Most beloved living legend?

[frankbmd]

I think everybody knows the legendary Pete Rose, but I guess the word legend is associated more frequently with positive connotations rather than negative ones.

Pete had both, so I guess they cancel out. Nevertheless I don’t consider it outrageous to at least mention him, before nominating Jack The Ripper or the Boston Strangler.

No Net54 thread would be complete without a Pete.

[Prof_Plum]

I think Barkley and Shaq are media driven goofballs. If I'm picking a living legend (as in somebody I'd like to meet) from the NBA it'd be somebody more akin to Bill Russell or Jerry West.

[Snapolit1]

It's an interesting question and interesting seeing how much local bias seeps into such a discussion. Brooks Robinson? Are you kidding me. C'mon. I'm a Met fan. I'd stop dead in my tracks if I saw Tom Seaver, but he's not some widely beloved figure. Sandy Koufax? A complete enigma with ZERO public presence (intentionally of course).

Maybe the bottom line is there isn't one today. Would prob be an Olympian, as they don't really have an "opposing" team so to speak. Michael Phelps is pretty well known, but not beloved.

[buymycards]

Being a Wisconsinite, I would have picked Bart Starr if he was still alive. Also, showing my bias, I would put Robin Yount right up there.

Serena and Venus Williams come to mind. Lance Armstrong could have been a contender. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.? Simone Biles?

I can't come up with anyone who really stands out from the crowd.