The most beloved athlete in each major city?

Cafe Society
1

(Could have gone in IMHO, but Cafe Society seems to be where the sports topics are posted.)

Watching the All-Star festivities last night, I thought to myself, “Is there any athlete in L.A.'s History more beloved than Magic?”

Not the best. Not the “greatest”? But the the guy the fans adore.

Koufax, Kareem, Dickerson, West. None of those guys can touch Magic.

Then I got to thinking about my own city: Houston. I’d guess it was Nolan Ryan (possibly Earl Campbell). Hakeem or Carl Lewis are the greatest (depending on the standard), but I always thought Nolan Ryan was the most beloved.

That led to NY City. Who is theirs? They have a lot. Could be Babe. I always got the feeling it was DiMaggio. Hard to say without living there. It HAS to be a Yankee (if not Willis Reed is right there).

Any thoughts?

2

Maybe because I’m partial to hockey or that its all I know, but in Detroit, I’d have to say that Steve Yzerman is one the most popular and well respected athletes to have played in Detroit.

3

Here in Atlanta, I’d have to go with Hank Aaron (very appropriate for a city of transplants). Dale Murphy and Dominique Wilkins would probably be next. Among current Atlanta athletes, Michael Vick and John Smoltz would top the list, but I’m not sure that “beloved” and “present-day athlete” belong in the same sentence very often.

4

In the Twin Cities, the obvious frontrunner was Kirby Puckett. Given his recent, ah, bad publicity, I’d say the position is now vacant.

5

Boston - Carl Yastrzemski
Miami - Dan Marino
Montreal - Guy Lafleur
San Francisco - Willie Mays
Philadelphia - Nobody. Philly fans hate everyone.
New York - It’s gotta be the Babe. Ruth towers above all other athletes.
Chicago - Jordan.
St. Louis - Stan Musial, I guess.
Kansas City - George Brett
Dallas - Emmitt Smith, I guess. Troy Aikman? Who’s more loved?
Baltimore - Ripken
Washington - Who’s the most beloved Redskin?
Denver - Elway

6

Just this D.C. native’s guess, but I think John Riggins might still come out on top there, although personally I’d hold out for Sonny Jurgensen, my childhood favorite.

7

Toronto - Doug Gilmour.

I don’t know if this is just for my generation, but I don’t think anyone even comes close. For those Stanley Cup runs of the early 90s, he carried the team. If you took the most beloved baseball/basketball/football player, they would still be behind a large group of hockey players.

8

Buffalo - Jim Kelly

9

Pittsburgh - gotta be Roberto Clemente, though Mario Lemieux may someday surpass him. The OP just asked for athletes, but if all sports figures are allowed Art Rooney would be up there.

10

pittsburgh, my initial thought was Clemente, but Jack Lambert has to be pretty high up on that list as well.

11

If we were having this exchange 25 years or so ago, I’d say the Big Train – Washington fans adored him, and were still talking about him 50 years after his glory days.

But odds are that very few Washingtonians remember Walter Johnson any more.

12

Yeah Riggins is a good guess. I will say though the loudest player applause I ever heard consistently over years at a Washington sporting event* has always been, at least for a decade, for Darrell Green.

I guess if you really look at it Sonny is on TV through football season 6 nights a week. He is the voice of the Redskins. He spans generations … I kind of think he may be my choice for the OP, Darrell @ no.2, then Riggins.

Of course if Gibbs has immediate success and can bring another Super Bowl in the next few years we are going to need to revise that order (& he’s no.4 to me now)…

*Early Jordan comeback not included & things have changed since then anyway.

13

Bla bla freakin’ bla.

It’s probably Dr. J, although Bernie Parent was pretty popular too.

14

I’m not a sports person, but my first thought was Tug McGraw.

15

In Chicago (depending on your age, I guess) - Michael Jordan, Walter Payton, Ernie Banks

16

I’m not sure I agree. Hank Aaron has always been too prickly to be beloved. Respected, yes. Appreciated, sure. Beloved? Well…

I agree that Michael Vick and John Smoltz are currently on top.

All time, I’d probably say Phil Niekro (“Knucksie”), closely followed by Dale Murphy and Dominique Wilkins.

(Some old timers might make an argument for Bobby Jones, but I understand he was about as prickly as Aaron.)

17

Kevin Garnett filled it awhile ago.

18

Sorry, but I think this guy named Barry Sanders takes the cake from Stevie. Stevie has won more championships and been here longer, but football has more appeal still.

19

Hmmm . . . I guess I’d have to disagree that Barry Sanders is the most beloved Detroit sports figure. Kinda hard to be beloved when fans are still irritated about how he left the Lions.

Oh, and I think the Barry Sanders picture on the side of the building in downtown Detroit was replaced with Stevie Y’s. That might just speak volumes.

Sure, we love our football, but Detroit is Hockeytown. :smiley:

20

Cleveland - the position is about to be filled by LeBron James, taking over from, ah, um, nobody. Well, maybe Omar Vizquel. Back in the 1960s it was Rocky “Don’t Knock the Rock” Colavito, even though Cleveland had traded him to Detroit in a bone-headed move in 1959, and then the Indians made another bone-headed trade to get him back right when he was washed up.

Cincinnati - Johnny Bench, I’m guessing.

Can anyone about confirm RickJay’s assertion that Yaz is Boston’s favorite, over Larry Bird? I’m not sure about that one.