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Simone Biles, Jack Nicklaus, LeBron: Who are the greatest Ohio-born athletes? | Oller
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- Simone Biles, Jack Nicklaus, LeBron: Who are the greatest Ohio-born athletes? | Oller
Choosing the best-ever athletes from Ohio is tricky business, in part because where they fall on the list depends on how their athleticism is categorized.
Is it achievement based, meaning heavy on championships? How do statistics factor into the equation? What qualifies as "athlete?" Another wrinkle: being "from Ohio" is not necessarily the same as being "born in Ohio."
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For purposes of my top picks, all selections had to be birthed in the Buckeye State; thus Jesse Owens is not included, having moved to Cleveland from Alabama as a boy. Conversely, gymnast Simone Biles makes the list because she was born in Columbus before moving to Texas as a child.
Jun 9, 2024; Dublin, Ohio, USA; Retired golfer Jack Nicklaus speaks during the trophy presentation for the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Sports
Whether any highly-coordinated person can be called an athlete, my definition reads: if the individual performs in what is generally referred to as a sport, the participant is an athlete. Thus, golfer Jack Nicklaus qualifies, as does jockey Eddie Arcaro.
Aug 3, 2021; Tokyo, Japan; Simone Biles (USA) celebrates winning the bronze medal on the balance beam during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Ariake Gymnastics Centre. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Also, each selection's accomplishments were weighed against competitors in the same category of sport rather than comparing athleticism across all sports, which means even a gifted athlete such as John Havlicek gets left out. Hondo was a better NBA player than Jerry Lucas, who was the better college player. But Havlicek ranks behind LeBron James as a pro.
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Finally, the first-five/top-five constitute the creme de la creme, athletes considered among the best to compete in their sport, and also having sustained excellence over long careers.
04/10/1975; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Jack Nicklaus at the Augusta National Golf Course during the 1975 Masters. Mandatory Credit: File Photo -The Augusta Chronicle via USA TODAY NETWORK
1. Jack Nicklaus, golf, Upper Arlington
The Golden Bear is golf's greatest champion, having won a record-18 major championships (and 19 runner-up finishes). It is a lively bar stool argument whether Nicklaus was better than Tiger Woods, but regardless of where you land there can be no debate that Nicklaus is one of the two best players in PGA Tour history. He won six Masters, five PGA Championships, four U.S. Opens and three British Opens.
(blackledge) St. Vincent - St. Mary stand out LeBron James, 23, slips to the floor as he worked to get free under his goal in the final half of his Division II championship game against St. Bernard Roger Bacon at the Value City Arena, March 23, 2002. James scored 32 points in the losing effort. 63 - 71. Dispatch photo by Neal C. Lauron
2. LeBron James, men's professional basketball, Akron
The King/Chosen One is the NBA's all-time scoring leader as well as a four-time Finals champion with three different teams and four-time league MVP. Similar to the Nicklaus-Woods debate, James is put up against Michael Jordan in arguments for the best player in league history. In 2016, James helped give Cleveland its first team title since 1964 when he led the Cavaliers from a 3-1 deficit to a Game 7 win against Golden State for the NBA championship.
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3. Simone Biles, women's gymnastics, Columbus
Widely considered one of the greatest gymnasts in history, Biles' seven Olympic medals are ninth most all-time and tied with Shannon Miller for most by an American. In 2019 she broke the record for most World Championship medals with 25. She also was the first U.S. female gymnast to win a World title in every event.
4. Pete Rose, baseball, Cincinnati
Charlie Hustle was not the most gifted baseball player, but he worked his way into becoming the game's all-time hits leader, passing Ty Cobb in 1985 and finishing with 4,256 hits. Putting his gambling habits aside – this is a ranking of athletes, not saints – Rose completed his 24-year career with the Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies and Montreal Expos batting .303, winning three World Series and playing in 17 All-Star Games. He won three batting titles and was National League MVP in 1973 and World Series MVP in 1975.
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5. Eddie Arcaro, horse racing jockey, Cincinnati
"The Master" remains one of the most successful jockeys in racing history. He is tied with Bill Hartack for most Kentucky Derby wins (5), owns the most wins in the Preakness and Belmont Stakes (6 each) and is the only rider to win the Triple Crown twice, in 1941 on Whirlaway and in 1948 on Citation. His other Derby wins were on Hoop Jr. (1945) and Hill Gail (1952). His 17 triple crown wins easily outdistance runner-up Bill Shoemaker's 11. Arcaro won an astounding 4,779 races total, pocketing $30 million.
Others
A breakdown of the top Ohio-born athletes by sport (Note: some sports were not included if no athlete stood out so strongly to merit inclusion).
Bobby Rahal, shown here with his wife, Debi, won the 1986 Indianapolis 500.
Auto racing
Bobby Rahal, Medina: He won three championships and 24 races in the CART open-wheel series, including the 1986 Indianapolis 500 while with Jim Trueman's Hilliard-based Truesports team. Rahal also won the 24 Hours of Daytona (1981) and the 12 Hours of Sebring (1987) endurance races.
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Boxing
Aaron Pryor, Cincinnati: Two-time light welterweight world champion who was 39-1 with 35 knockouts.
Archie Griffin receives a fist bump from Brutus Buckeye as Jerry Lucas watches.
College basketball
Jerry Lucas, Middletown: High school phenom who went on to play in three NCAA Tournament title games at Ohio State, where he was a three-time Big Ten Player of the Year and closed his career averaging 24 points and 17 rebounds.
Ohio State University women’s basketball legend Katie Smith
Women's basketball
Katie Smith, Logan: As an Ohio State freshman, Smith led the Buckeyes to the NCAA Tournament championship game, then went on to break the Big Ten women's and men's scoring record. She is a three-time gold medalist for the U.S. Women's team, won two ABL titles with the Columbus Quest and two WNBA titles with the Detroit Shock.
*** NOTE: Photo also ran on 8/29/99 (4B Insight) -- From 1972 to 1975, Archie Griffin graced the OSU Buckeye football program with his determination, strength and courage. Archie is the only football player to earn two Heisman Trophies (1974 and 1975) and to start in four Rose Bowl games. Archie Griffin is shown here breaking the Big 10 rushing record against Indiana (Columbus Dispatch photo by Ken Chamberlain 10-19-74) (NOTE: Scanned in to the archive for use by the Dispatch Event Marketing Dept. in 10/97.)
College football
Archie Griffin, Columbus: Only two-time winner of the Heisman Trophy (1974-75); Three-time All-America at Ohio State, rushing for 5,177 yards, an NCAA record at the time, and an NCAA-record 31 consecutive 100-yard games
Jan 23, 2022; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce catches the game-winning touchdown in overtime in the AFC Divisional Round at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Germano-USA TODAY NETWORK
Pro football
Travis Kelce, Westlake: So many choices here, including Alan Page (Canton), Roger Staubach (Cincinnati) Charles Woodson (Fremont), Cris Carter (Middletown), Paul Warfield (Warren) and Jack Lambert (Mantua). But Kelce already ranks as one of the top-three tight ends in NFL history, joining Tony Gonzalez and Rob Gronkowski, and he says he is not ready to retire. Kelce already owns league records by a tight end for most and consecutive 1,000-yard seasons (7), receiving yards in a season (1,416) and most 100-catch seasons (3).
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Women's golf
Stacy Lewis, Toledo: A two-time major championship winner who for four weeks in 2013 was ranked No. 1 in the world.
Hockey
J.T. Miller, East Palestine: A forward for the Vancouver Canucks, Miller has 238 goals and 401 assists for 639 points in 799 NHL games.
Columbus Crew goal keeper Brad Friedel warms up outside Ohio Stadium before an exhibition match against Leeds United of the English Premier League in 1997.
Soccer
Brad Friedel, Lakewood: The former Crew goalkeeper played 84 games for the U.S. national team and holds the Premier League record for most consecutive appearances with 310.
Men's tennis
Tony Trabert, Cincinnati: In 1955 won French, Wimbledon and U.S. Open championships and 27 other titles.
Women's tennis
Pauline Betz, Dayton: Won five grand slam singles titles.
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Track and field
Edwin Moses, Dayton: Two-time Olympic gold medalist in the 400 hurdles (1976 and 1984) who set world records in the event four times. At the height of his career won 122 consecutive races.
May 21, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State wrestling assistant coach Logan Stieber talks to Vinny Kilkeary during a voluntary practice at the Jennings Family Wrestling Practice Facility at the Covelli Center. Stieber is among the assistants who has had to step up since head coach Tom Ryan had a car accident on April 23.
Wrestling
Logan Stieber, Monroeville: Wrestling at 133 and 141 pounds, Stieber won four NCAA titles and four Big Ten titles following a high school career that saw him win four state championships.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Simone Biles, Jack Nicklaus, LeBron: Who are the greatest Ohio-born athletes?
