5 of the most adored gentlemen in professional sports today
Apr 12, 2016, 3:20 PM | Updated: Apr 14, 2016, 1:01 am
Professional sports are full of personalities of all types. That’s part of what makes it so entertaining. Athletes like Dennis Rodman, John Daly, Metta World Peace and John McEnroe have certainly made sports entertaining, on and off the field. But having personality doesn’t necessarily mean a player needs to be boisterous or misbehaved.
In fact, sometimes the most notable and revered players conduct themselves well in the public spotlight whether they are on the field or off.
With that in mind, here are five of the most adored gentlemen is professional sports today.
Roger Federer
Tennis is a classy game, but when the courts are graced by the presence of Roger Federer, the game reaches another level. Polite, genuine and known for his smile, Federer continues to dominate and can consistently be found at the top of the ATP rankings.
He is also quite the philanthropist. Among his many charity events and fundraisers, the Roger Federer Foundation has been around since 2003, and it helps disadvantaged children receive education and opportunities to participate in sports.
Paul Goldschmidt
Paul Goldschmidt has only been in the Arizona desert for five years, but he’s cemented himself as a fan favorite. His bat and his glove with the Diamondbacks are devastatingly effective against opposing teams, but it’s his humility and love of the game that has everyone talking.
Scott Boeck of USA TODAY Sports asked David Peralta if he thought Goldy was too humble, and he responded, “Oh, yeah, he is.” So Goldschmidt walks the walk but doesn’t go around talking the talk.
So Goldschmidt walks the walk but doesn’t go around talking the talk.
Goldschmidt also helps raise money to benefit Phoenix Children’s Hospital through Goldy’s Fund 4 Kids. Paul and his wife Amy frequently visit Phoenix Children’s Hospital to comfort children being treated for various medical conditions.
Drew Brees
Drew Brees has been a model player since he entered the NFL. In a sport that seems to have incident after incident of on-the-field and off-the-field issues with its players, he hasn’t let the spotlight of fame get to him. He always plays the game right, and because of that, he earns the respect of players and fans alike.
In his spare time, he’s helped contribute more than $23 million to charitable causes through the BreezeDream Foundation.
Larry Fitzgerald
Larry Fitzgerald has always been a fan favorite, and for good reason. He is consistently at the top of the stat sheet in receptions, touchdowns and yards, and he is one of the league’s most reliable players, starting all but eight games throughout his long career as an Arizona Cardinal.
His consistency also shows up in his work off the field. Year after year, he receives recognition for his charity work. More specifically, Fitzgerald’s “First Down Fund” gives annually to help fund sports camps during the summer months.
Stephen Curry
He may not have as many MVP trophies as some of the rest in the NBA, but Stephen Curry is undoubtedly the best basketball player in the world right now. He’s a bon-a-fide playmaker and a great teammate. He’s soft spoken, so he lets his skills and the stat sheet do all the talking.
His devotion to family is another reason he is so adored by everyone. His daughter, Riley, made multiple appearances with him in the 2014-15 postseason, and his wife and parents seem to make it to every game. He is truly a star on the court or when he’s with his family.
He’s also active in a worldwide effort to fight malaria. For every three-point basket he makes he donates three treated bednets to help protect children against disease-carrying mosquitos.