The most beloved living American athlete is...

STL Division: Bob Gibson, Lou Brock, Willie McGee, Brett Hull, Kurt Warner

 

I think most of our answers are regional or generational in nature, and that points to the problem: Although Brady might be the closest, we don't have any athletes who capture the public's imagination, who reside in the nation's consciousness, who we've known about seemingly all of our lives, a part of us, indivisible. We don't have an Ali.

 

Brady is the Notre Dame of the NFL. Lots like him, but I think far more dislike him.

 

Mantle, Munson, Banks... funny how it used to be baseball.

 

Musial?

 

Still dead.

 

damnit.

 

Um, no. No freaking way.

 

Good question. My criteria would breadth and depth. Jordan is revered more than beloved. People don't know who Mike Trout is. Even Steph Curry has haters. And then there is the divide between living and active athletes.

Honestly, I think you'd have as much unanimity of sadness if Bob Uecker died as anybody you could think of. People know him, like him and will miss him. Throw Madden in there as well - though he's mostly known as a coach/broadcaster/video game than anything.

Active? Tebow. Sure - he has his haters, but they don't really hate him, as much as the attention he gets.

 

He may be respected, but beloved outside of Patriots fans? Hell no.

 

I know the thread says American but Canadian version would be Lanny MacDonald. Universally lived after playing in Eastern and Western Canada.

Plus I’m not sure you could find anyone who has had an interaction with him that didn’t come away smiling.