned muscles, but physical athleticism as a person playing actual sports that require athleticism are the ones pulling themselves and using their entire body, not their hands and foot -- it's the car that moves the person and does all the hard work, the driver just moves the car making left turns over and over again at a high speeds, so racing in NASCAR is not nearly on par athletically-speaking, even if it does require it's own unique skill. I guess we're going to agree to disagree, I just think it's rather insulting to actual athletes to compare guys like Martin or Petty to hockey players who take such a physical toll playing hockey.

Dunno, maybe we can agree that Sergei Fedorov in his old Ferrari wouldn't make a good racing combo.

[Datsyerberger 279]

I never mentioned muscles, but physical athleticism as a person playing actual sports that require athleticism are the ones pulling themselves and using their entire body, not their hands and foot -- it's the car that moves the person and does all the hard work, the driver just moves the car making left turns over and over again at a high speeds, so racing in NASCAR is not nearly on par athletically-speaking, even if it does require it's own unique skill. I guess we're going to agree to disagree, I just think it's rather insulting to actual athletes to compare guys like Martin or Petty to hockey players who take such a physical toll playing hockey.

Dunno, maybe we can agree that Sergei Fedorov in his old Ferrari wouldn't make a good racing combo.

I can always agree to disagree.

Regarding the bolded, is it tasteless that a Dany Heatley joke came to my mind when I read that?

[Guest Shoreline]

Regarding the bolded, is it tasteless that a Dany Heatley joke came to my mind when I read that?

Hah. Maybe tasteless, but I have tasteless humor anyways.

[Datsyerberger 279]

Hah. Maybe tasteless, but I have tasteless humor anyways.

The guy who gives raving reviews for movies like Mike & Miri Make a Porno? You don't say

[Guest Shoreline]

The guy who gives raving reviews for movies like Mike & Miri Make a Porno? You don't say

HAHAHA. Damn I laughed at that.

[Tr!PoD#19 524]

We had the "Golf is/isn't a sport!" last summer I believe. Let's not do it again.. -.-

[Doggy 130]

I don't think any golf people were in that top 10, unless I went by too quickly, which is certainly possible. Still, I play golf and love golf but it's just as much a sport as NASCAR -- which is, not at all. Otherwise every time I go to Dave & Busters and go nuts on those fake ass racecars I'm suddenly being athletic unknowingly. Push a pedal, shift gears, turn a steering wheel to the left. Nothing special. The car is doing all the work.

I hate NASCAR but Shoreline, you are completely clueless.

Edited March 18, 2009 by Doggy

[ltgator333 3]

Funny that both hockey players are Red Wings. Sad that a list of athletes includes Richard Petty. That's why I don't really take lists seriously.

Race drivers (some classes more than others) work harder on their ass-end than golfers at a tourney or baseball players at a game. It's obvious you don't have a clue about motorsports whatsoever, so... why are you talking about it?

[puckloo39 5,686]

Race drivers (some classes more than others) work harder on their ass-end than golfers at a tourney or baseball players at a game. It's obvious you don't have a clue about motorsports whatsoever, so... why are you talking about it?

Any sport which I could conceivably do -- like drive a car -- can't be all that difficult.

I am joking, of course. I would be dead before I made one circuit in a race car.

It's hard to compare the sports in terms of which one is more difficult to maintain a presence in, after age 40. I would say hockey is a lot harder to compete in than golf or baseball. You don't see 40 year old NFL'ers very often either.

Hockey remains the most fascinating sport to me, and the most demanding in terms of athleticism. I am still amazed every time I see a defenseman in the NHL skating backwards faster than 99% of people in the world could skate forwards -- and they have eyes in the backs of their heads/helmets, since they don't run into each other or anything else.

Goalies are just other-worldly in terms of skills and level of demand/stress, IMO. Most of them don't make it to age 40 in the net, because the job is just too demanding on body and mind.

[ltgator333 3]

Any sport which I could conceivably do -- like drive a car -- can't be all that difficult.

I am joking, of course. I would be dead before I made one circuit in a race car.

It's hard to compare the sports in terms of which one is more difficult to maintain a presence in, after age 40. I would say hockey is a lot harder to compete in than golf or baseball. You don't see 40 year old NFL'ers very often either.

Well I realize there's a lot of people that consider auto racing a 'redneck' thing and dismiss it as easy because of that, but really it has physical demands you wouldn't even think of in some cases until you're behind the wheel.

I agree about the different levels of difficulty, and hockey has to be right up there with football for difficulty to continue playing despite age, and I'd throw in there being a pitcher in baseball, especially a starter, has to be a grueling thing considering the wear these guys put on their throwing arms.

Edited March 18, 2009 by ltgator333

[MacK_Attack 108]

No love for Johnny Bower, apparently.

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

No love for Johnny Bower, apparently.

Or the Gump. Too many old guys, not enough spots.

[puckloo39 5,686]

I agree about the different levels of difficulty, and hockey has to be right up there with football for difficulty to continue playing despite age, and I'd throw in there being a pitcher in baseball, especially a starter, has to be a grueling thing considering the wear these guys put on their throwing arms.

no pun intended, right?

Agreed on the starting pitchers' arms. It's grueling to create the same movement, over and over again, with such force as they have to use to pitch a fast ball, for example. It's amazing they ever play more than a couple of years.

[Datsyerberger 279]

no pun intended, right?

Agreed on the starting pitchers' arms. It's grueling to create the same movement, over and over again, with such force as they have to use to pitch a fast ball, for example. It's amazing they ever play more than a couple of years.

Pitching is by far the most physically strenuous position in a ball game, as far as in-game performance goes.

Baseball is rather weird in the fact that the vast majority of physical exertion used to play the sport is actually not even done so on the game, but rather, in working out. You spend a lot of time bulking up to exert one motion or one very small series of motions as hard as possible once every 20 minutes (hitting a ball, sprinting to catch and then throw a ball).

Baseball, however, requires a great amount of mental stamina and focus during game time, rather like being a goalie for the Wings XD. It also requires some of the fastest reflexes in all sports (behind, what? Vehicular racing sports and hockey?), and possibly the most hand-eye. If you don't have spectacular hand-eye in hockey, you can still be effective playing the body or make up for it in skating. If you can't hit a ball and aren't a pitcher in baseball, you're @#$% worthless.

[Inultus 12]

I went 6 laps as a passenger in NASCAR and let me tell you, even though I wasn't driving I was ready to get out just after those 6 laps.

It is hot and loud as hell in that car and it was scary hitting those corners and we weren't even going full speed, more like 175.

All of this coming from a guy who takes his 06 Mustang GT up to 150 on the highway, and takes his V-max motorcycle to 140!

NASCAR drivers have some crazy skills and stamina.

[Guest Shoreline]

Race drivers (some classes more than others) work harder on their ass-end than golfers at a tourney or baseball players at a game. It's obvious you don't have a clue about motorsports whatsoever, so... why are you talking about it?

Saying racecar drivers work harder than golfers doesn't really say much -- least of all NASCAR drivers. At least other races like F1s know how to use the elusive "right turn", which I've seen and enjoyed at raceways like Laguna Seca. Golfers also have the advantage of not sitting in their cart the entire time or hitting the ball from their cart. They actually walk around, so they get the exercise of someone doing treadmill walking.

And of course I may not be an expert on motorsports, but one doesn't need to be an expert on motorsports to understand that there's little-to-no athleticism involved in NASCAR. Maybe you can inform me though, since you know so much, about all this athleticism these drivers have, and all of this physically enduring nature of pushing a pedal, shifting gears, and turning a wheel (which I do every day, just not as fast and making the same turns over and over). I'm apparently clueless and am in sort need of being educated.

[Guest Shoreline]

Pitching is by far the most physically strenuous position in a ball game, as far as in-game performance goes.

Baseball is rather weird in the fact that the vast majority of physical exertion used to play the sport is actually not even done so on the game, but rather, in working out. You spend a lot of time bulking up to exert one motion or one very small series of motions as hard as possible once every 20 minutes (hitting a ball, sprinting to catch and then throw a ball).

Baseball, however, requires a great amount of mental stamina and focus during game time, rather like being a goalie for the Wings XD. It also requires some of the fastest reflexes in all sports (behind, what? Vehicular racing sports and hockey?), and possibly the most hand-eye. If you don't have spectacular hand-eye in hockey, you can still be effective playing the body or make up for it in skating. If you can't hit a ball and aren't a pitcher in baseball, you're @#$% worthless.

I can see why some people could consider baseball athletic, even though I'd not agree. I used to play for the team in school, but it was as fun as golfing, and I'd prefer to go my own pace at golfing rather than stand around and wait 80% of the time to have to get the ball or be at bat. Pitchers need quite a bit of skill, but not so much athleticism. Ironically it's they that are doing most of the work while mostly everyone else either sits in the clubhouse and watches or stands around on the field watching. This is why even playing baseball myself, I'd not call it very athletic either. It does require hand-eye coordination to pitch and hit the ball, training to get up the arm strength and accuracy at hitting, but once the person is on the field, besides the pitcher, they don't do much at all.

I can see how NASCAR is entertaining. Those guys drive fast as hell. It's almost like seeing the Blue Angels. There's no doubt NASCAR is in the entertainment business just like the WWE, which it's own racers have compared it to. But I just don't see, as someone who played and watched for over a decade, how baseball is entertaining to watch, or even very athletic.

Edited March 18, 2009 by Shoreline