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The 10 Greatest Athletes of All Time From Florida

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In the Sunshine State, athletes train year round, which gives them an advantage over cold-weather athletes. These 10 athletes, born in the state of Florida, took advantage of that and eventually became the 10 greatest athletes in the history of the state.

10. Vince Carter

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There has never been a player in the NBA who could do quite the same thing that Carter could do on a basketball court. Some of the exhibitions he put on during the NBA Slam Dunk contest were flat-out ridiculous. While his career fell off to a degree later on, he was one of the best players in the league during his prime.

There has never been a player in the NBA who could do quite the same thing that Carter could do on a basketball court. Some of the exhibitions he put on during the NBA Slam Dunk contest were flat-out ridiculous. While his career fell off to a degree later on, he was one of the best players in the league during his prime.

9. Chris Evert

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One of the best tennis players of all time, Evert got her start in the Sunshine State. Some of her all-time tennis accomplishments are unfathomable. Her career record is 1,309-146 and she won an incredible 18 Grand Slam titles. There was perhaps no women's tennis player who was ever as technically sound as Evert and that earned her enshrinement in the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1995.

One of the best tennis players of all time, Evert got her start in the Sunshine State. Some of her all-time tennis accomplishments are unfathomable. Her career record is 1,309-146 and she won an incredible 18 Grand Slam titles. There was perhaps no women's tennis player who was ever as technically sound as Evert and that earned her enshrinement in the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1995.

8. Tim Tebow

Tim Tebow Getty Images
In the way that he was so entrenched in Florida's sports scene, Tebow was one of the best athletes to ever come from the Sunshine State. He was one of the most dazzling college quarterbacks of all time and even though he's the butt of several jokes since his NFL career began, nobody can deny his talent. He's a truly unique and special talent and person.

In the way that he was so entrenched in Florida's sports scene, Tebow was one of the best athletes to ever come from the Sunshine State. He was one of the most dazzling college quarterbacks of all time and even though he's the butt of several jokes since his NFL career began, nobody can deny his talent. He's a truly unique and special talent and person.

7. Warren Sapp

Warren Sapp Getty Images
Arguably the greatest defensive tackle of all time, Sapp began his football days in Florida. The gigantic 6-foot-2, 303-pound lineman totaled 96.5 sacks and 435 career tackles. He was a force in the middle of the field, which prevented teams from running up the middle while also having to account for him in the pass rush. His combination of run and pass defense skills helped earn him a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which he was inducted into in 2013.

Arguably the greatest defensive tackle of all time, Sapp began his football days in Florida. The gigantic 6-foot-2, 303-pound lineman totaled 96.5 sacks and 435 career tackles. He was a force in the middle of the field, which prevented teams from running up the middle while also having to account for him in the pass rush. His combination of run and pass defense skills helped earn him a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which he was inducted into in 2013.

6. Ray Lewis

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Speaking of dominant defensive players, Ray Lewis is one of the greatest of all time. His leadership was legendary and his actual play on the field was even better. The lifetime Baltimore Raven never backed down from a challenge and that helped him to 1,562 career tackles across his illustrious 17-year career. There was perhaps no more feared a defensive player in his playing days than this 13-time Pro Bowler.

Speaking of dominant defensive players, Ray Lewis is one of the greatest of all time. His leadership was legendary and his actual play on the field was even better. The lifetime Baltimore Raven never backed down from a challenge and that helped him to 1,562 career tackles across his illustrious 17-year career. There was perhaps no more feared a defensive player in his playing days than this 13-time Pro Bowler.

5. Steve Spurrier

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Steve Spurrier is known well by most younger sports fans as the coach of South Carolina football, but he was an excellent quarterback at the University of Florida when he was younger. While playing at the state university, he was the team's leader. After displaying his talent and leadership skills as a Florida Gator, he went on to have a respectable nine-year NFL career.

Steve Spurrier is known well by most younger sports fans as the coach of South Carolina football, but he was an excellent quarterback at the University of Florida when he was younger. While playing at the state university, he was the team's leader. After displaying his talent and leadership skills as a Florida Gator, he went on to have a respectable nine-year NFL career.

4. Michael Irvin

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Michael Irvin is from Florida and went to one of the most popular schools in the state at the University of Miami. He was part of some of the most dominant college teams ever there and then went on to a Hall of Fame NFL career in which he grabbed 750 catches while racking up 11,904 yards. In his time, he was one of the best wide receivers in the league and that led to his Hall of Fame enshrinement in 2007.

Michael Irvin is from Florida and went to one of the most popular schools in the state at the University of Miami. He was part of some of the most dominant college teams ever there and then went on to a Hall of Fame NFL career in which he grabbed 750 catches while racking up 11,904 yards. In his time, he was one of the best wide receivers in the league and that led to his Hall of Fame enshrinement in 2007.

3. Emmitt Smith

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Emmitt Smith is the NFL's all-time leading rusher and he hails from the Sunshine State. His training in the warm-weather state helped lead him to his incredible 15-year career, 13 of which came with the Cowboys. His 18,355 rushing yards are more than anyone is likely to rush for again, and that immortalizes him just as much as his 2010 Hall of Fame induction did.

Emmitt Smith is the NFL's all-time leading rusher and he hails from the Sunshine State. His training in the warm-weather state helped lead him to his incredible 15-year career, 13 of which came with the Cowboys. His 18,355 rushing yards are more than anyone is likely to rush for again, and that immortalizes him just as much as his 2010 Hall of Fame induction did.

2. Chipper Jones

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Potentially the greatest switch hitter of all time, Chipper Jones was born just one state south from where he spent his entire career. Jones became famous with the Atlanta Braves while they were consistently winning NL East titles and competing in the playoffs. He is a lifetime .303 hitter with 2,726 hits and 468 home runs. When he is on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time next season, you better believe he will be voted in.

Potentially the greatest switch hitter of all time, Chipper Jones was born just one state south from where he spent his entire career. Jones became famous with the Atlanta Braves while they were consistently winning NL East titles and competing in the playoffs. He is a lifetime .303 hitter with 2,726 hits and 468 home runs. When he is on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time next season, you better believe he will be voted in.

1. Deion Sanders

Deion Sanders Getty Images
In terms of pure athleticism, Deion Sanders is one of the best in sports history. His acrobatic ability to make plays in the defensive backfield and as a kick returner dazzled people, and his baseball career was just icing on the cake. He was just one of those guys who seemed to make plays whenever his team needed him, and that helped him make it on the biggest stage.

In terms of pure athleticism, Deion Sanders is one of the best in sports history. His acrobatic ability to make plays in the defensive backfield and as a kick returner dazzled people, and his baseball career was just icing on the cake. He was just one of those guys who seemed to make plays whenever his team needed him, and that helped him make it on the biggest stage.

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