What does catching a football has to do with a track phenom? Have you seen Shaq or Pete catch a football? Listen, football & basketball are NOT the only sports that have athletes. When ESPN did their greatest sports athletes of the century, track athletes Michael Johnson & Jackie Joyner Kersey were listed near the top of the list. Give the kid his due, he's ranked #1 in the world at 400m & #2 at 200m & is the main reason LSU"s track team is ranked #1. When I look at the "best Tiger athlete of all time”, I look at how dominate the athlete was/is at his/her sport. Right now Xavier is running amuck over college track & he's only a sophomore. He's the #1 draft pick for NIKE, Reebok, Adidas, & Puma if he decides to leave LSU. If he continues with his world leading times & win a national title he will have offers in excess of $1M/year just for apparel contract. That doesn't include the money to be made in Europe & other endorsement deals.
Running fast doesn't make an Athlete. If Xavier can hit a baseball, pop a 3 pointer and CATCH a football, then he's an athlete.
A lot of people can "hit a baseball, pop a 3 pointer and CATCH a football" & it doesn't make them great athletes. The reason you believe track athletes or not great athletes is because you don't understand the sport. Your limited knowledge is in football, basketball, & Baseball. Track is not just running fast. There are lots of strategies & hard work in running track & if you don't believe me go to a track board and ask knowledgeable people. You can't get the information you need about Olympic sports from this site. Here are a few sites if you care to enlighten your knowledge of track athletes; www.trackshark.com www.trackandfieldnews.com www.dyestat.com
It ain't about track and field. It's about trying to compare a freshman's achievements with those of people who have years of NCAA and professional accolades. With luck, XC will among the annointed in five or six years, but right now he's just an extremely promising freshman who can't be mentioned in the same breath with Maravich, Cannon, or Pettit. He hasn't even passed some of LSU's own track stars. Not yet. It is impossible to compare athletes from different sports. You have to go on how well they rate in their own sport for their entire career. This takes time. Carter hasn't paid his dues yet.
I think the best athlete at LSU is Mike The Tiger. I challenge anyone you name to go up against him in one on one combat. Mike The Tiger baby. Mike The Tiger.
My bad, I thought we were talking about LSU athletes while they were on campus (X is a Sophomore). Next time put the rules up front. I beg to differ on "He hasn't even passed some of LSU's own track stars", & isn't Xavier one of LSU own track stars? Like I said on one of my previous post "Xavier is one of the most underappreciated athletes in LSU's history".
