SLINT INDEX

These inspirational athletes are, in my opinion, the five greatest athletes of all time. I hope you agree that they have taught us all something about courage and determination:

1. Michael Jordan
A basketball player that shocked everybody with his insane skill. He was absolutely magical to watch and was instrumental in making the National Basketball League publically known throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s. He is also been named ‘the greatest basketball player ever to have lived’. Jordan’s greatness is perhaps best encapsulated in his famous quote about never giving up:

“I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan

2. Pele
605 league games, 589 league goals. Simply put he is the greatest footballer ever to have lived. He won 3 world cups with Brazil and had the cleverest footballing brain ever to grace to pitch. His inspirational talent has provided an ideal, possibly even a template for other young footballers to try and match. Maradonna is compared to Pele, Messi is compared to Maradonna, it all hails from he who is nicknamed ‘G-O-D’, it’s Pele.

3. Muhammad Ali
Born Cassius Clay. He is a former American boxer, who from 22 began to win… and win… and win. The world heavyweight championship was his from that spectacularly young age and he just wouldn’t stop! His career was shadowed by the fact that he refused to be conscripted into the US army for the Vietnam War.

He was stripped of his title and only after four years was his case successful and was he allowed to fight again. He then went on to be the greatest boxer in history.

4. Alexander Karelin
A Russian who is considered the greatest Greco-Roman wrestler in modern history. He has won 3 Olympic gold medals and one silver. His great strength was renowned and he went 13 years unbeaten in international competition. For any majorly physical sportsman, this specimen can only be described as inspirational. The fact he has a PHD in physical education rounds it all off; whoever said sportsmen can’t be clever was wrong.

5. Bo Jackson
The first athlete to be named ‘all-star’ in two American sports. He was a great baseball player and a very good American football player, pretty much defining the term ‘all-rounder’.

One of his finest achievements is the fastest ever recorded ’40-yard dash’ for an NFL player which was in just 4.12 seconds. A truly inspirational athlete for anybody who likes to do a bit of everything, from sprinting, to long jump, to triple jump, to football to baseball. He had it all.

It’s no secret to anyone who remains fashionable that celebrities often start and dictate trends – even for things as important as engagement rings. Many people would be right to assume that Hollywood has a little hand in the new trend of fiance’s offering their future wives engagement rings with birthstone accents. Though not entirely a new idea, this trend has been sweeping Hollywood’s hottest married couples.

For example, pop singer Jessica Simpson recently received a ruby engagement ring, and that’s no mistake on her fiance’s part, either. Ruby happens to be Jessica’s birthstone. Another famous Jessica, Jessical Biel also received a birthstone engagement ring. Hers was a stunning diamond ring with two aquamarine accents on each side of the main rock.

Though many people would feel like following a Hollywood trend for something as personal as an engagement ring idea would cheapen it, the fact is that most women love the idea of getting a birthstone engagement ring. Why? Because it takes a little bit of extra thought to remember a birthday, and to add that extra special touch that shows how much you care about celebrating her. After all, an engagement ring is all about your love for her, isn’t it?

Due to the surge in demand for engagement rings accented with birthstones, many professional jewelers carry a small selection to choose from. Of course, if you want it to be a one of a kind creation, a very skilled jeweler will allow you to design your own ring, and even choose the size, cut, and type of gemstones you use to accent it. Just make sure that you have a birthstone guide in hand, and that you remember your fiancee’s birthday correctly when you plan out your engagement ring. Your fiancée will love it!