Of all newspapers, the Wall Street Journal selected the world's top 10 athletes. They gave the performance stats and achievement records of 79 male athletes to a panel of 5 judges, and asked them to rank the competitors based on six criteria: speed; vision and reflex; stamina and recovery; coordination and flexibility; power, strength and size; and success and competitiveness. The final category examined success—records held and victories—as well as competitiveness, based on the sport's popularity. Soccer, for example, the world's most popular sport, was judged the most competitive. The panel gave a total score for each athlete in the first round. Sixty athletes were eliminated in the second round, either because of low scores or because they were not first in their field. The panelists then made the final ranking. Yale statistician John Emerson helped normalize the scores so no single panelist could exert undue influence.
AND THE WINNER IS: ROMAN SEBRLE. The Czech decathlete could jump over Shaquille O’Neal. He could throw a 16-pound ball the length of a 53-foot yacht. From a running start, he could leap over a two-lane highway. Mr. Sebrle has ideal size, according to physiologists, and expertise over a range of athletic pursuits, employing the speed of an NFL back and the vertical jump of an National Basketball Association forward. Some judges questioned whether Mr. Sebrle could withstand a tackle by an NFL lineman, but none questioned his talent in the 10 track and field events that make up the decathlon. He has won Olympic gold and silver medals for the Czech Republic and is the current world champion.
The rest of the list are:
1. Roman Sebrle (decathalon)
2. LeBron James (basketball)
3. Floyd Mayweather (boxing)
4. LaDainian Tomlinson (football)
5. Roger Federer (tennis)
6. Sidney Crosby (hockey)
7. Liu Xiang (track and field)
8. Jeremy Wariner (track and field)
9. Ronaldinho (soccer)
10. Alex Rodriguez (baseball)
Most people will not be familiar with very many names and will wonder why Tiger Woods was left off the list. Go ask the judges.
