Define a Legend in our Sport

[A L L E N F I S H E R]

What would constitute being a Legend in the Sport of Arm Wrestling?Is it the amount of time they have dominated the Sport?
Is it the power to defeat the best?
Is it the endurance one has?
Is it the one who has so many variations of style over the years?
Is it the one who is most recognized throughout the years they have pulled?
Is it there commitment to our Sport and pasting on that knowledge to the future arm wrestlers?
Can a Legend in our Sport hold that title when they having continued to use Sports enhance chemical, the steroids?

[Kevin Harris]

Is it the power to defeat the best?
Is it the endurance one has?
Is it the one who has so many variations of style over the years?
Is it the one who is most recognized throughout the years they have pulled?
Is it there commitment to our Sport and pasting on that knowledge to the future arm wrestlers?

I think you just described yourself Allen with this stuff, And I also feel it is the type of person he or she is also,

[Chuck Westberry]

I think it is what you give to the sport, train young people, or dominate. It could be a number of diffrent things

[A L L E N F I S H E R]

I was thinking of so many great pullers over my 30 year of being in our Sport.
The warrior, John Brzenk, for sure needs to be at the very top of this list.
What a honor it's been for me to be named among the greats, I'm humbled before God, who made me a champion.

[A L L E N F I S H E R]

Okay everyone 136 people in a mater of 2 hours have looked at this topic and only a few have written down their thoughts. When you read the topic and consider what other have said, you no doubt have your own thoughts, so please write them here for all to see. :-)

[David Owens]

I think all the attributes you named are great but when I think of a legend I think of a person who dominated for a long period of time, Cleve Dean, Johnny Walker, yourself, Brzenk, Cobra.....dominance is the one thing they all have in common

[Clint Alwran]

A legend in our sport would have to be a person with longevity, notariaty,someone who is respected, and respects, and that person doesn't exactly have to be a big name.

[jonathanvazquez]

Aug 22, 2010 16:21:08 GMT -5 David Owens said:

I think all the attributes you named are great but when I think of a legend I think of a person who dominated for a long period of time, Cleve Dean, Johnny Walker, yourself, Brzenk, Cobra.....dominance is the one thing they all have in common

All that Mr. Owens said plus the willingness and Humbleness to teach! Rock on Allen.

[Sol "Arm and Hammer"Ingram]

Good Question.....BUT somewhat difficult to answer Allen...

Allen I think a Legend in the sport extends past the Great pullers like yourself, Patton, Rosencrans, Brzenk, Dean, ect..All of which i have learned from over the last Nearly 30 yrs!!...But i also look at those who have helped our sport grow by being Promoters, Refs, Fans ect..

Can anybody remember these names...Merle Meeter, Leonard Harkless, Bill Collins, Denise wattles, (Dave Pattons Mother..Biggest Fan EVER!!) Dave Devoto, Bill Soberance ect...PLUS there are so many people that comes to mind that it would take pages to list them...I am thankful to these Legends as well...

Pullers that may have not had a long career but are still called legends are included in many lists..but it is those that are a past champions from the 70s 80s..and still are making waves in our sport like Richard Lupkes. goodrich, Brzenk, Fisher,Dave Hicks. Cobra..ect...


Anyways..This is just some of my Thoughts..

Sincerely Sol "Arm and Hammer" Ingram..(Legend in MY own Mind!!..lol)

P.S...I

[Florian Kellersmann]

An armwrestling legend is someone special. A person, the armwrestlers and the fans are talking with highest respect for his/her skills and accomplishments. John Brzenk, Cleve Dean, Allen Fisher, Ron Bath, Johnny Walker, Dave Patton, Cobra, to name a few US pullers that comes to my mind.

From the european pullers, Engin, Cvetan, Sharon, Rustam, Jan Germanus and Alexey Voevoda have legendary status imo. I didn't read the name Alexey in this discussion before, but to me it is very clearly, that he became a legend in his (only) about 8 years of active pulling (yet).

[Bicio]

Allen: I agree with you and also the most of the post I've read, but I must disagree with Florian on the name of Voevoda.
He is probably THE STRONGEST ARMWRESTLER (Combination of brutal strength & skills) that we ever seen on the table, of course he is legendary for Russians and without a doubt for ALL Europeans but....

IMO

This is not enough to be recognized as a LEGEND.

A LEGEND is an ICON of our sport, someone that all fans is proud to be in contact with or simply to have a sign on his t-shirt.... even if his favourite armwrestler is somebody else.

The Real Legend is someone who plays DRUG FREE, adapting his style to the opponent style showing tons of skills, accepts a challenge most of the times a challenge is set and has no worries to be defeated playing the game every time is needed, no matter about WHO will be the rival or the shape he/she is in that moment....

A LEGEND is someone who protend his leadership over the years
(and Voevoda except the last 3 years of his career wasn't at his best and at world's highest level)

I repeat... IMO the LEGENDS are not the GREAT ARMWRESTLER but are the GREATEST (and not means absolutely the same) ;D

[Florian Kellersmann]

Hi Bicio,

thanks for sharing your thoughts. I'm sure many people see this like you.

I did bring up the name of Voevoda, because I think he is an example for a guy, who reached legendary status very quick (IMO this is possible). Just look at some internet sites like WOA or armwrestling24h or armpower etc. how everybody is interested in Alexey Voevada. He is the man everybody wants to see back at the table, a man that by many armwrestling fans is considered as the strongest ever. I think you can not say this and that are the requirements to be a legend. If the people talk about you as they talk about Alexey, you are a legend (IMO).

I really would love it, if DRUG FREE accomplishments would be honorated more. But this is unfortunately not the case in armwrestling world... To me it still seems like the strongest gets the most applause, no matter how he got there...

[Josh 'Butcher' Bratton]

When I think about legends I just dont think about the dominate/elite pullers alone. Without Denise Wattles,Leonard Harkless,Karen Bean,Bill Collins there wouldnt be events that make legends here in the US. Theyre the root of the sport here and have sacrificed for it more than anyone else I know. Us armwrestlers have it easy when it comes to our contributions to the sport,we choose the events we want to attend,if we win we get the glory,and if we lose who cares. But they put on the shows year round away from there families,and have no choice but to be 100% everytime because thats what we expect of them,thats alot of pressure and thats ALOT of love for this sport. Hopefully in the next 10 years we can add names like Pete Milano and Robert Drenk to the list of legend promoters,they are surely on their way. Without new promoters we have no venue and no sport in future, Leonard and Denise cant do it forever and for it to grow it just cant be them alone.

Also time is what separates LEGENDS from Greats in my opinion.
Its all about the positive impact youve had over time that makes you a legend in this sport.

[Brent Norris]

What you accomplish on the table for many years not how nice or even respectful you are. I believe in treating others how you want to be treated but on the table who cares? I actually like it when someone is disrespectful on the table. It motivates and wakes me up! Is a nicer puller more of a legend than another that may have been more dominating but not as sociable? I don't think so.. If it is the case I will just try to be a nicer guy instead of training harder and see how far I get .

[Brent Norris]

We have refs that call matches but who's the refs that decide who is more respectful or more nicer than most? What standard do we use to measure? We are all entitled to our own opinions. What about some of the international pullers that always dominate for years and years but most of us don't really know them. We have communication barriers. We never get to hangout with them. We don't know them personally. But, we do know that they destroy most, most of the time on the table. So, he/she should be a Legend in our sport. As an arm wrestler. Maybe or maybe not have a legendary personality.
Michael Jordan was WAY better at playing B-ball then Rodman. If Rodman was as good or better than Jordan on the court but had his same personality as he did/does, should he not be considered a Legend on the court? What about Mike Tyson? When he got hungry during a fight should he not have been considered a Legend in the ring when considering his past record? Okay, that ones borderline.
How about Travis? Not everyone approves of his personality/attitude at all times but, surely he should be now or in the future be considered a Legend on the Table.
This is arm wrestling, isn't it?