# Who is your favorite athlete? **URL:** \ **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:** 3
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2016, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-athlete/757212/41 "2016-06-19T23:16:25Z")
Kerry Kittles, star of the Villanova basketball team for four years, followed by a short career with the Nets (IIRC, he had to retire due to trouble with his knees). He was the epitome of a team player: His own numbers were good-but-not-great, but everyone else’s numbers went up whenever he was on the court. Plus, whenever he was playing, he always had this huge smile on his face. He loved what he was doing, and knew just how lucky he was that he could do it at that level. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2016, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-athlete/757212/42 "2016-06-20T00:14:07Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > 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. What about this behavior? > **['If I could, I'd take this \*\*\*\*\*\*\* ball and shove it down your \*\*\*\*\*\*\*...](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1213164/Furious-Serena-Williams-dumped-U-S-Open-told-official-If-I-Id-ball-shove-throat.html)** > > This was the dramatic moment when Serena Williams screamed her way out of the U.S. Open, watched by TV viewers around the world. > **[Serena Williams is the sorest loser](https://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/09/serena-williams-sore-loser-grand-slam-us-open-roberta-vinci)** > > She wants the attention when she’s good and none when she’s not. > **[US Open 2009: Serena Williams unrepentant for rant after Kim Clijsters defeat](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/usopen/6182175/US-Open-2009-Serena-Williams-unrepentant-for-rant-after-Kim-Clijsters-defeat.html)** > > Serena Williams was unrepentant and unapologetic after an ugly outburst towards a lineswoman sealed her defeat in the semi-finals at the U.S. Open against Kim Clijsters. ---
**Author:** ![Busy\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@Busy\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Busy_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2016, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-athlete/757212/43 "2016-06-20T09:42:26Z")
Peter Sagan is up there at the moment - _avec panache_. Probably the most inspirational athletes to me, though, are the amateurs who attain world class performance away from the media, often whilst working full time jobs - a lot of the extreme adventure sports fit the bill. For example, right now the Tour Divide mountain bike race is on - completely self-supported race from Banff, Canada, to Antelope Wells at the Mexican border: > **[Race Tracker | Tour Divide](http://tourdivide.org/leaderboard)** > > 2016 Live Tracker "Something hidden. Go and find it. Go and look behind the Ranges -- Something lost behind the Ranges. Lost and waiting for you. Go!" --Rudyard Kipling Currently been led by Mike Hall, approaching 10 days in and he’s been laying down just under 200 miles per day (!) - he’s at 1900 miles. That’s off-road, carrying all of your gear. Get to the finish and there’s no prize money, no spectators, maybe your wife’s there if she could get time off work and the kids are off school. I love pro sports in general, but it’s good to get a Corinthian antidote now and again. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2016, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-athlete/757212/44 "2016-06-20T10:19:30Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > What about this behavior? What about it? She’s a tennis player, not a charm school teacher. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2016, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-athlete/757212/45 "2016-06-20T10:31:04Z")
[Wallace](http://www.wallacethepitbullfoundation.org/). ---
**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 20, 2016, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-athlete/757212/46 "2016-06-20T14:14:32Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > What about it? She’s a tennis player, not a charm school teacher. It’s probably universally understood she’s not expected to be a charm school teacher - those links were simply posted in response to the earlier claim that the media was dumping on her. Her acts obviously warranted at least _some_ mention. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2016, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-athlete/757212/47 "2016-06-20T17:23:55Z")
I’m a fan of professional cycling. A sport not without its long and storied problems of cheating due to the widespread use performance enhancing drugs. That said, I remain a fan of the sport because it is so epically grueling. I’m a huge fan of: Fabian Cancellara (about to retire), Alejandro Valverde, Chris Froome, Jens Voigt (retired), George Hincapie (retired), among others. ---
**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 20, 2016, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-athlete/757212/48 "2016-06-20T20:25:50Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > I’m a fan of professional cycling. A sport not without its long and storied problems of cheating due to the widespread use performance enhancing drugs. But can’t one say the same for most competitive sports anyway? I’d definitely be keen to hear if anyone knows beyond the shadow of a doubt of any sports that are somehow scott-free of such shenanigans. > [@QuickSilver](#): > > I’m a huge fan of: Fabian Cancellara (about to retire), Alejandro Valverde, Chris Froome, Jens Voigt (retired), George Hincapie (retired), among others. If we’re including retirees, I’m hoping Bernard Hinault is in the “among others”. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2016, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-athlete/757212/49 "2016-06-20T20:33:34Z")
Kershaw. I never have been one to fawn over athletes, or seek out their autographs, but for Clayton I’d make an exception. Everything I’ve ever heard about him has just screamed “class act.” ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2016, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-athlete/757212/50 "2016-06-20T21:18:01Z")
In his prime, my favorite athlete was Anderson Silva. Strangely enough, I also like Chris Weidman. I’m not quite into UFC as much as I used to be, but when I was, those were among my favorite athletes. Joe Montana and Michael Jordan are probably my other two favorite athletes. I grew up watching them. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-athlete/757212/51 "2016-06-21T07:05:08Z")
Reggie Jackson. I met him once, at Yankee Stadium in 1977. He was gracious and good-natured and at the time I was a huge Yankees fan and an even bigger fan of Mr. Jackson. I still have some memorabilia from back then, even. Shaq is another favorite because of some things that happened between us back when we both lived in Orlando. ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-athlete/757212/52 "2016-06-21T15:05:54Z")
I always think of “athlete” as track and field and other sports as sportsmen/women - I’m not saying I’m right about that, that’s just me - and on that basis I’m going back to Munich '72, where, as a young lad my sisters and I were captivated by an American guy in a a cap who would be waaay behind after the first lap of the 800m and come back and win. I even persuaded my mum to buy me a cap, because I wanted to be like him. The one and only [Dave Wottle.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwGxLfWSnEM) ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-athlete/757212/53 "2016-06-21T16:36:44Z")
> [@mascaroni](#): > > I always think of “athlete” as track and field and other sports as sportsmen/women - I’m not saying I’m right about that, that’s just me - and on that basis I’m going back to Munich '72, where, as a young lad my sisters and I were captivated by an American guy in a a cap who would be waaay behind after the first lap of the 800m and come back and win. I even persuaded my mum to buy me a cap, because I wanted to be like him. > > The one and only [Dave Wottle.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwGxLfWSnEM) That was a helluva race! ---
**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 21, 2016, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-athlete/757212/54 "2016-06-21T17:13:34Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > What about this behavior? > > [Furious Serena Williams dumped out of U.S. Open after she told an official: 'If I could, I'd take this ball and shove it down your throat' | Daily Mail Online](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1213164/Furious-Serena-Williams-dumped-U-S-Open-told-official-If-I-Id-ball-shove-throat.html) > > [Serena Williams is the sorest loser | For The Win](http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/09/serena-williams-sore-loser-grand-slam-us-open-roberta-vinci) > > [US Open 2009: Serena Williams unrepentant for rant after Kim Clijsters defeat](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/usopen/6182175/US-Open-2009-Serena-Williams-unrepentant-for-rant-after-Kim-Clijsters-defeat.html) What about it? She’s not perfect. That doesn’t mean that she’s also not been unfairly shit on too – I can’t count the amount of times someone says that she’s a man, or a gorilla, etc., both in public (even by tennis bigwigs!) and in private conversations I’ve been a part of. She and her sister were accused for years of fixing matches when they played against each other, despite zero evidence. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-athlete/757212/55 "2016-06-21T18:45:42Z")
> [@Eddie The Horrible](#): > > If we’re including retirees, I’m hoping Bernard Hinault is in the “among others”. Can’t leave out Eddie Merckx, either. ---
**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 22, 2016, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-athlete/757212/56 "2016-06-22T02:55:31Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Shaq is another favorite because of some things that happened between us back when we both lived in Orlando. “some things”? uuuhhhh like, what things? nothing nefarious, I hope. ---
**Author:** ![Zyanthia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Zyanthia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyanthia)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2016, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-athlete/757212/57 "2016-06-23T11:36:01Z")
I grew up admiring Jesse Owens, and I guess I still do today, because he’s still the first athlete to pop into my head when asked questions like this. ---
**Author:** ![Fleetwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fleetwood/32/271_2.png) [@Fleetwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fleetwood)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2016, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-athlete/757212/58 "2016-06-23T12:10:13Z")
Tom Brady. ---
**Author:** ![jsquire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce73a5/32.png) [@jsquire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsquire)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-athlete/757212/59 "2016-06-29T01:21:18Z")
> [@mascaroni](#): > > I always think of “athlete” as track and field and other sports as sportsmen/women - I’m not saying I’m right about that, that’s just me - and on that basis I’m going back to Munich '72, where, as a young lad my sisters and I were captivated by an American guy in a a cap who would be waaay behind after the first lap of the 800m and come back and win. I even persuaded my mum to buy me a cap, because I wanted to be like him. > > The one and only [Dave Wottle.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwGxLfWSnEM) I ran at Wottle’s alma mater (Bowling Green) and Wottle’s teammate was my coach. He comes back to campus every summer for our golf outing/fund-raiser. He’s both nice and entertaining, a great person to sit with and knock back a few. So I hardly even count him as a “favorite athlete”, he’s just a guy I know who was once really, really fast. In the same vein, my current favorite athlete is someone I forgot to mention the first time I posted in this thread: [Erik Kynard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erik_Kynard). He won an Olympic silver medal in the high jump four years ago and is a serious contender for gold this time around. Both of his younger brothers were students of mine. When he made the Olympic team at the Trials four years ago I yelled out “congratulations!” and his shocked response when he recognized me “you flew across the country to see me jump?” ---
**Author:** ![Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disgruntled_Penguin)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-athlete/757212/60 "2016-06-29T01:55:49Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > My favorite baseball player to watch hit was Rickey Henderson. He owned the plate. Agreed. You loved Ricky Henderson. I loved Ricky Henderson. RIcky Henderson loved Ricky Henderson. But seriously, I can’t think of another athlete who so publicly loved playing his sport as much as Ricky Henderson though I’m sure they exist. I mean, he kept playing in the independent leagues after he was too old for MLB. He didn’t need the money. > [@](#): > > My favorite pitcher to watch pitch was Nolan Ryan. When he was on, he was untouchable. Yep, he was my favorite pitcher ever even before he took down Ventura but that cemented it. > [@](#): > > My favorite athlete of all time: Bo Jackson. The man once ran up a freakin’ [wall](https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=bo+jackson+runs+up+wall&view=detail&mid=6D87DC5CA45503C8D6BD6D87DC5CA45503C8D6BD&FORM=VIRE). Ooh, I am a Buccanners fan so while Bo is on my list, it’s not as my favorite athlete but my least favorite. I hold an entirely irrational hatred towards him as is my right as a fan even though I would have some, extremely litte but some sympathy for him had he done what he did to another team but he didn’t so I don’t. This is my only irrational hatred of sportsmen so I don’t mind it, everyone should get at least one of these. My favorite athlete is a hard one but I’m going to go Ronde Barber. He has provided me the most entertainment over the years than any other athlete even though many have achieved higher success. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-athlete/757212.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-your-favorite-athlete/757212.md?page=4)