[solved]Hall of Fame 2015/6 - Round 1 Group D

Here is round four of this years Hall of Fame.

All polls will remain open for three days so make sure to vote ASAP for your favourites.

The first three 1st round match can be found here -

https://www.606v2.com/t61349-hall-of-fame-2015-6-round-1-group-a

https://www.606v2.com/t61376-hall-of-fame-2015-6-round-1-group-b

https://www.606v2.com/t61391-hall-of-fame-2015-6-round-1-group-c

Todays poll features stars from the world of Dart, Boxing, Football and Cycling

Please vote for your top two choices and let the best man/ woman win.

Your nominees are:

Phil Taylor
Joe Louis
Franz Beckenbauer
Lance Armstrong

Lance Armstrong nominated for his services to the Pharmaceutical Industry?

Phil Taylor- Darts- Championed by CJB
Phil Taylor is the character that has transcended Darts. After taking up darts at 26, Taylor would win his first professional title in two years and by 1992 was a two-time BDO world champion. However, darts would be changed irrevocably in 1993 when a rival organisation – the PDC - led by 16 leading players was created.

Taylor would lose the first PDC World Championship final against Dennis Priestly in 1994 but losing in this championship would be a rarity for Phil. He would win 44 consecutive games, with eight titles including a 107.46 average in the 2001 final against John Part. 2002 was one of the high points of Phil’s career winning the four majors and the first televised nine darter in the PDC.

Phil would overcome a minor blip in the 2003 final to go and win three consecutive world championships. This would lead to the 2007 world championship final between Raymond Van Barneveld, four-time BDO champion, and Phil. This would go on to be labelled as the greatest match ever. Taylor would win the first eight legs and take a 3-0 lead in sets. He would bring it back to 5-3 before winning 3 consecutive sets. Taylor would win the next set to take it into a deciding set. The deciding set would go into a nerve-wracking deciding leg with Taylor losing in the greatest game ever.

The Power, as he is affectionately nicknamed, would win both the 2009 and 2010 world championships, with normal service resumed. 2009 was another vintage Phil year, winning 10 of the 12 major tournaments. Approaching 50, Taylor would lose in the 2011 + 2012 world championships despite his 11 majors spread out with these two years. With reports of his waning powers, Taylor would go on to claim his 16th world title beating the new kid on the block, Michael Van Gerwen in a stunning final on New Years Day.

The world title would be the 194th title of his illustrious career with 74 major wins. Not only is he the most successful player in terms of career titles but is also credited with the most televised 9-dart finishes, the perfect leg. He has achieved this nine times including twice in one game, a feat still unmatched, with only 34 ever hit. His dominance of the game is also shown by his amazing 3-dart averages. In 2010, Taylor would record the highest televised average ever with 118.66 and has thrown a televised average over 105 an incredible 117 times compared to just 78 from all other players.

So whilst the merits of Taylor as a ‘sportsman’ alongside the likes of Woods, Bradman and Federer may be debatable in your eyes, Taylor is a deserved recipient of this award, with his wins and consistent domination not equalled in any other sporting arena.

one of the weaker groups this one surely?

Louis was a fine boxer, but arguably only just in the top 10 or so P4P, if that (certainly you can see plenty of lists without him). Held back, somewhat unfairly, by average opposition, but there it is.

Taylor of course is a peerless darts player. As I mentioned on a previous post, I consider anyone nominated in this discussion to be a sportsman (makes things easier), so he easily gets one of the votes.

Armstrong? Nope. Forget the "everyone was at it" argument, the lengths he went to to ensure he had the best doping program and to keep everyone quiet about it, ruining many lives in the process, makes him ineligible for me.

Beckenbauer was a mighty fine footballer, but again? Good enough to genuinely belong in a HoF discussion across all sports? Not sure, but would lean his way given lack of alternatives.

Might have to break the rules and only vote for Taylor in this one, but I'm willing to listen to anyone putting forth cases for Louis or Beckenbauer.

Have gone for Taylor whilst wondering what on earth Lance Armstrong is doing in this competition!

gone for louis- second greatest heavyweight imo is still a great achievement

not even considering armstrong, so it was between taylor and beckenbauer

play a fair bit of both sports, and would say its harder sport to achieve what franz did than taylor. even though taylor was dominant, football is tougher and played a lot more around the world

Gone Beckenbauer, maybe not as glamorous a player as Best or Pele at the time but he revolutionised the defender/sweeper role and would without doubt get into any greatest 11.

Taylor and Armstrong I haven't considered whilst Louis is so far behind Ali that I couldn't vote for him either.

Taylor and Armstrong? You've got to be kidding. What kind of muppet would nominate either of them?

Remember this is a re-run from a couple of years ago, before the Armstrong doping confession.

Agree this is a far weaker group than previously - can I place alternative votes for Ayrton Senna and Gareth Edwards, who missed out in tough groups before?

If not, I guess it's Taylor and Beckenbauer, with the proviso that darts is a very niche sport and Beckenbauer would not make a top 5 of footballers (arguably top 10).

If its a pure re-run where is that man Gavin Hastings? And shouldn't it just be given to Federer now, especially once he appears all his worryingly obsessive fans from the Tennis board will create at least 10 accounts each to vote!

Never heard of Beckenbauer or Taylor before, Armstrong's a drug cheat. the Brown Bomber wins by miles.