Will we ever seen a sports person as universally loved as Michael?

[youvalss]

Re: Will we ever seen a sports person as universally loved as Michael?

I don't like Jordan, especially after seeing the HoF Speech and the Chamillionaire incident. Plus all of the books that started coming out about him almost all have negative things to say about his massive ego, arrogance, and disregard for other people.

MJ certainly had issues. But all these books - they come out about anyone who's famous. You can find books like that pretty much about any well-known person.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: Will we ever seen a sports person as universally loved as Michael?

Wayne Gretzky ????????????? Are you serious ? Unless you follow hockey, your average person wouldn't know who the hell he was. Jordan was Jordan. People in China, Japan, Africa and the Middle East knew who Jordan was and was wearing his stuff.

Even had little kids in Holland, Norway, Russia and Serbia trying to be like Mike.

Mike was EVERYTHING. When you thought of Nike, you thought of Jordan. When you thought of the Chevy Blazer, you thought of Jordan. Thought of Wheaties, you thought of Jordan. Went to McDonalds, you thought of Jordan. Gatorade, Jordan. Hanes, Jordan.

He was KING. His name was associated with damn near everything in the 80s and 90s. Before Jordan you didn't see basketball shoes over $100. Before Jordan, people wasn't rocking Jerseys like that.

Nobody has ever came close to the amount of endorsements he had. He was LOVED everywhere, even in his rivals stadiums, they CHEERED him.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: Will we ever seen a sports person as universally loved as Michael?

I think given time and the right set of circumstances...Tim Tebow might have a shot of pulling the fans love him spot at least equal to if not greater than say a Doug Flutie.

His greatest thing he ever did was a TD pass in college......thats messed up. Damn I am old, I remember that BC game like it was yesterday.

[Brankles]

Re: Will we ever seen a sports person as universally loved as Michael?

His greatest thing he ever did was a TD pass in college......thats messed up. Damn I am old, I remember that BC game like it was yesterday.

I've been playing ball with Doug Flutie in a nearby gym. He's not an inch taller than 5'8"

And no, he's not a universal legend, but he sure was loved by everyone during his time

[bill2451]

Re: Will we ever seen a sports person as universally loved as Michael?

"He did it! He did it! Flutie did it... he hit Phelan in the endzone, touchdown!"

[youvalss]

Re: Will we ever seen a sports person as universally loved as Michael?

As someone who lived most of his life outside of North America, I can tell you that MJ was considered God. Actually, while reading the sports news in the newspaper, I remember lines like: "God dribbled, split the defenders and went for the double-pump amazing layup". It wasn't rare for him to be called God in the media where I came from.

[Buckeyes_Doc]

Re: Will we ever seen a sports person as universally loved as Michael?

I think given time and the right set of circumstances...Tim Tebow might have a shot of pulling the fans love him spot at least equal to if not greater than say a Doug Flutie.

People will always hate Tim Tebow, no matter what he does. Just like people will hate Kobe and Lebron.

I do not think we will ever see a person as universally loved as MJ. Tiger Woods was the closest we ever got.

[Cebby]

Re: Will we ever seen a sports person as universally loved as Michael?

Wayne Gretzky ????????????? Are you serious ? Unless you follow hockey, your average person wouldn't know who the hell he was.

I think you are a little underselling Gretzky.

Everyone knows who he is and I haven't heard anyone who "hates" Gretzky, but hockey is just such a marginal sport that nobody really loves him either outside of Canada.

and more recently Landon Donovan, but that's only if you watch soccer.

I didn't think about that, but the best chance may be if a US soccer player led us to a world cup and was a major player for a legit European club team.

He wouldn't be loved around the world, but that could be the best chance to have a high approval rate in the US with a more relevance than a Phelps who only does what he does every four years.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: Will we ever seen a sports person as universally loved as Michael?

Donovan will be forgotten about come october, like all US soccer players are. There has been quite a few great US soccer players that did things in the World Cups over the past couple of decades.

However most americans don't pay attention to soccer unless it is the world cup. And once the US gets eliminated, they quickly stop watching the world cup and don't ever pay attention to soccer again until the next world cup.

I mean you had players like Cobi Jones (all time caps leader in US history), Brian McBride, Claudio Reyna, Tim Howard. Most people if you asked them on the street or at work who those guys were, they would look at you like huh ?

[matt8204]

Re: Will we ever seen a sports person as universally loved as Michael?

Donovan will be forgotten about come october, like all US soccer players are. There has been quite a few great US soccer players that did things in the World Cups over the past couple of decades.

However most americans don't pay attention to soccer unless it is the world cup. And once the US gets eliminated, they quickly stop watching the world cup and don't ever pay attention to soccer again until the next world cup.

I mean you had players like Cobi Jones (all time caps leader in US history), Brian McBride, Claudio Reyna, Tim Howard. Most people if you asked them on the street or at work who those guys were, they would look at you like huh ?

How about Pele? Maybe not so much in the United States because of soccer's limited appeal here, but I would imagine that he's revered around the world.

[KG]

Re: Will we ever seen a sports person as universally loved as Michael?

How about Pele? Maybe not so much in the United States because of soccer's limited appeal here, but I would imagine that he's revered around the world.

He's recognized as the greatest but certainly not revered. You go about 1200+ south and there's a country that would heavily dispute that he's even the greatest.

To be great in soccer you have to perform on an international level. Being good on an international level means rival nations despise you.

[Cebby]

Re: Will we ever seen a sports person as universally loved as Michael?

Donovan will be forgotten about come october, like all US soccer players are. There has been quite a few great US soccer players that did things in the World Cups over the past couple of decades.

However most americans don't pay attention to soccer unless it is the world cup. And once the US gets eliminated, they quickly stop watching the world cup and don't ever pay attention to soccer again until the next world cup.

I mean you had players like Cobi Jones (all time caps leader in US history), Brian McBride, Claudio Reyna, Tim Howard. Most people if you asked them on the street or at work who those guys were, they would look at you like huh ?

I meant an all time great player on the world level.

Said player doesn't exist, but hypothetically if he did I think he could be loved throughout America.

[Brankles]

Re: Will we ever seen a sports person as universally loved as Michael?

I meant an all time great player on the world level.

Said player doesn't exist, but hypothetically if he did I think he could be loved throughout America.

I'm thinking if a guy like Messi was an American citizen playing on the US team and leading us deep into the World Cup, he would be beloved by Americans. I also think Messi is fairly well-regarded around the world, as he seems like a relatively humble person who is arguably the best player.

Yes, soccer is a second-tier sport here, but I really thought America was catching onto it and it would be hard to deny the sport and its athletes if we won a World Cup and had one of the world's 3 or 4 best players.

[deaduck]

Re: Will we ever seen a sports person as universally loved as Michael?

People will always hate Tim Tebow, no matter what he does. Just like people will hate Kobe and Lebron.

I do not think we will ever see a person as universally loved as MJ. Tiger Woods was the closest we ever got.

Give Tebow time.

Without the college rivalry hate and his new status as a "underdog"...he's gonna grow on people.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: Will we ever seen a sports person as universally loved as Michael?

Donovan will be forgotten about come october, like all US soccer players are. There has been quite a few great US soccer players that did things in the World Cups over the past couple of decades.

However most americans don't pay attention to soccer unless it is the world cup. And once the US gets eliminated, they quickly stop watching the world cup and don't ever pay attention to soccer again until the next world cup.

I mean you had players like Cobi Jones (all time caps leader in US history), Brian McBride, Claudio Reyna, Tim Howard. Most people if you asked them on the street or at work who those guys were, they would look at you like huh ?

You underestimate Donovan too. I'm not saying Donovan is a world superstar, but he's by far the most recognizable player the US has ever had. If I had to put money on it, I'd say he's not playing in the US for much longer, and highlights of him playing overseas will continue to be shown. If he ends up in the Premier League, ESPN will show every game they can that he's in (depending on what EPL TV package they have) and will always show highlights of him on SC.