Halx

What I mean by that is.. who is the player that epitomizes what their sport is about? Who sets an example on and off the field that deserves a salute?

For baseball, my pick is Derek Jeter. He may be on the "cheapest" team in baseball, but he is the one guy who you KNOW cares a lot about the game and really wants to win.

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Redlemon

Emmitt Smith, for football. Even when he was on the Cowboys and I hated the Cowboys, I had to respect him. He didn't talk trash, he just showed up and played extraordinarily.

pan6467

For baseball I truly believe in Barry Larkin. Sure he's nothing compared to what he was, but in his prime he made sure Cincy could afford him, he was a leader on and off the field, NEVER NEVER said a bad word about Cincy, his teammates, or Marge nor ever had a bad word said against him. Even after that debacle of a trade to the Mets, he said all he ever wanted to do was play ball in Cincy and that he knew the team needed the money they paid him to contend. Truly a great player and man in my mind.... someone who will be missed not only in Cincy but in MLB as a whole.

BARRY LARKIN YOU ARE DA MAN..... YOU HAVE SET THE STANDARD OF A TRUE ATHLETE FOR THIS GENERATION.

In football?????? Is there anyone right now cause I can't think of one.

In Basketball, we'll see but so far Lebron has all the class and decency as Larkin but time will tell when his contract expires and the Cavs can't offer what other teams will be able to like the Lakers for example.

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I just love people who use the excuse "I use/do this because I LOVE the feeling/joy/happiness it brings me" and expect you to be ok with that as you watch them destroy their life blindly following. My response is, "I like to put forks in an eletrical socket, just LOVE that feeling, can't ever get enough of it, so will you let me put this copper fork in that electric socket?"

Lover's Spit

For football, I'd say Brett Favre is a very fair choice. He's out there on the field week after week, and he does whatever it takes to will his team to win (whether it blows up in his face or not). Everyone talks like he's gonna retire at the end of every season, but it's so hard to imagine this guy deciding never to play football again. Somehow I think he'll stick around for a couple more years, and finish very close to Marino in terms of all-time TD passes.

For baseball, Jeter and Larkin are great picks, I don't know that I could come up with anyone better. Randy Johnson isn't a bad choice.

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pan6467

I take it back.... Emmitt and Favre are GREAT picks they are workhorses and highly respectable players.

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I just love people who use the excuse "I use/do this because I LOVE the feeling/joy/happiness it brings me" and expect you to be ok with that as you watch them destroy their life blindly following. My response is, "I like to put forks in an eletrical socket, just LOVE that feeling, can't ever get enough of it, so will you let me put this copper fork in that electric socket?"

Lockjaw

Emmitt played hard but he is an arrogant ass. Seriously you should have heard some of the stuff he said about his teammates after he left.

Kurant

Basketball - Is there such a figure? Shaq is the first who comes to mind, he's without a doubt the most prominent figure in the NBA.. Besides maybe Kobe, and it's not because of what Kobe does on the court that gets him that reputation, if you catch my drift. Really, no one emptimizes what the NBA is about, because the leauge itself doesn't know what it's about. Although, Lebron has a chance to turn the leauge into a full 360, and become what Micheal Jordan was in terms of his popularity, and his stature among his peers, and his fans across the world. I would probably pick Lebron.

Football - Favre. Not even questionable.

Baseball - I would agree, Hal. Jeter, but I'd throw Randy Johnson in there too, and how can you count out Greg Maddux - a huge figure in baseball.

filtherton

Football, i say terrell owens. Highly talented and completely full of himself. Sums up the nfl quite nicely.

Kurant

Never thought of it like that, but your absolutley correct.

djtestudo

Leon from the Budweiser commercials

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Jimellow

I think Tim Duncan deserves mention in the NBA. Shaq is also a good pick. He gets a lot of bad press, but he seems like a decent guy that is fan friendly and plays hard.

Baseball, I'd go with Scott Rolen. Derek Jeter is another. In game 7 against the Sox, he was running at his max on sure ground outs, and I like to see that hustle. After reading an article about Scott Rolen I give him the edge over Jeter though.

Football.. Hmm, there is a defensive player on the Steelers with a Hawaiin last name that makes big plays but doesn't celebrate. He isn't well known though, so that might make him ineligible. Brett Favre is an easy selection here.

I don't know enough about hockey and its players off the ice to make an intellegent selection here, but I'd probably nominate either Mark Messier or Jeremy Roenick.

pan6467

Speaking of Hawaiian... Junior Seau is pretty cool and from what I've heard a decent man.

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I just love people who use the excuse "I use/do this because I LOVE the feeling/joy/happiness it brings me" and expect you to be ok with that as you watch them destroy their life blindly following. My response is, "I like to put forks in an eletrical socket, just LOVE that feeling, can't ever get enough of it, so will you let me put this copper fork in that electric socket?"

yankeefatboy

Baseball- Jeter
Football-Kurt Warner
Basketball-Vlade Divac

aerozeppelin

Baseball - Have to say Jeter.. that play when he bustes his face on the stands to get the out? Classic. Other than him, maybe Clemens, but the fact that he unretired the way he did is a major fault...

Football - Definately Favre. Steve McNair deserves mention here, too - he plays hard, doesn't cause controversy (aside from DWI type stuff) and is certainly a quality QB.

Basketball - LeBron, but no one really stands out, which isn't surprising given how soon after MJ it is.

WeAllDie1Day

Junior Seau is Samoan...
My pick for football would be Warrick Dunn. Hardly celebrates, and is extremely philanthropic off the field.

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Spartak

For football I gotta say Ray Lewis, the guy is a defensive powerhouse and can set the locker-room alight with a fiery speech straight from the heart.

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bouray

Football--Without a doubt, i would agree with WeAllDie1Day...Warrick Dunn epitomizes what a professional athlete should be (humble on the field and off the field a great person). Past athlete: Barry Sanders, there will never be another RB like him cuz he did his job and was not all about the fanfare on the field.

Basketball--Someone mentioned Tim Duncan which is a great choice, I think being with David Robinson all those years rubbed off in a wonderful way.

Baseball--I'm not too sure because it's filled with many great players who are often overshadowed by the stories of the guys with the huge contracts and bigger egos. Derek Jeter, Bagwell & Biggio, Gwynn (past), Jim Edmonds, and there are countless others on each team that can get a nod as exemplifying what it should mean to be a professional.

ancientk

Football--I think Tom Brady is awesome, actually the team Patriots are awesome

Basketball--I pick Ben Wallace, again the Pistons are awesome

Baseball--I don't really follow baseball but Clements and Bonds come to mind assuming Bonds isn't taking some weird drugs.

wrongfullyaccuzd

Jeter for baseball. I'd give Pujols, Maddux, and Schilling each an honorable mention.

Peyton Manning is a pretty classy guy. He plays hard and does his homework and shows no signs of slowing. I'm not denouncing Favre, he's a great pick too.

Tim Duncan is who should be the pick for the NBA, but the truth is he's a rare find. He's not like Jeter in the sense that he plays hard and is a good sport but just a little bit more than others. Duncan is in a class by himself, which in a way makes him not representative of the league. So I don't know.

dylanmarsh

I'll second this motion. The majority of guys playing in the NFL are in the same mold. If we're looking for the "good guys" of the NFL, they primarily reside in New England. Christ, even a narcissistic dope like Corey Dillon can exude some bit of humility in New England. To answer the question, Brett Favre gets my vote.

With the execption of the 2003-04 Pistons, I also think the NBA is cesspool of egotistical ball-hogs unwilling to play with a team concept. Kobe Bryant epitomizes the modern NBA player who tries desparately to find their own Jordanistic quality and place in the media, but fail miserably. I would have loved to have seen Kobe try to play four years under Bobby Knight and see how he turns out.

Baseball seems to have better balance of headcases like Bonds, Sheff, and Milton Bradley with those who just want to win and help the team like Schilling, Alou, and Vlad. I'll give my vote to Schilling for so many reasons, including coming to Boston with the sole purpose of winning, Game 6 against the Yankees, and his charity work for ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease).

As far as hockey, they can all suck my ass.

soccerchamp76

Baseball - Albert Pujols (Derek Jeter is the most overrated player in the sport)
Football - Payton Manning

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omega2K4

For football I'd have to say Steve McNair or Peyton Manning.

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Rdr4evr

I wouldn't know about basketball and baseball, but for football it has to be Manning.

pcockren

And i guess Hockey isn't up to par with Baseball, Basketball and Football??? I know it's not being played now but it deserves to be there with the rest...

Ace_O_Spades

Football... Anyone who knows who my favorite team is will know my pick... I still get goosebumps when I think of last year's Green Bay vs. Oakland monday night game.

*shivers*

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laconic1

For football I'd go with Rod Smith of the Broncos. Great leader, works harder than everybody and never gives up.

Palamidian

How can someone say that LeBron epitomizes what his sport is about?? The kid has only played one year, and has not yet lived up to his great expectations, and i am not sure that he can, for he is already not setting the right example off the court...he already has an illigitamate child.

My vote for the NBA would have to be Tim Duncan, for his superb team play, as well as setting an example, as well as maybe Shack for just being the most dominating figure in the league as well as a complete character (does anyone else find the man completely hilarious?)

But if i had to pick one person who epitomizes the average egotistical, ball hogging, bad moraled NBA player, I'd have to go with Kobe.

pan6467

Regarding Lebron, as someone who lives in his home area and goes to school with one of his aunts I can tell you first hand the man is a class act. HE HAS PAID FOR ANY MEMBER OF HIS FAMILY TO GO TO COLLEGE. He goes to his old 'hood and remembers those who helped him. He bought his HS basketball teammates each their own Hummer, because he said he would not be as great as he is without their help.

I believe the mother of his child and he are HS sweethearts and have dated for a few years. Perhaps, he isn't the one who doesn't want to get married. Everyone automatically also blames the guy, but sometimes it's the woman. He doesn't drink, he doesn't do drugs, he shows respect to everyone who meets him and is as humble as anyone at any age could possibly be in his situation.

As for not living upto the hype.... I don't know what more the kid can do than win the ROY, be among what the top 20 in pts. rebounds, assists and steals all in his rookie year.

Perhaps the pressure will eventually get to him. Perhaps someday he'll snap. Perhaps someday the kid will lose it and just be a flash in the pan. But what he HAS shown is far more class than almost any celeb or athlete I can think of.

__________________
I just love people who use the excuse "I use/do this because I LOVE the feeling/joy/happiness it brings me" and expect you to be ok with that as you watch them destroy their life blindly following. My response is, "I like to put forks in an eletrical socket, just LOVE that feeling, can't ever get enough of it, so will you let me put this copper fork in that electric socket?"

CityOfAngels

I'd have to say that two people tie-up for Mr. Basketball right now: Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan.
Both of these guys work their asses off, produce every night, and don't bother making sure the world knows about it. They get out there and play. When they're done, KG is cracking jokes with Craig Kilborne, and Tim Duncan...well, who knows what Tim Duncan does; but that's my point.

You may all say "Kobe," "Shaq," "LeBron," or "Melo." Well, Kobe and Shaq won't shut their mouths, while LeBron and Melo, who are both fantastic players and hard workers, have a long way to go before becoming the epitome of basketball.

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Scipio

Shaq makes independantly produced hip hop albums that slam his teammates. I think that's pretty funny. Kevin Garnett, Duncan, and James are all better picks. Hell, Richard Hamilton is a good pick too; works his ass off, is unselfish, and won a championship by outplaying one of the most hyped players in the game.

Now football. For a QB I suppose Favre is a good choice. Manning is good too. McNair had a good year last year, but he's past his prime, perpetually injured, and not so good this year. For a non-qb, I might take Curtis Martin. No ego, all results. He's quietly amassed well over 12000 rushing yards, and he's a team player.

My old school pick is Joe Montana. Not the biggest or fastest or strongest, but he had a ton of heart and won a ton of games. My humor pick has already been said: Leon from the commercials. My cynical pick would be either TO or Keyshawn.

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Glory's Sun

Baseball-- who other than Curt Schilling.. I don't think I have to put reasons why. We all KNOW why.

tspikes51

Football-Brett Favre. He has an incredibly strong heart, and loves the game and his teammates. Chad Johnson likes to have good fun, and usually doesn't take it too far.

Hockey- Still Mario Lemeuix. He went through so much in his career (cancer, inflated discs in his back, having to move out of his native Canada and learn English) and still has a great amount of determination. Hell, he came back a year after having chemotherapy and won a scoring title.

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grendel

if nominating Ray Lewis for football is a reflection of how violent the game can be, then i would agree. if we're talking about a player who reflects the more admirable aspects of football, though, i think we can do better. favre is a good choice, i think.