Bo Jackson was the best athlete ever based on pure physical attributes. Jim Thorpe was clearly more dominant, but his competiton were infinitely weaker. Also in his short tenure Bo was an All star in baseball and football and stillholds the NFL record for highest YPC. Bo was quicker, stronger, and faster. He was without a doubt the BEST ATHLETE ever, even though not the most dominant. Also the clincher....Bo was black. Oh and ESPN's writers and FANS (which is us) also voted Bo as the best of all time over Jim Thorpe.

Mickey Mantle. Before he stepped on a drain in his rookie year, he could run from the batters box to first base in 3.1 seconds.

Jim Thorpe easily. I've read extensively about his accomplishments and he could do it all. Football, baseball, track & field, he was unstoppable. Bo was very good in those three but Jim Thorpe was a better overall athelete.

You're all missing the point. Especially those supporting Thorpe and Armstrong over Bo and Vick. Best athlete is not only who could succeed at any sport, but who had the most physical attributes. Lance and Thorpe are extremely DOMINANT, but neither of them was the physical specimen that Bo or Vick is. Their competition was much much weaker (especially Thorpe because of the era he competed in) and put head to head with Bo or Vick they'd get absolutely destroyed in almost every possible test.