ESPN’s ranking of the 20 most dominant athletes of the last 20 years:

[marklawrence]

ESPN’s ranking of the 20 most dominant athletes of the last 20 years:

1. Tiger Woods (PGA)
2. LeBron James (NBA)
3. Peyton Manning (NFL)
4. Jimmie Johnson (NASCAR)
5. Roger Federer (ATP)
6. Annika Sorenstam (LPGA)
7. Michael Schumacher (Formula One)
8. Floyd Mayweather Jr. (Boxing)
9. Marta (Women’s Soccer)
10. Usain Bolt (Men’s Track & Field)
11. Lionel Messi (Men’s Soccer)
12. Serena Williams (WTA)
13. Lauren Jackson (WNBA)
14. Christiano Ronaldo (Men’s Soccer)
15. Novak Djokovic (ATP)
16. Allyson Felix (Women’s Track & Field)
17. Barry Bonds (MLB)
18. Mike Trout (MLB)
19. Manny Pacquiao (Boxing)
20. Tom Brady (NFL)

No Michael Phelps? No Anderson Silva? No hockey players? Let the debating begin.

At the end of the day, is it crazy to say that Manning dominated the NFL at a higher level than Brady over the last 20 years? Probably not, as Brady’s numbers didn’t start rivaling those of “the greatest regular-season quarterback” until the Patriots’ ill-fated 2007 season.

But if you ask us, Brady’s 196 regular-season wins, 25 playoff wins, eight Super Bowl appearances, five Super Bowl wins and four Super Bowl MVPs (all NFL records) speak for themselves.

[claymaker]

A little amazed Brady is so low. Exceptional athlete or not, he's the most prolific QB in NFL history. Seriously way too low.

I think Mayweather is way too low. He could easily be number 1 and is arguably the best boxer ever.

Not sure why Tiger is number 1. His competition during his prime was pretty low.

Hockey players? I can't think of any I would be willing to put in the top 20.

The snub on Phelps is starting to make me think a tabloid wrote this list.

Crap list.

[ricky]

Clickbait nonsense for the slow season.

[The GM]

Hell, if you going to put Barry Bonds on that list, where's Lance Armstrong?

[marklawrence]

Hell, if you going to put Barry Bonds on that list, where's Lance Armstrong?

Nobody likes Lance or his alcoholic ex-girlfriend.

(personally, I think his accomplishment is pretty amazing.)

[Bignutz]

I agree! No Michael Phelps? More ESPN bullcrap.

[dannobanano]

Yeah................I'd throw Diana Taurasi somewhere on that list as well.

Also, are NASCAR and Formula One drivers really athletes in the same sense as some of the others on that list. I mean, they sit on their butt the whole time.

Don't get me wrong, I like racing (of all kinds), right down to tractor pulls. But.....................seriously?

[Bignutz]

Didn't ESPN include Secretariat as one of the 20th century greatest athletes once? ESPN is a friggin mess IMHO.