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The most beloved living American athlete is...

Discussion in 'Anything goes' started by Scout, Oct 26, 2019.

Page 5 of 8
  1. Chef2

    Chef2 Well-Known Member

    Dead edition: Arnold Palmer
    Alive edition: Dale Jr/Petty are both very good choices. I'd also nominate John Daly.
     
    Chef2, Oct 28, 2019
    #49
  2. Michael_ Gee

    Michael_ Gee Well-Known Member

    Hank Aaron can be prickly on the topic of race, a prickliness to which he is completely entitled.

    It's funny. I can think of many many great contemporary athletes who're universally respected, even admired (Mariano Rivera comes to mind, as of course does Brady. Federer and Nadal, too), but beloved, no, not since Arnie died.
     
    Michael_ Gee, Oct 28, 2019
    #50
    OscarMadison likes this.
  3. Alma

    Alma Well-Known Member

    Simone Biles. Who doesn’t like her? You’d know who she was if you saw her, too.
     
    Alma, Oct 28, 2019
    #51
    OscarMadison and DanielSimpsonDay like this.
  4. swingline

    swingline Well-Known Member

    Jesus, I think everyone who ever worked in sports has heard that story. From multiple people. If true, I find it kind of incredible Costner didn't wind up with his pretty face all fucked up from a Louisville Slugger.
     
    swingline, Oct 28, 2019
    #52
  5. jlee

    jlee Well-Known Member

    Most beloved, meaning his or her fans are more deeply enamored than the average fan, I don’t have a good idea.

    If you consider it to mean most widely beloved, I think Michael Strahan’s crossover success with the morning shows is hard to beat.
     
    jlee, Oct 28, 2019
    #53
  6. CD Boogie

    CD Boogie Well-Known Member

    Big Papi. He's from Boston, his fucking city. He played sports in America. He is beloved here. He is an American athlete.
     
    CD Boogie, Oct 28, 2019
    #54
  7. CD Boogie

    CD Boogie Well-Known Member

    I have not heard it, but I am looking fwd to it.
     
    CD Boogie, Oct 28, 2019
    #55
  8. playthrough

    playthrough Moderator Staff Member

    Nicklaus would be my choice. A gracious, transformative champ with records that still stand, plus his charitable work with the likes of the Nicklaus Children's Hospital is fantastic. I say this as someone whose life was changed through the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Children in Orlando, i.e., it's not just a name slapped on a building.
     
    playthrough, Oct 28, 2019
    #56
    Baron Scicluna, wicked, tapintoamerica and 1 other person like this.
  9. maumann

    maumann Well-Known Member

    I'll add Mario Andretti.

    Name-checked by CDB in "Uneasy Rider." Thousands of police have uttered the phrase, "Who do you think you are, Mario Andretti?"
     
    maumann, Oct 28, 2019
    #57
    OscarMadison likes this.
  10. playthrough

    playthrough Moderator Staff Member

    He's a good one. And still more famous than anyone who drives in open-wheel now.
     
    playthrough, Oct 28, 2019
    #58
  11. Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!

    Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!! Well-Known Member

    I don’t think there is one.
    There are no heroes in sports.
    Nicklaus. Petty. Are the closest, but no.
     
    Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!, Oct 28, 2019
    #59
    Liut, OscarMadison and justgladtobehere like this.
  12. tapintoamerica

    tapintoamerica Well-Known Member

    This isn't quite the same thing as "beloved," but Serena and Venus held down the top two spots in this 2017 Neilsen Q Ratings list. God's Quarterback/Undeserving Minor Leaguer isn't in the top 10.

    Tops of 2017: Pro Athlete Marketability
     
    tapintoamerica, Oct 28, 2019
    #60
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