# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/41 "2009-12-19T15:04:04Z")
I’ve met Koufax. He’s a gentleman of unexpected candor. You know the lines Crash Davis fed Nuke LaLoosh? In person, he says absolutely nothing like that–he’s pretty genuine. And from ALL I’ve heard, Olajuwon is an unusually good guy as well. ---
**Author:** ![koufax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7ea924/32.png) [@koufax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koufax)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/42 "2009-12-19T15:28:43Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > Sandy Koufax–a modest gentleman who totally dominated his sport without ever boasting or bragging or playing with anyone’s head. Pure class. Yeah, KOUFAX (hey, I know that name!) both as a pitcher and as a person was in a league by himself. Check out his LAST year in the majors.[Sandy Koufax Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More | Baseball-Reference.com](http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/koufasa01.shtml?redir) BUT…I am not here to sing his praises. I read a story about a kid with some horrible disease whose father took him to ALL of the NFL games around the country so he could meet different players. The kid RAVED and I mean RAVED about …are you ready? TERRELL OWENS!! He said he was the nicest to him and talked to him the longest about everything. He also singled out Randy Moss, but the kid LOVED Terrell Owens. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/43 "2009-12-19T15:29:16Z")
I know ex-Jet Bruce Harper. I know him very very well. I know his lovely wife Nancy and his lovely daughers Kayline and Carly. He is most definitely not a jerk. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/44 "2009-12-19T18:27:56Z")
I’ve heard a lot of good things about [Curtis Granderson](http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2009/12/12/2009-12-12_quite_a_catch_in_curtis_granderson.html). ---
**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, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/45 "2009-12-19T18:41:56Z")
> [@Shamozzle](#): > > 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. Yeah, I’ve only really seen them from the distance (T.V. or in a stadium). I also know someone who new some 70s era NHL players and she has, for the most part, only told me nice stories about players. ---
**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 19, 2009, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/46 "2009-12-19T19:47:59Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > I know ex-Jet Bruce Harper. I know him very very well. I know his lovely wife Nancy and his lovely daughers Kayline and Carly. > > He is most definitely not a jerk. The Smidget! I loved him when he was a player; I had him on my APBA football team in high school, as my kick returner. Glad to hear he’s a great guy in real life. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/47 "2009-12-19T21:15:57Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > AAnd Wayne Gretzky, considering the acknowledgment from just about every redible source, that he was the greatest player ever in the game, is also a pretty decent fellow. Considering he’s regarded in Canada as a god and could probably get away with murder, he is, in person, an amazingly patient, warm and generous man. ---
**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 19, 2009, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/48 "2009-12-19T23:14:27Z")
> [@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. **Argent Towers** , this we can certainly do without. Desist. **Justin** , if you see a questionable post, please report it and leave the admonishments to us. **Ellen Cherry Game Room Moderator** ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2009, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/49 "2009-12-20T03:28:33Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Bart Starr. I second this. I met him twice, once when he was the Packers QB, and again later before he became the Packers coach. A real gentleman. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2009, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/50 "2009-12-20T03:48:46Z")
I’ll second Polamalu. My cousin’s wife is a pediatric oncologist at Children’s Hospital and while she says most of the Steelers who come in are nice, Troy is the one who comes in to visit the kids the most. She says he’s constantly bringing them gifts and visiting them all the time. (One kid in particular she said calls Troy “his buddy”) She also says that most, if not all of, the current Penguins are really nice guys. Honus Wagner was known to be a popular guy around town back in the day. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2009, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/51 "2009-12-20T03:57:11Z")
All Time NBA steals and assists leader John Stockton needs to be on this list. (maybe on top of this list) ---
**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 20, 2009, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/52 "2009-12-20T07:56:41Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > **Argent Towers** , this we can certainly do without. Desist. > > **Justin** , if you see a questionable post, please report it and leave the admonishments to us. > > **Ellen Cherry > Game Room Moderator** Jesus H. Christ, it was a _joke._ I’m Jewish, and Sandy Koufax is one of my all-time heroes. I read his biography when I was 10 years old. He’s a great man, a class act, and a legend of baseball. I can’t believe that after more than _ten thousand_ posts on this message board, a fellow poster would see what I wrote about Koufax and actually take it at face value. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2009, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/53 "2009-12-20T08:15:37Z")
I despise the Yankees with every fiber of my being, but God-damn if Paul O’Neil didn’t stand out as one of the last, great “playing cause they loved the sport and what it stands for” kind of guys. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2009, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/54 "2009-12-20T21:02:54Z")
What, no mention of Ken Griffey, Jr. yet? ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2009, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/55 "2009-12-20T21:28:47Z")
I was never a Cowboys fan but it’s hard not to like and respect Roger Staubach. ---
**Author:** ![Ring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Ring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ring)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2009, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/56 "2009-12-20T22:22:02Z")
> [@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. One of the nicest guys I’ve ever met. A long time ago and very late one night six of us drunks got in an elevator, and, low and behold, Ali was in there with us. After talking to us slobering idiots for about twenty minutes and signing autographs for all of us, he finally said softly and politely, “guys, I’m sorry, but I’ve just got to get to bed.” One of us had previously hated the guy, but from then on Muhammad was his idol. Mine too. ---
**Author:** ![wedgehed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8edcca/32.png) [@wedgehed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wedgehed)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2009, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/57 "2009-12-20T23:04:21Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > I’m Jewish Prove it! :mad: 🙂 ---
**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 20, 2009, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/58 "2009-12-20T23:07:29Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > I was never a Cowboys fan but it’s hard not to like and respect Roger Staubach. I’ll concur with that. I _hate_ the Cowboys, but Roger was always a class act. Too bad he had to play for them. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![brickbacon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@brickbacon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brickbacon)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2009, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/59 "2009-12-20T23:18:40Z")
As much as I agree with the suggestions made thus far, I think we need to be very careful in thinking you know a person based on their “reputation” and/or one chance encounter. ---
**Author:** ![not\_alice](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_alice/32/7283_2.png) [@not\_alice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_alice)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733/60 "2009-12-21T00:05:24Z")
Joe Kapp, who used to own an eponymous pizza restaurant in Moutnain View CA. He would sit there and chat with the customers forever, most of them oblivious to the fact that they were speaking with the quarterback who played for the Vikings in Super Bowl 4, or the coach of the Cal team that beat Stanford right up the road in the infamous “Marching Band” play. I have heard that my grandfather, who in his day was apparently at least a local sports celebrity in a big city, and who retired to open a bar, was considered quite the gentleman and was friends with everyone he ever met, from the guy on the street, to the Hollywood celeb. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-athlete-who-wasnt-a-jerk/521733.md?page=4)