The most beloved living American athlete is...

About whom? Papi or Jeter, aka Mr November? Both revered. All these other folks bandied about — like Koufax — have been dead to people’s imaginations for decades.

These nationalities demarcations are pointless.

 

I think it can be hard to fully appreciate the regional qualities of the "beloved" athletes.

Big Papi keeps popping up. Outside of the east coast no one gives a damn about Big Papi.

I think the answer may be Shaq, which is infinitely weird to me, but the fact that he has about 300 endorsement deals tells me people must love him.

Willie Mays is probably high up on the list, which is funny to anyone who's met Willie Mays.

 

Nobody under 80 gives a damn about Willie Mays. If Big Papi was throwing out the first pitch at any stadium in the US, he’d get a standing, thunderous ovation.

But yeah it probably is Shaq, which makes sense giving how many people named their kids after him....

 

Big Papi isn’t even the most beloved from that era of the franchise. I’d put Pedro Martinez ahead of him.

 

With all due respect, you crazy.

 

"Peyton" has the dual benefit of being an acceptable name for boys and girls.

Hoosier Daddy: Indiana’s ‘Peyton’ Baby Boom

 

I feel like Shaq is OJ c. 1989. Back then OJ would’ve been in the top five for sure. The guy had a ton of endorsement deals and was all over TV/movies.

 

OJ was a "star" but I don't know if he was ever beloved. He's more like Ahmad Rashad, you know who he is, but don't have any particular feeling about him. He wasn't a great announcer, wasn't a great actor and I imagine word got around about how he really was away from the cameras.

 

So Shaq is going to go on a killing spree in 2024?

 

Now THERE's a prop bet for you!

 

Also, in shaq’s favor. He likes going to concerts and going right into the pit to “dance.” Video of shaq at concerts is a cottage industry amongst millennials.