Flawed Geniuses

[Sark79]

   .. No, Teacake is correct. I misunderstood natural talent with Genius.  Today it is easy to get the two mixed up.

However there are countless cases of unfulfilled potential in people.  I remember an ex F1 driver called Jan Magnasun. Before he came to F1 he had won everything and was tipped to be the finest driver since Ayrton Senna. However within a season and a half after reaching F1 he was sacked and disapeared from single seaters.  In my eyes he is still a genius behind the wheel, however on this occasion it was an unfulfilled talent. Just like Quinten Hann has.

[Nem]

LOL @ Tyson 2nd best heavyweight of all time
Didn't Stu Unger have to pay all his winnings to debtors (some have said the mob)?

Who do you think is the second best Heavyweight of all time IFM? In his prime, Tyson would have destroyed any Heavyweight.

[ifm]

Buster Douglas beat him "in his prime".

[Nem]

85-89

[Nem]

What was your highest break axxeman?

[ifm]

mine would be:-

Muhammed Ali
Joe Louis
Larry Holmes
Jack Dempsey

Then either Lewis, Tyson or Holyfield

[Nem]

mine would be:-

Muhammed Ali
Joe Louis
Larry Holmes
Jack Dempsey

Then either Lewis, Tyson or Holyfield

Tyson was so explosive in his prime. He would have inialated Louis, Homes and Dempsey. Maybe even Ali 

[ifm]

LOL, you'd be hard pressed to find someone to agree with that!!
I think if Tyson had stayed with Kevin Rooney i feel he could have fulfilled his POTENTIAL to be the very best.

I have Ali and Louis both as number 1 BTW.

[Nem]

Boxrec all time Heavyweights Nation Points Career span Record (W-L-D)


1      Ezzard Charles     US American    1,726    1940 - 1959     88-25-1     
               
 2      Joe Louis    US American    1,708    1934 - 1951     68-3-0     
               
 3      Muhammad Ali    US American    1,680    1960 - 1981     56-5-0     
               
 4      Jimmy Bivins    US American    1,651    1940 - 1955     86-25-1     
               
 5      Floyd Patterson    US American    1,646    1952 - 1972     55-8-1     
               
 6      Rocky Marciano    US American    1,619    1947 - 1955     49-0-0     
               
 7      Sonny Liston    US American    1,598    1953 - 1970     50-4-0     
               
 8      Jersey Joe Walcott    US American    1,598    1930 - 1953     51-18-2     
               
 9      Evander Holyfield    US American    1,597    1984 - 2004     38-8-2     
               
 10      Larry Holmes    US American    1,577    1973 - 2002     69-6-0     
               
 11      Mike Tyson    US American    1,570    1985 - 2005     50-6-0     
               
 12      George Foreman    US American    1,569    1969 - 1997     76-5-0     
               
 13      Eddie Machen    US American    1,555    1955 - 1967     50-11-3     
               
 14      Joe Frazier    US American    1,544    1965 - 1981     32-4-1     
               
 15      Lennox Lewis    British    1,541    1989 - 2003     41-2-1     
               
 16      Michael Spinks    US American    1,539    1977 - 1988     31-1-0     
               
 17      Max Schmeling    German    1,538    1924 - 1948     56-10-4     
               
 18      Lee Q Murray    US American    1,530    1939 - 1952     60-17-3     
               
 19      Primo Carnera    Italian    1,530    1928 - 1946     88-15-0     
               
 20      Bob Pastor                        1,522    1935 - 1942     53-7-5

[graeme]

Sark, hope you're right about Ullrich in July but I fear his time has passed, although he would certainly have won the Tour more often if it hadn't been for the criminally overrated Lance Armstrong. He just doesn't have it in the mountains anymore, and with guys like Basso, Valverde and Cunego coming through . . . I just don't know. I'd love to see him do it though. Nice to see Marco Pantani getting a mention on the board (that's him in my avatar). Definitely qualifies as a genius, flawed or otherwise. Used to really enjoy watching him tear A********'s legs off in the Alps. As for Tyson, I might put him in the top eight but only if I'd had a lot of red wine and was feeling all lovely and generous.

[Sark79]

I am not going to try and argue my point with you, Nemesis. It is obvious you are more of an expert on boxing than I am. I admit to not seeing much of Tyson when he was in his prime,  however I did see the Buster Douglas fight on TV when I was nine years old. After doing a brief search on google and from what I have heard people say about Tyson at 21 years old. You are possibly correct when you say he is a sporting God. However all the crazy things he has done in his life must have had an adverse effect on his performances.

What do you think of the Prince Naz comeback in summer, Nemesis?

It is good you are not bitter Axe, I don't think you wasted your time. How can it be a waste of time doing something you totally love or did love.
127 is an impressive break....

I just have a feeling about Ullrich for the Tour, Graeme. I know Armstrong has said that Ullrich will win by five minutes, but I think that is just mind games. Although he is no longer competing, he is obviously still attached to ex-team members and will be working on preparing them pyschologically for the three weeks in July. Putting the presure on Ullrich is one way to do this.

Pantani is one of the sadest cases of unfulfilled talent, his wins in the Giro and Tour in 98 could have just been the start. I think I am correct in saying it was the 99 Giro when the problems started for him. Wasn't he the leader and then failed a drugs test? . I am not at all sympathetic towards David Miller. He will also be at the Tour in July. I read during his ban he organised a book deal for £1 million. That doesn't seem fair to me.

Although Armstrong was a specialist of one race, the Tour. For me he is my favorite, he had ability, heart and was a true Gent on the bike.

[thetank]

I agree with Sark in that you didn't waste yer time Axxe.

If you folded you never would have known what the turn and river might have brought. You certainly had the pot odds to keep playing snooker, and if you enjoyed it and have happy memories then it's not a waste at all. I bet your 8-times table is spot on.

Plus, I'm sure you've got some white referee gloves in a cupboard somewhere. They're quite funky. If you combined them with a stripy jumper, you could pretend you're trapped inside an invisible box on a Saturday afternoon in a shopping centre somewhere (that might be a waste)

[thetank]

Where's Bruno on the list Nemesis?

"Know what I mean 'arry" should get him extra points.

[Ironside]

i think valverde will finish on podium in paris this year and if he progresses he should win the year after and could possibly win for years to come

ulrich barring injuries will put up a good show and if he gets the support of telekom could win it but getting the support of telekom is not a certainty as they have other irons in there fire

[mex]

Bruno? your kidding, he lacked the hard edge. I think Tyson at his prime was an animal he hit people like he wanted to kill them.
I've never seen or think we will see again a fighter hit that hard.

Do these flawed 'geniuses' apear flawed because we expect too much of them?