I would have to say Brett Farve. Sure, he isn't the best QB in the NFL but he takes responsibility for his actions, is not a felon or a drug user. Is not in the game only for the money. He has been offered a lot to leave GB for other teams, and refused. Just because GB is his home. When they score or are doing really well, he has a very large smile on his face (and visa-versa) He is such a team player. Payton Manning is #2 for almost the same reasons.

I would have to say Brett Farve. Sure, he isn't the best QB in the NFL but he takes responsibility for his actions, is not a felon or a drug user. Is not in the game only for the money. He has been offered a lot to leave GB for other teams, and refused. Just because GB is his home. When they score or are doing really well, he has a very large smile on his face (and visa-versa) He is such a team player. Payton Manning is #2 for almost the same reasons.


....Definitely two of the good guys for sure. If your gonna add a coach then Toney Dungy belongs in there for me. In basketball it's probably Tim Duncan, and Grant Hill is very likeable as well.

Of athletes that I've actually met:
Chris Chambliss - first baseman for for the Braves when I met him, later the Yankees. Used to stop by and hear my band in the
lounge at the Howard Johnson's by Fulton County Stadium. Down to earth, nice guy.

Roger Staubach - You may have heard of him...Came to see The Platter's Show when we played The Fairmont in Dallas. Came the next year with Tom Landry. BOTH were as nice as you might expect and told us that THEY were big fans! We're like, "Homina,homima, homina...." :D

Dave Cowens - All-Star center for the Boston Celtics was a homeboy buddy in Newport, Ky. (Greater Cincinnati)
Drank many beers with him a million years ago!

Ray Leonard - As told elsewhere, met him and had ****tails at Harrah's Lake Tahoe. Rather quiet, nice dude.

http://www.rumela.com/albums/anna_kournikova/kournikova24.jpg

Serena Williams in a thong!

As far as football goes...I'd say Favre, Mike Tice, and Curtis Martin are all very likeable, humble guys.

Basketball - Shaq may not be likeable on the court or even when he speaks about himself in the third person but he's a good player who is good to his fans and to kids. Also Ben Wallace...don't look at his involvement with the fight earlier this year. Past that he's extremely humble and kind. He also has had to deal with his mother and brother dying within the last 2 years.

Baseball - Albert Pujols and Derek Jeter are both likeable. Jeter's a real nice uy when you meet him.

Boxing - James Toney...hah.

http://www.rumela.com/albums/anna_kournikova/kournikova24.jpg


.......elveiel, the post says likeable not lickable.

Serena Williams in a thong!


...sorry but the thought of Serena in a thong is scary as hell to me.

Shaun Alexander seems like he's pretty cool.

...sorry but the thought of Serena in a thong is scary as hell to me. Wasn't she raised by a lady named Diane Fossey.... I think they even did a documentary about it .

that anna pic made me like her but i think the most likable athlete is probably shaq or MJ

MJ for sure. Walter Payton when he was alive.

A few that come to mind...

Brian Cardinal
Cal Ripken Jr.
Lebron James
Chris Byrd
Johnny Damon
David Robinson
George Foreman
Kurt Angle
Peyton Manning
Steve Smith
Michael Schumacher
Rebecca Lobo
Sue Bird
Maria Sharapova
Hulk Hogan
Tony Gwynn
Barry Larkin

a lot, the ones that give back to the community, that do charity work and donate their money, those are the likeable athletes

a lot, the ones that give back to the community, that do charity work and donate their money, those are the likeable athletes
AMEN TO THAT!!!

George Brett is one of the nicest guys you could ever meet

Bernie williams is another guy who is pure class.

A few that come to mind...

Brian Cardinal
Cal Ripken Jr.
Lebron James
Chris Byrd
Johnny Damon
David Robinson
George Foreman
Kurt Angle
Peyton Manning
Steve Smith
Michael Schumacher
Rebecca Lobo
Sue Bird
Maria Sharapova
Hulk Hogan
Tony Gwynn
Barry Larkin
im glad you mentioned schumacher because he has donated 10 million dollars :eek: to aid in tsunami relief

...sorry but the thought of Serena in a thong is scary as hell to me.

same here :eek:

Big George is the most likable atleth ever, his like all boxers grandfather.

.......elveiel, the post says likeable not lickable.

She just seems like a nice athlete, nothing to do with looks :rolleyes:

I never thought Anna was goodlooking, but she looks ok in this picture! i'd definitly let her **** my girl. :)

She just seems like a nice athlete, nothing to do with looks :rolleyes:

I never thought Anna was goodlooking, but she looks ok in this picture! i'd definitly let her **** my girl. :)


....Yeah, I have never really gotten the obsession that alot of guys have with Kornikova. I give her like an 8 maybe. She has no hips at all and I think her nippies are kind of dull. Not to mention, I don't think her face is all that either.

I saw MJ mentioned here, we never hear from that guy anymore, he always seemed a bit stuck on himself, please correct me if I am wrong. Did he do many things for charity? I know he did a lot for kids, but got paid a fortune doing those things. I met Larry Byrd once and thought he was a jerk, but then I was told he is a really quiet guy. I met Robert Parish at an auto parts store where he was the guest of the day. He was a big quiet ugly SOB. But nothing bad to say about his personality. Not many boxers on the lists.

If we're counting athletes who are inactive it would have to be Michael Jordan and Muhammad Ali.

Can't think of anybody except Michael Jordan

If we're counting athletes who are inactive it would have to be Michael Jordan and Muhammad Ali.
Ali for sure. Just seeing that guy almost brings a tear. He's almost mythical.

Miodrag Perunovic who is close to his GM norms in chess and a really great person.

I once met Boris Becker because we trained in the same sports-camp in Oberhaching. Really nice guy to joke around with but maybe not the brightest. ;)

Other than that I have some friends in the Badminton Bundesliga but as nobody cares about Badminton and you can barley make a living out of it I suppose nobody'd know them anyway. ;)

I have met Lothar Matthäus once but he's quite frankly a very simple minded person.

Magic Johnson always looked like a very likeable person.
And Rudi Völler is some kind of national hero of here.

I always respect Marvelous Marvin Hagler for his work ethnics and discipline.

And basicly I respect any athlete who doesn't forget where he came from and cares about people that aren't as gifted as him.

Miodrag Perunovic who is close to his GM norms in chess and a really great person.

I once met Boris Becker because we trained in the same sports-camp in Oberhaching. Really nice guy to joke around with but maybe not the brightest. ;)

Other than that I have some friends in the Badminton Bundesliga but as nobody cares about Badminton and you can barley make a living out of it I suppose nobody'd know them anyway. ;)

I have met Lothar Matthäus once but he's quite frankly a very simple minded person.

Magic Johnson always looked like a very likeable person.
And Rudi Völler is some kind of national hero of here.

I always respect Marvelous Marvin Hagler for his work ethnics and discipline.

And basicly I respect any athlete who doesn't forget where he came from and cares about people that aren't as gifted as him.


Chess players are not athletes. I respect those who do it well, but...........

Chess players are not athletes. I respect those who do it well, but...........

Well, you have to be fit to concentrate for a long game. And it's widley looked upon as a sport. But I see where you're coming from.

Well, you have to be fit to concentrate for a long game. And it's widley looked upon as a sport. But I see where you're coming from.

Like playing poker, I have been in a tourny that lasted 9 hours, it takes its toll on you. I took 3rd but it was partially do to giving in.

Well, you have to be fit to concentrate for a long game. And it's widley looked upon as a sport. But I see where you're coming from.


You have to be fit to work a jackhammer for 8 hours a day.....but no one calls those who do so athletes....or would pay a dime to see them "in action".

You have to be fit to work a jackhammer for 8 hours a day.....but no one calls those who do so athletes....or would pay a dime to see them "in action".

I would call a jackhammer "competition" a sporting event.

It would be along the same lines as the logging competitions that ESPN shows.

I'm not calling jabsRstiff one, but there are some sports "snobs" who think that the only things that constitute sport involve a ball or someone getting their ass kicked. Those "snobs" usually lack the cerebral ability to do anything but tackle or hurl something at someone/something.

Some of the sports that require the best PHYSICAL conditioning, endurance are professional wrestling (which is simulated sports), or ice skating and gymnastics (judged sports). Someone who thinks football, baseball, basketball, and hockey is all that there is (except when "we play dodgeball in gym") has no time for anything else and often discounts the other sports because they would have absolutely no skill at them and often don't have the mental ability to try to acquire those skills.

Kudos to ESPN for including Spelling Competitions, Chess, World's Strongest Man, bodybuilding, surfing, bowling, cheerleading, X Games, and equestrian events on its network of sports.

Even some that I don't care for - be they auto racing, ballroom dancing, curling, poker, billiards - deserve consideration as sports.

Keep in mind that sports are basically just games that people play in front of an audience.

Now just fishing, just hunting, dog shows - I don't see them as sport so much. The dogs that race or go through an obstacle course of some type, or seeing who can get the largest fish or game seem to be sporting events but not just walking a well-groomed dog around or driving around in a boat or sitting in a treestand, seem to fall into my "sporting" definition more appropriately.

I would call a jackhammer "competition" a sporting event.

It would be along the same lines as the logging competitions that ESPN shows.

I'm not calling jabsRstiff one, but there are some sports "snobs" who think that the only things that constitute sport involve a ball or someone getting their ass kicked. Those "snobs" usually lack the cerebral ability to do anything but tackle or hurl something at someone/something.

Some of the sports that require the best PHYSICAL conditioning, endurance are professional wrestling (which is simulated sports), or ice skating and gymnastics (judged sports). Someone who thinks football, baseball, basketball, and hockey is all that there is (except when "we play dodgeball in gym") has no time for anything else and often discounts the other sports because they would have absolutely no skill at them and often don't have the mental ability to try to acquire those skills.

Kudos to ESPN for including Spelling Competitions, Chess, World's Strongest Man, bodybuilding, surfing, bowling, cheerleading, X Games, and equestrian events on its network of sports.

Even some that I don't care for - be they auto racing, ballroom dancing, curling, poker, billiards - deserve consideration as sports.

Keep in mind that sports are basically just games that people play in front of an audience.

Now just fishing, just hunting, dog shows - I don't see them as sport so much. The dogs that race or go through an obstacle course of some type, or seeing who can get the largest fish or game seem to be sporting events but not just walking a well-groomed dog around or driving around in a boat or sitting in a treestand, seem to fall into my "sporting" definition more appropriately.

that's a beautiful post....but totally unrelated to THE TOPIC.

"A-T-H-L-E-T-E" ...

A chess player is NOT an athlete, neils.

that's a beautiful post....but totally unrelated to THE TOPIC.

"A-T-H-L-E-T-E" ...

A chess player is NOT an athlete, neils.

Main Entry: ath•lete
Pronunciation: 'ath-"lEt, ÷'a-th&-"lEt
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin athleta, from Greek athlEtEs, from athlein to contend for a prize, from athlon prize, contest: a person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina

Main Entry: ath•let•ic
Pronunciation: ath-'le-tik, ÷"a-th&-'le-
Function: adjective
1 : of or relating to athletes or athletics
2 : characteristic of an athlete; especially : VIGOROUS, ACTIVE
3 : MESOMORPHIC
4 : used by athletes
- ath•let•i•cal•ly /-ti-k(&-)lE/ adverb
- ath•let•i•cism /-'le-t&-"si-z&m/ noun

Main Entry: vig•or•ous
Pronunciation: 'vi-g(&-)r&s
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Old French, from vigor
1 : possessing vigor : full of physical or mental strength or active force : STRONG <a vigorous youth> <a vigorous plant>
2 : done with vigor : carried out forcefully and energetically <vigorous exercises>
- vig•or•ous•ly adverb
- vig•or•ous•ness noun

**** Websters. CHess is a GAME. You can't call a SPELLING bee a ****ing SPORT. The physical side IS necessary for it to be a sport.

Well, I know people who sweat a little when they play long games and even if I play bullet I feel exhausted afterwards. So it can be quite physical. If you drive in the Formula 1, you don't move too much as well but you have to be absolutly in shape. But I got your point.

Pernell "Cocaine boy" Whitaker..

i would definately have to say Earl Boykins from the Denver nuggets...no matter what team he goes to they love him...denver loves him more tha LA loves Kobe

I mean, the border between Sport and Game is Pool.

Pool may not be physically demanding but it STILL requires physical and sensory control.

Dude & Neils...


You guys are going overboard.

I guess anyone who DOES A DAMN THING is an athlete, huh ?

Jon Benet Ramsey....was she a friggin' athlete ?
I guess she was, huh ? She pranced around, singing songs , entering contests she gave up her childhood for....all in hopes of being judged a winner . She even broke a sweat, especially under those lights.

Fug it....who was 2004's ATHLETE of the year ?
Had to have been KEN JENNINGS, the all-time greatest "Jeopardy" contestant.
Did you see him exert his brain power & his FINGER at the same time ?
What an ATHLETE !



You guys took a SIMPLE topic, & turned it into some pseudo-intellectual debate.

Technicly it as a sport. At least it is usually put in this category. I agree with you though that it has nothing to do with "real" athletisism. Lets leave it like that.

Brian Boitano

Mia St. John

Likable? I would say Shaq, because he won the Lakers championships. But other than that, he's as real as real could be. He tells it like it is. There is no phoniness about the guy. He says he's not a role model, but that parents should be role models instead.