Top 10 Sports Heroes
The world of sports is full of players, but precious few go on to become bona fide heroes--those that inspire the fans and future players. Here is a list of ten of the biggest sports icons of the modern age.
Published - 1
Michael Jordan
The undisputed leader of sports celebrities, Michael Jordan is widely regarded the best professional basketball player of all time. He has endorsed Nike, Hanes, and hundreds of other products. Best known for his winning smile, shaved head, and gravity-defying slam dunks, Michael Jordan rules the roost as a sports hero. - 2
Joe Montana
During the 1980s, the San Francisco 49ers were seemingly unstoppable, winning four Super Bowls during the decade. Their quarterback, Joe Montana, was voted MVP three of those four games. One of the best of all time, Montana is a true sports hero. - 3
Babe Ruth
Unquestionably one of the founding fathers of modern baseball in America, Babe Ruth was an inspiration to his and future generations. Known as the "Sultan of Swat", Ruth belted out home runs like none other, even calling a shot before the pitch! Besides, what other baseball player has a candy bar named after him? - 4
Shaquille O'Neal
Without question, one of the biggest sports figures today is Shaq--quite literally. Standing well over seven feet tall, O'Neal has been one of the more personable stars of the National Basketball Association for years. His image and name are instantly recognizable and he's worth hundreds of millions of dollars to manufacturers who use him to promote their products. - 5
David Beckham
A true international star, David Beckham is perhaps the best-known soccer player in the world since Pele. His bad-boy image and undeniable skills with the ball have elevated him to rock-star-like status on multiple continents. Add in a few endorsement deals and a post-career career in American soccer and a movie ("Bend It Like Beckham", anyone?), and his star power cannot be denied. - 6
Rocky Marciano
Widely regarded as the best boxer of all time, Rocco Francis "Rocky" Marciano is the only heavyweight champion to retire without a defeat at 49-0. "The Rock", as he was known by his fans, was an inspiration to thousands of Americans who would cheer him on every time he stepped into the ring. Throughout his entire career, he was only knocked down twice. - 7
Bobby Orr
Considered by many to be a living legend in the sport of ice hockey, Bobby Orr played a total of ten years for the Boston Bruins and an additional two for the Chicago Blackhawks during his illustrious career. He currently holds records for just about everything involving a puck. - 8
Jesse Owens
When it came to making Adolf Hitler look like a complete ninny, nobody did it better than Owens. In the 1936 Olympic Games in Munich, he won four gold medals, besting all the Nazi athletes and making Hitler skip all medal presentations following day one! - 9
Peyton Manning
Coming from a football family, Peyton Manning is one of the best active sports heroes today. Not just pin-point accurate when throwing the ball, Peyton is a true student of the game as well, getting into his opponent's heads and outwitting defenses like a battlefield general. Plus, he's a nice guy, too. That helps. - 10
Muhammad Ali
Perhaps no other sports figure is as immediately recognizable as Muhammad Ali (Cassius Clay). The fast talking, fast moving heavyweight champ was as famous for his memorable, rapid-fire diatribes as he was for putting his opponents on the mat. Whether he was floating like a butterfly or stinging like a bee, there can be no doubt Muhammad was the greatest.
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