Famous people who have achieved success way beyond their talent level

[The Camel]

Come to think about it, as applied to a sportsman the subject of this thread is a compliment.

Means they must have worked really hard and capitalised on every opportunity that presented itself.

Lleyton Hewitt for example.

Or Steve Davis.

Steve Davis was unbeatable in his era, I think his talent and success were equally matched.

But yes, a huge complement nonetheless.

You think Steve Davis was as talented as Jimmy White or Alex Higgins?

He worked his arse off and had balls of steel.

But I wouldn't put him in the top 20 of all time talented snooker players

[The Camel]

BTW I love Steve Davis. He's one of my favourite sportsmen.

However, I think even he would admit he's not in the class of a Hendrie, O'Sullivan or Williams.

[vegaslover]

I think we all have differing definitions of talent. Some are classing it as natural ability, others as just ability. Steve Davis may or may not have been a natural, but he had the ability to match his success. Someone like Beckham however, does not have anywhere near the ability to match his level of financial success he has achieved.

Yeah, this was my line of thought.

I don't see anyway Steve Davis can be itt, 99% of those who have got to the top of there Sport will have had to put a lot of hard work into getting there, wasn't there a well written piece on here not so long ago about "natural talent" being massively overrated as a relevant factor.

How do we quantify who has the least/most natural talent when looking at the very best ?

Tru dat. What we assume is talent is likely the result of hard work. Thats why I am basing mine on their ability in general.

Oh and Shia Labeouf btw

There it is. Application v natural talent. Steve Davis v Jimmy White. (See tomorrow's thread....).

One won world titles galore, the other was forever the bridesmaid.

Which is the greater talent? Heads up, both at their peak, the betting would be close. One got the lot, the other not so much.

Jimmy had the greater talent without doubt. Davis himself states his success was down to playing and being coached in a very mechanical style as he didn't have the natural talent at the game.
Hard to say for a lot of sports/ sports performers whether it's talent or graft as the top level of sport is mostly 'mental'

[tikay]

BTW I love Steve Davis. He's one of my favourite sportsmen.

However, I think even he would admit he's not in the class of a Hendrie, O'Sullivan or Williams.

Never thought you were old enough to remember Rex Williams. Or do you mean Robbieeeeeeeeee?

[The Camel]

BTW I love Steve Davis. He's one of my favourite sportsmen.

However, I think even he would admit he's not in the class of a Hendrie, O'Sullivan or Williams.

Never thought you were old enough to remember Rex Williams. Or do you mean Robbieeeeeeeeee?

Neither.

I meant this one:

[hector62]

and

[tikay]

BTW I love Steve Davis. He's one of my favourite sportsmen.

However, I think even he would admit he's not in the class of a Hendrie, O'Sullivan or Williams.

Never thought you were old enough to remember Rex Williams. Or do you mean Robbieeeeeeeeee?

Neither.

I meant this one:

He enlivens the Omaha cash games in Swansea and Cardiff, or used to. A superb snooker player at his very best, but a mile behind Ronnie, in my view.

[The Camel]

BTW I love Steve Davis. He's one of my favourite sportsmen.

However, I think even he would admit he's not in the class of a Hendrie, O'Sullivan or Williams.

Never thought you were old enough to remember Rex Williams. Or do you mean Robbieeeeeeeeee?

Neither.

I meant this one:

He enlivens the Omaha cash games in Swansea and Cardiff, or used to. A superb snooker player at his very best, but a mile behind Ronnie, in my view.

I'd have Williams as a close number 2 as the most talented ever.

Not the dedication of the Nugget or Hendry though.

[rfgqqabc]

Paul Collingwood springs to mind. An absolute grafter.

[The Baron]

Paul Collingwood springs to mind. An absolute grafter.

Graeme Thorpe also.

[iangascoigne]

Ringo.

[bookiebasher]

Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards.

By the way , I think he's awesome , a proper chap. Typically British.

[BangBang]

Rihanna
Megan Fox
Orlando Bloom
The Ultimate Warrior WWE
Gilbert from WWE
The Earthquake John Tenta WWE
The 123 Kid WWE

[Ironside]

123 kid and his many other disguises was cool

[Tal]

It would have taken me a long time to have thought of putting the 123 Kid on this list!

He's been under a few different names, hasn't he?