The Greatness Society: Talents who transcended the game

BASKETBALL GUARDS

BOB COUSY (1950-63, ‘70)

Defined the point guard position and helped shape the Boston Celtics’ dynasty. His teams won six NBA titles and he was league MVP in 1957, one of only four point guards to earn that award.

OSCAR ROBERTSON (1960-74)

He was Magic Johnson before Magic Johnson, a tall and physical point guard who was also an exceptional scorer, defender and rebounder.

JERRY WEST (1960-74)

Was to Robertson what Larry Bird was to Magic Johnson. Known as “Mr. Clutch” for his propensity for making game-winning shots, he was also the model for the NBA’s logo.

MAGIC JOHNSON (1979-91, ‘96)

Won an NCAA championship at Michigan State and became the face of an NBA dynasty as ringleader during the Lakers’ “Showtime” era. A 6-foot-9 point guard, he contributed a lot of everything — assists, points and rebounds.

MICHAEL JORDAN (1984-93, ‘95-98, 2001-03)

The top athlete of the last century, according to ESPN. A giant on the court, he was just as big off it. Between ads for Nike, Gatorade, shoes, underwear and movies, his promotional clout remains unrivaled.

KOBE BRYANT (1996-present)

Fits the Jordan mold in body type, position, style of play and self-confidence. Also the winner of five NBA championships and a 13-time All-Star, yet has been league MVP only once (2008) and never enjoyed Jordan’s wide popularity.

BASKETBALL CENTERS

GEORGE MIKAN (1948-56)

The NBA’s first superstar was so dominant that the league widened the lane from six to 12 feet and outlawed what is now known as goaltending.

WILT CHAMBERLAIN (1959-73)

“He was probably the most remarkable physical specimen ever. The combination of strength, agility, skills, speed and intellect.” — Ray LeBov , executive director of the Assn. for Professional Basketball Research.

BILL RUSSELL (1956-69)

Possibly the best defensive big man in NBA history. Chamberlin racked up the points and rebounds, but Russell gathered the championships — 11 in a 13-year career with the Boston Celtics.

KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR (1969-89)

UCLA coach John Wooden used a broom to try to slow him down in practice. NBA opponents couldn’t use props. The league’s career scoring leader with 38,387 points was a six-time league champion and MVP.

SHAQUILLE O’NEAL (1992-2011)

Won four NBA titles, three Finals MVPs and one league MVP award. But could he have done more? Because of personality conflicts and injuries, we’ll never know.

WOMEN’S TENNIS

MARGARET COURT (1960-77)

Between singles, doubles and mixed doubles — she played them all —the Australian won 62 Grand Slam titles. In 1970, she became the first woman in the Open era to win the four Grand Slam events in the same calendar year.

BILLIE JEAN KING (1968-83)

Winner of 12 Grand Slam singles titles and, even more famously, a 1973 “Battle of the Sexes” match against Bobby Riggs, a former Wimbledon men’s champion.

CHRIS EVERT (1972-89)

Owner of the best win-loss percentage in tennis history, along with 18 Grand Slam singles titles.

MARTINA NAVRATILOVA (1975-94, 2000-06)

“She’s the greatest singles, doubles and mixed doubles player who’s ever lived.” — former doubles partner Billie Jean King. Won a record 31 Grand Slam titles in doubles, 18 in singles and 10 in mixed doubles.

STEFFI GRAF (1982-1999)

Was the world’s top-ranked women’s player for a record 377 weeks. Won 22 Grand Slam singles titles — more than any male or female player except Court.

SERENA WILLIAMS (1995-present)

Grew up in Compton with older sister Venus, both coached by their father. She has won more Grand Slam titles (27) in singles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles than any other active female player.

BOXING

JACK JOHNSON (1897-1938)

The first African American world heavyweight champion, he fought hard both in and out (against racial prejudice) of the ring.

SUGAR RAY ROBINSON (1940-65)

Arguably the greatest pound-for-pound fighter in history, he ended his career with 173 wins and 19 losses. Muhammad Ali called him the greatest boxer of all time — no qualifier.

JOE LOUIS (1934-51)

Heavyweight champion of the world for 12 years, the “Brown Bomber” became an American hero as he represented American superiority over the Nazis.

MUHAMMAD ALI (1960-81)

“Not only was he a great heavyweight, but he was a great promoter, and also there were all these social and political issues. For those reasons, he really transcended the sport and became the most famous person in the world for a time.” — Bob Arum, boxing promoter.

SUGAR RAY LEONARD (1977-97)

His four comebacks from retirement resulted in two additional championship belts as he ended his career with 36 wins, three losses and more than $100 million in winnings.

MANNY PACQUIAO (1995-present)

“Pacquiao again brings more to the table than just his great boxing ability. His fighting through to where [he] is and also going into politics in his country has him resonating with people all over the world.” — Arum.

HOCKEY

GORDIE HOWE (1946-80)

“Mr. Hockey” won the Stanley Cup four times and received the NHL’s first “lifetime achievement award” in 2008.

BOBBY ORR (1966-78)

Though injuries cut his career short, he is the only defenseman to have led the NHL in scoring twice, and he won Boston the 1970 Stanley Cup with “The Goal.”

WAYNE GRETZKY (1978-99)

“He wasn’t the fastest skater or the strongest. He didn’t punish other players. . . . He thought the game through in such a way that it almost seemed to unspool in slow motion for him.” — Dan Diamond, publisher of the NHL Official Guide & Record Book.

MARIO LEMIEUX (1984-2006)

“Lemieux was just a giant guy with remarkably soft hands and quick feet. He would do things that other players wished they could do but they just couldn’t do them.” — Diamond.

FOOTBALL QUARTERBACKS

SAMMY BAUGH (1937-52)

Could do anything and everything on a football field. And did. As a rookie, won a championship with the Redskins, playing defensive back and punting along with playing quarterback.

JOHNNY UNITAS (1956-73)

Held every major passing record when he retired. Led the Baltimore Colts to an overtime victory over the New York Giants in the 1958 NFL championship game, spiking the league’s popularity.

JOE MONTANA (1979-94)

“The measuring stick” for all quarterbacks, according to Saleem Choudhry, a researcher for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Three-time league MVP and winner of four Super Bowls.

DAN MARINO (1983-99)

Held nearly every major NFL career passing record for a time. Spent his entire 17-year NFL career with the Miami Dolphins, taking them to the playoffs 10 times but never winning the Super Bowl.

BRETT FAVRE (1991-2010)

The NFL’s leader in career passes, completions and passing yardage also holds the league record for consecutive starts.

PEYTON MANNING (1998-present)

His father, Archie, was a productive quarterback on mostly bad teams. Where would the Indianapolis Colts be had they instead picked Ryan Leaf in the 1998 NFL draft?

TOM BRADY (2000-present)

Sixth-round draft pick in 2000 was taken after the likes of Giovanni Carmazzi and Tee Martin (those were other quarterbacks). Eleven years later, he and the New England Patriots own three Super Bowl titles.

SOCCER

PELE (1956-77)

Generally regarded as the greatest soccer player ever. All-time leading scorer for the Brazilian national team and the only player to win three World Cups.

DIEGO MARADONA (1976-97)

Led Argentina to a World Cup victory in 1986, scoring two of history’s most famous goals in a quarterfinal win over England. The first is known as the “Hand of God” and the second was voted Goal of the Century.

LIONEL MESSI (2004-present)

Soccer’s “Next Big Thing” has risen. Only 24, Argentina’s newest star already has an Olympic gold medal and probably at least two more World Cup opportunities ahead of him.

FOOTBALL RUNNING BACKS

JIM BROWN (1957-65)

The greatest professional football player ever, as named by the Sporting News in 2002. Big, powerful and fast, he retired as owner of several NFL rushing records and is still eighth on the career rushing list.

GALE SAYERS (1965-71)

Fast and elusive, he was as feared as a kick returner as he was as a running back. Played for the Chicago Bears his entire career, which was cut short by injuries.

O.J. SIMPSON (1969-79)

Won the Heisman Trophy at USC and, playing for the Buffalo Bills in 1973, the first back to run for more than 2,000 yards in an NFL season.

WALTER PAYTON (1975-87)

Like Sayers, Payton played his entire career with the Bears. Nicknamed “Sweetness” for his smooth and slick running style and his friendly personality. Died of cancer at age 45.

BARRY SANDERS (1989-98)

Only 1,500 yards short of the NFL’s career rushing record, Sanders left football while still near the top of his game, having just rushed for 1,491 yards in a season.

EMMITT SMITH (1990-2004)

Only back ever to win a Super Bowl championship, league MVP, rushing title and Super Bowl MVP award in the same season (1993). Supplanted Payton as the NFL’s career rushing leader.

GOLF

BOBBY JONES (1920-30)

The only golfer ever to win all four majors in one year — the Grand Slam — and he did it after having predicted as much before the 1930 season started.

BEN HOGAN (1930-59)

Generally regarded as the greatest ball striker of all time, Hogan won nine major championships.

ARNOLD PALMER (1955-2004)

Became synonymous with the Masters, winning it four times and competing at Augusta 50 consecutive years.

JACK NICKLAUS (1962-2005)

“You have to start with Jack Nicklaus. Eighteen major championships certainly stand out, and that number has stood the test of time.” — Jack Peter, senior vice president of the World Golf Hall of Fame

TIGER WOODS (1996-present)

“The dominance that Tiger Woods has shown over the last 10 years, really since 1997, will rank him as one of the best golfers of all time.” — Peter.

BASEBALL SLUGGERS

BABE RUTH (1914-35)

“No one has reached the level of Babe Ruth. No one has changed society like Ruth did. He basically saved baseball.” — Jim Gates, historian at the Hall of Fame.

JOE DiMAGGIO (1936-42, ‘46-51)

A 13-time All-Star, DiMaggio launched 361 home runs, drove in 1,537 runs and won nine World Series.

MICKEY MANTLE (1951-68)

The Mick carried on the Yankees tradition with 536 home runs and seven World Series titles while also becoming a legend with off-field exploits of Ruthian nature.

WILLIE MAYS (1951-73)

The “Say Hey Kid” sits fourth all-time with 660 home runs, though his over-the-shoulder catch in the 1954 World Series may be the best-remembered moment of his career.

HANK AARON (1954-76)

Thanks to his 755 home runs, the home run king received first-ballot Hall of Fame recognition.

KEN GRIFFEY JR. (1989-2010)

One of few sluggers from the steroid era never linked to performance-enhancing drugs, Griffey hit 630 home runs the all-natural way.

ALBERT PUJOLS (2001-present)

In his 11th season, Pujols already has 425 home runs, never hitting fewer than 32 or driving in fewer than 100 runs in a season.

HORSE RACING

MAN O’ WAR (1919-20)

“Because he only lost one race, and he won everything impressively during a time period when they needed a star, he was considered unbeatable.” — Beth Sheffer, curator at the National Museum of Racing.

NATIVE DANCER

(1952-54)

Native Dancer lost only one race, the 1953 Kentucky Derby, but a foot injury cut his career short.

SECRETARIAT (1972-73)

“There was unrest in the country because of Vietnam and Watergate, and Secretariat provided an escape.” — Bill Christine, horse racing historian, former Times sportswriter.

SEATTLE SLEW

(1977-78)

1977 Triple Crown winner won more than $1 million and twice defeated the 1978 Triple Crown winner, Affirmed.

ZENYATTA (2008-10)

“Zenyatta was a showoff. She went to the post ogling her fans, pawing the dirt during the post parade as though she wanted her opponents to know that she would be toying with them.” — Christine.