Ghost Rider
Footballguy
I think Jordan's commercials and the way he was marketed gave the impression that he was charismatic, but much of it was an illusion.
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Who are the most charismatic athletes ever? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Ghost Rider
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matuski
Footballguy
Don Quixote
Footballguy
Yogi Berra probably worth a mention in here.
Sabertooth
Footballguy
Ray Lewis has a lot of charisma. Great leader while on the team.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Same with Beckham. He is package and polished by his wife and a gaggle of people to present an image. But in general he appears to be an average, kind of boring guy.
Chaz McNulty
Footballguy
I think that Ali is #1 and then Arnold Palmer. These two really transended their sport and became legends.
I would put Babe Ruth as #3.
I don't think Basketball, Hockey, or Football has anyone on this level.
I'm not sure about soccer. Pele may be up there, but I don't follow the sport.
Lance Armstrong would have been up there if not for the fall from grace.
I would put Babe Ruth as #3.
I don't think Basketball, Hockey, or Football has anyone on this level.
I'm not sure about soccer. Pele may be up there, but I don't follow the sport.
Lance Armstrong would have been up there if not for the fall from grace.
flysack
Footballguy
Fairly shocked no one mentioned Peyton Manning yet. The guy is a born leader and actually has a great sense of humor. The commercials alone are hilarious.
Ali wins hands down though.
Others that come to mind? Pre-murder OJ, Yogi Berra, MJ, Jim Brown, and I'll toss Richard Sherman in there as well.
Ali wins hands down though.
Others that come to mind? Pre-murder OJ, Yogi Berra, MJ, Jim Brown, and I'll toss Richard Sherman in there as well.
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Mister CIA
Footballguy
Uruk-Hai
Footballguy
Thomas was one strange cat. My God, he was a talented player, though.
Richie Allen in baseball around the same time was the same kind of dude.
Al O'Pecia
Footballguy
Ray Lewis came to mind right away for me too.
Two charismatic guys from the MMA world: Bas Rutten and Chael Sonnen.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
I am not a big fan of the heel act by Sonnen. It seems so fake and forced even if his mike work is excellent.Al O said:
Bas on the other hand really comes across as genuine which makes him much more charismatic for me.
T Bell
Footballguy
T Bell
Footballguy
So much of this, especially nowadays, comes down to packaging/marketing, but here's a list with a little bit of thought behind it (in no particular order) with the best combination of on-field/court success and off-field allure:
Clay/Ali
Babe Ruth
Pele
Magic Johnson
Jimmy Connors
Michael Johnson (track athlete)
Usain Bolt
Arnold Palmer
OJ Simpson (until of course he allegedly murdered his ex-wife, that is)
Mike Tyson (arguable because he was always a bit clownish, but his intimidation factor was undeniable & at his peak he was HUGE)
Reggie Jackson
I'm struggling to come up with women who I think really belong on this list. Chris Evert might deserve a spot.
Clay/Ali
Babe Ruth
Pele
Magic Johnson
Jimmy Connors
Michael Johnson (track athlete)
Usain Bolt
Arnold Palmer
OJ Simpson (until of course he allegedly murdered his ex-wife, that is)
Mike Tyson (arguable because he was always a bit clownish, but his intimidation factor was undeniable & at his peak he was HUGE)
Reggie Jackson
I'm struggling to come up with women who I think really belong on this list. Chris Evert might deserve a spot.
gianmarco
Footballguy
T Bell
Footballguy
Kournikova is a hottie who did some modeling. That's not enough. Mia Hamm has about zero personality.
Mary Lou Retton is probably the best candidate out of that trio, but so much of that was marketing off of her All-American girlish smile. Still not sure she quite matches up with the men I listed.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Hamm was the equivalent of a dry piece of toast.
Alex Morgan may well turn out to be the leader in this category for female soccer players.
Dorothy Hamill was big in the Mary Lou fashion but there are not many women athletes in general who excel in this area.
T Bell
Footballguy
He was a potential for this list, but for me he wasn't successful enough on the field and didn't have a long enough career. I also think that his personality doesn't quite match those of the others I listed - it was all PR-manufactured. He was all athlete.
And BTW, I'm by no means dissing Bo, who I rate arguably as the best pro athlete in my lifetime.
T Bell
Footballguy
Fennis
Footballguy
about 2000 years after he was on earth people are still copying his actions and talking about him.Oh yeah, a dude who keels over and dies after a bit of exercise is super charismatic.
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Spartans346
Footballguy
The Boz
Del Griffith
Footballguy
Did I miss it, or has there been no mention of Lawrence Taylor 
Al O'Pecia
Footballguy
I agree with you on both. Sonnen is naturally charismatic, but tries too hard with the pro wrestling schtick.Bas is genuine in interviews and funny in staged segments. I love his "Bar Tips with Bas" series...
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Cunk
Footballguy
rockaction
Footballguy
Cunk said:
It was also during this period that supposedly, after being fined $100 by one of his many distraught managers, Waddell incredulously asked the man why. His response was for that disgraceful hotel episode in Detroit." To which Rube responded: "You're a liar! There ain't no Hotel Episode in Detroit!"
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Judge Smails
Footballguy
I was coming in to add Arnold Palmer. Great call, and i think you have the top 3. I'd put Magic Johnson 4. Agassi is up there for me, as is Barkley and Deion.Chaz McNulty said:
Doctor Detroit
Please remove your headgear
Him just leaving the field to chase firetrucks is so awesome. Back when Waddell pitched a lot of the players were literally off the street. Lots of train hobos and kooks, so Waddell's behavior probably was within reason. He was also a hell of a pitcher, so that helped.Cunk said:
It was also during this period that supposedly, after being fined $100 by one of his many distraught managers, Waddell incredulously asked the man why. His response was for that disgraceful hotel episode in Detroit." To which Rube responded: "You're a liar! There ain't no Hotel Episode in Detroit!"
rockaction
Footballguy
Just Googled it for my own edification, not to knock your efforts (I find I need to say that).
Here's what I found from a "Nuke Laloosh, inspiration"
search. Also, from a cursory glance, I find other articles about the writer of Bull Durham and Dalkowski.
http://seattletimes.com/html/mariners/2009520187_dalkowski23.html
Yeah, I used to read books about old-timey baseball as a kid. They always focused on the Baltimore Orioles of that era, which fits. Baltimore was such a big city at the time, a boom town.Him just leaving the field to chase firetrucks is so awesome. Back when Waddell pitched a lot of the players were literally off the street. Lots of train hobos and kooks, so Waddell's behavior probably was within reason. He was also a hell of a pitcher, so that helped.Cunk said:
It was also during this period that supposedly, after being fined $100 by one of his many distraught managers, Waddell incredulously asked the man why. His response was for that disgraceful hotel episode in Detroit." To which Rube responded: "You're a liar! There ain't no Hotel Episode in Detroit!"
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parasaurolophus
Footballguy
anybody mention Joe DiMaggio yet?
Officer Pete Malloy
Footballguy
Art Donovan
Raider Nation
Devil's Advocate
Doug B
Footballguy
Charisma is independent of most other personality traits. It's equally as possible to be charismatic + straight-laced as it is to be charismatic + life-of-the-party.
Charisma can also be situational -- it can be competitive charisma that doesn't really carry over into an athlete's off-field life. For othes, it is a natural, personal charisma that's everpresent.
So, when speaking of charismativ athletes, it kind of depends on what flavor of charisma you mean.
Charisma can also be situational -- it can be competitive charisma that doesn't really carry over into an athlete's off-field life. For othes, it is a natural, personal charisma that's everpresent.
So, when speaking of charismativ athletes, it kind of depends on what flavor of charisma you mean.
Sabertooth
Footballguy
Reggie White was a leader of men both on and off the field.
Wooderson
Fight The Power
Jayrod
Footballguy
I think Barkley is being underrated here. Dude was charismatic both on and off the court...pretty much always. I think of him before Magic, but then again I'm just a bit too young to remember Magic's prime. My first big memory of him was the HIV announcement and he kind of backed away from the limelight after his retirement.
I also never really considered MJ to be "charismatic". He was a dynamic player, passionate, driven, etc.....but I would have never used charismatic to describe him.
I also never really considered MJ to be "charismatic". He was a dynamic player, passionate, driven, etc.....but I would have never used charismatic to describe him.
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