With five World Series Championships, eleven All-Star appearances and, arguably, the most clean cut image in professional sports today under his belt, it’s not difficult to see why New York Yankees captain Derek Jeter is viewed as the most marketable player in Major League Baseball according to a survey of baseball media, corporate brand managers and marketing executives. And when baseball fans and sports fans alike were invited to weigh in on the subject, the results for Jeter were equally impressive.
According to a Harris Interactive poll of 2,227 adults surveyed online between June 14 and June 21, 2010, Jeter is America’s third Favorite Sports Star and the country’s Favorite MLB Star. The four-time Gold Glove Award winner moved up two spots from the fifth position he held last year and was the only baseball player to appear in the top ten of America’s Favorite Sports Stars.
Despite his personal life coming under tremendous scrutiny after the revelation of multiple marital infidelities, professional golfer Tiger Woods finished tied for the top spot with Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant. The five-time NBA Champion moved up three places from the 2009 poll to end up in a dead-heat with Woods, who was the country’s undisputed favorite sports star since 2006.
Exactly 40% of the poll’s top five and top ten consisted of players from the National Football League and all of them are those slotted at the quarterback position.
Minnesota Vikings signal caller Brett Favre and Indianapolis Colts field general Peyton Manning, the losing quarterback in Super Bowl XLIV, rounded out the top five by finishing 4th and 5th respectively.
Meanwhile, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, the Super Bowl XLIV Most Valuable Player, finished just ahead of NASCAR’s Dale Earnhardt, Jr. in the 8th and 9th spots respectively.
The National Basketball Association was represented by Miami Heat small forward LeBron James, who dropped three places to the 6th spot, and Charlotte Bobcats majority owner Michael Jordan who, although retired since 2003, came in 7th after finishing second last year.
The complete listing of America’s Favorite Sports Stars for 2010 is as follows:
1. Tiger Woods (PGA)
1. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers (NBA)
3. Derek Jeter, New York Yankees (MLB)
4. Brett Favre, Minnesota Vikings (NFL)
5. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts (NFL)
6. LeBron James, Miami Heat (NBA)
7. Michael Jordan (NBA)
8. Tom Brady, New England Patriots (NFL)
9. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints (NFL)
10. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (NASCAR)
Ultimately though, enough can’t be said about Derek Jeter and what he has meant to the New York Yankee organization and the game of baseball. Since 1996, Jeter has unselfishly produced year in and year out on the field while exhibiting behavior off it that never casts him in a negative light.
This begs the question is Jeter the last of a dying breed in a day and age where individuality and self-promotion is king?
Click here to read the original article on Examiner.com, which includes relevant links and a special video presentation featuring Derek Jeter.
America's 10 Favorite Sports Stars
