Athletes that all of Public knows

[Flyboy]

Re: Athletes that all of Public knows

Not everyone knows who LeBron is.. I found this out a year ago.

[GeePee20]

Re: Athletes that all of Public knows

Lance Armstrong, Barry Bonds, Tiger Woods, Shaq and Kobe are the only ones IMO. I say this because my immediate family does not follow sports whatsoever but they all know these guys. 5 or so years from now, LeBron will become a part of that group, but he is not there yet.

Guys like TO are not that well known outside of sports. Sure, the sports media loves to talk about him but he hasn't transcended sports like the other guys have. I also think if Kobe had never had that rape trial, he would not be nearly as well known.

I want to say Tom Brady and Yao Ming but I know my mom has no idea who either of them are. But those two are very close.

[pk500]

Re: Athletes that all of Public knows

Judging by my girlfriend and sister, neither of whom follow sports at all, these are the only names they'd probably know of currently active athletes:

Football: Tom Brady, Brett Favre
Basketball: Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant
Baseball: None, maybe Barry Bonds
Hockey: None
Soccer: None
Racing: None
Golf: Tiger Woods
Tennis: Andy Roddick

Damn good list.

Take care,
PK

[pk500]

Re: Athletes that all of Public knows

And there’s no way, TV or not that Palmer was as known as an Ali.

And I never said he was. Note in my reply that I said Palmer was a household name in the "Western" world. Ali was a household name across the globe. Same with Pele back then.

Nonetheless, though he was before my time, I cannot see Palmer being this renowned public personality. Endorsements and being the first golf star from the TV explosion does not equate to me.

So Nike and Gatorade didn't help to pimp MJ? Wasn't he the first player to have a shoe named after him since Chuck Taylor?

Jordan would have secured his legendary status with his talent alone, but the endless pimping by Nike and Gatorade didn't hurt.

Take care,
PK

[CMH]

Re: Athletes that all of Public knows

I'd say:

Shaquille O'Neal
Michael Jordan (because many people probably think he still plays)
Derek Jeter
Tiger Woods
Barry Bonds
Andre Agassi (one of those, "What's his name again? The guy with the hair.")
Anna Kournikova
Kobe Bryant
Mike Tyson

I would love to make the list 10, but I think that's really it.

(Only soccer countries know David Beckham. America doesn't like soccer so trust me they don't know David Beckham).

[Blzer]

Re: Athletes that all of Public knows

Tony Hawk


But, I guess... he's considered retired.

[SPTO]

Re: Athletes that all of Public knows

Tony Hawk


But, I guess... he's considered retired.

50 and 60 year olds would know who Tony Hawk is?

[stAte]

Re: Athletes that all of Public knows

Let's see
Top in Each Sport with a few reasons in parenthesis

Basketball: LeBron (the anointed "next-big-thing"), Shaq (dominant player, crappy movies and rapping) Kobe (sex trial)
Football: Favre,
Baseball: Bonds (steriods and the home run record), Jeter (iffy)
Golf: Woods (the only one who makes it in golf)
Soccer: Beckham (I think that he is quite well-known, judging by people around me who know nothing about sports who at least know his name, if nothing else about him, especially younger women)
Tennis: Agassi (I guess.)
Boxing: needs one. like Tyson/Ali
Racing: Earnhardt Jr. (name), Gordon

[Blzer]

Re: Athletes that all of Public knows

50 and 60 year olds would know who Tony Hawk is?

I actually figure they would. At least... as long as they know that skateboarding exists as a professional extreme sport, then they probably know who Tony Hawk is.


And I'm sure that the entire nation doesn't know of Favre. And if they do, they either don't know how to spell it correctly is they know the pronunciation, or pronounce it correctly if they know the spelling.

[Jimplication]

Re: Athletes that all of Public knows

The be known by the entire household, it helps if the athlete is in the news.

Kobe Bryant comes to mind; as does Lance Armstrong, Andre Agassi, and Tiger Woods.

From the past, Pete Rose, Michael Jordan, Pete Sampras, and Jack Nicholas are some strong candidates.

[DrJones]

Re: Athletes that all of Public knows

Lance Armstrong, Barry Bonds, Tiger Woods, Shaq and Kobe are the only ones IMO. I say this because my immediate family does not follow sports whatsoever but they all know these guys. 5 or so years from now, LeBron will become a part of that group, but he is not there yet.

Guys like TO are not that well known outside of sports. Sure, the sports media loves to talk about him but he hasn't transcended sports like the other guys have. I also think if Kobe had never had that rape trial, he would not be nearly as well known.

I want to say Tom Brady and Yao Ming but I know my mom has no idea who either of them are. But those two are very close.

Yup, this is the correct list. My mom is 68 (and Canadian), and I'm pretty sure she'd recognize those 5 names, and pretty much nobody else (outside of a few hockey players).

[TheMatrix31]

Re: Athletes that all of Public knows

I don't think my mom has any clue about Lance Armstrong or Barry Bonds....but she'd probably know Tiger Woods, Kobe, and for sure Shaq.

[pk500]

Re: Athletes that all of Public knows

50 and 60 year olds would know who Tony Hawk is?

Not a chance that my parents, both in their 70s, know who Tony Hawk is. And they're both "mainstream" sports fans.

Take care,
PK

[PlayaHataSupreme]

Re: Athletes that all of Public knows

I'd say:


Anna Kournikova

Not over Venus and Serena........

Even if the avg. fan doesn't know which is Venus and which is Serena (which I don't doubt), I'd bet they know who they are collectively. They aren't quite on the level of Agassi, but they are more so than Anna K.

I honestly don't think Anna K wants it with this list.........

[billmatic]

Re: Athletes that all of Public knows

I don't think I know anyone who doesn't know who Lance Armstrong is.

I don't think any tennis players are on the list. Not Anna, not the Williams, and definitely not Andy Roddick. I'd guess Agassi is the closest there is.