Athletes That Are Universally Respected And Liked (1 Viewer)

[Leroy Hoard]

I think NHL players - maybe not so much any more in the millennial generation - would have baseball beat. 

I read a story by a female flight attendant who worked team charters for most of the sports and she had hockey players as the least jerkish.

 

[zamboni]

I agree, although I don't think many of them are well-known enough to qualify. Not a slam on the sport, just that they're behind helmets and masks all game and generally maintain a low profile off the ice.  Also hockey fans can be pretty spiteful about guys on rival teams.  I can't imagine not liking Alex Ovechkin but the entire city of Pittsburgh would certainly disagree.

That may make them more universally respected, if not well known. As for Ovechkin, I think people respect his talent and competitiveness, but doesn't seem to be a well-loved guy.

 

[identikit]

I forgot that story, but do recall that Gwynn wasn't universally revered.

In terms of other HOFers that died too soon, I don't remember too much bad being said about Kirby Puckett. In fact, I think he got in the HOF because he was so universally revered.

Domestic violence.

 

[General Malaise]

I forgot that story, but do recall that Gwynn wasn't universally revered.

In terms of other HOFers that died too soon, I don't remember too much bad being said about Kirby Puckett. In fact, I think he got in the HOF because he was so universally revered.

You might want to investigate this some more.  

 

[Gary Coal Man]

I forgot that story, but do recall that Gwynn wasn't universally revered.

In terms of other HOFers that died too soon, I don't remember too much bad being said about Kirby Puckett. In fact, I think he got in the HOF because he was so universally revered.

Well, Puckett did have the sexual assault charges...

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2003-04-04-0304040215-story,amp.html

 

[zamboni]

You might want to investigate this some more.  

Now that you mention it, I thought there was something about Puckett, but should have looked first. What was the deal? 

ETA: now I see - scratch Kirby. But RIP anyway.

 

[Don Quixote]

I wasn't around for Willie Mays playing days.  He certainly seems to meet the criteria now though.

 

[identikit]

Now that you mention it, I thought there was something about Puckett, but should have looked first. What was the deal? .

Domestic violence, sexual harassment, multiple affairs.

 

[identikit]

Roberto Clemente

 

[Tecumseh]

Joe Thomas

 

[General Malaise]

Larry Fitzgerald.

Good one!

 

[bigmarc27]

Warrick Dunn is first ballot of the love and respected Sports HOF. 

Deshaun Watson is the current generation version to follow in his footsteps. 

Edit: I’ll add my favorite news story.  https://www.sbnation.com/2017/1/10/14228488/deshaun-watson-warrick-dunn-childhood-home-charity

 

[zamboni]

Domestic violence, sexual harassment, multiple affairs.

Other than that, how was the play, Mrs. Lincoln?

 

[higgins]

Johnny Bench. 

 

[Gary Coal Man]

Kurt Warner

 

[bigmarc27]

Good one!

Uhhh...

On New Year's Eve 2008, TMZ published a story that said Fitzgerald had been ordered to stay away from [former girlfriend Angela] Nazario. It detailed the allegations, gleaned from court documents, that she leveled against him -- that after the two began quarreling, Fitzgerald challenged her to a play fight. Nazario said she swung at Fitzgerald, who then pushed her. He "grabbed me by my hair with both hands on the back of my head very very hard and tossed me across the room." When Nazario tried to leave with their son, she said Fitzgerald "grabbed the back of my neck and slammed me down on the marble floor…. was disoriented for awhile and could not get up, I remember he mumbled something about 'that's what happens when you try taking my son away from me.'" When she made it to her car, Nazario said she realized Fitzgerald had pulled out chunks of her hair.





 





http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/95846100/arizona-cardinals-larry-fitzgerald-domestic-violence-accusation-tmz

 

[zamboni]

I wasn't around for Willie Mays playing days.  He certainly seems to meet the criteria now though.

Actually by many accounts, Mays was a pretty big d-bag as a person.

 

[belljr]

People didnt like Tony Gwynn?  Not sure I knew that

 

[Jayrok]

Grayson Allen

 

[zamboni]

Johnny Bench. 

Definitely sensing a Baseball Bunch theme here. Although I think the San Diego Chicken has some baggage.

 

[zamboni]

Greg Maddux?

 

[zamboni]

Kurt Warner

Yeah, people just didn't like his wife.

 

[higgins]

Definitely sensing a Baseball Bunch theme here. Although I think the San Diego Chicken has some baggage.

The SD chicken did have that fling with Morganna the kissing bandit....

 

[Gary Coal Man]

Drew Brees

 

[identikit]

The SD chicken did have that fling with Morganna the kissing bandit....

Guessing she wasn't all that selective.

 

[Nipsey]

Most respected/liked coach

 

[belljr]

Crash Davis

 

[bigmarc27]

Drew Brees

Runs a pyramid scheme...

http://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/14972197/questions-surround-advocare-nutrition-empire-endorsed-saints-qb-drew-brees

 

[Jayrok]

Arnold Palmer

 

[identikit]

Ken Griffey Jr

Though he kind of screwed up the retirement thing.

 

[gianmarco]

Derek Jeter came to mind.

 

[zamboni]

Derek Jeter came to mind.

Jeter is obviously highly respected for his on the field play, but is often viewed as standoffish off the field. Even Yankee fans have soured a bit on him since he helped buy the Marlins.

 

[Acrobat7]

Dirk Nowitzki

 

[Tom Servo]

I agree, although I don't think many of them are well-known enough to qualify. Not a slam on the sport, just that they're behind helmets and masks all game and generally maintain a low profile off the ice.  Also hockey fans can be pretty spiteful about guys on rival teams.  I can't imagine not liking Alex Ovechkin but the entire city of Pittsburgh would certainly disagree.

And I can't imagine anyone liking 8.

My contribution would be Mario Lemieux.

 

[zamboni]

Pat Tillman

 

[Insein]

Russell Wilson seems to be well thought of.

 

[Tom Servo]

Derek Jeter came to mind.

How many of his post-coital gift bags have you gotten from him?

 

[zamboni]

And I can't imagine anyone liking 8.

My contribution would be Mario Lemieux.

Lemieux isn't a bad call. He also was a bit standoffish in his day, but that was probably just a cultural thing. 

 

[zamboni]

JJ Watt

Great call. Also highly revered for his tireless charity work.

 

[Tom Servo]

Also, even though I bring up professional wrestling here, but Bruno Sammartino enjoys legitimate status in Pittsburgh for being a great man in and out of the ring.

 

[matttyl]

Kramer and Newman aside - Keith Hernandez? 

Also, maybe Mike Piazza? 

 

[matttyl]

Antonio Brown aside - Juju?

Oh, and Burfict doesn't think much of him either.

 

[zamboni]

Kramer and Newman aside - Keith Hernandez? 

Sorry, but no way. Pretty obnoxious guy, and besides, after making the second out of the inning, he was smoking a cigarette and having a beer when Mookie Wilson's grounder went under Buckner's legs in 1986. 

 

[zamboni]

Another NHL legend: Bobby Orr

 

[Zegras11]

Teemu Selanne.     

 

[zamboni]

Teemu Selanne.     

I was thinking of Teemu, but I thought his autobiography cost him some brownie points. Even your avatar was pissed off.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/anaheim-ducks-ryan-getzlaf-teemu-selanne-bruce-boudreau-pissed-off/

 

[identikit]

Stan 'The Man' Musial

 

[TobiasFunke]

Dirk Nowitzki

I was trying to think of a current/recent NBA player, that's better than anything I could come up with.

Pretty much everyone loves Giannis so far, but give it time and I'm sure people will come up with some reason to hate on him.

 

[Quint]

Tony Hawk

Dale Jr.

 

[Mister CIA]

Tons of Dallas Cowboys from the 70's:  Roger Staubach and Bob Lilly, to name two.