Top 5 favorite athletes of your lifetime

[Spider-Dan]

I saw this on Twitter and thought it would be fun.  Remember: favorite, not best.

I've only thought about this for 5 minutes, so I reserve the right to change my answer.  In alphabetical order:

Allen Iverson
Dan Marino
Dominique Wilkins
Gary Payton
Ricky Williams

[masterfins]

Larry Bird
Larry Csonka
Thurman Munson
Walter Payton
Dan Marino

HM Bo Jackson

[Pappy13]

Larry Bird
Dan Marino
Frank Thomas
Jimmy Connors
Patrick Kane

[Sunstroke]

Tony Gwynn
Dan Majerle
Joe Montana
Ken Griffey Jr.
Barry Sanders

[Phishfan]

Dan Marino
James Worthy
Gary Carter
Walter Payton
John Offerdahl

[Tenshot13]

Dan Marino
Zack Thomas
Jason Taylor
Nolan Ryan
Ken Griffey Jr.

HM
Evan Longoria
Randy Johnson
Penny Hardaway

[Sunstroke]

^^^ If I had put an "HM" on mine, Randy Johnson would have made the cut as well. Some of my most incredible baseball memories are of Randy Johnson, Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martinez and the rest of that great Mariners team (Harold Reynolds, Omar Vizquel, Jay Buhner, etc...).

[DaLittle B]

I'm not sure if they're my favorites,but my favorites to watch play.
Dan Marino
Barry Sanders (I loved watching him run)
Tom Rathman
Mike Singletary
Mark Grace


Mike Tyson (The boxer)*

HM- It's not fair because they're still playing
Anthony Rizzo - I like him as the whole package, good player,goes all out,Seems to be really good person, and err happens to also be a Dolphin fan too )
Willson Contreras- I love the energy,plays like his hair is on fire)
Clayton Kershaw

*As a kid just watching Tyson fights,were OMG events.As a person,NOOOooooo...But as terms of boxing....

[Spider-Dan]

Yeah, if I were to add an HM, Barry Sanders and Omar Vizquel would be on there.

I didn't really notice that all my favorite players are retired until Lil B mentioned that last bit.  I don't even know if I could get to 5 among active players.  I like LeBron James, Cameron Wake, and Marshawn Lynch... those are the only active players that are really even close to my all-time list.

[Tenshot13]

I'm taking Nolan Ryan off my list and putting Barry Sanders in...how did I forget about Barry?

[Sunstroke]

Yeah, if I were to add an HM, Barry Sanders and Omar Vizquel would be on there.

Omar Vizquel and Harold Reynolds turning double plays was an absolute thing of beauty...

I didn't really notice that all my favorite players are retired until Lil B mentioned that last bit.  I don't even know if I could get to 5 among active players.  I like LeBron James, Cameron Wake, and Marshawn Lynch... those are the only active players that are really even close to my all-time list.

Yeah, I just realized all of mine are retired as well. If I were adding a "current" to the equation, a few of my favorites would be LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, Trea Turner (The Boynton Burner), NaVorro Bowman & Melvin Gordon.

[Dave Gray]

Larry Bird
Lebron James
Dan Marino
Ricky Williams
Roger Clemens

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Do they need to have played sports during my lifetime or merely be alive when I was born?

If the latter Jessie Owens, Jackie Robinson,  Billie Jean King, Ted Williams  and Pat Tillman.   

If the former... replace the first four with Wes Welker, Jullian Edelman, Ocho Cinco and Denis Rodman.   

[DaLittle B]

^ I thought about that also....Muhammad Ali would have probably been on my list.

I also struggled,with my youth versus how I feel,and know about now.

I feel my answers when I was 8-10 yrs old,Would have been  along the lines of Ozzie Smith,Brett Saberhagan,George Brett,Rowdy Roddy Piper,and HM to Hacksaw Jim Duggins. Everything was Cardinals,and Royals (being pre internet,and living here in Mo.),being most guy's my friends loved were Cardinals and Royals.

[masterfins]

I just thought no one has mentioned a motorsports guy.  I'd probably throw Richard Petty in there, maybe a Cale Yarborough or an Unser Sr.