# Most Popular Athlete Who WASN'T a Jerk **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [December 18, 2009, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733 "2009-12-18T12:37:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/1 "2009-12-18T12:37:54Z")
As suggested by **Thudlow Boink:** > [@](#): > > I’m tempted to start a “most popular athlete who wasn’t a jerk” thread. Who were the great athletes who were genuine good guys? **stuthehistoryguy:** > [@](#): > > Stan Musial **wedgehed** > [@](#): > > For an Atlanta Braves fan, Dale Murphy. I’ll add Brooks Robinson. ---
**Author:** ![Wargamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df705f/32.png) [@Wargamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wargamer)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/2 "2009-12-18T13:33:00Z")
I’ve heard nothing but good things about Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/3 "2009-12-18T14:05:29Z")
For hockey guys, I can’t recall anyone saying anything negative about Joe Sakic or Jarome Iginla ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/4 "2009-12-18T14:22:38Z")
Mel Ott, even if he did finish last.\* \*Actually, the quote was, “Ott is a nice guy, but he won’t win a pennant for you.” ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/5 "2009-12-18T14:45:32Z")
Ernie Els came across as a fantastic bloke when I met him in a pub. Steve Cram was also a pleasure to spend time with. And I will repeat what i said in the other thread - my bartender and waiter friends who knew him in Philly had nothing but praise for Iverson as a person. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/6 "2009-12-18T14:46:31Z")
> [@Wargamer](#): > > I’ve heard nothing but good things about Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. I’ve got to go with the first of the two. Arnie is The Man. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/7 "2009-12-18T14:47:17Z")
I met a woman in a bar who was from Pittsburgh. She told me that Troy Polamalu is both a gentleman and a gentle man. Soft spoken and courteous to the fans he meets in the grocery store. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/8 "2009-12-18T14:53:13Z")
You never hear a bad word said about Walter Payton. By all accounts he wasnot only a great athlete but a great person as well. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/9 "2009-12-18T15:09:34Z")
> [@](#): > > Stan Musial That’s what I came in here to say. I had a roommate who’s family was from St. Louis, and they knew him personally. From all accounts, I believe he was Jesus, but just didn’t make a big deal about it. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/10 "2009-12-18T15:10:07Z")
I’ll second the Mighty Murph. Really think he deserves a spot in the baseball HoF. Also, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, and Tim Teebow come to mind. ---
**Author:** ![slitterst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecc23a/32.png) [@slitterst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slitterst)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/11 "2009-12-18T15:11:46Z")
Cal Ripken, Jr. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/12 "2009-12-18T15:39:14Z")
André Thornton. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/13 "2009-12-18T15:40:37Z")
I should mention one other player: Jim Thome. My father-in-law worked with his brother and has met Jim on a number of occasions. A friendly, funny guy who puts on no airs at all, says the FIL. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/14 "2009-12-18T16:22:46Z")
[Joe Thomas.](http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2009/12/award_shows_losing_season_does.html) OK, OK, I’m biased - sue me. 😃 Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/15 "2009-12-18T16:40:52Z")
Roger Federer is a pretty nice guy, really. I would have picked him as athlete of the decade instead of Woods, actually. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/16 "2009-12-18T16:45:45Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Roger Federer is a pretty nice guy, really. > > I would have picked him as athlete of the decade instead of Woods, actually. I probably would have, too. Both totally dominated their sports, but all of Federer’s accomplishments came within the decade, while 2 of Tiger’s majors were from the 90s. ---
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/17 "2009-12-18T16:57:32Z")
> [@Duke](#): > > I should mention one other player: Jim Thome. My father-in-law worked with his brother and has met Jim on a number of occasions. A friendly, funny guy who puts on no airs at all, says the FIL. I met Jim Thome once too, and that’s exactly how I’d describe him. Also, that man is HUGE. His legs look like tree trunks. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/18 "2009-12-18T17:29:06Z")
Kevin Garnett. And (I know I’ll get crucified for this) Randy Moss. Yes, he’s sometimes a headcase both on and off the field. But before Culpepper and McCombs ran him out of Minneapolis on a rail, he did some very stand-up things in the way of charity works for the less fortunate here in the Twin Cities. His charity works are rarely reported on, largely because I’ve heard he prefers it that way. Yes, he’s pulled some stupid stunts, but he’s not the thug the media would like you to believe. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/19 "2009-12-18T17:30:37Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Roger Federer is a pretty nice guy, really. As a non-tennis fan, that surprises me. The very few times I’ve seen him in press conferences, he seems pretty smug. Glad to hear that’s an exception. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/20 "2009-12-18T17:31:13Z")
Ernie Banks. My buddy and I said hello to him in a restaurant. He greeted us like we were old friends and actually invited us to sit with him. We had an engaging and animated conversation until we felt like we were overstaying our welcome and, despite Ernie’s protests, decided to leave him be. I later read that he does this sort of thing routinely when he’s in public and genuinely enjoys it. What a great guy. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733.md?page=2)