Dean & Woodie for Greatest American on Discovery Channel
 

Hey, have you seen the list of 100 most influential Americans on discovery.com? I can't believe some of the awful choices. Shouldn't we as FIRSTers be writing in Dean & Woodie and FIRST in general. Its about time a real "American Robotics" show was filmed for the Discovery Channel. Go to their blog and let the Discovery Channel know that Dean & Woodie should be recognized as influential Americans.

Re: Dean & Woodie for Greatest American on Discovery Channel
 

I agree. I believe this is the same list I saw on AOL last week, and the best thing I can say about it is that it sucked. How can an actor, or an athlete be one of the 100 greatest Americans? What have they done for society? for the world? (Yes, I know there are exceptions, but they are few and far between)

There are people on the list that deserve to be there. There are a whole lot more who don't.

Re: Dean & Woodie for Greatest American on Discovery Channel
 

How can you say that because someone is an actor or athlete they can not be one of the greatest Americans? A person is not defined by their job, but how they carry themselves in that job and beyond.

Wetzel

Re: Dean & Woodie for Greatest American on Discovery Channel
 

As I noted, there are clearly exceptions.

Someone should NOT, in my opinion, be on a list of greatest Americans simply because they hit the most home runs, or threw the most touchdowns, or made more money as an actor than anyone else.

When I think of "the greatest Americans" I think of ones that A) made a significant impact on the United States as a whole, for the better. B) made a significant impact on the world.

I'm a big sports fan, and I like movies just like everyone else, but for the most part I do not think athletes, nor actors fit my criteria for what makes a great American.

$0.02

Re: Dean & Woodie for Greatest American on Discovery Channel
 

Are the selections the result of AOL polling their subscribers? If so, we may conclude that they come from a group of people who aren’t very good at making informed choices. After all, they picked AOL for their ISP!

Apart from George Washington, none of the Founding Fathers made it into the list of “Greatest Americans.” That’s incredible! In my opinion, the list begins and ends there.

Just goes to show that the results depend on the universe of people you poll. While Woodie Flowers may place high in a CD poll, the rest of the country would be saying; “Woody Who? Isn’t that the guy who married his step daughter?”

Re: Dean & Woodie for Greatest American on Discovery Channel
 

I have nothing against these people personally, but I'm wondering for anyone who doesn't have issues with this list (mainly you, wetzel :p) what qualities you see in the following people that make them deserving of being named to such a list:

Tom Cruise
Clint Eastwood
Brett Favre
Mel Gibson
Tom Hanks
Michael Jordan
Madonna
Elvis Presley
Babe Ruth
Arnold Schwarzenegger (He's a body builder, made movies, and became governor through an election that featured a porn star, and a midget actor as candidates. So what?)
Frank Sinatra
Martha Stewart (This one really irks me. HOW did she get on this list?)
Tiger Woods

If the criteria for "greatest" was defined, and included "athletic prowess" and "entertaining skill" then I might be able to accept people such as these being nominated, although I wouldn't agree with the criteria.

I'd rather pick 13 soldiers at random from Iraq/Afghanistan, or 13 cops, fire fighters, or paramedics than ANY of the people on this list. Every day they give back something more tangible to the country than a single one of these people does, in my opinion.

Re: Dean & Woodie for Greatest American on Discovery Channel
 

I'd have to agree. When we were down in Atlanta we went to a Braves game, which was fun, but when you think about it, it's lame. Someone having aspirations to play baseball for the rest of their life. You'd think that they'd want to do something with their life other than get up and play baseball. The people that get paid the big bucks, in my opinion, are way less deserving of that money than an engineer, doctor, or teacher. Athlete's aren't shaping the future of this country. People like our mentors are, yet most Americans would never consider an engineer, doctor, or teacher more valuable than a mere athlete.

Re: Dean & Woodie for Greatest American on Discovery Channel
 

While this debate can, and probably will, go on and on since it is based on personal opinions, I just wanted to write my quick $.02, if it's even worth that.

I agree that people on that list, even the ones you listed, might not be great to you. You even state that it's your opinion.

But, I'm willing to bet that there are millions of kids out there who go and play tee ball the best they can because they want to be like Barry Bonds. Or practice football with their fathers because they want to be like Brett Farve. Or the people who get a much needed escape from their hectic and crazy lives for 2 hours when they watch a Tom Cruise movie. Or the up and coming business students who study Martha Stewart because of how she created her empire.

Sure, some of these people have their flaws. Barry Bonds and all the steriod accusations. Martha and her stock scandel.

But just because these people don't inspire you and you don't think that they aren't great, doesn't mean they aren't great to someone else. What does Greatest mean anyway? Great in THEIR career? Great for the community? Great for the U.S.?

Also, you don't see all the community services and things a lot of these people do. There are a lot of charities, hospitals, foundations, etc. set up and donated to by many of these atheletes and actors.

I know that one of the messages that Dean wants to express is the fact that focussing on science and technology is a great way for a lot of kids to have a bright future. And their chance of success is much better than someone trying to be the next Brett Farve. But, that doesn't mean everyone should. I know a lot of people that couldn't care less about science and technology and live sports for example. They would probably say that Brett Farve is greater than Woodie or Dean. Should I hate them because of that? Should I think they are stupid?

I don't do either, because they have as much right to believe what they believe as do I. That is what makes this world such a wonderful place. The free discussions and communication to think things like this and be different than everyone else.

And, I'm sorry, but I bet us FIRSTer's are the minority out there. But, we are growing, and hopefully soon, people like Dean and Woody will make lists like this.

Re: Dean & Woodie for Greatest American on Discovery Channel
 

I think some of those people deserve to be taken off your list. Many of them do a rather lot of good work in the world and don't deserve to be maligned because you don't like their day jobs.

Mel Gibson donates large amounts of money to many charitable organizations. As does Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise, Brett Favre, and Michael Jordan. Arnold Schwarzenegger does an awful lot of charitable work with kids. Tiger Woods has his own foundation for helping kids. While these people may or may not reach the stature of the Greatest American, to say they don't give anything tangible back to the country is grossly unfair.

Re: Dean & Woodie for Greatest American on Discovery Channel
 

Just for the record, I saw this a while back when they were accepting nominations.. maybe january-ish - february-ish of this year, and I did write in Dean and Woodie's name both in for nominations..

:)

Re: Dean & Woodie for Greatest American on Discovery Channel
 

I never said that, I said in my opinion the groups of people I listed give more back to this country than the people I don't believe belong on the list.

And like I said before, I have nothing against them, nor their jobs. I like Tiger Woods, I think Brett Favre is one of the greatest athletes of our time (Well, I actually do have something against Arnold, but that's besides the point :p)

Let me put my point this way--These Americans are great at what they do, and I would probably lump them all as in general, being great Americans, for the reasons Don brought up.

However, I feel that there are many more Americans that are more deserving of being on this list than the ones I mentioned.

Re: Dean & Woodie for Greatest American on Discovery Channel
 

It's only a word if you spell it correctly. Additionally, don't dare tell me what my morals should be.


I'm going to go out on a limb here, but I think (and remember, this is only my opinion) it's because Isaac Newton wasn't an American.

Re: Dean & Woodie for Greatest American on Discovery Channel
 

woops guess ive got a few corrections to make

I'm stupid because i couldnt remember where Newton was from and when i checked biography.com I pulled up Isaac Newton from New Jersey, not Sir Isaac Newton. My bad.

Second, sorry if I offended u with the morals comment. in retrospect i probably shouldnt have said it. :o it was just me venting. i dont force my beliefs on anyone. however i still think hefner shouldnt b on the list.

Sorry about all that. :o

Re: Dean & Woodie for Greatest American on Discovery Channel
 

Well it isn't like we are talking about an EXTREMELY accredited source. Discovery channel, or discovery.com, is just another company. They are just out to make money, and what better way then name people that everyone and their grandmother knows about so people will watch it and say "oh i loved him in _______" or "i saw him live back in '72". Also, the advertisers probably look and see what the show is and see if people will watch. If you were an advertiser, would you pay for ads on a show that no one watches? So in conclusion, what I'm trying to say, it's not really the absolute most important Americans, its more or less the ones that will make the station the most money.

And out of that list of entertainers, I am disappointed that I do not see Miles Davis on there. I think that he may have done more for America than Ellen DeGeneres.

Re: Dean & Woodie for Greatest American on Discovery Channel
 

My opinions are similar to Cory's in this aspect. Where are the people on this list who are really making a difference and not just looking like they're making a difference?

Although, those who really are making a difference probably would not ask to be on such a list, and thus few people probably ever really hear about them.

Re: Dean & Woodie for Greatest American on Discovery Channel
 

These posts mirror my original thoughts. I have nothing against actors or athletes, but what was their real impact on American society. Have they made America a better, safer, more advanced place? I was just thinking of Dean's comments that society needs to change and celebrate people who make a real impact on society through the sciences, medicine, or engineering. I certainly understand that Discovery programming is a business so they're after popular viewing, but we need to start changing society's view of popular. Hey things must be changing a little, Mythbusters is getting high veiwer ratings. There's a little engineering and science squeezed in between all those things blowing up!

Re: Dean & Woodie for Greatest American on Discovery Channel
 

You'll find a better list by far if you check out the issue of Time from a few weeks back. It contains a list of the worlds top 100 most influential, with short articles about each of them. By far a better list, even though, if I remember right, it still lacks Dean or Woody. :-p

Re: Dean & Woodie for Greatest American on Discovery Channel
 

i agree 100%! .. i am a canadian. .but i couln't see many of those ppl on your short list being influential. .(well maybe to social yada yada).,.. .but not to USA on a whole..... and i think woodie and dean camen need to be more :D. . i was soo happy when discovery channel decided to host some coverage of the toronto regional. . it was awsome :D.. the more worldwide coverage of FIRST we get ! the more AWSOME it is to be a part of it

Re: Dean & Woodie for Greatest American on Discovery Channel
 

Ummmm.. There are four founding fathers on that list. Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson and Washington are on the list. (Ehhh perhaps Hamiliton isn't a founding father but close enough) To be honest I like this list and sure you can point to a few people and make a case against them but the vast majority of them deserve to be on that list. In fact Im surprised that some of these people are on the list considering the fact that they would not be my first,second,third, or even forth choice.Clint Eastwood won the Kennedy Center Honor which honors people for their lifetime contributions to American culture through the performing arts. Tom Hanks is a member of a organization that supports space endavours like the x-prize and created a miniseries based on the Apollo program. Elvis. Well let me just quote wikipedia.
Tiger woods faced racism and completely changed the world of golf because of ethnicity. Im stopping now. Im tired of searching through wikipedia. PS. You forgot Michael Jackson in your list.