Get a New Favorite Athlete

A recent Harris poll asked Americans who their favorite male and female athletes were across the spectrum of professional sports, and you know what, it makes me a little sick. Sure, every person listed is an accomplished star, worthy of admiration. But in the wide world of sports, this is who we love? This can't be right.

Top 10 favorite male professional athletes:

1. Tiger Woods (golf)
2. Michael Jordan (basketball)
3. LeBron James (basketball)
4. Kobe Bryant (basketball)
5. Derek Jeter (baseball)
6. Jeff Gordon (racing)
7. Peyton Manning (football)
8. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (racing)
9. Brett Favre (football)
10. Albert Pujols (baseball)


Top 10 favorite female professional athletes:

1. Serena Williams (tennis)
2. Venus Williams (tennis)
3. Danica Patrick (racing)
4. Candice Parker (basketball)
5. Mia Hamm (soccer)
6. Maria Sharapova (tennis)
7. Annika Sorenstam (golf)
8. Chris Everett Lloyd (tennis)
9. Anna Kournikova (tennis)
10. Michelle Kwan (ice skating)

I'm not sure where to start, so as a tennis fan, I'll start with Anna Kournikova. She has had a nice run as a doubles player, but she's mostly forgettable as a true star in the sport. And good looking blonds, they're a dime a dozen these days on the tour, but it still doesn't mean women's tennis is any good lately.

Chris Everett? Awesome. Nearly three decades ago. And, what's up with all the female tennis players? Few people I know even sit down to watch major tennis matches on TV.

Aside from tennis, what the heck is Michelle Kwan doing on there? No Kerri Walsh or Misty May? Dara Torres anyone? And, like tennis, Americans are not fans of the WNBA if you go by the ratings. So how did Candice Parker sneak in at No. 4?
Let's talk the top of the women's list. I don't want to harp on the tennis thing, but it's odd that both Williams sisters get to the top of the favorites when they barely show up for anything but major championships. Although in this case I do know people who are avid fans of at least one sister.

And Roger Federer doesn't even make the list? Baffling, really. I fully agree with Tiger being on the top of the men's side. No complaints there. Who doesn't like Tiger? Michael Jordan has every right to be on this list too, but No. 2? So many of Americans' favorite sports are male-dominated that I find it fascinating that he's still on the top of the list. Why isn't DiMaggio on there too? And where are all the baseball players, by the way? Pujols is amazing, the envy of every team that has to play against him. I really thought I'd see more than just him and Jeter. And how does Brett Farve have staying power despite a disappointing season but Michael Phelps can't even break the top 10 with his eight golds?

LeBron and Kobe make more sense; although I'm surprised they're not even higher on the list. It seems to be a mix of marketing, accomplishment and some personality – not necessarily in that order. For true fans of any sport, this list probably surprises you too. I'm at least heartened to see Danica Patrick represent racing on the women's list while two NASCAR stars made it on the men's side.

Who do you like (or hate) on this list? Are you as baffled as me?