Agree. He changed what was thought to be possible on a golf course.
My second pick would be Wayne Gretzky. Scoring numbers were just absurd. May never be broken. 2857 points. 2nd place all time is Jagr with 1921.
What players have fundamentally changed a sport?
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My second pick would be Wayne Gretzky. Scoring numbers were just absurd. May never be broken. 2857 points. 2nd place all time is Jagr with 1921.
This is one where I think people tune in when she’s on but will tune out when she’s gone. She’s an elite player, and any new excitement that can be generated for Women’s Basketball is absolutely great, but I still don’t see her moving the long-term needle. While I don’t like her on-the-court antics and showboating, you can’t deny she’s had a good short-term impact.
Unfortunately, I don’t know that a single player can impact the college sports quite as much because they’re there for such a short period of time. Like it or not (I personally don’t like it), Women’s Basketball seems to be largely stuck. New excitement comes every few years – Ionescu before Clark – but just like Oregon’s attendance increased overnight, it’s quickly going back down.
I'd say Barry Bonds. He ushered in the walk/strikeout/HR era and at the heart of the steroid scandals. I don't put the blame on just him, but his career changed baseball for the worse.
Imo there hasn't been a huge impact/dominance on men's college basketball since the Fab Five or Christian Laetner.
Wilt is the obvious one for basketball.
There's a dozen rules originally designed to constrain him.
All are still in effect, too.
There's a dozen rules originally designed to constrain him.
All are still in effect, too.
Not sure about the 3 second rule.
George Miken had a big impact before Wilt did as well. Also had the lane widened, got the shot clock added, and made defensive goaltending a rule, I believe.
Tiger also changed courses because he was one of the first big hitters bombing his 2 iron 300+. His stretch in the early 2000's is arguably the most impressive run any athletes ever had.
Bob Gibson. They literally lowered the mound because of him.
Rich Rodriguez z who invented the spread offense, or at least gets credit for it.
Tony Hawk
Stefan Bonner and Forest Griffin made the UFC what it is today
Tony Hawk
Stefan Bonner and Forest Griffin made the UFC what it is today
Serena Williams. Tennis was, and still is, in a lot of ways a “country club sport”. The way she plays and her background cement her as a generational talent and ambassador for the sport. She’s one of the best players of all time.
Bob Gibson was so dominant pitching that they lowered the mound and tightened the strike zone.
"Sometimes known as the "Gibson rules", MLB lowered the pitcher's mound in 1969 from 15 inches (380 mm) to 10 inches (250 mm) and reduced the height of the strike zone from the batter's armpits to the jersey letters."
The year prior to the changes, here are some of his 1968 season stats: 1.12 ERA, 13 shutouts, June and July pitched complete games in all 12 starts and won them all; in that stretch allowed 6 earned runs in 108 innings pitched and 47 straight scoreless innings. 28 of his 34 starts (6 games he was pulled to be pinch hit for) were complete games.
"Sometimes known as the "Gibson rules", MLB lowered the pitcher's mound in 1969 from 15 inches (380 mm) to 10 inches (250 mm) and reduced the height of the strike zone from the batter's armpits to the jersey letters."
The year prior to the changes, here are some of his 1968 season stats: 1.12 ERA, 13 shutouts, June and July pitched complete games in all 12 starts and won them all; in that stretch allowed 6 earned runs in 108 innings pitched and 47 straight scoreless innings. 28 of his 34 starts (6 games he was pulled to be pinch hit for) were complete games.
Also sadly would have to say Junior Seau when he took his life, made the NFL and all of football really look at CTE. He was the first major star to shine a huge light on concussions and what they can do.
The "Bisu build" saved Protoss from dominance by Zerg in PvZ back in the day.
