Sporting hero is tough, there's so many that I admire or have admired at various time in my life.

Growing up, John Barnes was my idol, then Gower, then Robin Smith. I was always Robin Smith on the field. As I've got older, I've respected folk like Steve Waugh for what he was, if he didn't want to get out, he didn't get out. Jonty Rhodes was an incredible athlete and led the way for cricketers to be athletes as well. Linekar was another massive favourite of mine, I couldn't give a monkeys about his goalhanging, his movement was class and his first touch exceptional.

I could go on all day, I've so many, but Nick Faldo was special, so dedicated. Mike Tyson, not a hero but somebody who demanded respect as a raw teenager with so much aggresion, he was box office. Botham I only got the fat bloke bowling medium paces, fielding at slip. Darren Gough was somebody I idolised, tried to mimic his action. Lara, breaking the world record, losing it, getting it back. His concentration, WOW.

Really hard this.

Brian McClair and David Lyon.

Choccy, bleedin' choccy.

That's like me saying my hero was John Spencer.

Or, Cat saying his hero was, O'Neill Donaldson. Bloody choccy.

David Beckham & Ian Botham for me.

Becks is a decent call, not my idol, but somebody who I respect.

Paul Scholes and Tiger Woods are mine.

Putt them away in 1988 mate.

Anyhow, if Choccy was your hero, why have yo ustill got a lifesize poster of Neil Webb hanging on your wall with a glory hole cut out ?

For me the Heroes bit is not just about their sporting success or their personalities it is a combination of both. I often find that i am drawn to flawed geniuses people like Alex Higgins, John Mc Enroe or George Best. all of them great in their particular sport but all of them being REAL Characters who all stuck two fingers up at the establishment.

Probably one of the best though was Cassiuis Clay not just for what he did in the ring but also what he did as a person. refusing to go to Vietnam and being stripped of his titles but still coming back to be a true champion.

Cricket - Robin Smith loved the way he came out chewing his gum with the guard off his helmet. The guy oozed COOL and a great batter

Rugby - Bob Jackson, everything a sportsman should be rolled in to one guy

Football - Ryan Giggs, purely based on his sporting ethic

but my top sporting hero was Linford Christie, i was a 100m runner in my early to late teens until my knee injury and he was the guy i aspired to be.
I saw him in Sheffield, the speed of him was immense.

Depends on which time of my life you are taling about.

When I was a kid growing up

Cricket - Clive Lloyd, just an absolutely brilliant cricketer batting, fielding or even bowling. Had the please to meet hima few times and a real gent.

Rugby League - Could only be John Bevan, Parry Gordon a close second

Football - Kevin Keegan

Rubgy Union - yes I watch that as well, Fran Cotton and Graham Price

I was a member of the front row club myself.

American Football - John Riggins and Steve Largent

Tim Henman and Lee Briers