Hardest things to do in sports, thoughts?

[stevieboy]

Competing and winning consistently under pressure against the best competitors a sport has to offer is equally difficult in all sports with big rewards at stake.

[tapehead]

I think Lance Armstrong's TDF win record will fall long before Lou Gehrig's hitting streak is broken.
In keeping with the baseball theme, Pitching a perfect game...

And for all competitive team sports,
Defending a championship title and re or threepeating.


The hardest sports are the ones where you play both offense and defense, and there are other players attempting you to prevent from scoring. I think sports that lack that kind of zoned-in all-or-nothing competition are *easy* in general...

[NorCal_Val]

Originally Posted by Joe Robinson

Surfing is difficult, there is timing, the medium is not natural to humans, and you have to compete to merely do it (just try catching a good wave on a crowded day), and it's intensely physical when you are not sitting out in the water waiting for waves. And all of this is wrapped up in a sport where one tries to take a ride, not on water, but on energy traveling through water. Far and away the toughest sport I have ever partaken in.

Add to the fun cold water(50° and below), wearing a wetsuit, and see how
difficult surfing is. Most difficult activity/sport I've ever done. By far.

[TwoTubMan]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Targa_Florio

[Porrig]

Surviving a tackle from Sebastian Chabal or Brian Lima.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCsWKA9B7c8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuFZIdYH_ms


Getting the perfect ippon in judo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjgDVpUGaDE

[DamianP]

I`d put both of these right up there. Both requiring incredible skill, fitness and bravery.

[majorledhead]

I'm going with making a 7-10 split after your 8th beer.

[riff1006]

Originally Posted by alexanderfumble

MLB vs something like Tour de France?

Cycling no question about it.

you get to try to hit a ball a couple times in a couple hours vs taxing your body to 90-100% for days and days....

I would think being the catcher in that cramped position for extended periods of time would be more taxing on the body than any other thing in baseball

I loved being a catcher when I played ball as a kid. I got to be in on every pitch. Just that is enough to over ride the discomfort of crouching and wearing all that gear. I would think cycling is much tougher. Hop on a bicycle and give it hell for an hour and see how it compares to baseball for an hour.

[cram]

Originally Posted by travisvwright

Pros hit a fastball on average >20% of the time. Pros pitch 9 pitch innings what <1% of the time. So if I had to choose between the two I'd say a 9 pitch inning is harder. Of course I'm sure there's been a 3 pitch inning which would of then win out and be my new vote for hardest. Getting a hit is the hardest thing in all of sports? Anyone that says that isn't considering very many options.

I've thrown a three pitch inning. They're a dime a dozen. Grounder Grounder Pop-up. Done.

[Hogan/Guitars]

One of the combat sports. I'll go with Boxing.

[ACfixer]

Originally Posted by The Doper

That is just absurd. I'm pretty sure Laird Hamilton would stand a better chance of hitting a curve ball than Matt Kemp would of surviving that wave.

[TheGuildedAge]

Several years ago my coworkers rented out the local minor league stadium to play baseball. The first pitcher was a college prospect who could hit mid 90s. I had 3 at bats, barely saw 9 pitches, and was real glad when he stopped pitching in the 7th inning.

That being said, I couldn't imagine surfing, the tour de france, etc.

Fun argument with no right answer.

[tonejunky]

beating me in beer-pong is very difficult.

[pj29]

Hitting a baseball was the first thing that came to mind. I think to refine that a little, hitting a breaking ball (curve ball, slider, cut fastball, etc.) is probably the hardest to do.

Hitting a golf ball isn't that easy too.

Tour de France is tough but not particularly skill centered. If we are talking the most endurance, Tour De France would be my pick.

[27sauce]

Read the article, I think you guys are missing the point. Its not most difficult achievement, its the basic act.

Originally Posted by RhytmEarl

I think if it's the hardest it's been done the least.

So - the modern golf grand slam.

Originally Posted by stevieboy

Competing and winning consistently under pressure against the best competitors a sport has to offer is equally difficult in all sports with big rewards at stake.

Originally Posted by Hogan/Guitars

One of the combat sports. I'll go with Boxing.

Originally Posted by pj29

Hitting a baseball was the first thing that came to mind. I think to refine that a little, hitting a breaking ball (curve ball, slider, cut fastball, etc.) is probably the hardest to do.

Hitting a golf ball isn't that easy too.

Tour de France is tough but not particularly skill centered. If we are talking the most endurance, Tour De France would be my pick.

I agree ^^^