By Jacob Kornhauser on January 8, 2015
20 Easiest Athletes To Cheer For In Sports Today
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It's a unique quality to have, but some athletes find a way to get fans of all teams to like them. There are very few athletes who can get this to work, but there are some out there. Here are 20 athletes who most fans, regardless of team association, root for every game.
20. David Wright
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20. David Wright
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Even though David Wright plays for a team in New York, not normally something that endears athletes to many fans, he is a class act and a fan favorite. He's one of the good guys in baseball and he's also incredibly talented. Those things add up to most baseball fans also being Wright fans.
19. Andrew Luck
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19. Andrew Luck
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Andrew Luck has been one of those rare "can't miss" prospects who hasn't missed. He's been everything he was advertised to be and then some. For as talented as he is, he's also very humble, which has helped earn him a lot of fans in his short time in the league so far.
18. Tony Romo
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18. Tony Romo
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As fun as it is for most fans to root against the Dallas Cowboys, more and more people are starting to root for Tony Romo. Many are starting to realize that Romo should get more credit for being an elite quarterback. Now that he has the chance to exorcise his playoff demons, he could gain even more popularity with fans.
17. Stephen Curry
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17. Stephen Curry
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Stephen Curry is one of the best shooters in the NBA and with his baby face, how could you not like him? There's nothing quite like a player who looks like he's 12 and can drop 40 points on you on any given night. Above all else, the guy is just a treat to watch, which is why he has so many people around the country rooting for him.
16. Jonathan Toews
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16. Jonathan Toews
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Captain Serious is one of hockey's greatest guys on and off the ice. He's a class act who plays hard on both sides and is one of the most talented players in the entire NHL. Add two Stanley Cups to his resume, and he's as popular as they come in the NHL.
15. Andrew McCutchen
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15. Andrew McCutchen
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Andrew Cutch has stayed with the Pittsburgh Pirates and had led them to the playoffs the last two years, which is impressive enough. He also seems like a nice guy who mingles with fans, which makes him even more popular. It's rare to find a superstar as personable as McCutchen.
14. John Tavares
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14. John Tavares
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John Tavares is the unquestioned leader of the up-and-coming New York Islanders, and not many people are aware of just how good this guy is. People in the NHL are starting to like him more for his quiet leadership and insane skill on the ice.
13. Anthony Rizzo
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13. Anthony Rizzo
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Anthony Rizzo is one of baseball's rising stars and he's an easy guy to root for. He survived non-Hodgkins lymphoma and now has his own foundation for funding cancer research. On and off the field, Rizzo embodies what athletes around the country should be.
12. Tim Duncan
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12. Tim Duncan
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Tim Duncan is nearing the end of his career, and what a career it's been. He has five titles to his credit, which is incredible, and he's been classy the whole way. How great it's been to watch Duncan get intense on the court and then graceful off of it.
11. Jose Bautista
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11. Jose Bautista
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Jose Bautista has a story everyone can root for. He seemed like a failure in the major leagues before going to the Toronto Blue Jays where he resurrected his career. He's now a perennial All-Star who is one of the best power hitters in the game. On top of that, he's constantly interacting with fans, which helps everyone connect to one of the most popular superstars in the sport.
10. Antonio Brown
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10. Antonio Brown
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Antonio Brown has emerged as one of the top receivers in the entire NFL, and he's been one of the most entertaining performers in the league while he's risen. When he flashes that million-dollar smile and jokes about his amazing plays, it only further endears him to his many adoring fans.
9. Drew Brees
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9. Drew Brees
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Drew Brees is one of football's good guys, and he's one of the best quarterbacks of this generation. Those two things are bound to give you a lot of fans, and that's the case with Brees, who nearly every NFL fan enjoys watching go to work every Sunday.
8. Giancarlo Stanton
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8. Giancarlo Stanton
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Giancarlo Stanton just signed a 13-year, 5 million extension, so he is now rich in fans and in money. His electrifying tape measure home run shots are truly a sight to behold. That, along with his seemingly humble nature, make him one of baseball's truly special superstars.
7. John Wall
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7. John Wall
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John Wall is a fun guy to root for. He's matured as a person and player since his college days at Kentucky, and he's become one of the best point guards in the league. With the Washington Wizards looking really good this season, he could put his talent on display on a bigger stage during the playoffs.
6. Anthony Davis
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6. Anthony Davis
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After some good seasons to start his NBA career, Anthony Davis has broken out this year. He could be called the front-runner for the league's MVP award, as he's become a consistent scorer while staying a stout defender. As such an unusual talent and guy, plenty of people enjoy rooting for him.
5. Mike Trout
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5. Mike Trout
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All signs point to Mike Trout becoming the next face of baseball, and the game would be lucky if that does in fact happen. He might be the best five-tool player since Willie Mays, and he is still extremely young. Simply because he's so electrifying and he seems to be down to earth, Trout has fans all across the country.
4. J.J. Watt
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4. J.J. Watt
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J.J. Watt is a truly incredible talent on the defensive side of the ball. He's dominant in a way we haven't seen in the NFL in quite some time. He also has quite the personality, and it's helped make him one of the most popular players in the NFL. Based on how he's playing, don't expect that to change any time soon.
3. Russell Wilson
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3. Russell Wilson
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Nobody expected Russell Wilson to be this successful in the NFL, but he's already established himself as a top 10 quarterback and won a Super Bowl title. He also seems to be a great guy off the field, which will always earn you more fans. Overall, he's one of the easiest guys to root for in sports.
2. Marcus Mariota
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2. Marcus Mariota
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Marcus Mariota already has plenty of fans around the country as he enters the NFL. Perhaps a national championship will make him even more popular. Whatever the case may be, his respectful demeanor and his flashy play on the field will make him a fun player to follow once he goes pro.
1. Kevin Durant
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1. Kevin Durant
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Kevin Durant is the most humble superstar you'll meet in any sport. He was the NBA's MVP last season and gave credit to pretty much everyone but himself. On top of being one of the NBA's top performers, he's one of their best people. That's why most NBA fans really enjoy rooting for KD.