# The most beloved athlete in each major city? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 15, 2004, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-beloved-athlete-in-each-major-city/229363 "2004-02-15T17:43:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-beloved-athlete-in-each-major-city/229363/121 "2004-02-20T06:08:40Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > New York fans are passionate about football, but I don’t think there’s been any one football player that New York fans have truly embraced and loved…Giants fans dole out love grudgingly. I agree 100%. > [@](#): > > Even the Giant squads that won Super Bowls didn’t command great love. Many people admired L.T., but none loved him. Many respected Phil Simms, but none loved him. The fans were brutal to Simms. They didn’t respect him until he retired. > [@](#): > > To find football players that New Yorkers LOVED, I think you’d have to go back quite a ways. I’m pretty sure Y.A. Tittle, Sam Huff, and guys from that era still get a lot of love from the older fans who remember them. Otherwise, New York’s football fans aren’ty all that sentimental. I think you underestimate the love Giants fans have for Mark Bavaro. I’d say 9 out of 10 would give him their daughter’s virginity. Okay, maybe that’s over the top. 8 out of 10. Short of Bavaro, I think you’re right. As a Giants fan, I have no love for anybody other than Bavaro. Not even Strahan, Shockey or Tiki. Simms maybe, but I didn’t really become a football fan until after the strike year of 87, so his one great effort I saw ended with Hostetler beating the Bills. However, if Collins wins a Superbowl… ---
**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-beloved-athlete-in-each-major-city/229363/122 "2004-02-20T15:13:01Z")
> [@Weirddave](#): > > If you’ll allow a B-more native to pitch in, Johnny U is still the most venerated sports figure here, with Ripkin a close second and a guy named Brooks Robinson third. There is a definite generational split on this one, with those 30 and over generally prefering Unitas/Robinson/Ripkin and those under 30 in the Ripkin and then the other two camp. A related catagory of sports-related-but-not-atheletes would likely include Rex Barney, Chuck Thompson, and Arthur Model. There is another beloved athlete in Baltimore that has his own… err… special niche. Everyone loves Artie Donovan. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-beloved-athlete-in-each-major-city/229363/123 "2004-02-20T16:11:19Z")
> [@Dooku](#): > > San Francisco: Are we really having this conversation? Willie Mays over Joe Montana? … C’mon guys - nobody touches Montana. No argument from me. I was merely arguing that Mays would be in 3rd place, not 2nd, in SF hearts. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-beloved-athlete-in-each-major-city/229363/124 "2004-02-20T16:34:38Z")
> [@dutchboy208](#): > > Given Orlando’s almost-complete lack of major league franchises, and the youth of the Magic, it would probably be a Buccaneer. _Could_ easily have been Shaq, if he wasn’t such a money-grubb… sorry, sorry. Probably John Lynch or Derrick Brooks, then. > > That said, there are a _lot_ of Dolphans around here, so I’ll go with Dan Marino. Tiger Woods lives in Windermere, so I’d say he’s the representative for Orlando. Buffalo … Jim Kelly, definitely. Him and O.J. Simpson. 😃 For the Sabres, it would have to be the French Connection: Rene Robert. Gilbert Perrault and Rick Martin. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-beloved-athlete-in-each-major-city/229363/125 "2004-02-20T19:42:05Z")
For Detroit, I’d have to say a tie between Stevie Y and Al Kaline. Ernie Harwell if you count broadcasters. _Definitely_ not Barry Sanders, that sour taste from the childish and unprofessional way he retired will never go away. I’m surprised George Brett didn’t get the nod from the KC crowd. For New Yorkers, I would go with Mickey. Joe D was respected but not really beloved, plus now it’s become known what a complete jerk he was in his private life. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-beloved-athlete-in-each-major-city/229363/126 "2004-02-21T03:40:59Z")
> [@Troy McClure SF](#): > > Well, I was yet to exist while he played, so I suppose I should defer ;), but the legend of Mays was alive and healthy well before Willie Mays Plaza was conceived of. > > Ballparks should be named after (a) geographical landmarks; (b) dead sportswriters; © beer companies; (d) if all else fails, the team. “3Com” pissed me off because “Candlestick” was the name chosen by voters of San Francisco. Plus, we haven’t bothered to reinstate the “Candlestick” name now that 3Com let the name lapse. “Pac Bell” I didn’t mind because they paid a shitload of money to _build_ the damn place, not just rename it. SF citizens paid no taxes to build the ballpark. I’ll forfeit a name for a ballpark. “SBC” sounds worse, but, egh, it’s not like “Pac Bell” was a revered image to start with. [/QUOTE] Forgive me going off topic, but 3-Com inspired a great line from Skip Carey once. The Braves broadcasters were lamenting corporate names for ballparks, like Cinergy Field and 3-Com, asking about what they referred to. Carey said, “Oh, I know what 3-Com refers to. It’s Lenin, Stalin and Trotsky, right?.” I fell off the couch I was laughing so hard. ---
**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:** [February 21, 2004, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-beloved-athlete-in-each-major-city/229363/127 "2004-02-21T04:21:23Z")
He’s already been mentioned, but I’ll say it again: In Seattle, it’s Edgar Martinez, hands down. The fans love him. He came up through the Mariner’s farm system, and he’s still here. Same team for his entire career, getting ready to start his 18th season as a Mariner. He’s been Mr. Consistency for his whole career. While Ken Griffey Jr, Randy Johnson and Alex Rodriguez (Pay-rod) were more electrifying and more popular on a national scale, there is simply a love for Edgar that I don’t think was there for the rest of them. His nickname is “Papa”. You go, 'Gar! A close second would have to be Mariner’s long-time announcer, Dave Niehaus. ---
**Author:** ![labmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f19dbf/32.png) [@labmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/labmonkey)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-beloved-athlete-in-each-major-city/229363/128 "2004-02-21T04:36:02Z")
> [@Bell Jar](#): > > 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. 😃 A huge second for the Captain. Barry who again? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![labmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f19dbf/32.png) [@labmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/labmonkey)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-beloved-athlete-in-each-major-city/229363/129 "2004-02-21T04:43:08Z")
> [@Bell Jar](#): > > 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. 😃 A huge second for the Captain. Remember “the dead things”? The 80’s? Yzerman never worked for a trade to a “Stanley Cup” team, never jumped ship because the team sucked. Nice to see integrity like that rewarded with 3 fat rings, even if they did come in his career’s autumn. Barry who again? ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-beloved-athlete-in-each-major-city/229363/130 "2004-02-23T05:16:13Z")
BobLibDem: > [@](#): > > I’m surprised George Brett didn’t get the nod from the KC crowd. He did. But it was part of a bigger post and easily overlooked. Chaim Mattis Keller ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-beloved-athlete-in-each-major-city/229363/131 "2004-02-23T11:55:51Z")
In Charlotte, Sam Mills is greatly admired for his work ethic, his leadership, and his fight against cancer. ---
**Author:** ![Jerrybear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8c91f0/32.png) [@Jerrybear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jerrybear)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-beloved-athlete-in-each-major-city/229363/132 "2004-02-23T14:49:53Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Detroit fans are some of the most passionate anywhere, and they certainly have a lot of worthy candidates for love… but among the Michiganders I’ve known, the most beloved sports figure isn’t an athlete: it’s Ernie Harwell, the sportscaster. This could also be the case in Ann Arbor, where tailgaters at Michigan football games still play tapes and CD’s of games announced by Bob Ufer, who for many years was the manic “Voice of Wolverine Football.” He combined the enthusiasm of Dick Vitale with an absolute inability to see things any other way than through Maize and Blue colored glasses. His call of Anthony Carter’s last second TD catch and run against Indiana is a classic, as well as the poem “Burying Woody Hayes” that he read after Michigan upset Ohio State in 1969. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-beloved-athlete-in-each-major-city/229363.md?page=6)