<P> The list was dramatically North American - centric . Only one athlete in the Top 100 list, Martina Navratilova, was born outside of the United States or Canada . Australian cricketer Donald Bradman, "considered by many to be the pre-eminent sportsman of all time" was also omitted . Bradman scored a lifetime average far in excess of average - 4.4 standard deviations above the mean, compared to Jordan's inferior 3.4 - leading to the statement that "no other athlete dominates an international sport to the extent that Bradman does cricket". No soccer player was included in the rankings despite it being the world's most popular sport; Brazilian soccer player Pelé also scored further above average than did Jordan . Baseball player Ty Cobb, appearing at 20 on the list, also ranked objectively above Jordan on the same ground . </P> <P> SportsCentury won a Peabody Award in 1999 "for overall excellence in sports broadcasting ." </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Number </Th> <Th> Athlete </Th> <Th> Sport </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Td> Jordan, Michael Michael Jordan </Td> <Td> Basketball </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Td> Ruth, Babe Babe Ruth </Td> <Td> Baseball </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Td> Ali, Muhammad Muhammad Ali </Td> <Td> Boxing </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Td> Brown, Jim Jim Brown </Td> <Td> Football </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 5 </Th> <Td> Gretzky, Wayne Wayne Gretzky </Td> <Td> Ice hockey </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 6 </Th> <Td> Owens, Jesse Jesse Owens </Td> <Td> Track and field </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 7 </Th> <Td> Thorpe, Jim Jim Thorpe </Td> <Td> Multiple sports </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 8 </Th> <Td> Mays, Willie Willie Mays </Td> <Td> Baseball </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 9 </Th> <Td> Nicklaus, Jack Jack Nicklaus </Td> <Td> Golf </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 10 </Th> <Td> Zaharias, Babe Babe Zaharias </Td> <Td> Multiple sports </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 11 </Th> <Td> Louis, Joe Joe Louis </Td> <Td> Boxing </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 12 </Th> <Td> Lewis, Carl Carl Lewis </Td> <Td> Track and field </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 13 </Th> <Td> Chamberlain, Wilt Wilt Chamberlain </Td> <Td> Basketball </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 14 </Th> <Td> Aaron, Hank Hank Aaron </Td> <Td> Baseball </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 15 </Th> <Td> Robinson, Jackie Jackie Robinson </Td> <Td> Baseball </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 16 </Th> <Td> Williams, Ted Ted Williams </Td> <Td> Baseball </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 17 </Th> <Td> Johnson, Magic Magic Johnson </Td> <Td> Basketball </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 18 </Th> <Td> Russell, Bill Bill Russell </Td> <Td> Basketball </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 19 </Th> <Td> Navratilova, Martina Martina Navratilova </Td> <Td> Tennis </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 20 </Th> <Td> Cobb, Ty Ty Cobb </Td> <Td> Baseball </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 21 </Th> <Td> Howe, Gordie Gordie Howe </Td> <Td> Ice hockey </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 22 </Th> <Td> DiMaggio, Joe Joe DiMaggio </Td> <Td> Baseball </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 23 </Th> <Td> Joyner - Kersee, Jackie Jackie Joyner - Kersee </Td> <Td> Track and field </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 24 </Th> <Td> Robinson, Sugar Ray Sugar Ray Robinson </Td> <Td> Boxing </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 25 </Th> <Td> Montana, Joe Joe Montana </Td> <Td> Football </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 26 </Th> <Td> Abdul - Jabbar, Kareem Kareem Abdul - Jabbar </Td> <Td> Basketball </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 27 </Th> <Td> Rice, Jerry Jerry Rice </Td> <Td> Football </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 28 </Th> <Td> Grange, Red Red Grange </Td> <Td> Football </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 29 </Th> <Td> Palmer, Arnold Arnold Palmer </Td> <Td> Golf </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 30 </Th> <Td> Bird, Larry Larry Bird </Td> <Td> Basketball </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 31 </Th> <Td> Orr, Bobby Bobby Orr </Td> <Td> Ice hockey </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 32 </Th> <Td> Unitas, Johnny Johnny Unitas </Td> <Td> Football </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 33 </Th> <Td> Spitz, Mark Mark Spitz </Td> <Td> Swimming </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 34 </Th> <Td> Gehrig, Lou Lou Gehrig </Td> <Td> Baseball </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 35 </Th> <Td> Secretariat, Secretariat </Td> <Td> Horse racing </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 36 </Th> <Td> Robertson, Oscar Oscar Robertson </Td> <Td> Basketball </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 37 </Th> <Td> Mantle, Mickey Mickey Mantle </Td> <Td> Baseball </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 38 </Th> <Td> Hogan, Ben Ben Hogan </Td> <Td> Golf </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 39 </Th> <Td> Payton, Walter Walter Payton </Td> <Td> Football </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 40 </Th> <Td> Taylor, Lawrence Lawrence Taylor </Td> <Td> Football </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 41 </Th> <Td> Rudolph, Wilma Wilma Rudolph </Td> <Td> Track and field </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 42 </Th> <Td> Koufax, Sandy Sandy Koufax </Td> <Td> Baseball </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 43 </Th> <Td> Erving, Julius Julius Erving </Td> <Td> Basketball </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 44 </Th> <Td> Jones, Bobby Bobby Jones </Td> <Td> Golf </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 45 </Th> <Td> Tilden, Bill Bill Tilden </Td> <Td> Tennis </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 46 </Th> <Td> Heiden, Eric Eric Heiden </Td> <Td> Speed skating, cycling </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 47 </Th> <Td> Moses, Edwin Edwin Moses </Td> <Td> Track and field </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 48 </Th> <Td> Sampras, Pete Pete Sampras </Td> <Td> Tennis </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 49 </Th> <Td> Simpson, O.J. O.J. Simpson </Td> <Td> Football </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 50 </Th> <Td> Evert, Chris Chris Evert </Td> <Td> Tennis </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Number </Th> <Th> Athlete </Th> <Th> Sport </Th> </Tr>

Who was selected as the sports illustrated best female athlete of the twentieth century