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Sports Seriously
At first glance, combat sports and motorsports might seem like an odd pairing for a list of all-time greats.
Look closer.
Two common denominators: Power and speed.
Horsepower and punching power.
Hand speed and car speed.
All of the drivers and fighters have teams, with crew chiefs, cut men, tire changers, trainers. But whether they’re in the ring or cage or on a racetrack, these athletes ultimately are on their own during potential fatal athletic pursuits.
In either sport, the best of the best showed more than talent. They had flair. And they etched their names in history.
They all knew how to adjust to unforeseen circumstances, because the greats understood what Mike Tyson distilled best when he said, “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face.”
Some of the fighters and drivers are so famous, they can be recognized by something other than their given name. Such as No. 43. The Intimidator. Rope-a-Dope. And the Baddest Man on the Planet.
Who were the Baddest Men on the Planet? Who were the Baddest Women on the Planet?
See USA TODAY Sports’ lists below.
About USA TODAY’s ‘250 for 250’ series
Now through July 4, USA TODAY Sports is releasing our “250 for 250” list of America’s top homegrown athletes of all time. Each week, we’ll bring you all-time standouts from across the sports world and give readers a chance to vote on who should be featured. Athletes are recognized along with the high schools they graduated from, or their hometowns for nongraduates.
The greatest U.S. motorsports athletes of all time
Richard Petty, Randleman High School, North Carolina
The King was more than a nickname. It’s Richard Petty’s eternal standing in the world of motorsports. On NASCAR tracks, he drove car No. 43 with swagger while winning 200 races and seven NASCAR Cup Series Championships.
Mario Andretti, Nazareth, Pennsylvania
Born in Italy and a naturalized American citizen, Andretti became the only driver to win the Indy 500, Daytona 500 and Formula 1 World Championship. He also won over fans with his skill and charm.
Dale Earnhardt, Kannapolis, North Carolina
With his mustache and rebellious streak, Earnhardt tore around tracks with abandon. He won seven NASCAR Winston Cup championships, although his career and life ended tragically when he died during a last-lap crash at the 2001 Daytona 500.
Lyn St. James, Andrews School for Girls, Willoughby, Ohio
Not only a trailblazer, St. James also was a skilled and accomplished driver. In 1992 she became the first woman to be named the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year. She also was the first woman to drive 200 mph on a racetrack.
A.J. Foyt, Houston
Versality helped define Foyt. He became the first four-time winner of the Indianapolis 500. He also won the Daytona 500 in 1972 and six other NASCAR Cup Series races. And don’t forget his victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1967.
John Force, Bell Gardens High School, California
With flames shooting from his Funny Car’s exhaust pipes, legendary drag racer John Force eclipsed speeds of 330 mph. He was blazing fast and dominant, winning 16 championships on the NHRA Drag Racing Series.
Danica Patrick, Roscoe, Illinois
She accomplished a litany of firsts, and among the most enduring: posting a lap of 196.434 mph at the Daytona 500 in 2013 to become the first woman to win the pole position for that iconic race.
Al Unser, Albuquerque High School, New Mexico
The easiest place to find Unser was inside his car. He competed in more than 320 major races, won the Indianapolis 500 four times and captured the USAC/CART Championship Car title three times.
Ricky Carmichael, On Track School (hometown Havana, Florida)
On two wheels and dirt, motocross legend Ricky Carmichael set an impossibly high standard for the stars who followed. Carmichael won 15 AMA Motocross and Supercross championships and 150 races in all.
Evel Knievel, Butte, Montana
The motorcycle daredevil soared over cars, buses and the Cesars Palace fountains during dozens of ramp-to-ramp attempts. He also tried to soar across Snake River Canyon in Idaho. He failed during one of his more notable crashes.
The greatest U.S. combat sports athletes of all time
Muhammad Ali, Central High School, Louisville, Kentucky
When Muhammad Ali shouted, “I am the greatest,’’ it was not a boast. It was a fact. His combination of speed, power, showmanship and smarts made him the greatest fighter ever to step inside the ropes.
Sugar Ray Robinson, Bronx, New York
It should be no surprise Robinson was Ali’s boyhood hero. They shared many of the same traits. Robinson’s TKO victory over Jake LaMotta on Feb. 14, 1951 was known as the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, and Robinson massacred plenty of other men.
Mike Tyson, Catskill, New York
Wearing black trunks, a white towel over his head and black shoes without socks, Tyson was intimidating simply walking to the ring. Of course, he was even more intimidating inside the ring. Of his 50 victories, 44 came by knockout.
John L. Sullivan, Roxbury, Massachusetts
Eventually Sullivan laced on a pair of boxing gloves. But it’s what he did with his bare knuckles that made him an icon. In the last heavyweight title contested under the bareknuckle rules, Sullivan fought Jake Kilrain in 1889 and won by knockout – in the 75th round.
Ronda Rousey, Venice, California
After winning an Olympic bronze medal in judo in 2008, Rousey embraced mixed martial arts. She prompted UFC CEO Dana White to open the door to female fighters and became the reigning star. She won eight of her 12 pro fights in less than a minute.
Laila Ali, Los Angeles
Ali pursued a pro boxing career despite reservations of her famous father. In her pro debut, she won by knockout 31 seconds into the fight. She retired with a record of 24-0 with 21 KOs and credentials that earned her induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Claressa Shields, Northwestern High School, Flint, Michigan
Among the first female boxers to compete at the Olympics, Shields won a gold medal in 2012 and another gold in 2016. She’s still shining. As a pro, Shields is 18-0 and has reigned as undisputed champion in three weight classes.
Dan Gable, Waterloo West High School, Iowa
A three-time All-American and two-time NCAA champion at Iowa State, Gable finished his college career with a record of 117-1. He also won an Olympic gold at the 1972 Munich Games. As a coach at Iowa his teams won 15 national titles.
Jon Jones, Union-Endicott High School, New York
His combination of athleticism and combat IQ are unsurpassed in the UFC. At 23, he became, and remains, the youngest champion in UFC history. He holds the UFC record for title fight victories.
Bruce Lee, Edison Technical School, Seattle
Born in San Francisco and raised in Hong Kong, Lee put the art in martial arts. He inspired the likes of Chuck Norris and Jackie Chan and countless other martial arts devotees. And with his famed one-inch punch, he knocked back grown men more than 10 feet.
Who’d we miss? Vote for your favorite in our interactive polls
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