If you could have one skill in sports

[willeyeam]

what would it be? Has to be something that is humanly possible. Be able to dunk the **** out of a ball. Bomb home runs. 100 MPH slap shot. Hit a driver 350 yards.

I'd throw 100 MPH. I think that would be an awesome feeling standing on the mound knowing I can bring it like that.

[MR25]

Sidney Crosby's skating ability.

The hands and other aspects are things I can work on without ice. I'm a bad skater.

[blackjack68]

Kick a 60-yard field goal consistently.

Little contact. Decent paycheck.

[dodint]

There was a Matt Christopher book I read when I was little called The Kid Who Only Hit Homers that has led to decades of day dreaming for me. The kid either hit a home run or walked every at bat, and I always wondered in what other ways that could apply in sports. Specifically if I could be supernaturally gifted a mechanism like that, but all other physical traits are what they are now.

For instance, if I could skate like a high school hockey player (the extent of my current abilities) but had a literally every shot I got on goal went in I probably still wouldn't get very far. I'd just be obliterated in the neutral zone at just about every level of competitive hockey. I'd have to train as hard as a real athlete to bring the rest of my game to a level where I can get enough blind shots on goal, and that hardly seems worth it in the end.
On the flip side, being a goalie able to save every single shot you see would actually be doable. I'd have a 30 year career and be unrivaled in history because I would basically only have to stand there. Endless Vezina's and Stanely Cups, I'd be the first $20/mil annual salaried player in hockey and every team would offer.

Though, you said 'humanly possible' so I guess everything above is moot based on the supernatural aspect. I suppose it's possible to have a 0.00 GAA since goalies do post shut outs.

[mikey]

Anticipation.

[MalkinIsMyHomeboy]

Be taller =(

[MR25]

But you said "Every shot you see".

The screened ones still go in

[Dickie Dunn]

In my prime I had a mid-90s slap shot. The aforementioned Crosby skating ability certainly would have led to a different end for my career.

Outside of hockey, as a 5'10" typically overweight white guy, the thought of being able to Vince Carter dunk the **** out of a basketball has always fascinated me.

[willeyeam]

Be taller =(

skill not genetic deficiencies

[dodint]

Source of the post But you said "Every shot you see".

The screened ones still go in

That was by design. I'm sure over 30 years there will be times that I'm out of position and there is no 'natural' way to make the save, like if Malkin slashed my glove and I'm crippled until the next whistle or something. There has to be a certain level a fallibility or it would kill the sport entirely, I'd think.

Anticipation.

I thought for sure you'd say you'd like to be the official that objectively gets every call perfect. Make every fan base shut it's trap for 20 years or so. Imagine.

[Troy Loney]

Elite short game in golf.

I think I definitely could have developed an adequate game with woods and irons, but never had the ability to play near the green.

[Freddy Rumsen]

I played college soccer as a goalkeeper.

Ditto to being taller. Only for the reason that most college coaches saw me at 5' 7" and said "he's too short" and wrote me off, even when I had one of the best GAA in our conference.

Also, I had a "weak leg", mostly because no one ever taught me how to properly punt the ball so my technique was awful.

[MrKennethTKangaroo]

it would be a lot of f'ing fun to be able to have great feet. Javier baez is a Grade A toolbag but man can he dance in the infield and he also has a rocket arm. Kenny the kangaroo has terrible feet and a crappy arm, so it is very easy to envy someone like that.

really though, if there is one skill, it would be unshakable mental toughness. focus, intensity, resolve, etc. can translate to any sport (and life) more than a lot of other things.

[beerman]

Under the assumption that it's just a random skill and you basically use it for nothing more than showing off (this skill doesn't automatically put you in the pros) then it's easily dunking. Any time I'd be near a hoop I'd just be throwing them down because I could.

[dodint]

No way I'm picking a skill I can't monetize. Be that a pro career or one of those guys that do long drive exhibitions in golf.

[Craig]

Dunk for sure. Easiest one to make use of for an otherwise pedestrian weekend athlete.

[columbia]

A .363 batting average in the NL.

[meow]

Win 100m dashes.

I'd participate in 1 Olympics, do some endorsements and live off the money for the rest of my life.

[NailedPenguin]

2 chicks at the same ti--

er, wait..

[dodint]

I guess it boils down to me as "what sport has the least number of fundamental skills required to be a success, but is also financially lucrative"

Obvious answer is bowling. Top PBA bowlers make some reasonable scratch, and if you could always hit a strike you're made for life. You can pick what events you want to play, and could conceivably play until you break a hip.

There are other throwing sports like darts, or Olympic field events. But I think bowling fits my quoted statement above the best.

[Silentom]

I think it'd be something obscure. Like being 100% in archery.

[Craig]

Oh were allowing for making money...kick a football with distance and accuracy.

[willeyeam]

Yeah I meant it as just what skill would be cool to have. Bowling and kicking don't qualify for this discussion

[dodint]

So you'd be able to throw a 100mph fastball but, you know, just for fun? Never in competition?

Well, that was fun, I'm out.

[meow]

I'm confused. Throwing counts but not kicking?