The most beloved living American athlete is...

Hard to find a roster without one these days. A remarkable phenomenon.

 

Beloved:We're talking almost universally admired, liked, even revered.
75 percent of the folks mentioned here do NOT qualify.

 

Also, how many kids are named Peyton or (misspelled) Payton. Never head that name before the 1990s. Wonder why?

 

Michael Jordan?? In my lifetime no one will come close to Joe D for all-time. That guy could do NO wrong. Of course, that was before the Internet.

 

Psst....Big Papi

If Jeter hadn't sullied his post-playing career with the Marlins, he'd be at the top. Even Sox fans (including me) recognize that he was a gamer who handled himself with class.

 

Maybe not beloved, but definitely revered:

Bill Russell and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

 

Not beloved. All I hear about is how Kareem is a dick.

Wilt Chamberlain was beloved 20,000 times over.

 

be-lown, maybe

 

That athlete that captures America's heart during the [insert quadrennial sporting event here].

 

"LISTEN, KID! I've been hearing that crap ever since I was at UCLA. I'm out there busting my buns every night! Tell your old man to drag Walton and Lanier up and down the court for 48 minutes!"

 

Oh, Megan Rapinoe!

 

Seriously?
Not. Even. Close.