100 Most Likable American Athletes (50-41)

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
60-51

50. Ryan Kalil

Tucson, Arizona

Current Team: Carolina Panthers

Look at this huge guy in this giant bear costume and try to tell me he isn't a likable, funny guy. He also happens to be an elite center and the highest paid at his position in NFL history. This guy is entertaining off the field and fantastic on it. This interview on NFL Network that is pictured was one of the funniest I have seen. Add in that watching him dominate the line is a thing of beauty and you can see why Kalil is so likable. He is probably the most likable offensive lineman in the game today.

49. David Price

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Current Team: Detroit Tigers

David Price is the Cy Young Award winner for 2012 and currently a pitcher for the Detroit Tigers. After a long career in Tampa, he was traded to the Tigers last season. In addition to the Cy Young Award in 2012, David Price finished second in 2010. That same season, Price started the All-Star Game for the American League. He is incredibly effective and has tremendous stuff. Baseball fans everywhere love what Price brings to the table. They love that he is fan friendly and that he remains positive. He is one of the most socially friendly pitchers in the game and is very active on Twitter. Price is best liked for his swing and miss stuff. It is amazing that in just 6 full seasons, Price already has 1,139 strikeouts. That is an average of nearly 200 a season. If Price can stay healthy and pitch through the next ten years those are Hall of Fame strikeout numbers.

48. Blake Griffin

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Current Team: Los Angeles Clippers

Blake Griffin is my personal least favorite person on this list. I happen to think Griffin is incredibly overrated. However, I must admit that the guy is good and that people generally tend to like the guy. He is marketable as he has appeared in numerous commercials and he is popular. I mean the guy was elected as an all-star starter and will likely make it again as a starter. Fans absolutely love the guy and his violent dunks. I think thats why people love him. He reminds me a lot of Shawn Kemp. I loved Kemp too and he was exciting, but always a tad overrated. I see Griffin in the same light. Hopefully, he doesn't waste his talent like Kemp did though.

47. Luke Kuechly

Evandale, Ohio

Current Team: Carolina Panthers

Luke Kuechly is the best linebacker in football IMO. Most people would agree with me on that and the fact that he is incredibly likable. He was the Defensive Player of the Year last year and he was elected to his second Pro Bowl this season. Kuechly was the youngest player ever to receive Defensive Player of the Year. This guy is still just 23 years old and making one tremendous impact. It is hard not to like Kuechly and the way this guy plays the game. The future on defense in Carolina is very bright thanks to Luke Kuechly.

46. Stephen Strasburg

San Diego, California

Current Team: Washington Nationals

If Griffin is my least favorite person on this list, Stras is #2. This guy is the most overrated person in sports. He is even overrated in his own organization. Stephen Strasburg is not the Nationals best starter. The guy is not in Zimmerman's league. Look at the facts and look at the results. Stras is not as good as Zimm. He is phenomenal and one of the best power arms there is, but he is not a Top 10 starter. Zimmerman is a top 10 starter but treated as the number 2 guy on the staff. Stras tends to be overrated and loved because he hits 100 on the gun. There is reason for that and he is likable for that. However, that arm motion and ferociousness he throws with also leads to arm problems and this guy can;t seem to stay healthy. I hope I am wrong on this guy and he lights up the world. It seems to me though that this guy will never be anywhere near the hype. His hype has led to his fan support though and people absolutely love Strasburg. This guy has the charisma and the tools, but how long with that last for.

45. Allyson Felix

Los Angeles, California

Track & Field

Allyson Felix is probably the most famous female track athlete in the United States. Felix won 3 gold medals in track during the 2012 Games. Those 3 golds were the most by any female track athlete since 1988. In all, Felix has 16 gold medals internationally for the United States. 4 of those golds have come from the Olympics and 8 from World Championships. The other gold medals have come from the World Indoor Championships (1) and the World Athletics Final (3). Additionally, she has a few world records. She also happens to be a 4-time winner of the Jesse Owens Award. That award is given out by the USATF at it signifies Athlete of the Year. Interestingly, Felix is trained by the husband of Jackie Joyner-Kersee.

44. McKayla Maroney

Alisa Viejo, California

Gymnastics

McKayla Maroney is known the world over for that face after winning a silver medal in the 2012 Olympics. This not impressed face was after she was screwed out of a gold medal for a near perfect vault. The vaults that she had in this Olympics were fantastic and the entire country was amazed at what she could do in that even. Following her perfomance, there are many expecting McKayla to help lead the American team to more gold in 2016.

43. Dwayne Wade

Chicago, Illinois

Current Team: Miami Heat

Dwayne Wade was arguably the most likable player in basketball before LeBron came to Miami. Unfortunately, most people thought he was done towards the tail end of LeBron's run in Miami though. It seems that Wade still has a good amount left in the tank and a lot of charm left as well. This season Wade is proving the doubters wrong as he averages 22.1 points per game. Howeverm Wade of course made his mark early on with the Heat by becoming the NBA Finals MVP in 2006. He then led the Gold Medal winning Redeem Team in scoring during the 2008 Olympics. He has been injury plagued at times during his career, but always pushes through and never complains about his ailments. Perhaps Wade is most liked for what he does off the court though. He created the Wade's World Foundation which helps at-risk youth. In private, it has been said that Wade often visits sick children and he gave one sick child, that lost his hands and feet, his jersey from the night he broke the single-season scoring record for the Heat. With Alonzo Mourning he co-founded The Athletes Relief Fund for Haiti. Wade is also an avid-supporter of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (my personal favorite charity. Another interesting note about Wade is that he wears #3 because it represents the Holy Trinity. This guy is as classy as they come. Although he has a few haters it is hard not to love D-Wade. If this was just my favorite athletes, I would have him in the Top 10, but he will do here at #43.

42. Hunter Mahan

Orange, California

PGA Tour

Hunter Mahan has 6 wins on the PGA Tour and a decent amount of success other than that. This past August is when he recorded that 6th win in the first event of the FedEx cup playoff. That win put him in 1st place in the standings, but Mahan finished 6th overall. Still, it was a great finish and great season from Mahan. He has appeared in 3 Ryder Cups for America including the Cup last year, and the victorious 2008 USA squad. Mahan has appeared in and won 4 Presidents Cups. Finally, Mahan is a part of the "Golf Boys", a PGA Tour band featuring Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler, and Ben Crane. Farmers Insurance donates $1,000 for every 100,000 view of this video. Currently, it has over 7 million views. There is another followup video 2.Oh by the group which is also for charity. As you can see, Mahan is hilarious and awesome.

41. Craig Kimbrel

Huntsville, Alabama

Current Team: Atlanta Braves

Craig Kimbrel is simply the best closer in all of baseball. He is a tremendous weapon for the Atlanta Braves organization. Kimbrel set a rookie record for saves in 2011 with 46. In just 4 full seasons, Kimbrel already has 186 saves. John Smoltz was just elected into the Hall of Fame and Kimbrel just smashed his club's saves record. Sure, Smoltz only closed for a few seasons, but still. Kimbrel has been as good as you can possibly be as a closer with the Braves. Every fan of baseball respects the talent and stuff that Kimbrel has. There is absolutely nobody better at what he does. His 1st four seasons have been the stuff of legend. If this continues, Atlanta will have another pitcher heading up to Cooperstown.

-Noland

Team USA Preview

Now that we have talked about Olympic Legends the past couple days, and the Olympics start today, let's talk about this years team.
USA!USA!USA!

Let me first say, that unless you know someone on another country's team you should root for the United States guy. If there is no US guy then that changes things, but I don't understand these people who pick a random person. I actually know a swimmer from South Africa, and Gonzalo Barroilhet, who went to my church @ FSU will represent Chile. Its ok to root for people like that if you know them. Otherwise, Root for America!

Archery I do not follow and do not know anything about this year's team. However, I will watch it if its not during a more marquee event. I watch everything.

Our track team is the most loaded its been in a while. Justin Gatlin returns from his suspension for PEDs to compete in the 100m. He will be joined in that event by Tyson Gay who also looks 100%. Gatlin has 3 Olympic medals to his credit, one gold, one silver, and one bronze. All of Gatlins medals were earned in 2004 in Athens because he was suspended for Beijing. Gay has yet to win Olympic Gold, but he has won 3 golds in international competition. Gay is one of the few guys that can run with Bolt and if we knock him off, it will likely be Gay who does it.

The 200m Men are headlined by FSU Seminole Maurice Mitchell. Mitchell has several national titles at FSU and helped the Noles to be program of the year this past year. If there is one person I am rooting for more than most, it is Maurice Mitchell.

 You think I am done there? Like, I said our track team is loaded. I am just pulling out the highlights. Look for Team USA to be much more competitive than in 2008. Just to show I am fair to everyone. Gator runningback Jeff Demps will compete in the 4x100. He is a member of the relay pool. He may not necessarily run the relay final, but he will likely run at least one of the heats. Recently, Demps decided to pursue a career in track instead of football. We may see Demps again after this year.

Jeremy Wariner also returns to Olympic Competition. Wariner has 3 Olympic Golds and a silver medal to his credit. He is a 400m specialist and may win again in 2012. In 2004 he won gold in the 400m and the 4x400, and in 2008 he won in the 4x400 and got silver in the 400m. If Wariner is able to dominate for Team USA again, we are in great shape.

Allyson Felix is another Olympic Legend returning. She has won a gold and two silver medals in her Olympic career. Felix will compete in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m. She is considered a favorite in all three events.

Lacy Janson will compete for the USA in pole vault. Janson is another Seminole and an incredibly nice person. She also went to my church while I attended FSU. While I was volunteering with FSU Track, she was one of the nicest people there. Her event is the one I am most looking forward to. I would love to see Janson win gold.

The final female athlete I will preview is Lolo Jones. Why people obsess about her waiting until marriage for sex is beyond me. I think it is extremely classy, a personal choice, and a great gift for your partner. I applaud Jones for that decision. Jones has 2 international gold medals, but nothing from the Olympics...yet. I am calling a Lolo Jones gold medal in 2012.

Well, this ended up being basically a track and field Olympic preview. What can I say? I love track, and am very excited for Team USA Track! I think this is going to be a great year for the Red, White, and Blue. America will dominate the Olympic games. Track will be one of the sports we dominate.

-Noland