Who's more famous , GSP or Gretzky ?

I think we've all lost the original point of this thread. And it seems the general consensus is the same, Gretzky is more popular than GSP. Im not sure how we have all got tied up in a sporting popularity contest, as that was not the issue.

Ne5ville14 concedes that 99 is more famous than GSP. However, there is tons of debate about which sport is more popular. Personally, globally, Ill admit, now that it's been a few days, I simply don't know. While I feel 99 is a bigger name, mma may be more popular in developing countries than hockey. In fact, until Gretzky went to LA, hockey was merely a fringe sport itself, save for the big 6 (Canada, USA, USSR, Czechoslovakia, Sweden, and Finland), and the Czechs and soviets couldnt even play in the NHL! Only recently has hockey become the size it is. But there are still empty arenas throughout the NHL, and salaries are getting out of hand, threatening to destroy the game, etc.

I think a better question, one which im gonna make a thread about, is which athlete is more dominant at his sport, GSP or Wayne. I saw Wayne play with Edmonton and LA live, and when he was on the ice, the Leafs looked like a house league team. But GSP just doesnt lose a round. In fact, against Koscheck, he lost 5 seconds of the whole fight (that takedown).

 

Oki, maybe Sweden, Finland and Russia were bad exemple, but what about Mexico ? and England ? and Japan ? Korea ? Do I really need to go over the 82 countries to make a ****in point ?

 

It's not even a debate to know wich sport is more popular, prolly Ice hockey is without a doubt.

The only thing I'm trying to point out is that not all country on this planet know/care/love/can play ice hockey, that north american people tend to think that if they love or know something everyone will agree with them and that MA are a more global phenomenom then hockey. There is alot more chance that a karate guy in korea will know who is GSP. Even thought I don't really believe that some karate guy in korea could know who is GSP, because I don't think they care who hold the title at WW in a american MMA league.

But like I said, there is alot more chance that korea guy know who is GSP, compared to Gretzky. That's all I'm saying !

 

Gretzky is far more famous and it isnt even close

 

Who the ****s are Jacki Robinson and Jonny Wilkinson? They are nowhere near Gretzkys popularity. Also GSP is nowhere near the popularity of any of the names you mentioned. (Except maybe Wilkinson and Robinson as I have never heard of them)

 

He's not a rugby league player Ive ever heard of and I live in Sydney, the HOME of rugby league, explain to me how that makes him more famous than GSP??

 

Your argument is completly flawed. You say the UFC's revenue is around 75% North American because it's based in Nevada, this is probabbly true, but I'd say about 90% of the NHL revenue is North American.

Yes hockey is more popular than MMA in CANADA, no one is arguing that point, and yes they probably get alot more television viewer's in Canada and sell a heap more tickets. GSP only fights maybe 3 times a year, Gretzky played week in and out during the hockey season for years and yet GSP's fame INTERNATIONALLY could rival that of Gretsky and he still has many years in front of him!

Your number's and statistics mean absolutely sweet **** all because you're only using number's from North America. Let me ask you a question, how many countries has the NHL travelled too this year compared to UFC? Now ask yourself why they don't take hockey (more particulary NHL) over seas?? I'll tell you why, they'll lose a bucketload of cash, because unlike MMA there's virtually no market for the sport out of North America and no potential growth for it.

Wayne Gretzky is more famous than GSP, but he'll probably be the last ice hockey player to be remotely comparable in terms of fame with the top MMA guys in the WORLD.

 

Dude slow down and take a breath, fame in Canada does not equal fame world wide! You make yourself sound so ignorant, because you live in Canada you know which of your Canadian stars or more famous overseas? I don't see the logic, it's like saying Andrew Johns is a more famous Australian than Geoffrey Rush because more people in Sydney have heard of him. Problem with that logic is most people outside of Australia have no ****ing idea who Andrew Johns is compared to hollywood actor Geofrey Rush. Do you see what I'm saying??

 

I agree entirely with your post, my point is simply that yes Gtrezky is more popular but probably the last hockey player that will hold that mantle over the top MMA fighter's. I guess my Canadian friends here are very passionate about their sport, and being on the other side of the world I see this question in a very differant perspective.

 

I took it to mean rugby in general as there are NO famous league players

Over here in UK Lomu is very well known. Gretsky isnt famous at all

I dont know about the rest of the world

 

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[FONT=&quot]I believe it when they make even fraction of the money top ice hockey players make.[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Finish league top players; earn more than most MMA top fighters, not to even mentioning top NHL players.[/FONT]

 

Ive heard of Gretzky and Im in the UK. Was on that bit in Wayne's World where that chick rides her bike into the car mind
Game on!

 

What does money have to do with fame??

 

We know who Gretzky is in England.

 

Gretzky is the one hockey player name people know in the UK, nobody knows who GSP is outside MMA fans. I suspect that will continue going his dull fight last weekend.