Most popular athlete IN THE WORLD ever to wear no. 23: Jordan or Beckham?

Sounds like what your saying is Jordan is greater to basketball than Beckham to soccer. The average basketball fan will adore Jordan more than the average soccer fan will adore Beckham. It does not however conclude more popularity.
Remember, popularity does not always entail likabilty. Birittany Spears is popular, but not exactly likable.

[quote=hateraid]Take into account how popular futball is in comparison to basketball on a worldwide stage. Not only the fact that Beckham has some sort of celebrity status being married to Posh. I don't think it's as lopsided as people are thinking. Think outside the North American box.[/quote]

Don't be silly. Beckham is not #23, as already pointed out above.

This is not a soccer vs. baskeball popularity issue.

[QUOTE=Good Old Willy]Don't be silly. Beckham is not #23, as already pointed out above.[/QUOTE]


Well that's not were this thread ends, read on, oyes we know it's been established.

[QUOTE=Good Old Willy]This is not a soccer vs. baskeball popularity issue.[/QUOTE]

Who said it was? It's a question of who's more popular between two individuals. That's just the main platform.

Pele is the most popular athlete in the history of sports.
He retired more than 30 years ago and still is one of the most recognizable faces in the world. There isn't one real football/soccer fan who does not know Pele.
He was so popular in his prime that Nigeria stopped its civil war to watch him play. The number "10" is the games most admired number because of Pele. All the great playes like Zidane, Maradona, Zico, Ronaldinho, Platini wore the 10 because of the fame Pele gave to the number.
Pele was like Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell combined, since he had all the scoring records (+ 1000 goals) and the record 3 world cups won.
And last, the brazilian black kid in the late 50's , 60's and early 70's was the hero of people all over the world. Therefore, He also surpassed the race barrier, since racism was much bigger in those days, hell, there's racism in european football today.

And the main argument Pele and Jordan have over a guy like Beckham, is that their popularity and fame were the consequence of what they had done for their sport, for their game that was never seen before in soccer/football and basketball.

So, if you ask me who's the most famous or popular athlete? Jordan or Beckham? I'd say MJ , no doubt. Who is more famous , in terms of the ****ty tabloid media , fake talentless celebrities and brainless fans we have today, Jordan or Beckham ? Beckham , no doubt. And that trophy , we , as sports fans, really don't care.

[QUOTE=lakers_forever]Pele is the most popular athlete in the history of sports.
He retired more than 30 years ago and still is one of the most recognizable faces in the world. There isn't one real football/soccer fan who does not know Pele.
He was so popular in his prime that Nigeria stopped its civil war to watch him play. The number "10" is the games most admired number because of Pele. All the great playes like Zidane, Maradona, Zico, Ronaldinho, Platini wore the 10 because of the fame Pele gave to the number.
Pele was like Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell combined, since he had all the scoring records (+ 1000 goals) and the record 3 world cups won.
And last, the brazilian black kid in the late 50's , 60's and early 70's was the hero of people all over the world. Therefore, He also surpassed the race barrier, since racism was much bigger in those days, hell, there's racism in european football today.

And the main argument Pele and Jordan have over a guy like Beckham, is that their popularity and fame were the consequence of what they had done for their sport, for their game that was never seen before in soccer/football and basketball.

So, if you ask me who's the most famous or popular athlete? Jordan or Beckham? I'd say MJ , no doubt. Who is more famous , in terms of the ****ty tabloid media , fake talentless celebrities and brainless fans we have today, Jordan or Beckham ? Beckham , no doubt. And that trophy , we , as sports fans, really don't care.[/QUOTE]

Forget it. Said enough

[QUOTE=Kblaze8855]When I really think about it...is Jordan more famous in his time than Joe Louis in his? In America that is. technology gives more worldwide access to modern guys but hearing about Joe makes me think he may have been bigger here. [B]As popular as Jordan was you wont have damn near all of america sit down to watch/listen(as the case may be at the time) to his games.[/B] I dont think anyone modern can approach the level of interest over the Joe Louis/Max Schmeling fight. Hearing about the level of interest....entire towns meeting in one place with dozens of radios so everyone could hear? Nationwide parties after Joe won? Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali, Babe Ruth, and guys like that were probably as big as Jordan for the people who had access to them.[/QUOTE]

Joe Louis was a boxer. He fought 72 times his entire career. Michael Jordan played in 1264 NBA games (1072 regular season).

It's hardly fair to compare the two because obviously when you get to see a guy that much his games mean a whole lot less.

The only two US athletes that belong in the same sentence as Michael Jordan when it comes to worldwide or even just US fame are Muhammad Ali and Tiger Woods.

I didn't even know David Beckham wears # 23. There you go:banana:

Soemone made a great point about Beckham not being number 23 earlier in his career........

and of course on a pro B-ball and mostly American site we will be yelling Micheal.

But....soccer (really Futball) is the biggest sport in the world period.
B-ball is my favorite sport but even I recognize that.

And when you travel outside of this country you will see that.

Beckham still plays NOW.

So if you ask the question who is the most popular athlete in sports its Beckham...

But to ever wear the number 23.........of course its Mike!

I can't believe youre asking this on a basketball forum.
How seriously bias of opinions do you want?

[QUOTE=aznboy2k2]I can't believe youre asking this on a basketball forum.
How seriously bias of opinions do you want?[/QUOTE]

Looks like people have been answering unbiased.

who is beckham?

MJ? gimme a break.
first of all, bball isn't even the most popular sport in the U.S.
there are hoards of American males who don't watch the NBA, don't care for it, and couldn't care less about the MJ.

MJ. As someone who knows both sports, MJ is easily the most known athlete. MJ is what made basketball huge and hes arguabley the greatest player to ever play the game. He is not only an icon for basketball, but for the sports world in general, and he is known worldwide. I think he even topped the list of top 100 american celebreties known outside of the US. Beckham was just a soccer superstar, who never came close to being the greatest to ever play the game. And in terms of just popularity, wasnt he run out of Manchester??

Michael Jordan is almost as iconic as Michael Jackson.

I bet more people in Europe know who Jordan is than Becham.

Also, take into account people in China, Korea, Japan, Russia, who do you think they recognize more?

[QUOTE=shortlunatic]MJ. As someone who knows both sports, MJ is easily the most known athlete. MJ is what made basketball huge and hes arguabley the greatest player to ever play the game. He is not only an icon for basketball, but for the sports world in general, and he is known worldwide. I think he even topped the list of top 100 american celebreties known outside of the US. Beckham was just a soccer superstar, who never came close to being the greatest to ever play the game. And in terms of just popularity, wasnt he run out of Manchester??[/QUOTE]

exactly, Jordan's name is probably the most commonly used for a benchmark along with Tiger woods.

I.E. So and so is the MJ of MMA, or so and so is the MJ of baseball.