100 Most Likable American Athletes (60-51)

Weeks ago, I started looking at the most likable athletes in this country following the retirements of Derek Jeter and Champ Bailey. That continues today with the latest look at some awesome American athletes. First, let's look back at what we have gone over so far...
Preview
100-91
90-81
80-71
70-61

60. Larry Fitzgerald

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Current Team: Arizona Cardinals

Larry Fitzgerald is the always smiling receiver for the Arizona Cardinals. At one point he was considered a top 2 receiver in football. Nobody considers him that at this point in his career, but he is still quite good. During the 2013 season he became the youngest receiver ever to reach 11,000 yards. Currently, he is 31 years old and still has a lot left in the tank. However, after his contract extension in 2011, he is quite overpaid which is a reason I kept him out of the top 50. That and a declining, but still really good skillset. Fitzgerald commands one of the 10 highest salaries in the league, but he is nowhere close to a top 10 player at this point. All that being said, he has his own foundation called Larry's  First Down Fund and also established the Carol Fitzgerald Memorial  Fund in honor of his mother that passed away. That tragic passing occurred in 2003 due to breast cancer. The foundation in her name supports causes that his mother truly cared about. It aims to educate youth in urban areas about HIV/AIDS and Breat Cancer. Fitzgerald is also the spokesman for A Crucial Catch which is the NFL's league-wide breast cancer initiative. Fitzgerald was the NFL Man of the Year in 2012. Also in 2012, he received the Pro Football Weekly Humanitarian Award. The following year in 2013, he received the NFLPA Georgetown Lombardi Award, recognizing a person in sports whose life had been touched by cancer that is currently encouraging cancer research. Finally, following this past season he was the 2014 Henry P. Iba Citizen Athlete Male Recipient. Everyone recognizes the great things that Fitzgerald does and truly enjoys him as a player and a person.

59. Giancarlo Stanton

Panaramo, California

Current Team: Miami Marlins

The Marlins' 300 million dollar man comes in at number 59 on this countdown. One of the reasons he got that contract is because of his appeal with fans and his likability. It does not hurt that he is one of the top young players in baseball either. He has a rare heritage that also increases his appeal to fans being of Irish, African-American, and Puerto Rican descent. His biggest claim to fame on the field so far has been being a 2x All-Star and the reigning Home Run Derby Champion. Stanton also already is tied for the Marlins' franchise record in homers. This record is sure to go to him officially the first week of the season. Expect big things from Stanton for years to come.

58. Nate Robinson

Seattle, Washington

Current Team: TBD

We go from Home Run Derby champ to 3x Slam Dunk Champ. He is the only guy in history to win 3 dunk contests. Nate Robinson is a guy that brings energy and excitement to the game of basketball. At 5'9 he is one of the smallest players, but that doesn't stop him from playing above the rim. His best highlights come from throwing down a dunk or blocking a shot of someone he isn't supposed to block. Then you see this guy with relentless energy chasing down a loose ball and you cannot help but be impressed. This is now his 6th team, but every fanbase that has had Robinson has loved him. His teams are always winning teams too as Robinson rarely is on a team that is constantly losing. Robinson is also an author having wrote Heart over Height after a game when he scored 30+ points. Love the way this guy plays the game of basketball. Robinson was recently traded from his Denver Nuggets to the Boston Celtics who then bought out his contract. Following the buyout, Robinson signed with...

57. LeSean McCoy

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Current Team: Philadelphia Eagles

Shady McCoy is considered one of the best runningbacks in the NFL. In fact, there are several that think he is the very best. He is the key weapon in Philadelphia's productive and fast paced offense. During his 6 years in the NFL, McCoy has passed 1300 yards rushing in half of those seasons. His biggest season touchdown wise was 2011 when he scored 17 rushing touchdowns. 2013 was his big season though production wise. That season, he had over 2,000 yards from scrimmage including more than 1600 yards rushing. After that 2013 season is when many started calling him the best back in football. McCoy should increase his production once Philadelphia gets a new QB. Last year, he made Foles look good, but this year Foles was not effective. A switch could take this offense to an even better level.

56. Matt Kuchar

Winter Park, Florida

PGA Tour

Matt Kuchar is an effective PGA Tour member who has 7 career wins. Kuchar was the tour's leading money winner in 2010. After winning the Players Championship in 2012, Kuchar was moved up to 5th in the world golf rankings. He would stay in the Top 10 for the next 40 weeks. Another interesting note about Kuchar is while attending Georgia Tech, he played Tiger Woods, in the 1996 U.S. Amateur Championship. He narrowly lost to Woods, but came oh so close to the upset. Kuchar then won the same championship in 1997. His best result in a major is a 3rd place finish in the Masters in 2012. There have been 3 Ryder Cup Appearances by Kuchar, 2010, 2012, and 2014. Each time the United States lost, but Kuchar played well. He also represented the United States in the Presidents Cup in 2011 and 2013 being part of a victory each time. Matt Kuchar is also involved in a great deal of charity work which adds to his likability.

55. Rebecca Soni

Freehold Borough, New Jersey

Swimming

One of our most popular swimmers in this country has to be Rebecca Soni. Soni burst onto the scene the last few years and was Swimming World's Swimmer of the Year in 2010 and 2011. She received the American Swimmer of the Year from the same publication in 2009, 2010, and 2011. However, it wasn't really until a year later that she caught on with most of us. She won 2 gold medals in a silver medal during those 2012 Olympics in London as shown in the picture. Prior to those Olympics, she actually won 1 gold and 2 silvers back in 2008 in Beijing. This young swimmer surely is making some noise in the world of swimming and will be a force in 2016. In addition to all of her success in the pool, Soni is the United Nation Foundation's spokeswoman for its Girl Up campaign. The goal of this fine organization is to improve the lives of adolescent girls around the world.

54. Jimmy Rollins

Oakland, California

Current Team: Los Angeles Dodgers

Jimmy Rollins was the longtime Phillies shortstop who was recently traded to the LA Dodgers. Before the trade this offseason, Rollins had spent 14 years with the Phillies. He holds the longest hit streak in team history at 38 and the all-time hits record at 2,306. These records are quite impressive not only in number, but when you consider who has played for the Phillies. Pete Rose for example was once a member of the team. Rollins also helped lead that team to a World Series Championship in 2008 and won the National League MVP in 2007. He is loved because he is always smiling and always giving 100%. Rollins is a very charitable guy as well. This guy helps any charity he can and even created his own Animal Rehabilitation Center. His best known charity endeavor is his annual BaseBowl which raises money for the Arthritis Foundation. Rollins is fantastic on and off the field and an example many athletes should follow.

53. Danny Green

North Babylon, New York

Current Team: San Antonio Spurs

Danny Green is one of the most likable players in the NBA. When you consider his story, he becomes even more likable. This guy got cut by the Cleveland Cavaliers (Lebron's Cavs) only to end up a stud member of the San Antonio Spurs. A guy that was an unworthy lack of help guy for LeBron ends up breaking up the NBA Finals 3 points made record. That is an absolutely incredible feat. How can you not root for a guy that was so disrespected? How can you not root for a guy that plays on such an unselfish team? Danny Green in some ways can be the posterboy for the Spurs. Unselfish and committed to his team, Green checks in at #53.

52. Dustin Brown

Ithaca, New York

Current Team: Los Angeles Kings

Dustin Brown is one of the most famous members of Team USA hockey. He is also the captain of the reigning Stanley Cup Champion LA Kings. Brown is only the second American captain to win the Stanley Cup title. For America, he has represented the US in 3 World Championships and won a Silver Medal at the 2010 Olympics. During those Olympics he served as the team's alternate captain, and served again for the 2014 Olympics where the US finished 4th. He actually played better in the 2014 games scoring 2 goals and adding an assist. Although he is very physical and some say dirty player, Brown is beloved because of his lead by example approach and great play. He is also a fantastic person. Off the ice, he gives a great deal of time and money to charity. In 2011, Brown received the NHL Foundation Player Award for his work in the community.

51. Alex Morgan

Diamond Bar, California

Current Team: Portland Thoms FC

Alex Morgan is an American soccer player and was a key player on the Olympic Gold Medal Winning Team. She hit the game winning goal against Canada during those Olympic Games in the 123rd minute. Morgan is the 2nd woman (Mia Hamm is the other) to score 20 goals and 20 assists in the same calendar year. That feat was accomplished during the 2012 season. Those accomplishments led Morgan to be named the US Soccer Female Athlete of the Year. During the 2011 Woman's World Cup, Morgan was the youngest player. That World Cup team placed 2nd in the tournament. Her performance in the World Cup Final with one assist and one goal made her the first ever female to accomplish that feat. Additionally, Morgan writes Children's Books in her spare time. The first book in her series debuted at #7 on the NY Times Bestseller List.

-Noland