Most likeable people in sports

Pro Sports 54 replies 2,101 views
Iliketurtles's avatar
Iliketurtles
Posts: 8,191
Sep 17, 2012 11:18am
I just thought of another guy no one has mentioned yet.... anybody out there not love Ichiro?
Laley23's avatar
Laley23
Posts: 29,506
Sep 17, 2012 11:55am
Iliketurtles;1273398 wrote:I just thought of another guy no one has mentioned yet.... anybody out there not love Ichiro?
Probably every Cleveland Indians fan...
Benny The Jet's avatar
Benny The Jet
Posts: 2,987
Sep 17, 2012 11:57am
Iliketurtles;1273398 wrote:I just thought of another guy no one has mentioned yet.... anybody out there not love Ichiro?


This may have something to do with it...
"To tell the truth, I'm not excited to go to Cleveland, but we have to. If I ever saw myself saying I'm excited going to Cleveland, I'd punch myself in the face, because I'm lying." -Ichiro 2007
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stlouiedipalma
Posts: 1,797
Sep 17, 2012 1:01pm
Ironman92;1271713 wrote:No.....not his whole career. Had some off the field issues where he made some bad choices while marriage.
Yeah, but he readily admits he made mistakes. Nice self-penned piece on him in the "Point After" section in the latest issue of Sports Illustrated.
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stlouiedipalma
Posts: 1,797
Sep 17, 2012 1:03pm
Laley23;1273367 wrote:Peyton Manning
Derek Jeter
Tim Tebow
Omar Vizquel
Eric Gordon

Peyton and Omar came to mind before opening the thread. Surprised more people (or anyone) hasnt said Little O!
Omar is such a hero of mine that I just assumed everyone knew what a great guy he is. I'm going to miss him after this season ends.
End of Line's avatar
End of Line
Posts: 6,867
Sep 17, 2012 1:06pm
Teemu Selanne
Fly4Fun's avatar
Fly4Fun
Posts: 7,730
Sep 17, 2012 1:13pm
Peyton Manning. (Especially after his SNL skit and commercials).

Usually some of the great Olympic stars are hard to hate on (Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt), but that is different in general compared to professional leagues.
se-alum's avatar
se-alum
Posts: 13,948
Sep 17, 2012 1:19pm
Sean Casey
Todd Frazier
Laley23's avatar
Laley23
Posts: 29,506
Sep 17, 2012 1:22pm
Another is Curtis Granderson. Love listening to him on the set of playoff games if the Yanks happen to be knocked out.
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stephen3108
Posts: 222
Sep 17, 2012 1:32pm
Aaron Rodgers
BJ Raji (that celebration dance was awesome)
Benny The Jet's avatar
Benny The Jet
Posts: 2,987
Sep 17, 2012 1:42pm
stephen3108;1273504 wrote:Aaron Rodgers
BJ Raji (that celebration dance was awesome)
Personally not a big fan of Rodgers. In the interviews he does he just comes off as a smarta**. Like he's too good for this and answering questions, just has this stupid smirk on his face.
Fly4Fun's avatar
Fly4Fun
Posts: 7,730
Sep 17, 2012 2:59pm
Benny The Jet;1273510 wrote:Personally not a big fan of Rodgers. In the interviews he does he just comes off as a smarta**. Like he's too good for this and answering questions, just has this stupid smirk on his face.
Eh, I think Rodgers is likable because of what he had to endure. First he had to patiently wait through the multiple Favre retirements. Then he was originally booed and received heavy criticism from a fan base that still wanted Favre around. He just did what he had to do and that was work hard and get better.

He never complained or whined to or about the media/fans.
Mulva's avatar
Mulva
Posts: 13,650
Sep 17, 2012 7:23pm
Iliketurtles;1273398 wrote:I just thought of another guy no one has mentioned yet.... anybody out there not love Ichiro?
I don't really have an opinion one way or another on Ichiro. He was a great hitter for awhile but what was ever endearing about him?
Mulva's avatar
Mulva
Posts: 13,650
Sep 17, 2012 7:26pm
Laley23;1273367 wrote:Peyton Manning
Derek Jeter
Tim Tebow
Omar Vizquel
Eric Gordon

Peyton and Omar came to mind before opening the thread. Surprised more people (or anyone) hasnt said Little O!
I understand you putting Gordon on there because of the Indiana allegiance, but he came off as a pretty huge douche to me with his whole free agency whining.
scoreboard's avatar
scoreboard
Posts: 326
Sep 17, 2012 11:09pm
Yunel Escobar




He loves chik-fil-a :)
Trueblue23's avatar
Trueblue23
Posts: 7,463
Sep 18, 2012 2:39pm
Denard Robinson.
Kevin Durant
Tim Tebow

Shaq is a dbag. Takes so many subtle shots at players.
Laley23's avatar
Laley23
Posts: 29,506
Sep 18, 2012 3:02pm
Mulva;1273691 wrote:I understand you putting Gordon on there because of the Indiana allegiance, but he came off as a pretty huge douche to me with his whole free agency whining.
I agree. But at the same time, I dont really blame guys for their initial desires to leave a city. I judge them more on how they react and handle themselves when they DONT get what they wanted. Gordon signed with Phoenix and basically said he wanted to play there, and asked Charlotte not to match. They did, so we will see how he conducts himself this season. Knowing him personally, I would expect nothing but class.

His wanting to leave kind of takes on an even bigger meaning when you consider he was traded there, and didnt go on his own wishes. I know he loved LA and wanted to stay. When he was traded it was a huge shock, and I thought he handled that very well.

I do agree though, the public cries come off as whiny. I wish athletes did that in private with the teams.
ernest_t_bass's avatar
ernest_t_bass
Posts: 24,984
Sep 18, 2012 3:34pm
Lebron James
Ray Lewis
John Rocker
Bill Romanowski
Barry Bonds
Joakim Noah
ernest_t_bass's avatar
ernest_t_bass
Posts: 24,984
Sep 18, 2012 3:36pm
In all honesty, though, before the whole Decision, I would venture to guess that many people (outside of Ohio, Cleveland area), would say that Lebron is one of the most likable.
Iliketurtles's avatar
Iliketurtles
Posts: 8,191
Sep 18, 2012 4:08pm
ernest_t_bass;1274402 wrote:Lebron James
Ray Lewis
John Rocker
Bill Romanowski
Barry Bonds
Joakim Noah
It's kinda funny but I've always liked everyone on your list but Lebron.

Another guy that would be interesting to see some opinions about is Lance Armstrong? I always figured everyone liked him but when he decided to stop fighting the allegations against him I learned that wasn't the case.
Mulva's avatar
Mulva
Posts: 13,650
Sep 18, 2012 9:17pm
Laley23;1274376 wrote:Gordon signed with Phoenix and basically said he wanted to play there, and asked Charlotte not to match. They did, so we will see how he conducts himself this season. Knowing him personally, I would expect nothing but class.

His wanting to leave kind of takes on an even bigger meaning when you consider he was traded there, and didnt go on his own wishes. I know he loved LA and wanted to stay. When he was traded it was a huge shock, and I thought he handled that very well.
He could have taken the qualifying offer, played 1 season, and been a UDFA next summer free to go wherever he wanted if he really wanted out that badly. The hornets made it clear they would match an offer sheet before he signed it.

But my bigger issue than that was his statements about how the Hornets hadn't even shown him they wanted to keep him. They traded a top 10 player in the league with him as the focal point of the return package and then offered him $50 mil ($12.5 mil/season) in January, which he turned down. He played in 9 games last year! At this point all he's ever been is a often-injured scorer on terrible teams. He definitely has a lot of potential, but he's never going to be a top-5, put a franchise on his back type of player. I just think for him to even consider himself disrespected or "taken advantage of" by NO, let alone coming out with it publicly, was ridiculous.
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friendfromlowry
Posts: 6,239
Sep 18, 2012 9:33pm
ernest_t_bass;1274405 wrote:In all honesty, though, before the whole Decision, I would venture to guess that many people (outside of Ohio, Cleveland area), would say that Lebron is one of the most likable.
I would like to see a nation-wide poll of simply "Do you like Lebron James or not" -- the media really seemed to forgive him and kiss his ass when won the title. I'm not so sure the rest of the country joind in with that or not. No doubt he's said the right things and made it clear he regrets how he left. But as long as he plays for Miami and especially douchebag Dwayne Wade, I don't really care for him.
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assumption
Posts: 147
Sep 19, 2012 2:00pm
Jim Tressel.......he really is a nice guy
Harold Reynolds
Curtis Granderson
Nick Swisher
Tony Kornheiser(sp) Mike Wilbon the PTI boys
Johnny Damon
Miguel Cabrera
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assumption
Posts: 147
Sep 19, 2012 2:12pm
Steve Yzyerman(sp)
dazedconfused's avatar
dazedconfused
Posts: 2,662
Sep 19, 2012 10:50pm
brandon mccarthy