The Harris Interactive poll for favorite American sports star was released this week along with si.com’s annual list of highest earning athletes. Surprisingly, or perhaps not, Tiger Woods tops both.
Although Woods’ has lost an estimated $22 million in endorsements, he still made more money than any other athlete clearing $90,508,163. This figure obviously doesn’t reflect divorce settlements. Maybe not too surprising as he still has Nike among others as endorsements.
What did surprise me was the fact that he was still America’s favorite sports star. Almost as surprising was that Kobe Bryant tied him in the poll. Both have had their share of problems. Tiger’s much talked about infidelities and Bryant’s sexual assault accusation.
LeBron James fell from second to sixth with Derek Jeter going from fourth to third.
This poll goes to show that the best thing you can for your career and for your “Q” rating is win.
Woods has struggled of late with his golf game but he is still seen by many as the best. Bryant just won his fifth NBA Championship. You would think that off the playing field/court antics would play into this poll but it apparently doesn’t.
What did James do to fall four spots? Besides ripping the heart out of Cleveland? He just wants to play basketball with his buddies.
Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Charles Barkley have all come out and said they wouldn’t have made the same decision James made and I think that is true.
In the grand scheme of things I think most people would agree that cheating on your wife with 17 people (that we know of) and being accused of rape is worse than screwing an entire city and taking the easy road to a championship. Of course we don’t know the motivation for people voting the way they did, maybe none of that had anything to do with it.
Maybe these voters don’t like Gatorade. Maybe they don’t like headbands. Maybe they just don’t like LeBron.
It will be interesting to see what this poll looks like in five years if Kobe retires, Tiger’s game is gone and LeBron wins some rings.
Just like Al Davis* said, “Just win baby!”
*Davis was voted #493.
Jason Black also does movie reviews for KJ103 and 102.1 Kissin' Country.
You can also follow Jason on Twitter @jasonblack23.
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