Athletes of The Decade - Recap

Following our Top 10 Soundbytes of the Decade, our second Top 10 list in The Decade Series at Randall Simon's Sausages has focused on the Top 10 Athletes of the Decade. In this list, we look at athletes from around the world of sports to see who are the Top 10 defining athletes of the decade. The RSS Committee factored in the athlete's resume as well as the lasting impact of each athlete. Click on the link on each athlete's name for our extended take for their entire resume, a couple highlights, and why they make the countdown. When we look back from the 2100's, these will be the 10 Athletes (give or take a couple) that we remember most from the 2000's. Here they are!

#10 The Williams Sisters - Tennis, combined 28 Grand Slam Titles

#9 Albert Pujols - Baseball, 8 Time All-Star

#8 Tim Tebow - College Football, 2 Time National Champion and Heisman Winner

#7 Kobe Bryant - Basketball, 4 time NBA Champion

#6 Michael Phelps - Swimming, 14 career Olympic Gold Medals

#5 LeBron James - Basketball, 5 Time All-Star, global icon

#4 Tom Brady & Peyton Manning - Football, 13 Combined Pro Bowls, 4 MVPs, 4 Super Bowl Rings

#3 Lance Armstrong - Cycling, 7 Straight Tour de France Titles

#2 Roger Federer - Tennis, 15 Grand Slam Titles

#1 Tiger Woods - Golf, 14 Majors, Earned $1 Billion Dollars

Best of the Rest - These are the guys that were considered for the Top 10, but fell just short:

Tim Duncan - (Basketball), Floyd Mayweather Jr. - (Boxing), Jimmie Johnson - (NASCAR), Michael Schumacher - (F1), David Beckham - (Soccer), Shaquille O'Neal - (Basketball), Brett Favre - (Football)... hahaha, ok that's a joke, we never considered him.

So there it is. We here at RSS want to hear what you think. Should some of these athletes be ranked higher or lower? Do some not belong at all, or have we totally missed out on a deserving athlete? Then again, maybe we've got it just right (but probably not). Let us know what you think in the comments below and tune in for the next installment in our Decade Series coming soon! Bye for now...

Athletes of The Decade - #1 Tiger Woods

Was there ever any doubt as to what person would hold the distinguished title of Athlete of the Decade? Yes, that man is indeed Eldrick "Tiger" Woods. He burst onto the scene as a toddler on the Mike Douglas show, grew up winning US Amateurs, shocked the world with his dominance at Augusta, won the Tiger Slam, and proceeded to become the defining athlete of a generation.

Resume

-14 Major Titles, #2 in golf history behind Jack Nicklaus (12 this decade)

-71 PGA Tour Wins, 3rd all-time behind Nicklaus and Sam Snead

-Highest career earnings of any golfer (over $92 Million)

-Only man to ever win all 4 majors in a row, creating the Tiger Slam

-9 Time PGA Player of the Year

Facts

-Won the 2000 US Open by 15 shots.

-Holds career scoring average record

-Set all-time record for consecutive cuts made (142)

-Only golfer to win US Amateur 3 straight times

-The obligatory link to the Career Achievements Wikipedia page.

-First person in the history of the universe to earn $1 Billion by playing sports for a living.

Why He's Here

-If you in any way question this decision, then you've got some explaining to do. Tiger Woods is the defining post-Jordan athlete. There is no other person that has captured the imagination of the sporting nation, and the sporting world like Tiger Woods. In a way, he's been destined for greatness since the beginning. I wonder if he's even ever lost a game of Tecmo Bowl growing up, or is he just used to always winning? Along every step of the way, Tiger Woods has been as close to perfection as you can get from an athlete. Oh, and he still has about 10-12 years of his golfing prime ahead of him to rewrite the record books even more. But, you ask, is golf even really a sport? Come on, that's what old ladies play at their retirement homes in Boca Raton. If you have that attitude, you've come to the wrong sports blog. Golf is indeed a sport, and the most mentally challenging at that. Tiger is the most dominant, most successful, most accomplished, most transformational, most recognizable athlete of this decade and this generation.

(Of course, there is a little bias here because Tiger is the only athlete in the countdown to actually acknowledge yours truly. At the Memorial a few years ago I had a deep philosophical conversation with Woods about his place in history:

Me: Go get 'em Tiger

Tiger: Thanks

This conversation moved me in a subtle, yet complex way. As an impressionable kid just out of high school, the mere acknowledgement of Tiger Woods changed my life. Maybe I could wear that red shirt some day and be as great as he is. Ok, that last part might be a little much, and I might have slightly overstated the significance of the moment, but it was kinda cool. At least I didn't get punched by his caddie or anything...)

Lasting Impact

-Where to begin? Golf was never exactly seen as a sport open to the masses before Tiger Woods came along. It was mostly a country club sport for old, white dudes (cough, Augusta, cough). However, Tiger broke through that barrier in a huge way and opened up the sport to an uncountable number of people. For a man of black and Asian descent to do what Tiger Woods has done on the golf course is astounding. Much like the Williams Sisters, Tiger's lasting impact in this way is untouched by most all other athletes. Furthermore, his commercial appeal is only rivaled by that of Jordan and has elevated golf into must see viewing whenever he swings the clubs. One could make the argument that he doesn't use his position as the world's most famous athlete to do enough good much like some criticism of Jordan, but he does have the Tiger Woods Foundation amongst other charitable work, so it's largely unfounded.

On the course, he's provided some of the most memorable performances in golf and sports history. The Tiger Slam might stand the test of time as one of the impressive achievements in sports this decade, century, and millennium. He won one US Open on one leg, and won another one by 15 shots. Only Tiger Woods can leave you speechless on Sundays in that way. Not to mention his countless shots that have seemed only possible in the imagination. Tiger has transformed golf. His power and athleticism are unmatched, his putting in the clutch is unbreakable, and his competitors (save for YE Yang at this year's PGA of course) have been left wilting.

At 33, some cracks in the armor have appeared, and critics have been ready to pounce on them. But, when looking back at the 2000's, no other athlete comes close to the stratosphere that Tiger Woods occupies. He is the indisputable #1 Athlete of the Decade. Surely, that has to rank right up there with those 14 majors, right Tiger? For a close, here is for my money the most remarkable shot in golf history. I'll always remember my brother Y2 calling this shot perfectly, and when it rolled in, the roof came off of Augusta and every house watching. Roll it!

That's it for the countdown! Stay tuned for the recap later tonight and our next Decade Series Top 10 list will come shortly! Bye for now...

Athletes of The Decade - #2 Roger Federer

Our #2 Athlete of the Decade is the most accomplished tennis player in history. This quiet Swiss ace was a man who had never advanced past the 4th round of a major from 2000-2002. Then, he broke onto the scene in 2003 with a win at Wimbledon. After that first Grand Slam title, he went on a nice little run of winning at least 2 Grand Slams in 6 of the next 7 years and would become one of the most dominant athletes of all-time. Our Silver Medal Athlete is Roger Federer.

Resume

-15 Grand Slam Singles Titles, #1 in tennis history

21 Grand Slam Finals, reached SF stage in 22 straight majors

-237 Consecutive Weeks at #1 from '04-'08

-2008 Olympic Doubles Champion

Facts

-Won Wimbledon and US Open every year from '04-'07

-Holds record winning streaks on grass and hard-court in Open Era

-One of 6 players to win Career Grand Slam.

-And to get the broad scope of the records that Federer has held and set, here's a link to his career achievements page on Wikipedia, it's pretty long.

Why He's Here

-Well, Federer is on this list because he is the greatest tennis player of all-time. Being at the top for so long in an individual sport is a testament of greatness. If you are or aren't a tennis fan, you've seen Federer play in a Grand Slam final. Remember his epic win over Andy Roddick? Sure, a lot of folks in the States were rooting for Roddick, but after the game the respect shown to Federer was surreal. "Yea, Roddick played great, but you knew Federer would win." "Wow, Roddick played the match of his life, and still lost to Federer." That's not normal in sports to see that kind of respect for an athlete. He surpasses the rest of the athletes on our list because in truth there are only two men in contention for #1, and Federer is one of them. He comes up just short in the countdown, but only because of the awesomeness of our #1 Athlete. Here are some highlights from the '09 Wimby Final

Lasting Impact

It's hard to know just what lasting impact Federer will have. He's been so good this decade that perhaps he's under-appreciated, and will probably continue to be under-appreciated when the history books look back on his career. Federer's legacy has taken a slight hit recently with the rise of Rafa Nadal and his loss in the '09 US Open final against an underdog in Juan Martin Del Potro. However, being able to consistently contend and win majors in his late 20's might mean Federer will extend his record and could possibly win up to 20 majors in his career, demolishing Pete Sampras' old record.

What we'll remember about Federer is that he was perhaps the most dominant athlete in any sport in his prime. He won every Wimbledon and US Open for 4 years in a row! That likely will never be seen again. But, moreso than the numbers, is the grace and sheer technical ability that Federer has shown over the years. He is the Tiger Woods of tennis (cough, hint, cough) and has shown some transcendent ability into the mainstream world. He has that European dry wit and smoothness about him which might not hit home with middle America, but gives him a certain aura of brilliance on and off the court.

Join us next time as we reveal the #1 Athlete of the Decade. I'll give you one hint, it's not Kwame Brown.

Athletes of the Decade-#3 Lance Armstrong

Take yourself back to, oh, let's say 1999. Now, envision the greatest athletes of the next decade. Would you have imagined the 3rd best athlete of the decade would be a cyclist? Even more, would you imagine that cyclist would have just been diagnosed with cancer? Such is the remarkable journey of the next athlete in our countdown, Lance Armstrong.

Resume

-Winner of 7 straight Tour de France (1999-2005)

-Finished 3rd in 2009 Tour de France after 3 year retirement

-SI's Sportsman of the Year in 2002.

Facts

-Was diagnosed with Stage 3 testicular cancer in 1996. Given only a 40% chance of survival.

-Has consistently dodged doping allegations from French and European media and authorities.

-His Lance Armstrong Foundation has sold more than 70 million Livestrong bracelets (right) to raise awareness and money for fighting cancer.

Why He's Here

-You've heard all of the arguments before, cycling isn't really a sport, anybody can ride a bicycle, who cares about a French sport? What those who don't appreciate Lance Armstrong's athletic accomplishments don't understand is how truly difficult the Tour de France is. How many people can ride over 2000 miles in only 3 weeks through grueling mountains and win, not just once, but seven consecutive times! Based on that level of dominance, it would be easy to argue that Lance Armstrong is on a different athletic playing field than 99% of all major professional athletes in the United States or the world. But, that's only half of why Lance Armstrong belongs on this list.

Lasting Impact

It's a story so familiar, perhaps it has lost its impact in today's sporting culture. In 1996, Lance Armstrong was told there was a 60% chance he would die from advanced cancer. Not only did he beat those odds just to live, he made a comeback to cycling. For him to even return to competitive cycling would have seen him make this list easily. But, Lance Armstrong didn't stop there. Suddenly, the gritty Texan became the most dominant rider in the history of the prestigious Tour de France. Every year, when the rest of the riders wilted climbing the Alps, Armstrong would surge to claim the maillot jaune. But, with this meteoric rise to the top of the cycling world, came a cloud of suspicion which continues to cloud Armstrong's accomplishments in the rest of the world.

Perhaps no athlete, not even Barry Bonds, has had to battle more suspicion than Lance Armstrong. Journalists and newspapers throughout France and the rest of Europe, especially the "fine folks" at Le Monde and L'Equipe have repeatedly posted allegations from other riders, former riders, former personal assistants, and many others to attempt to prove Lance Armstrong is a cheater. Why wouldn't they be suspicious, especially in a sport with such a rich doping history? Why would they be proud of an American cancer survivor to claim their event a record seven times after only winning two previous Tour stages. Try as they might, Armstrong has never failed a test for performance enhancing drugs. However, some of his own abrasive behavior, and the continued smoke clouds that surround him, may in the long run take some prestige away from his athletic feats. In this steroids era, even our loftiest of heroes must face that hint of doubt which lingers in the minds of his admirers.

Outside of athletics though, Armstrong has managed to be a transcendent figure in the sports world. As a cyclist, he has managed to become one of the top 5 most recognizable athletes in America. Even Armstrong found himself on celebrity tabloids when he briefly dated Sheryl Crow in the middle of the decade. Not only has Armstrong crashed through the barrier to become a household name, he has had perhaps the most positive impact on society as any other athlete this generation. Using his own battle against cancer to inspire others, Armstrong has raised millions to fight the disease and his will to raise awareness has proven priceless. This is Armstrong's lasting legacy, even if he never captures another yellow jersey. He is the rarest of all athletes, the one who will be remembered as a pivotal member of society first, and an inspiring athlete second.

Join us next time as we reveal the #2 Athlete of the Decade. By now every true sports fan should know who the final two are. The two most dominant athletes of this, or perhaps any generation. Who will take #1 and who will be the runner-up? Find out here at your home for the Decade Series, Randall Simon's Sausages!

Athletes of the Decade-#4 Tom Brady/Peyton Manning

Our greatest athlete countdown reveals an RSS Decade Series first, ladies and gentlemen, a tie! For our #4 athlete, there was no way to separate these two quarterbacks. For the past decade, they've been the unquestioned face of the NFL. When you think of one, you think of the other...Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, or is it Peyton Manning and Tom Brady?

Tom Brady's Resume

-3-time Super Bowl Champion (36, 38, 39)

-2-time Super Bowl MVP (36, 38)

-4-time Pro Bowl selection

-2007 NFL MVP

Peyton Manning's Resume

-1-time Super Bowl Champion (41)

-1-time Super Bowl MVP (41)

-9-time Pro Bowl Selection

-3-time NFL MVP

The Facts

-In 2004, Manning set an NFL record by throwing for 49 TDs. The record was broken by Brady in 2007 with 50 TDs.

-Brady holds the record for most completions in a single Super Bowl and most career completions in the Super Bowl.

-Manning currently sits 4th on the career TD list and 6th on the career passing yards list.

-Manning has made the playoffs every year this decade except 2001, while Brady has made the postseason 6 times this decade.

-Brady holds the advantage head-to-head over Manning 7-3.

-Both have hosted episodes of Saturday Night Live.

Why They're Here

Clearly, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady belong on this list because they have been the two greatest athletes in the most important professional league in the country, the NFL. They truly are the Magic Johnson and Larry Bird of this generation. Throughout history, they will be linked as the two greatest quarterbacks of this, or perhaps any generation. Perhaps the greatest irony is the difference between the two's path to the NFL. Peyton Manning was born to be a professional quarterback. As the son of Saints great Archie Manning, Peyton was always pushed towards greatness. After attending Tennessee, Peyton was drafted first overall by the Colts in the 1998 Draft.

Meanwhile, Tom Brady had to compete for playing time at Michigan with future baseball flameout Drew Henson and future journeyman Brian Griese. In the 2000 NFL Draft, Brady would be drafted 199th overall, behind such great quarterbacks as Giovanni Carmazzi (0 career passing yards), Tee Martin (69 career passing yards), and Spergon Wynn (589 career passing yards). Both would also take different paths to the top of the NFL. Manning was the prototype for the perfect quarterback who could never win the big game until he finally won his Super Bowl. Brady was the cinderella champion who came from nowhere to become one of the winningest quarterbacks of all-time.

Lasting Impact

Interestingly enough, their lasting impact on the sports culture may find Brady switching his humble roots with Manning's pedigree. These days, it's Brady who finds himself as tabloid material on a daily basis. With his supermodel wife, Brady has gone from sixth-round draft pick to the glamour boy of the NFL.

Manning on the other hand feels like the everyman's quarterback, methodical and hard-working. His down-home blue-collar charm appeals to the masses, which might be why Manning's face is all over products from Gatorade to MasterCard. Who can forget this favorite?

So, both are proven winners in the biggest sport in the country at the single most important position in American sports, quarterback. Battles between these two in the past, and in the future, will go down in NFL lore among the very best rivalries in the game's history. By the end of Brady's career, he could have more Super Bowl victories than any other quarterback. By the end of Manning's career, he could hold nearly every important passing record there is. That's why it's impossible to separate the two. Which one is truly better than the other, you be the judge. For now, they both share the stage in our Athletes of the Decade countdown.

Only three more athletes to go! Who will claim the final podium positions on our Athletes of the Decade countdown? Remember, we at RSS want to know what you think, so feel free to leave your comments below. Also, don't forget to vote up our stories on BallHype, I'm sure we can pay you back someday. Until next time, it's bye for now!

Athletes of The Decade - #5 LeBron James

Our #5 Athlete of the Decade may not have that title yet, but he has just about everything else. The argument can be made that he has been the most transcendent athlete this decade though. He shot on the scene out of a cannon straight from high school and the constant speculation about his future has a city and a league in paralyzed anxiety. Breaking into the Top 5 is the King himself, Lebron James.

The Resume:

-5 Time All-Star

-2 Time All-Star Game MVP

-2008 Olympic Gold Medalist

-2009 MVP

-3 Time All-NBA 1st Team

The Facts:

-Youngest player to score 50 points, have a triple-double, and make an All-Star Team

-2008 Scoring Champ

-One of 2 players to average 27, 6, 6 for 5 years (Oscar Robertson)

-Youngest player to reach 10,000 points

-Holds or shares 49 Cavaliers records

-Most consecutive points in a playoff game (25)

Why He's Here:

-LeBron James is a freak of nature. Nobody else in sports is able to do what LeBron can. His passing, rebounding, and relentless attacks to the basket make him an unstoppable, all-around force on the hardwood. The only possible criticism of James is his lack of a consistent jump shot, and the lack of a championship ring. The skillset of James is only paralleled by Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson, only they weren't 6-8 and also built like the Rock of Gibraltar. You want proof as to how good LBJ is exactly? Watch the awesomeness and the diversity of these plays....

Oh, and do you remember this....

Lasting Impact:

-Off the court, LeBron has perhaps exceeded his on-court skills. Without a doubt, he's in the Top 2-3 most famous and recognizable athletes in the world. LBJ is everywhere. Posters, advertisements, magazines, commercials... you name it, LeBron is there. Heck, I even passed through the Charlie Rose show this weekend and he was interviewing... LeBron James!! His marketability is what takes him past Kobe Bryant on our list. Sure, if you have one shot you might want #24, but in terms of being an all-around athlete, #23 comes first. He's hosted SNL, he's got a mostly spotless reputation (handshakegate and dunkedongate aside) and he seems to be incredibly likeable and popular, especially with his teammates. Perhaps only Tiger Woods is as marketable worldwide as King James. Think of all the hype, expectations, and pressure when he came into the league from St. Vincent St. Mary. And yet, with everything that was laid upon LeBron James, he has surpassed expectations. Future stars take note, LeBron is the blueprint for all athletes coming into the pros on and off the court.

Of course, James' greatness helps his marketing ability. On the court, James is transcendent. The NBA has not seen an athlete like LeBron James, period. He moves with the grace of Clyde Drexler, the power of Karl Malone, and he can jump out of the gym like David Thompson. All LBJ needs is a title. Odds are, he will get it, and it could even be this year with Shaq at his side. When he hangs them up, LeBron will go down as a Top 5 all-time player. He'll eventually pass Kobe amongst the greatest players of this generation when he retires. Even if by some chance he never wins a title, the mere wow factor of being able to watch an athlete like LeBron James play will leave us telling our grandkids about how lucky we were to be a Witness. If I haven't convinced you he belongs on this list yet, here's my last piece of evidence...

Does LBJ belong or not? Leave us your feedback with what you think. Check back with RSS as we'll be continuing our Athletes of the Decade Countdown. We'll move into the Top 4 this week and look tomorrow for the YCS and what we missed this weekend! Good night, and good luck.

Athletes of The Decade - #6 Michael Phelps

Our #6 Athlete of the Decade was only on the national stage for about a month this entire decade. Well, that's if you don't count those bong photos... But, when you break one of the most famous records in sports on the world's grandest stage, you qualify as an athlete that defined the decade. Next up on the list, the Sultan of Swim: Michael Phelps

Resume:

-14 Olympic Gold Medals (all-time record)

-8 Gold Medals in 2008 Olympics (all-time record)

-16 Olympic Medals (2nd all-time to Larissa Latinya)

-22 Gold Medals in World Championships

The Facts:

-5-time world swimmer of the year

-2008 Sportsman of the Year (SI)

-Has broken a world record a record 37 times

-Currently holds 6 world records

-Eats six times the normal male per day

Why He's Here:

-The Olympics define the best in athletic competition. So, it's only natural that the best Olympic athlete of this or perhaps any generation makes our list. Before Phelps, was Mark Spitz's 7 Gold Medals in one Olympics thought of as being a threatened record? Whenever Phelps swims in the Olympics, it is appointment viewing. Even if he doesn't come back in 2012, he is the most decorated American Olympian of all-time. The case could even be made that Phelps is the most dominant athlete in sports this decade. Of course, Phelps largely has Jason Lezak to thank for that 8th Gold Medal. Our Phelps clips pay tribute to that relay and first the dramatic comeback in the 100m Butterfly!

Lasting Impact:

-Much like our last athlete, Kobe Bryant, Phelps has had his share of out-of-pool instances that has taken some of the shine off of his golden boy reputation. Does this photo ring a bell? The Bonggate saga along with his 2004 DUI produce some stains on Phelps' lasting impact. Of course, not every athlete is perfect. But, the bong photos produced a hysteria not seen when other athletes get in trouble. If that was a defensive tackle or a shooting guard would there be the same outrage that was thrown towards the greatest Olympic champion of our day?

If Phelps is the most dominant athlete and greatest Olympian of the decade, then why isn't he #1? Or at least in the Top 5? Well, his Olympic pedigree works against him in this regard. Michael Phelps shows up for 2 weeks on the national radar every 4 years and then disappears again. Phelps isn't in the national conversation on a 24/7 basis like the stars of the NFL or the NBA. Sure, if he swims in a World Championship or other meet he might show up on SportsCenter, but that's about it. 14 Golds is an amazing achievement, but does it mean as much in a here & now Twittering world?

And, he swims. He doesn't play quarterback. He doesn't hit home runs. Heck, he doesn't even drive a stock car. Swimming is somewhere between poker and bass fishing in the grand sports lexicon. Swimming's stature and popularity means that Phelps isn't the breakthrough, transcendent star that he could be if he played a more consistently popular sport. At least Phelps can take solace in being the greatest swimmer, and perhaps greatest Olympian in recorded history (unless there was some superhuman Roman swimmer at the turn of the first century that we don't know about...)

Check back with RSS as we hit the Top 5 in our Athletes of the Decade Countdown! And a special Championship Game Preview coming later today of something you need to see!

Athletes Of The Decade - #7 Kobe Bryant

Our #7 Athlete of the Decade is sure to cause a stir. Some might think he belongs wayyy higher on the list, some might think he should be disqualified completely. Some think he's vastly overrated, some think he's the greatest of all time. Whatever the case may be, Kobe Bryant always brings up a variety of opinions.

Resume:

-4 Time NBA Champion (2000-2002, 2009)

-2008 NBA MVP

-2009 Finals MVP

-11 Time All-Star

-7 Time 1st Team All-NBA

-3 Time All-Star Game MVP

-2008 Olympic Gold Medalist

The Facts:

-His 81 Points vs Toronto (1/22/06) are 2nd most all time for a single game.

-12 3 pointers tied for most in a single game (1/7/03).

-Most points in Madison Square Garden single game (61 pts 2/2/09)

-Youngest player to start an ASG and NBA game

-Scored 60 or more points 5 times

Why He's Here:

-Come on, obviously Kobe Bryant belongs on this list. He's been the face of the post-Jordan NBA, he's won 4 titles for the Lakers, he is a global superstar and icon. Kobe's vaulted himself into the rare echelon of the greatest NBA players of all-time. Not since Jordan has a player been able to take over a game and show that rare clutch ability. When Kobe gets that look in his eye (ridiculous teethy glare above aside), you know that something is going down. There isn't a sight in sports like Kobe going nuts. Remember when Jordan's Wizards visited Staples? He scored 55! How about his 61 at MSG? Or his 81 point effort! What about the countless clutch and game winning shots in the playoffs. In this decade, only Kobe has the ability to add that extra aura to a game. MVPs, All-Star Games, titles, Kobe has done it all. Check out all 81 of his points in his historic performance against the Raptors.

Lasting Impact:

-So, with all of these accomplishments... why isn't Kobe higher? His lasting impact tells the story of why Kobe Bryant is only #7 on our Athletes of the Decade countdown. His legacy isn't exactly pristine when compared to some of the others on our list. The giant elephant in the room when looking at Kobe's impact is his Colorado rape trial.

Was he convicted? No. But is the lasting stain on Kobe's legacy permanent? Yes. In our society, when a man of Kobe Bryant's stature is accused of rape and goes through a trial in front of a huge media circus and admits to adultery at a dramatic press conference... it's not exactly going away. Yes, charges were eventually dropped, and he has done work since then to repair his public image. But, there will always be that question mark by Kobe's name. Right or wrong, that's the truth.

In addition, he's not exactly known as a great teammate. Kobe was the one that broke up the early 2000s Lakers. Kobe shoved Shaq and Phil out of town. Kobe was the one who was the ballhog. Kobe got booed at the All-Star Game in his hometown. Kobe was the one who went on a media tour ridiculously demanding a trade. Kobe was the one who had Spike Lee make a documentary about him which was a flop. Over time, these things add up.

So is Kobe Bryant one of the greatest athletes of this or any decade? Yes. But will Kobe be remembered more for his amazing on-court ability or for the courtroom allegations and the petulance he showed off-court? Will we remember him as the man who won championships and made clutch shots for the Redeem Team, or the man who blew up a dynasty, foolishly demanded a trade, and was involved in one of the biggest scandals of the decade. You'll have to be the judge of that.

Check back with RSS as we'll be continuing our Athletes of the Decade Countdown. Let's just say our #6 Athlete is best known for our #7 Athlete's number 8. Hmmm.

Athletes Of The Decade - #8 Tim Tebow

We hope you have enjoyed the footballing weekend. Tonight, the Decade Series is back with our #8 Athlete of the 2000's. For this selection, we go outside the box for a man not even in the prime of his career, well... because he's not even a professional yet. However, when we look back on this decade, whether he becomes a successful pro or not, Tim Tebow made his mark on the world of sports as one of its most transcendent athletes.

Resume:

-2 time National Champion QB (2006, 2008)

-2007 Heisman Trophy Winner, 1st Sophomore to win the award.

-2007, 2008 All American

-2007, 2008 Maxwell Award Winner (1st 2-time winner)

The Facts:

-Only Division I-A player to rush and throw for 20 TDs in a season (2007)

-SEC Record 23 Rushing TDs and 55 total TDs in 2007.

-3rd in 2008 Heisman voting, most 1st place votes

-Currently has the Gators at #1 in the country

-Lives in Chuck Norris' nightmares

Why He's Here:

-There is no doubt that when you look at college football this decade, Tim Tebow's star shines above the rest. As the growth of college football's popularity has taken off this decade, Tebow's iconic figure has taken centerstage. His qualities and toughness at the QB position has reached mythical stature. His bruising running style brings fans back to a time of the days of the Single Wing, and his passing skills are highly underrated (somewhat oxymoronic i know... 66% Comp. Pct. 67 Tds 11 INTs). With the Gators at #1 again in 2009, Tebow has the chance to do the unthinkable: tie Archie Griffin's record of 2 Heisman Trophies, and win 3 National Titles. He makes the list because of his stature as the defining player this decade in arguably the nation's second most popular sport.

Lasting Impact:

-Merely the name Tebow brings to mind so many images. He's almost a cult figure at this point. He's dominated the college game in ways that weren't thought to be imaginable. It's hard to say that Tebow has revolutionized the game at the QB position, but his running and passing skills stand above the rest. Tebow isn't your traditional fleet-footed mobile QB, but his hardcore style will eventually see him pass Herschel Walker (one of the greatest running backs in history) on the all-time SEC TD list. Will he succeed at the pro level? It is impossible to say right now. What we can say is that when he hangs up the Florida boots, he will be known as the greatest college football player of this generation. The resume and the numbers speak for themselves.

But his impact spans beyond the field and around the globe as well. In the days of the Steroid Era and the NFL Personal Conduct Policy, this is a guy who spends summers doing mission work in the Philippines and speaking to prisoners in his free time. Some folks would rather go the drunken frat boy route and tease him about silly things like his virginity, but in all seriousness Tebow is one man young kids can look up to in a world that spotlights a lot of guys you shouldn't. Heck, there are even "Tebow Bills" going around state legislatures advocating for homeschooled athletes and their rights to play high school sports.

College football is great because of its sense of history. Tradition is as important to college football as any other sport. In the great history of the game, there are few athletes that have been able to do as much in 4 years on the field as Tebow. When we look back on the career of Tim Tebow, he'll be mentioned in the same breath as Grange, Griffin, Staubach and a select few as the greatest of all-time.

If you're skeptical about Tebow's place on this list here is one last piece of evidence. He has a speech on a plaque, and he hasn't graduated college yet!

Check back with RSS as we'll give you our thoughts on the football weekend and the continuation of our Athletes of the Decade countdown. I will make a pledge to you. You will never see any blogger blog as hard as me the rest of the season. You will never see a team blog harder than the Yoders of RSS.