# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/21 "2009-12-18T17:31:41Z")
Dick Fosbury. From a BBC article: > [@](#): > > Never meet your heroes, they say. You’ll only end up disappointed and disillusioned when they turn out to have feet of clay and hearts of stone. > > To this, I say two words: Dick, and Fosbury. > > If I’d changed the face of a sport forever, won an Olympic gold with a technique that defied doctors and disbelief, it would almost certainly turn me into an insufferable braggart. > > Not Dick. If there’s a friendlier, more convivial legend in the world of sport, you’ve probably made them up. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/22 "2009-12-18T17:39:48Z")
I’ve always heard that Muhammad Ali, for all his showboating, is an all around class act, the type of guy who’ll miss a plane to sign an autograph. ---
**Author:** ![Crawlspace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Crawlspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crawlspace)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/23 "2009-12-18T17:46:13Z")
I think if there were a combined score for popularity, greatness and genuine goodness Roberto Clemente would win. Aside from his outstanding career, he’s basically the model for class and humanitarianism in sports. ---
**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, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/24 "2009-12-18T17:51:22Z")
> [@ReticulatingSplines](#): > > 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. That’s what I was going to say! I’ve never met him but I’ve seen him, and he looks like a sequoia. ---
**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, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/25 "2009-12-18T18:26:33Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > 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. Well, he is a wealthy, slightly preppy tennis player. I wouldn’t call him smug, though. He’s nearly always a gracious winner and loser. I think it helps his image that he has started losing more often, actually. Unlike Serena Williams, the best female tennis player of the last 10 years. She’s a jerk too often. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/26 "2009-12-18T18:37:56Z")
> [@Snickers](#): > > Kevin Garnett. Really? he seems like a huge jerk, at least while playing. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/27 "2009-12-18T18:40:55Z")
A lot of Canadian hall of fame hockey players would fill this list: Gordie Howe, Bobby Orr, Mario Lemieux, Ray Bourque, Steve Yzerman, for example. And Wayne Gretzky, considering the acknowledgment from just about every credible source, that he was the greatest player ever in the game, is also a pretty decent fellow. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/28 "2009-12-18T19:47:23Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > That’s what I was going to say! I’ve never met him but I’ve seen him, and he looks like a sequoia. Are you people happy? I just wasted 15 minutes Googling the alleged tree-trunkedness of Jim Thorne and find no compelling photographic evidence that he’s this monster guy. I did see a lot of pictures of him hugging people and kissing his wife, though. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/29 "2009-12-18T20:20:33Z")
Bart Starr. ---
**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, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/30 "2009-12-18T20:59:29Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > Really? he seems like a huge jerk, at least while playing. Perhaps on the court, but off it, he’s a stand up guy. Supportive of his teammates, always well spoken, reluctant to criticize (even though he had tons of chances before moving to Boston! Wow. Some of those Wolves teams sucked. Current one still does). He often made it clear that he was happy playing in Minnesota and (I believe) sincerely wanted to remain here, but the Wolves ownership made it impossible with their blatant unwillingness to make coaching and management changes. He is (or was, rather - I’m not certain what he does in the Boston area, but probably similar stuff) always very active in the community, giving back whenever he was able. IIRC, he even helped out outside MN by donating $1 million to people whose homes were destroyed by Katrina. He’s a genuine class act. ---
**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, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/31 "2009-12-18T21:16:19Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > 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. Some of his old teammates are awesome people as well…Ron Santo, Billy Williams, Fergie Jenkins. They are such gentlemen. ---
**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, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/32 "2009-12-18T21:24:44Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > Are you people happy? I just wasted 15 minutes Googling the alleged tree-trunkedness of Jim Thorne and find no compelling photographic evidence that he’s this monster guy. > > I did see a lot of pictures of him hugging people and kissing his wife, though. 😃 Thome. Not Thorne. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/33 "2009-12-18T21:59:11Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Thome. Not Thorne. Oh my! That’s funny. Off go Google again. Edit: Well, I did Google the right person; apparently I copied and pasted the name in. Thanks for the clarification, though, **Munch**! ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/34 "2009-12-19T05:17:33Z")
Seconded as to Roberto Clemente. Jim Thome might be a nice guy in person, but he left Cleveland just for more money, pure and simple, IMHO. He would’ve been very well paid to stay AND had said repeatedly that he loved the city and actually wanted to stay. :rolleyes: I’ve always heard that Shaquille O’Neal is a really nice guy, very low-key and affable. He also volunteers as a police officer and is now qualifying to become a deputy sheriff here in Cleveland. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/35 "2009-12-19T05:37:04Z")
> [@joebuck20](#): > > I’ve always heard that Muhammad Ali, for all his showboating, is an all around class act, the type of guy who’ll miss a plane to sign an autograph. Hard to believe that he’d have to. Even the outgoing tide would wait for Ali. ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/36 "2009-12-19T08:33:09Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > A lot of Canadian hall of fame hockey players would fill this list: > > Gordie Howe, > Bobby Orr, > Mario Lemieux, > Ray Bourque, > Steve Yzerman, > > for example. > > And Wayne Gretzky, considering the acknowledgment from just about every credible source, that he was the greatest player ever in the game, is also a pretty decent fellow. Pretty much all hockey players seem like they’re nice guys. I’m not sure if it’s just a bias of mine, a lack of media coverage, or the truth though. I can name a few exceptions but hockey players, compared to players of other sports, just seem nicer and more into the game. ---
**Author:** ![Shamozzle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shamozzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shamozzle)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/37 "2009-12-19T09:32:14Z")
> [@tr0psn4j](#): > > Pretty much all hockey players seem like they’re nice guys. I’ll have to disagree with that statement. I grew up in a hockey town and knew of many future NHL stars in a social setting and I can assure you that, while some were genuinely great guys, many definitely are not. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/38 "2009-12-19T09:50:23Z")
Sandy Koufax–a modest gentleman who totally dominated his sport without ever boasting or bragging or playing with anyone’s head. Pure class. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/39 "2009-12-19T10:34:03Z")
Except for the whole not playing on Yom Kippur thing, which was obviously yet another attempt by _Da Jooz_ to mess with the Gentile world’s collective head. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/40 "2009-12-19T14:27:53Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > Except for the whole not playing on Yom Kippur thing, which was obviously yet another attempt by _Da Jooz_ to mess with the Gentile world’s collective head. Why was that needed? Have you not accused someone of being an anti-semite in a few days and you were going through withdrawl. I guess Hakeem Olajuwon is an ass hole too because he observed Ramadan while he was playing. :rolleyes: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733.md?page=3)