A couple of months ago I read an article that speculated on who the world's most famous person was. This got me thinking about who the world's most famous athlete is (active or retired) might be. Tiger Woods is certainly a contender for the title, but he has the disadvantage of participating in a G-8 sport. Michael Phelps became a megastar en route to winning 8 gold medals, but he has the same problem that Tiger World has. Usain Bolt participates in a sport with appeal in third world countries, but he's been an international celebrity for a relatively short period of time. Then there's David Beckham and Ronaldo who are stars in the world's most popular sport, but are past their prime. And you also have to look at Yao Ming, who is from a nation with 1/5 of the world's population, but isn't among the top five in his sport. What about Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, who are superstars in a sport which is arguably the world's fastest growing? Could it be a retired athlete like Muhammad Ali, Pele, Carl Lewis or Michael Jordan? Who do you think is most likely the world's most famous/recognizable athlete?
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Great question. The answer always used to be Ali, but probably no longer.
I bet it might be Kobe or LeBron, given basketball popularity in China as well as the US, South America, and a lot of Europe. Football (soccer) players are enormously popular in Europe and South America but I think less so in China, and barely known in the US.
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Re: The World's Most Famous Athlete
Originally posted by jazzcyclistA couple of months ago I read an article that speculated on who the world's most famous person was. This got me thinking about who the world's most famous athlete is (active or retired) might be. Tiger Woods is certainly a contender for the title, but he has the disadvantage of participating in a G-8 sport. Michael Phelps became a megastar en route to winning 8 gold medals, but he has the same problem that Tiger World has. Usain Bolt participates in a sport with appeal in third world countries, but he's been an international celebrity for a relatively short period of time. Then there's David Beckham and Ronaldo who are stars in the world's most popular sport, but are past their prime. And you also have to look at Yao Ming, who is from a nation with 1/5 of the world's population, but isn't among the top five in his sport. What about Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, who are superstars in a sport which is arguably the world's fastest growing? Could it be a retired athlete like Muhammad Ali, Pele, Carl Lewis or Michael Jordan? Who do you think is most likely the world's most famous/recognizable athlete?
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Re: The World's Most Famous Athlete
Originally posted by jazzcyclistTiger Woods is certainly a contender for the title, but he has the disadvantage of participating in a G-8 sport
think more g20+
Michael Phelps became a megastar en route to winning 8 gold medals, but he has the same problem that Tiger World has
oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, a rarity in the world ?
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Re: The World's Most Famous Athlete
Originally posted by eldrickOriginally posted by jazzcyclistTiger Woods is certainly a contender for the title, but he has the disadvantage of participating in a G-8 sport
think more g20+
Michael Phelps became a megastar en route to winning 8 gold medals, but he has the same problem that Tiger World has
oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, a rarity in the world ?
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The world's sporting public is pretty fickle. It was Ali for a little while, but his political stances cost him. It was certainly Pele for a long while. It was Michael Jordan for a good while. Tiger Woods has been and probably will be again. And yes, David Beckham was the most popular athlete in the world for a while. And Ronaldo and Ronaldinho have had their time. As for right now, this moment, since there is no singularly dominant soccer player (a handful have their ardent proponents), and with Tiger back on the prowl, his Q-Rating is probably tops. For some reason Q-ratings seems to be a highly guarded secret. A quick google search didn't come up with any current numbers.
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Re: The World's Most Famous Athlete
Originally posted by jazzcyclistHow popular is pro golf
and elite swimming in the 180 nations outside of the G-20
you were talking about phelps in a supposedly g8 sport
all it needs is a collection of water to participate
g2 or g300, any member of each knows what the sport entails - if most of latter don't excel in it, that's their problem
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Re: The World's Most Famous Athlete
Originally posted by eldrickOriginally posted by jazzcyclistHow popular is pro golf
and elite swimming in the 180 nations outside of the G-20
you were talking drivel about phelps in a supposedly g8 sport
all it needs is a collection of water to participate
g2 or g300, any member of each knows what the sport entails - if most of latter don't excel in it, that's there problem
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Eldy, smile buddy,
If you want to swim with the sharks and the hippos, the snakes and the piranhas, etc., then go for it. The point is that unless you live in a country that can afford lots of swimming pools, then all the water in the World is not going to be particularly helpful or welcoming for a would-be swimmer.
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Re: The World's Most Famous Athlete
Originally posted by jazzcyclistg2 or g300...
as for "asia's" most popular athlete, it astounds me about how ignorant you can be - you are clearly clueless about the continent or it's sporting interests - golf is hugely popular in korea, japan, thailand & is top sport of the middle class of india
i do not know where you flatter yourself to think about getting into a "pissing" context - pointing out nonsense posted about a sport like swimming is nothing more than stating the bare facts, not some unbelievable prejudice/chip on shoulder, about the sport
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