Who is the greatest of all Michaels ?

All right!!! another Michael achieves greatness by winning 8 gold medals in one Olympics and 14 in all. But he joins a list of first name Michael who have also achieved greatness and have become legends.

The King of pop- Michael JACKSON:American superstar Michael Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana in 1958 and has been entertaining audiences nearly his entire life. His father, Joseph Jackson, had been a guitarist but was forced to give up his musical ambitions following his marriage to Katherine (Scruse). Together they prodded their growing family's musical interests at home. By the early 60s the older boys Jackie, Tito and Jermaine had begun performing around the city; by 1964 Michael and Marlon had joined in.

A musical prodigy, Michael's singing and dancing talents were amazingly mature and he soon became the dominant voice and focus of "The Jackson 5." As a product of the 70s, the boys had emerged as one of the most accomplished black pop/soul vocal groups in music history, successfully evolving from a Temptations-like group act to a disco phenomenon.Solo success for Michael was inevitable, and by the 80s he had become infinitely more popular than his brotherly group. Record sales consistently orbited, culminating in the biggest-selling album of all time, "Thriller."

First solo artist to generate four top ten hits on the Billboard charts on one album with "Off the Wall."
First artist to generate seven top ten hits (USA) on one album with "Thriller."
Only artist in history to generate five #1 hits (USA) from one album with "Bad."
His 1982 album "Thriller" is the biggest selling album of all time, with confirmed sales of over 47 million copies worldwide.
His 1991 album "Dangerous" is second to "Thriller" as the biggest selling album of all time, with over 20 million copies sold worldwide.
His 1987 album "BAD" is third to "Thriller" as the biggest selling album of all time, with 20 million copies sold worldwide.
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 (as a solo artist).
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 (as a member of the Jackson 5)
Has sold 170 million albums worldwide.
Has sold over 300 million records worldwide.

Michael Schumacher: German ace Michael Schumacher is widely recognised as being the world's best ever racing driver. In 1995 Michael became the (at that time) youngest double Formula 1 World Champion (1994 and 1995 seasons) ever. He is also the 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 World Champion. This phenomenal record speaks for itself. In 2003 he beat Juan Manuel Fangio's five championships from the 1950s, by taking his sixth! He has now retired from F1, at the end of the 2006 season.

The 2004 championship was secured by Michael before its conclusion, making it title number 7. He did it by finishing 2nd at Spa in Belgium, in Ferrari's 700th race, to accumulate enough points to seal the deal.

Michael also holds the F1 records for: most career wins (91), most wins in a season, most career pole positions, most points during a season (148 in 2004), most consecutive world championships (5), most consecutive race wins (2004), most podium finsihes (154), most laps leading, most fastest laps (76), plus several others!

Michael Phelps: The man of the moment. Michael Phelps went a perfect 8-for-8 in Beijing, breaking Mark Spitz's single-Games record for gold medals. He swam 17 times over nine days and broke the world record in four of his five individual swims. His three relay teams also set world marks. He had won six golds and two bronze in the Athens Olympics. So a total of 14 gold medals making him the greatest Olympian ever.




Michael Jordan: The greatest athlete of the 20th century in North America.
* Five-time NBA Most Valuable Player (1987-88, 1990-91, 1991-92, 1995-96, 1997-98)
* Ten-time All-NBA First Team selection (1986-87 to 1992-93, 1995-96 to 1997-98)
* Selected in 1996 as one of the "50 Greatest Players in NBA History"
* A member of six Chicago Bulls NBA championship teams (1990-91, 1991-92, 1992-93, 1995-96, 1996-97 and 1997-98)
* Six-time NBA Finals Most Valuable Player
* The 1987-88 NBA Defensive Player of the Year and record nine-time NBA All-Defensive First Team selection (1987-88 to 1992-93, 1995-96 to 1997-98)
* Entering 2002-03, ranked first in NBA history in scoring average (31.0 ppg), second in steals (2,391), fourth in points (30,652) and in field-goals made (11,513), fifth in free-throws made (7,061), sixth in field-goals attempted (23,010) and eighth in free-throws attempted (8,448)
* Closed the 1997-98 season as the Bulls' all-time franchise leader in points, rebounds (5,836), assists (5,012), steals, games (930), field-goals made and attempted and free-throws made and attempted (8,115)
* Holds the NBA record for most seasons leading the league in scoring (10)
* Shares the NBA record with Wilt Chamberlain for most consecutive seasons leading the league in scoring (seven, 1986-87 to 1992-93)
* Holds the NBA record for most consecutive games scoring in double-digits (842)
* Holds the NBA record for most seasons leading the league in field-goals made (10) and attempted (10)
* Led the NBA in steals in 1987-88 (3.16 spg), 1989-90 (2.77 spg) and 1992-93 (2.83 spg)
* Holds the NBA single-game records for most free-throws made in one half (20 against the Miami Heat on 12/30/92) and most most free-throws attempted in one half (23 in the same game)
* Shares the NBA single-game records for most free-throws made in one quarter (14 against the Utah Jazz on 11/15/89 and against the Miami Heat on 12/30/92) and most free-throws attempted in one quarter (23 against the Miami Heat on 12/30/92)
* Holds the NBA Finals record for highest single-series scoring average (41.0 ppg in 1993)
* Entering the 2002-03 season, ranks as the all-time NBA Finals leader in three-pointers made (42), second in three-point attempts (114), third in points (1,176), fourth in steals (62), fifth in field-goals made (438), sixth in assists (209) and free-throws made (258), seventh in field-goals attempted (911) and eighth in free-throws attempted (320)
* Holds the NBA Playoffs record for highest career scoring average (33.4 ppg)
* Established an NBA Playoffs record with 63 points against the Boston Celtics on 5/20/86
* Entering the 2002-03 season ranks as the all-time NBA Playoffs leader in field-goals attempted (4,497), free-throws made (1,463) and attempted (1,766), second in steals (376) and field-goals made (2,188), fifth in assists (1,022), seventh in three-point attempts (446) and ninth in three-pointers made (148)
* Recorded two playoff career triple-doubles, both against the New York Knicks (5/9/89 and 6/2/93)
* Participated in 13 NBA All-Star Games (1985, 1987-1993, 1996-98, 2002-03), starting 13 times, and missed another due to injury
* Named the MVP of the 1988, 1996 and 1998 NBA All-Star Games
* All-time NBA All-Star Game leader in steals (35) and ranks second in field-goal attempts (206), third in points (242), fourth in scoring average (20.2 ppg), and eighth in assists (52)
* Notched the first triple-double in All-Star Game history, with 14 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists, in the 1997 NBA All-Star Game in Cleveland
* Won the Slam Dunk Contest in 1987 and 1988, also participating in 1985
* Notched his 28th career triple-double, with 30 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, against the Toronto Raptors on 4/14/97
* Returned from retirement against the Indiana Pacers on 3/19/95 and posted 19 points, six rebounds, six assists and three steals in 43 minutes

There are many more Michaels out there like Michael Ballack(soccer) ,clarke(cricket), etc. These are good players but have not achieved greatness like these four in their fields.