The Goat of all Goats?

I will say Jordan as the GOAT of all GOATS. He won six rings in eight years and probably would have been eight in a row if not for his two-year hiatus and did it in an era of free agency. Baseball and Football are dependent on many others, including coaches, managers, front office et al working in unison and having the stars align in many instances. Basketball is the one American sport where one man can have the most impact. Honorable Mention: Brady, Ali, Joe Louis, Gretzky, LT, Montana, Ruth

If you’re talking boxing, then it is difficult not to name Sugar Ray Robinson as the GOAT. Though I think Sam Langford should be in the conversation. He never really got a chance because all of the top boxers of his time were too afraid of him to fight him.

The problem with picking Brady is you can make the argument he was not even the best player on his own team for most of those championships. You're not making that argument with Ruth, Jordan, Graham or Russell.

Bruce

For what its worth, I believe you have actually made my point. Brown has been named in 2020 as the best college football player of all time. He was named by the panel you cite as the second best NFL player of all time. Even if you want to place Brady ahead of him (which I do not) that would make him third.

... and its his second sport.

He's in the same conversation (top handful of players all time depending upon whom you ask) for lacrosse.

D1 basketball at Syracuse and placing 5th at the nationals in the decathlon are just window dressing. ... and no, I do not believe Thorpe compares better as a multi-sport athlete, but that would be the competition.

Still, is it the GOAT of American Sports and lacrosse counts as a sport - then its Brown - (Even if its single american major sport writ large (including college rather than just NFL football) - its still arguably Brown) ...

However if the question is re: the most Goatish in the any one of the major American professional leagues I believe I would have to go with Ruth. I don't believe Brady IS the NFL's GOAT, and while Jordan gets my basketball vote hands down, Magic, Russell, Bird, Oscar, etc. make for a closer discussion than in baseball with Ruth at least IMHO -especially given his pitching stats.

That said, the only basketball player I've ever paid money to see is the Pistol when he would come into the Garden.

This discussion really needs to be in a pub or a coffee shop

Had Brady played in the 60s-70s, he'd have retired or been too injured to play into his 40s. Not a Bradshaw fan, but he took more than a few hits like Brady hasn't in the last 10 years because of the rules. Bradshaw isn't in Brady's class, that's beside the point.
Shaq could play with anyone. It's speculation, but had Bill Walton not blown too many lower body parts he could have been the best.
Ruth hit more HRs than entire teams in several seasons.
Jim Thorpe may have been a better athlete than anyone mentioned so far.

If you count hockey as an American sport (I don't) , then it's Gretzky by a mile.

If you count hockey as an American sport (I don't) , then it's Gretzky by a mile.

Here in Canada it's Gretzky and Bobby Orr by a mile.

How many goats have won world championships at 43?

The more I think about the GOAT in baseball -- what about Barry Bonds? Or Willie Mays? They faced much tougher pitching, relievers, and a much broader talent pool to compete against than Ruth. Aside from Bonds' controversies, a thought to ponder. And Mays ... put up an outstanding 5-tool all-around career during primarily a pitching era and offensively-challenging home ball park.

The more I think about the GOAT in baseball -- what about Barry Bonds? Or Willie Mays? They faced much tougher pitching, relievers, and a much broader talent pool to compete against than Ruth. Aside from Bonds' controversies, a thought to ponder. And Mays ... put up an outstanding 5-tool all-around career during primarily a pitching era and offensively-challenging home ball park.

I tend to think Mays, Mantle and Aaron were the best ballplayers ever. If Mantle had done a better job of taking care of himself, he probably would have been at the top.