# Who is your favorite athlete?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-athlete/757212>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [June 12, 2016, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-athlete/757212 "2016-06-12T19:43:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\
**Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-athlete/757212/21 "2016-06-13T17:25:39Z")

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Joe Schlabotnik

Eric Dickerson,Kurt Warner-Lifelong Rams fan

Foster,Morgan,Bench,Rose,Concepcion

Dr J-He was the reason I watched the NBA.

Chris Kunitz-Best player to come out of Ferris State which is in my hometown of Big Rapids MI

Always root for Retief Goosen in golf.

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**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\
**Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-athlete/757212/22 "2016-06-13T18:24:17Z")

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Ryan Zimmerman, 1st base for the Nats. He was really good when the Nats were terrible and was often the only reason to watch them play for the first few years. He never bitched or moaned, he never made excuses when he was struggling, by all accounts he is one of the hardest working guys in the clubhouse, and he started a charity to find a cure for his mom’s disease (he also gives a lot of money to the University of Virginia). Just a classy, decent guy.

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**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\
**Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-athlete/757212/23 "2016-06-13T18:30:49Z")

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Right now it’s David Ortiz. I want to see as many of his plate appearances as I can since I know there is quite a limited quantity remaining.

As a kid it was Nolan Ryan and Michael Jordan.

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**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\
**Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-athlete/757212/24 "2016-06-13T20:48:59Z")

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Right now, Jose Bautista.

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**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\
**Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-athlete/757212/25 "2016-06-13T20:54:40Z")

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> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#):
>
> Well, he was a great first baseman, but I wouldn’t call him my favorite.

What is your other choice?

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**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\
**Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-athlete/757212/26 "2016-06-13T21:04:16Z")

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> [@Telemark](#):
>
> What is your other choice?

I Don’t Know

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**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\
**Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-athlete/757212/27 "2016-06-13T22:34:16Z")

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Third base!

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**Author:** ![Thing\_Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@Thing\_Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing_Fish)\
**Post date:** [June 14, 2016, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-athlete/757212/28 "2016-06-14T01:19:06Z")

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Active - probably Joaquin Noah. Always gives 100%, fun to watch, team leader, good hair, not afraid to say that Cleveland sucks. Marcus Mariota is a super class act and was unbelievably brilliant in college, but needs to accomplish a bit more at the pro level to make this list.

All time - is Joe Montana too cliched? I wouldn’t really call him my\* favorite\* for reasons that are probably obvious, but I am very grateful to have been a Giants (partial) season ticket holder when Barry Bonds was in his glory. That guy did amazing things more routinely than any athlete I have ever seen.

I will ruminate further…

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**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\
**Post date:** [June 14, 2016, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-athlete/757212/29 "2016-06-14T05:25:19Z")

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> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#):
>
> The ever classy, if retired, Derek Jeter.

> [@dalej42](#):
>
> I’ll go with Steven Gerrard since Tony Gwynn is deceased.

I’ll see your Derek Jeter (and mention of Tony Gwynn), and raise you a Cal Ripken, Jr.

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**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:** [June 14, 2016, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-athlete/757212/30 "2016-06-14T06:16:57Z")

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Does it count if you add someone for what they did _outside_ of the game? Because if so, I’d also like to add Roberto Clemente.

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**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\
**Post date:** [June 14, 2016, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-athlete/757212/31 "2016-06-14T07:15:05Z")

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Nice addition, **Guin**.

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**Author:** ![denquixote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@denquixote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/denquixote)\
**Post date:** [June 14, 2016, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-athlete/757212/32 "2016-06-14T07:51:26Z")

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1. Ichiro .2. Josh Harrison

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\
**Post date:** [June 14, 2016, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-athlete/757212/33 "2016-06-14T18:32:00Z")

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Ryne Sandberg

Jackie Chan

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![G0sp3l](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)\
**Post date:** [June 14, 2016, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-athlete/757212/34 "2016-06-14T20:31:03Z")

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LeBron James, right now.

I’m sure some of it MAY just be contrariness. Though, TBH, I think he has held up extraordinarily well under the pressure he’s had to live with.

Dominique Wilkins  
Deion Sanders

Yeah, I’m an ATL homer. 🙂

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**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2016, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-athlete/757212/35 "2016-06-18T09:33:43Z")

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since the OP and I were the first people up and we both said “Federer” I thought people might like to see [this article](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/jun/18/roger-federer-interview-tennis-wimbledon-simon-hattenstone) in the Guardian today. It sort of captures the fact that he is brilliant, self-aware and really well grounded. I think to be a true great you do have to be, at the very least, a decent person.

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**Author:** ![The\_Tof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@The\_Tof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tof)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2016, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-athlete/757212/36 "2016-06-19T10:51:00Z")

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Growing up… Dan Fouts and Tony Gwynn

Currently its Philip Rivers. I know a lot of people out there hate him, but I love the guy.

In between… Junior Seau (RIP ☹ ), LaDanian Tomlinson (You may be sensing a theme), Ichiro, Anybody making Jay Cutler look bad or scoring against Roberto Luongo.

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**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2016, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-athlete/757212/37 "2016-06-19T11:39:44Z")

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Drew Brees and Serena Williams. Brees because he’s embraced my hometown team and stuck with them (and won them a Super Bowl!), and Williams because she’s been so successful and worked so hard despite being shit on so damn much. I know she’s not perfect, but she’s amazing anyway and I love her.

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**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2016, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-athlete/757212/38 "2016-06-19T15:32:03Z")

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easy -

Rosie Ruiz  
Bobby Riggs in the '70s  
Mel Bridgeman (one of the most horrible-looking skaters of all fucking time, along with Brad “Octopus” Marsh)

But actually Cal Ripken Jr’s skookum showing up to work and what Bo Jackson was able to do won’t ever be matched again.  
Period.

The Greatest and The Great One are also up there, I spose.

naw…actually Jim Thorpe.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [June 19, 2016, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-athlete/757212/39 "2016-06-19T16:20:41Z")

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Even though his career was a major flop, I’ll go with Dick Fosbury.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Dr.Girlfriend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.girlfriend/32/193_2.png) [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2016, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-athlete/757212/40 "2016-06-19T17:00:56Z")

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> [@divemaster](#):
>
> Ryne Sandberg \<snip\>

He was my first celebrity crush. I started watching the Cubs with my dad because I thought Sandberg was cute. 🙂

Cal Ripken Jr. is up there in my favorites, as is Peyton Manning. I’m actually a bigger hockey fan than anything else but I’m having a hard time picking out a favorite hockey player. Maybe Jonathan Toews.

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