SportsCentury - wikipedia SportsCentury SportsCentury Genre Documentary Written by Michael Husain ( 11 episodes, 2001 - 2006 ) Pat Smith ( 1 episode, 1999 ) Michael Douglas Callan ( 1 episode, 2001 ) Michael Strom ( unknown episodes ) Directed by Michael Husain ( 2 episodes, 2001 - 2005 ) Michael Douglas Callan ( 1 episode, 2001 ) Sean Waters ( 1 episode, 2006 ) Presented by Chris Fowler Composer ( s ) Geoff Zanelli ( 8 episodes, 2000 - 2003 ) Gregg Lehrman ( 3 episodes, 2004 - 2005 ) Robert Leslie Bennett ( 2 episodes, 2000 - 2003 ) Pedro Bromfman ( 2 episodes, 2003 - 2005 ) Ramón Balcázar ( 1 episode, 2000 ) Robin Lynn ( 1 episode, 2000 ) Charles A. Wolschon ( 2 episodes, 2003 - 2005 ) Country of origin United States Original language ( s ) English No. of episodes 261 Production Cinematography Jim Grieco ( 87 episodes, 1999 - 2006 ) Jared Manders ( 8 episodes, 2000 - 2005 ) Doug Longwill ( 5 episodes, 2001 - 2004 ) Running time 30 -- 60 minutes Production company ( s ) ESPN Distributor ESPN, Inc. Release Original network ESPN Original release 1999 -- 2007 Chronology Related shows Beyond the Glory SportsCentury is an ESPN biography program that reviews the people and athletic events that defined sports in North America throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. Using stock footage, on - camera interviews, and photographs of their athletic lives, who grew up. In 1999, ESPN counted down the Top 50 Athletes of the 20th Century, selected from North American athletes and voted on by a panel of sports journalists and observers, premiering a new biography highlighting each top athlete every week throughout the year. The episodes for the top two athletes, Michael Jordan and Babe Ruth, appeared on a special combined edition broadcast on Christmas Day on ABC. The top two names were announced in no particular order, and the final positioning was announced at the conclusion of the two episodes. An additional list of numbers 51 - 100 were announced on the ESPN SportsCentury website. Themed specials such as Greatest Games, Greatest Coaches, Greatest Dynasties, and Most Influential Individuals were premiered throughout the year, as well as six SportsCenter of the Decade programs. After the initial run was complete, the episodes were rerun at various times on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Classic. The original plan for the series was to expand to include # 51 through # 100. Ultimately, the series featured just over half of the athletes from # 51 to # 100, and instead expanded to include over 150 other athletes, coaches, owners, personalities, and notable moments in sports history. Acknowledgements were given to athletes that were notable for more recent accomplishments, even if they spent only a small part of their career in the 20th century ( e.g., Tiger Woods, Tom Brady ), or were recently deceased ( e.g. Pat Tillman, Dale Earnhardt ). Special subsets of episodes were created revolving around a particular event, including athletes associated with the particular sport. They would typically air in the days leading up to those events. ( e.g., Winter Olympics, golf majors, Indianapolis 500, etc. ) ESPN Classic began to feature the program with host, Chris Fowler, as the highlight of its weeknight prime - time programing, airing five nights a week. After cycling through the entire series several times, and after debuting several new episodes, it was removed as a nightly program. As of 2007, reruns of the documentary series airs Monday through Friday at 4 p.m. Eastern time. The last original program was that of Shaquille O'Neal, which aired in November 2007. Contents 1 Controversy 2 Recognition 3 SportsCentury : Top 50 American Athletes of the 20th Century ( Original series ) 4 SportsCentury : 51 - 100 5 Athlete statistics 6 Additional SportsCentury episodes 6.1 Athletes 6.2 Coaches, owners, and other personalities 6.3 Games, teams, and other special episodes 7 Special episodes 7.1 SportsCentury : Greatest Games of the 20th Century 7.2 SportsCentury : Greatest Coaches of the 20th Century 7.3 SportsCentury : Greatest Dynasties 7.4 SportsCentury : Most Influential Individuals 7.5 SportsCentury : The Year in Review 8 Notes 9 Citations 10 References Controversy The final order of choices led to debate, some of which came from the SportsCentury camp. Bob Costas, one of the series ' voters, said, `` I had Babe Ruth as my number one, but I think the list they came up with was a good one. Everybody more or less deserved to be there. '' ESPN writer Bud Morgan conceded that the Secretariat pick `` was kind of controversial because a lot of people took the attitude ' What is a four - legged animal doing on this list ? ' '' Tony Kornheiser, whose ballot was topped by Ruth, Muhammad Ali and Michael Jordan, said, `` I ca n't conceive of how Ruth did n't finish number one. He had the greatest impact of anybody on a sport by far... Michael Jordan did n't have as many championships as Bill Russell and did n't score as many points as Wilt Chamberlain, and really did n't do anything to advance his sport, so maybe in retrospect I upgraded him a bit too much because the way he performed was so spectacular, and because of television I got to see highlights. They may have overpersuaded a lot of us... Did Jim Thorpe get the praise he deserved ? Probably not, because there were n't enough people old enough to really remember him. '' ESPN anchor Charley Steiner said `` I think picking ( Jordan ) number one was a generational decision, not a historical one. Babe Ruth deserved it more. '' The list was dramatically North American - centric. Only one athlete in the Top 100 list, Martina Navratilova, was born outside of the United States or Canada. Australian cricketer Donald Bradman, `` considered by many to be the pre-eminent sportsman of all time '' was also omitted. Bradman scored a lifetime average far in excess of average - 4.4 standard deviations above the mean, compared to Jordan 's inferior 3.4 - leading to the statement that `` no other athlete dominates an international sport to the extent that Bradman does cricket ''. No soccer player was included in the rankings despite it being the world 's most popular sport ; Brazilian soccer player Pelé also scored further above average than did Jordan. Baseball player Ty Cobb, appearing at 20 on the list, also ranked objectively above Jordan on the same ground. Recognition SportsCentury won a Peabody Award in 1999 `` for overall excellence in sports broadcasting. '' SportsCentury : Top 50 American Athletes of the 20th Century ( Original series ) Michael Jordan was voted no. 1 Babe Ruth was voted no. 2 Muhammad Ali was voted no. 3 Number Athlete Sport Jordan, Michael Michael Jordan Basketball Ruth, Babe Babe Ruth Baseball Ali, Muhammad Muhammad Ali Boxing Brown, Jim Jim Brown Football 5 Gretzky, Wayne Wayne Gretzky Ice hockey 6 Owens, Jesse Jesse Owens Track and field 7 Thorpe, Jim Jim Thorpe Multiple sports 8 Mays, Willie Willie Mays Baseball 9 Nicklaus, Jack Jack Nicklaus Golf 10 Zaharias, Babe Babe Zaharias Multiple sports 11 Louis, Joe Joe Louis Boxing 12 Lewis, Carl Carl Lewis Track and field 13 Chamberlain, Wilt Wilt Chamberlain Basketball 14 Aaron, Hank Hank Aaron Baseball 15 Robinson, Jackie Jackie Robinson Baseball 16 Williams, Ted Ted Williams Baseball 17 Johnson, Magic Magic Johnson Basketball 18 Russell, Bill Bill Russell Basketball 19 Navratilova, Martina Martina Navratilova Tennis 20 Cobb, Ty Ty Cobb Baseball 21 Howe, Gordie Gordie Howe Ice hockey 22 DiMaggio, Joe Joe DiMaggio Baseball 23 Joyner - Kersee, Jackie Jackie Joyner - Kersee Track and field 24 Robinson, Sugar Ray Sugar Ray Robinson Boxing 25 Montana, Joe Joe Montana Football 26 Abdul - Jabbar, Kareem Kareem Abdul - Jabbar Basketball 27 Rice, Jerry Jerry Rice Football 28 Grange, Red Red Grange Football 29 Palmer, Arnold Arnold Palmer Golf 30 Bird, Larry Larry Bird Basketball 31 Orr, Bobby Bobby Orr Ice hockey 32 Unitas, Johnny Johnny Unitas Football 33 Spitz, Mark Mark Spitz Swimming 34 Gehrig, Lou Lou Gehrig Baseball 35 Secretariat, Secretariat Horse racing 36 Robertson, Oscar Oscar Robertson Basketball 37 Mantle, Mickey Mickey Mantle Baseball 38 Hogan, Ben Ben Hogan Golf 39 Payton, Walter Walter Payton Football 40 Taylor, Lawrence Lawrence Taylor Football 41 Rudolph, Wilma Wilma Rudolph Track and field 42 Koufax, Sandy Sandy Koufax Baseball 43 Erving, Julius Julius Erving Basketball 44 Jones, Bobby Bobby Jones Golf 45 Tilden, Bill Bill Tilden Tennis 46 Heiden, Eric Eric Heiden Speed skating, cycling 47 Moses, Edwin Edwin Moses Track and field 48 Sampras, Pete Pete Sampras Tennis 49 Simpson, O.J. O.J. Simpson Football 50 Evert, Chris Chris Evert Tennis SportsCentury : 51 - 100 Mario Lemieux was voted no. 55 Pete Rose was voted no. 56 despite serving a lifetime ban from baseball. Number Athlete Sport 51 Marciano, Rocky Rocky Marciano Boxing 52 Dempsey, Jack Jack Dempsey Boxing 53 Johnson, Rafer Rafer Johnson Track and field 54 Louganis, Greg Greg Louganis Diving 55 Lemieux, Mario Mario Lemieux Ice hockey 56 Rose, Pete Pete Rose Baseball 57 Shoemaker, Bill Bill Shoemaker Horse racing 58 Baylor, Elgin Elgin Baylor Basketball 59 King, Billie Jean Billie Jean King Tennis 60 Johnson, Walter Walter Johnson Baseball 61 Musial, Stan Stan Musial Baseball 62 West, Jerry Jerry West Basketball 63 Paige, Satchel Satchel Paige Baseball 64 Baugh, Sammy Sammy Baugh Football 65 Gibson, Althea Althea Gibson Tennis, golf 66 Arcaro, Eddie Eddie Arcaro Horse racing 67 Gibson, Bob Bob Gibson Baseball 68 Oerter, Al Al Oerter Track and field 69 Blair, Bonnie Bonnie Blair Speed skating 70 Butkus, Dick Dick Butkus Football 71 Clemente, Roberto Roberto Clemente Baseball 72 Jackson, Bo Bo Jackson Football, baseball 73 Gibson, Josh Josh Gibson Baseball 74 Sanders, Deion Deion Sanders Football, baseball 75 Marino, Dan Dan Marino Football 76 Sanders, Barry Barry Sanders Football 77 Young, Cy Cy Young Baseball 78 Mathias, Bob Bob Mathias Track and field 79 Sayers, Gale Gale Sayers Football 80 Foyt, A.J. A.J. Foyt Auto racing 81 Connors, Jimmy Jimmy Connors Tennis 82 Hull, Bobby Bobby Hull Ice hockey 83 Wagner, Honus Honus Wagner Baseball 84 o ' War, Man Man o ' War Horse racing 85 Richard, Maurice Maurice Richard Ice hockey 86 Graham, Otto Otto Graham Football 87 Armstrong, Henry Henry Armstrong Boxing 88 Namath, Joe Joe Namath Football 89 Hornsby, Rogers Rogers Hornsby Baseball 90 Petty, Richard Richard Petty Auto racing 91 Beamon, Bob Bob Beamon Track and field 92 Andretti, Mario Mario Andretti Auto racing 93 Hutson, Don Don Hutson Football 94 Cousy, Bob Bob Cousy Basketball 95 Blanda, George George Blanda Football 96 Johnson, Michael Michael Johnson Track and field 97 Citation, Citation Horse racing 98 Budge, Don Don Budge Tennis 99 Snead, Sam Sam Snead Golf 100 Johnson, Jack Jack Johnson Boxing Athlete statistics By sport Baseball : 22 Football : 20 Track / Field : 12 Basketball : 11 Tennis : 8 Boxing : 7 Hockey : 6 Golf : 6 Horse racing : 5 ( 2 jockeys, 3 horses ) Auto racing : 3 Swimming / Diving : 2 Speed skating : 2 Gymnastics : 1 By gender 89 male 8 female 3 thoroughbred horses Additional SportsCentury episodes Athletes Affirmed & Alydar Andre Agassi Lyle Alzado Lance Armstrong Arthur Ashe Charles Barkley Chuck Bednarik Albert Belle Johnny Bench Yogi Berra Moe Berg Barry Bonds Terry Bradshaw Tom Brady Kobe Bryant Roy Campanella Jennifer Capriati Steve Carlton Hurricane Carter Rubin Carter Roger Clemens Cynthia Cooper Jim Craig John Daly Ernie Davis Oscar De La Hoya Dale Earnhardt Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Dennis Eckersley John Elway Brett Favre Bob Feller Mark Fidrych Charlie Finley Carlton Fisk Peggy Fleming Tim Flock Curt Flood Richmond Flowers Doug Flutie Cheryl Ford George Foreman Bevo Francis Joe Frazier Dan Gable Kevin Garnett Zina Garrison Mark Gastineau Frank Gifford Jeff Gordon Steffi Graf Red Grange Rocky Graziano Hank Greenberg Florence Griffith Joyner Marvin Hagler Dorothy Hamill Mia Hamm Connie Hawkins Evander Holyfield Paul Hornung Sam Huff Allen Iverson Reggie Jackson Dan Jansen Bruce Jenner Derek Jeter Nile Kinnick Anna Kournikova Michelle Kwan Don Larsen Sugar Ray Leonard Ray Lewis Eric Lindros Sonny Liston Nancy Lopez Jerry Lucas Karl Malone Peyton Manning Pete Maravich Roger Maris Billy Martin ( 2 - part ) Pedro Martínez Gene Mauch Bill Mazeroski John McEnroe Mark McGwire Denny McLain Jim McMahon Rick Mears Phil Mickelson Archie Moore Randy Moss Alonzo Mourning Greg Norman Shaquille O'Neal Terrell Owens Pele Brian Piccolo Jimmy Piersall Jacques Plante Gary Player Jim Plunkett Cal Ripken, Jr Frank Robinson Andy Roddick Dennis Rodman Seabiscuit Curt Schilling Willie Shoemaker Emmitt Smith Seattle Slew Sammy Sosa Latrell Sprewell Bart Starr Casey Stengel Tony Stewart Darryl Strawberry Maurice Stokes Picabo Street Isiah Thomas Pat Tillman Lee Trevino Mike Tyson Al Unser, Sr. Bill Vukovich Bill Walton Bud Wilkinson Chris Webber Reggie White Jayson Williams Venus & Serena Williams Tyrone Willingham Tiger Woods Carl Yastrzemski Sources Coaches, owners, and other personalities Sparky Anderson Red Auerbach Bobby Bowden Larry Brown Bear Bryant Al Davis Woody Hayes Phil Jackson Willie Jeffries Don King Bob Knight Mike Krzyzewski Tom Landry Vince Lombardi Bill Parcells Rick Pitino Pete Rozelle Adolph Rupp Don Shula Dean Smith George Steinbrenner Bill Veeck Dick Vermeil John Wooden Games, teams, and other special episodes 1972 Olympic Men 's Basketball Final 1977 British Open Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals ( `` The Flu Game '' ) Ball Four Epic in Miami ( Chargers vs. Dolphins ) New York Yankees Jerry 's Cowboys Bears 46 defense Villanova vs. Georgetown ( 1985 NCAA Championship ) Disciples of Jackie Robinson 1999 Ryder Cup Special episodes SportsCentury : Greatest Games of the 20th century `` Greatest Games '' was a top ten countdown of the best games / matches voted on from a wide variety of team and individual sports. `` The Greatest Game Ever Played '' -- ( 1958 NFL Championship ) : Baltimore Colts vs. New York Giants ( 1958 ) The Shot Heard ' Round the World -- Bobby Thomson 's home run ( 1951 ) Super Bowl III -- New York Jets defeat Baltimore Colts ( 1969 ) Miracle on Ice -- U.S.A defeats U.S.S.R. ( 1980 ) `` Thrilla in Manila '' -- Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier ( 1975 ) `` Ice Bowl '' -- Green Bay vs. Dallas ( 1967 ) Game 6 of the 1975 World Series -- Carlton Fisk 's home run ( 1975 ) Tiger Woods wins the Masters ( 1997 ) Willis Reed and Knicks beat Lakers in Game 7 ( 1970 ) Borg - McEnroe Wimbledon thriller ( 1980 ) SportsCentury : Greatest coaches of the 20th century `` Greatest Coaches '' was a top ten countdown of the best coaches voted on from a wide variety of team sports. Vince Lombardi John Wooden Red Auerbach Dean Smith Phil Jackson John McGraw George Halas Don Shula Paul Brown Knute Rockne SportsCentury : Greatest Dynasties New York Yankees Boston Celtics Montréal Canadiens John Wooden 's UCLA Bruins ( 1960s and 1970s ) Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team ( 1946 - 1949 ) Dallas Cowboys ( 1990s ) Atlanta Braves ( 1990s ) Chicago Bulls ( 1990s ) San Francisco 49ers ( 1980s ) SportsCentury : most influential Individuals Another top ten countdown special, focusing on influential figures in sports during the twentieth century, namely off - the - field contributors. Branch Rickey Pete Rozelle Roone Arledge Marvin Miller Kenesaw Mountain Landis David Stern Avery Brundage Walter O'Malley George Halas Mark McCormack SportsCentury : the year in review 1980 Year in Review 1981 Year in Review 1982 Year in Review 1983 Year in Review 1984 Year in Review 1985 Year in Review 1986 Year in Review 1987 Year in Review 1988 Year in Review 1989 Year in Review 1990 Year in Review 1991 Year in Review 1992 Year in Review 1993 Year in Review 1994 Year in Review 1995 Year in Review 1996 Year in Review 1997 Year in Review 1998 Year in Review 1999 Year in Review 2000 Year in Review 2001 Year in Review Also included in the overall production was `` SportsCenter of the Decade '', a series of six two - hour programs ( 1900 - 1949, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s ). Each episode was presented as a fictional episode of SportsCenter, in the way ESPN would have covered the events at the time ( styles, studio / production design, and other various pop culture references ). Notes Jump up ^ Jenner changed his first name to Caitlyn due to gender transition in 2015. Citations Jump up ^ https://espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00016538.html Jump up ^ `` SportsCentury Episode list ''. TV Guide. Retrieved July 9, 2014. Jump up ^ Miller, James and Shales, Tom, Those Guys Have All the Fun, Little Brown & Co., 2011, pgs. 420 - 422 Jump up ^ Adams, Kathleen ; et al. ( 4 March 2001 ). `` Milestones ''. Time. Retrieved 23 August 2008. Jump up ^ Hutchins, Brett ( 2002 ). Don Bradman : Challenging the Myth. Cambridge University Press. p. 21. ISBN 0 - 521 - 82384 - 6. Jump up ^ Shaw, John ( 27 February 2001 ). `` Sir Donald Bradman, 92, Cricket Legend, Dies ''. The New York Times. Retrieved 23 August 2008. Jump up ^ 59th Annual Peabody Awards, May 2000. Jump up ^ Buzz Bissinger ( June 1, 2015 ). `` Introducing Caitlyn Jenner ''. Vanity Fair. Retrieved June 1, 2015. Jump up ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0281438/episodes?ref_=tt_ql_6 Jump up ^ http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/sportscentury/episodes/191786 Jump up ^ http://mediaburn.org/video/sports-century-bill-veeck/ Jump up ^ http://espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00016485.html References ESPN SportsCentury - Official Site SportsCentury on IMDb Links to related articles ESPN Inc. 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TrueHoop The Undefeated Notable personalities Current personalities Former personalities ESPNews personalities ESPNU personalities ESPN Radio personalities Miscellaneous History Criticism This is SportsCenter ESPN Zone ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Owners : Disney Media Networks 80 % Hearst Corporation 20 % Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=SportsCentury&oldid=805887932 '' Categories : ESPN Classic network shows American sports television series 1990s American television series 2000s American television series American documentary television series 1999 American television series debuts 2006 American television series endings English - language television programs Peabody Award - winning television programs Documentaries about sports Hidden categories : Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2007 All articles containing potentially dated statements Articles with hCards Talk Contents About Wikipedia Add links This page was last edited on 18 October 2017, at 08 : 05. 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Question: who was selected as the sports illustrated best female athlete of the twentieth century
Answer: Martina Navratilova