Settle bet - most famous US athlete, all time

[Belfast1933]

I had a spirited discussion with my adult kids tonight and I’d love to hear from this group…

Who do you think is the most famous US athlete of all time? The most energy in our discussion included Jordan, Ruth, Ali and Serena Williams.

Who ya got??

[Mark17]

Jordan has been famous since the mid-1980s, Ali since the mid-1960s, but Ruth has been famous for more than a century. More sports fans have revered, and loved, Ruth than any other athlete by far.

[e107collector]

Jim Thorpe??

[bk400]

duplicate

[bk400]

Originally Posted by Mark17

Jordan has been famous since the mid-1980s, Ali since the mid-1960s, but Ruth has been famous for more than a century. More sports fans have revered, and loved, Ruth than any other athlete by far.

I'd agree with this.

Another interesting way to look at it might be to see which US athletes had the highest name recognition globally at any given point in time. In that case, I'd say Michael Jordan wins in a landslide.

[edtiques]

Originally Posted by bk400

I'd agree with this.

Another interesting way to look at it might be to see which US athletes had the highest name recognition globally at any given point in time. In that case, I'd say Michael Jordan wins in a landslide.

I think Tiger would be up there too. And maybe even Ali.

As far as the original question goes, I'd say Ruth as well. If it was worldwide, then you'd have someone like Pele.

[JustinD]

I would say that a random poll of anywhere in the world would find far more people that could vaguely name Jordan than anyone. If this was 1945 I would say Ruth, but it’s not. Random Brazilian or Nigerian twenty somethings are not discussing Ruth right now. Even Jordan is likely aging out of the world lexicon and being replaced by Lebron. That’s the circle of natural progression.

[Mark17]

Originally Posted by JustinD

I would say that a random poll of anywhere in the world would find far more people that could vaguely name Jordan than anyone. If this was 1945 I would say Ruth, but it’s not. Random Brazilian or Nigerian twenty somethings are not discussing Ruth right now. Even Jordan is likely aging out of the world lexicon and being replaced by Lebron. That’s the circle of natural progression.

If fame is measured just today, maybe. Few people remember Thorpe.

But from 1914 through 1980, nobody knew who Michael Jordan was. That's why I think, of all the people who have lived, Ruth is the obvious answer.

[BobbyStrawberry]

I think it's Jordan or LeBron James for folks under a certain age. Before that maybe Ali or Jim Brown

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by BobbyStrawberry

I think it's Jordan or LeBron James for folks under a certain age. Before that maybe Ali or Jim Brown

Jim Brown retired 58 years ago. Was he ever internationally renowned?

[Casey2296]

Ruth, Ali, Jordan depending on your era.

[packs]

For a brief period of time it was Tony Hawk.

[Writehooks]

I'm a Canadian who worked as a sportswriter in China from 2010-20 -- a job that included extensive travel all over Asia and the Pacific Rim. During a week-long trip to North Korea in 2017, I had a rare opportunity to interact with fellow sports journalists from the DPRK, Mongolia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and several other countries. The one American athlete they ALL knew and wanted to learn more about was Ali. The same was true in Japan, where baseball is king. Ruth, Jordan and Woods weren't even on their radar.

[philliesfan]

I would think this order:

Ruth
Ali
Jordan

[jp1216]

I went down this path with a 20 something year old 'sports guy' I worked with last month. His last name was Cobb - so naturally I asked him if he was related to Ty Cobb. Blank Stare. Ok maybe he didn't grow up in a sports family... I asked if ANYONE had ever asked him this question - 'yeah a few times but I don't know why'....

That led me to dig deeper. Babe Ruth - not a clue. I didn't strike gold until I mentioned Griffey and Jordan. So anything pre-1980 was dinosaurs and cavemen to this guy. He does know his sports though - just nothing more than 40 years ago. He did know every NFL, MLB, NBA champion, MVP, #1 pick etc from the past 15 years.

I didn't mention Ali - but I'd bet he didn't know.

He did also know Jackie - but only from the movie 42...

So to settle this kind of bet - I'd vote Jordan.

[D. Bergin]

I might be biased, but I gotta go with Ali on this one.

[Huysmans]

Originally Posted by Belfast1933

I had a spirited discussion with my adult kids tonight and I’d love to hear from this group…

Who do you think is the most famous US athlete of all time? The most energy in our discussion included Jordan, Ruth, Ali and Serena Williams.

Who ya got??

I think most here aren't paying attention to the actual question.
It's "Most famous US athlete, all time". It's not the most famous NOW.
So there is only one answer, it's clearly Babe Ruth.
There may be others more famous now or somewhat previously, but the fact that he has been the most famous icon for what is by far the longest time, he is without doubt the most famous "ALL-TIME".
Ali, Jordan, and others win for most famous "SHORT-TIME" or "NOW".

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by Huysmans

I think most here aren't paying attention to the actual question.
It's "Most famous US athlete, all time". It's not the most famous NOW.
So there is only one answer, it's clearly Babe Ruth.
There may be others more famous now or somewhat previously, but the fact that he has been the most famous icon for what is by far the longest time, he is without doubt the most famous "ALL-TIME".
Ali, Jordan, and others win for most famous "SHORT-TIME" or "NOW".

What? It's a seniority question now?

Babe Ruth's got tenure over everybody else. That's a way to never lose your place in history I guess.

I don't know. I don't think so. I think that's a possible "interpretation" of the question...but certainly not in the spirit of how it was presented.

[Huysmans]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

What? It's a seniority question now?

Babe Ruth's got tenure over everybody else. That's a way to never lose your place in history I guess.

I don't know. I don't think so. I think that's a possible "interpretation" of the question...but certainly not in the spirit of how it was presented.

What has the "spirit" of the question have to do with anything? That's how you interpret it.
Let's stick to the ACTUAL terminology used for the question.

[robinsonmantle]

Jordan, Tiger, currently Caitlin Clark has to be up there as well


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