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

[QUOTE=brantonli]and I'm not sure even Jordan had nearly had much popularity as his fame. [/QUOTE]


^^^:lol

Beckham has never been universally adored both within and outside his sport in the way that Jordan was. Maybe Beckham is as famous, but he's certainly not considered one of the greatest players of all time. Barely one of the greatest players of his era. He had a couple of years while at Utd that a case could be made for him to be the best player in the game, but even then it was highly debatable. There were numerous other football players in Beckham's era that were close to his level of popularity and adulation. There was no one in Jordan's era who came close.

all this reffering to "football" makes me dizzy. its called soccer. football is played in pads and helmets on sundays in the fall with gigantic men hitting the crap out of each other. soccer is what david beckham plays. lots of running and lots of bordem.

First of all, if there is one person overrated in this thread, it's Tiger Woods. WTH? How can you even begin comparing him to Beckham and Jordan? Unheard of. I know he's a big shot in USA but trust me, if I asked anyone in Europe who Tiger Woods is, they'd not so vividly say "I don't know" or "oh yeah that golfer". Other than the fact that he's black and a golfer, no one knows anything more about him. If that.

Now moving on, do you folks know what's the second most popular sport worldwide? You'd be surprised..formula 1 racing. That's right. Any of you heard of the chaps like Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, Rubens Barichello and others? Don't think so. But yeah, those dudes may be more popular, probably are then the guys like Duncan, Garnett and maybe even some legendary players like say Dr. J. In fact, I'd bet on it.

Now, Beckham vs Jordan? Here's the thing. Beckham is more popular and better known while Jordan is more iconic. Jordan is a basketball icon, a sports icon and an apparel icon. Beckham on the other hand is not iconic. He's just the biggest thing in everything. Is he a soccer icon? No, that's Pele. However, Beckahm is the most recognizable player ever. Is he a fashion icon? Maybe. If not, surely the most recognizable athlete in that department, for those reasons. Is he the biggest celebrity ever amongst athletes? Yes.
Now you see, MJ was famous for being a great basketball player. That's why he had a celebrity status, that's why he was known. Beckham on the other hand is known for being famous, for being David Beckham. He has exceeded the status of an athlete. He's everywhere. He's everything.
And my oh my, those who even begin comparing the popularity of basketball to the popularity of soccer have another thing coming in their sight. Have everyone forgot about South America? Two giant ass countries that are Brazil and Argentina? I haven't seen them be mentioned here. Well yeah, let's just put it this way. Worldwide popularity and recognition, Jordan despite being iconic, doesn't touch Beckham, believe it or not. A lot of people are likely to hear for both, however, more likely to hear about Beckham, more likely to know about him. Ge goes so far beyond soccer, far beyond being a celebrity, if there's a thing Beckham, it's worldwide, it's enormous. As iconic as Jordan is, he just doesn't have that impact. Likely even because people like having him as an Iconic God like figure so they don't want to dig up any dirt on him or damage his image whereas whatever comes with the Beckham name on it, it's everywhere and everyone know about it. And just thinking right now, if I asked all the girls I know, from all over the Europe about either Beckham or Jordan, it would not be close. And you know, there are a lot of women in the world. Something most here tend to ignore and just looking at it through the world of sport, what is bigger football or basketball where FYI Becks wins again. At everything. Absolutely everything. Jordan is no his equal.

Furthermore, all of you claiming Becks isn't a great soccer player need to STFU. He was greatness. Do you folks have any idea, at all, how hard it is to be the best player in the world or one of as a winger? To be the instrumental part of your team? Well, Beckham was just that. From his right side it's where most of the Man Utd danger ever came from, where everything was orchestrated, where RVN scored million goals from, getting crosses from the Becks. As a winger. You have any idea? It's literally unheard of. It's like rook being the most important figure in chess. It just doesn't happen. Beckahm however became the best a a winger.

And those claiming he isn't clutch, OH PLEASE. Give me a break. Do you have any idea how big was Beckham's free kick vs Greece? You don't. Let's put it this way, [B]CLUTCHER, MORE IMPORTANT THING THAN ANYTHING EVER OF JORDAN. [/B] Don't even get me started. It was movie stuff. Unheard of. Long odds. Heroic. Redeeming. Historic.
[url]http://youtube.com/watch?v=4vPaw3ImXfY[/url]
That's just once in a lifetime. You cannot possibly match that. Nothing Jordan can do. Not to mention how much harder is it to score a free kick at that time and under how much pressure was Beckham at the time.

In short, Beckham. At everything. End.

[QUOTE=gotbacon23]all this reffering to "football" makes me dizzy. its called soccer. football is played in pads and helmets on sundays in the fall with gigantic men hitting the crap out of each other. soccer is what david beckham plays. lots of running and lots of bordem.[/QUOTE]


No, it's football. It's only known in the USA as soccer. It's football. WTH do helmets and pads, even if they're worn on sundays have to do with the name football, something that would indicate a freaking game being played with geez....I dunno...foot? and a ball?

the GOAT basketball player wearing 23 his entire career or a borderline top 1000 football player wearing 23 in the twilight of his career?


Hmmmm, tough one.

In the states for sure Jordan no questions
But in the world thats a toss up.

[QUOTE=gotbacon23]all this reffering to "football" makes me dizzy. its called soccer. football is played in pads and helmets on sundays in the fall with gigantic men hitting the crap out of each other. soccer is what david beckham plays. lots of running and lots of bordem.[/QUOTE]
errr no its football, not soccer which is a name we made up here. Look at it this way, unlike american football atleast people actually use their feet to play the game. We should change american football to be named soccer and refer to REAL football as footbal. It only makes sense.

[QUOTE=LJJ]the GOAT basketball player wearing 23 his entire career [B]or a borderline top 1000 football player [/B]wearing 23 in the twilight of his career?


Hmmmm, tough one.[/QUOTE]


Post eliminated and ignored due to author clearly not having a freaking clue about the whole situation.

Well, that's just the thing here, All of Beckham > whatever of Jordan. So what if he only wore 23 after joining Madrid? So what? He still made it huge, not because of the number but because he's David Beckham. People just somehow underestimate how far beyond soccer Beckham goes, to how many ventures and some even understate how much popular soccer is.Honestly, is basketball even a top 5 sport worldwide? I'm not to sure. Could be. But I'm not sure. Even so, Beckham is still above Jordan. Thank you very much.

[quote=Emile]Post eliminated and ignored due to author clearly not having a freaking clue about the whole situation.

Well, that's just the thing here, All of Beckham > whatever of Jordan. So what if he only wore 23 after joining Madrid? So what? He still made it huge, not because of the number but because he's David Beckham. People just somehow underestimate how far beyond soccer Beckham goes, to how many ventures and some even understate how much popular soccer is.Honestly, is basketball even a top 5 sport worldwide? I'm not to sure. Could be. But I'm not sure. Even so, Beckham is still above Jordan. Thank you very much.[/quote]
Only people in the States even know about Beckham wearing number 23. And football isn't one of the bigger sports in the USA by a long shot.

You think anyone in Europe still cares about Beckham? Really? :oldlol:
This isn't 1999 son.

Pick the biggest celebrity in the world today. No, not an athlete. A celebrity. People who tend to be known much more than athletes because they're so mainstream. Who is it? Well, whoever it is, David Beckham is in the conversation. And probably tops the list. And it's been that way for a while. So his recognition goes far beyond someone being iconic in the worlds top 10, maybe top 5 sport.

when I was still in asia a decade ago, I think when jordan was still playing. People there knew who he was as in his name. But they didn't know who he really is. At one point I thought he was 7 feet 10 cause I assumed all basketball players are tall and since he's good he must be really tall.

I mean people don't wear his jerseys. People buy ronaldo and beckham's jerseys. People know what position they played and what team. Jordon they knew he was a basketball player and that's it, don't know anything about the bulls or some didn't even know there was a thing called the nba

[QUOTE=LJJ]Only people in the States even know about Beckham wearing number 23. And football isn't one of the bigger sports in the USA by a long shot.

You think anyone in Europe still cares about Beckham? Really? :oldlol:
This isn't 1999 son.[/QUOTE]

There are like 350 million people in the States if I'm correct. Comparison wise, there are like 50 million people in England. 60 million in Germany. Around 50 million in France and Italy. Spain. Just bringing up some of the western Europe countries where soccer clearly is number 1. Yeah, those 6 countries combined have like 350 million people. Brazil? Close to 200 million. Argentina around 50 million. See where I'm going with this? Need I bring up Russia, Turkey, Arabic countries and so on? Or countries like Poland, Korea, whatever?

David Beckham is up there with the likes of Madonna. Michael Jordan being the icon of one sport, the sport that isn't nearly as popular, he doesn't touch Beckham. Sorry. Not to mention Beckham's mainstream fame.

And if you think no one cares about Beckham anymore, you're highly mistaken. Do you know that he's sold more jerseys of LA Galaxy than all soccer player in the world last year sans for 4 of them? Sorry. Becks > Mj.

[QUOTE=LJJ][B]Only people in the States even know about Beckham wearing number 23.[/B] And football isn't one of the bigger sports in the USA by a long shot.

You think anyone in Europe still cares about Beckham? Really? :oldlol:
This isn't 1999 son.[/QUOTE]

Considering he first wore that number in Madrid, considering it sold astronomically the first day, considering Madrid played in Champions league and considering the gigantic audience and popularity of the Champions league, somehow I doubt what you say is true.

hard to say......BECKHAM is very popular in the world pop culture...he's very hollywood and MTV because of his wife and looks.......i would put my money that many young and current professional bball players world wide wanted to be jordan....

on a pure athlete status...i think jordan had more influence....during jordan's prime, there was no athlete more popular....

celebrity status...i think beckham is ..