No, worries. Tom Brady does not qualify. Why? You may ask. Well, because he didn't revolutionize the sport, nor did he carry it on his back, at all. He just road coattails as the league's popularity declined.
My Nominees:
Basketball: Michael Jordan. Who else? He brought the league from a has-been dope club, where top draft picks died from crack overdose and entire teams were on the DEA's radar. A sport playing their Championship games on tape delay became must see TV during the Jordan era. He also redefined the #2 guard position, both offensive and defensively.
Runners up: Bird and Magic. If those two were one dude, they would have won.
Baseball: Babe Ruth. He is baseball.
Runners up: No one, really.
Hockey: Gretzky. Closest competitor: Gordie, and it is close.
Golf: Tiger. Took the game to a whole new level. Next, Jack. Also a close 1-2.
Tennis: Williams, Serena.
Boxing: Ali...no one else even compares
Soccer: ? Seriously. ??
Ok, now. we'll look at Tom's sport.
Football: Joe Montana. Why? First guy to use the pass to win Superbowls. Brought the air to the game and made it fun. Before Joe, football was basically a running back's league, four yards and a cloud of dust. Now, we see QB's throw for 4000 yards, and no one even drafts a running back in the first round unless their name is Cleveland.
Runners up: Jim Brown. Yep, a running back. But, a really special one. Next, Jerry Rice. If not for Joe, he probably would be the guy credited with putting air in the ball.
GOAT of all GOATS? Tough call, but I go with Ali. No other fighter has ever been able to put boxing on a major TV network during primetime. No other athlete was as quickly recognized. No other athlete really compares....except maybe the Babe. But, that was before TV.