Respect is something that is never given, but earned through hard work, dedication and coming through when it matters most. Take a look at 25 of the most respected athletes of all time from the past and present who make you stand in awe at how much of an impact they made not only to their respective sports, but to fans all across the world.
25. Jackie Joyner-Kersee
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25. Jackie Joyner-Kersee
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Jackie Joyner-Kersee is considered to be the greatest female track and field athlete ever. She won six different medals across four different Olympic Games, bringing home three golds. She is considered by many to be the greatest female athlete of the 20th century.
24. Cal Ripken Jr.
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24. Cal Ripken Jr.
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Cal Ripken Jr. is known by his nickname "Ironman" because he played for over 20 years in MLB, most noticeably breaking the record of most consecutive games played, which was held by Lou Gehrig. He achieved that in his 2,131st game, and continued playing the game he loved.
23. Brett Favre
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23. Brett Favre
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One of the original gunslingers of the NFL, Brett Favre holds plenty of passing records to this day, including his own consecutive starting streak. He started 321 straight games including the playoffs, and threw so hard that receivers would comment on how their hands got swollen from the pure power Favre possessed. Despite flip-flopping on retirement, there is no denying the respect he's earned.
22. Pele
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22. Pele
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Pele is the all-time leading scorer in the history of soccer with over 1,000 goals in his career. He's won two world cups with his native country of Brazil, and is considered by many to be the face of soccer.
21. Bobby Orr
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21. Bobby Orr
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Bobby Orr was as pure an athlete as you can get. With over a decade of playing in the NHL, nobody hit harder, was as fast, or scored as many goals as Orr because he made it his mission to do his best to win every game he played in. He became the youngest to ever be selected to the Hockey Hall of Fame at the age of 31.
20. Wilt Chamberlain
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20. Wilt Chamberlain
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Considered by many to be one of the greatest and most dominant centers to ever play basketball, Wilt Chamberlain did it all. He is the only player in NBA history to average at least 30 points and 20 rebounds per game in a season, which goes to show the work ethic he played with.
19. Bo Jackson
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19. Bo Jackson
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As a professional football and baseball player, Jackson is the only athlete in sports history to be selected as an All-Star in two different major sports leagues. Everyone wanted to be like him growing up since he was a pure athlete who embodied the spirit of never giving up in anything you set your mind to.
18. Roger Federer
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18. Roger Federer
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When it comes to the world of tennis, nobody did it better than Roger Federer. Considered to be the best tennis player of all time, Federer holds plenty of records and has earned the respect of many for being a classy champion throughout his entire career.
17. Ted Williams
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17. Ted Williams
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One of the greatest hitters to ever grace the game of professional baseball, Ted Williams knew how to hit any baseball thrown his way. He loved to play, but also loved to serve his country when it needed him most. He served in both the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marines during World War II. He'll always be respected for being an incredible athlete that had no problem leaving the game to protect America's freedom.
16. Walter Payton
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16. Walter Payton
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Walter Payton was nicknamed "Sweetness" for plenty of reasons besides being one of the greatest NFL running backs of all time. He was a great person and always gave to those who were less fortunate. Plenty of athletes like Emmitt Smith, LaDainian Tomlinson and Adrian Peterson all cited Payton as their main inspiration on the gridiron.
15. Manny Pacquiao
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15. Manny Pacquiao
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Manny Pacquiao is considered by many to be the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world. He has the titles to back it up, as he's the first and only eight-division champion of the world. He always keeps himself busy, and has been involved in politics in his home country, the Philippines. Talk about getting respect in more places than one!
14. Joe DiMaggio
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14. Joe DiMaggio
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Joe DiMaggio holds the record for having a 56-game hitting streak, and earned the respect of millions. He also served his country as a sergeant in the U.S. Air Forces, and did anything that was asked of him. One can only imagine the amount of respect he received when it was revealed he had the lovely Marilyn Monroe at his side!
13. Wayne Gretzky
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13. Wayne Gretzky
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Wayne Gretzky is quite easily the most recognized athlete to ever play professional hockey. He is the NHL's all-time leading scorer and has more assists than any other player has points. A big reason why he's nicknamed "The Great One" is because he earned the respect of his teammates and fans for never being selfish on the ice. He did whatever was necessary for the team to be successful, and it showed.
12. Mariano Rivera
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12. Mariano Rivera
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The greatest closer of all time, Mariano Rivera had an aura around him that projected greatness. Rivera holds plenty of MLB records in his nearly 20 years of playing professional baseball. He was the last player to ever wear the No. 42, and is respected across the globe for his accomplishments and how humble he was every step of the way.
11. Roberto Clemente
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11. Roberto Clemente
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For 18 MLB seasons, Roberto Clemente embodied playing with heart at every given moment. He won plenty of accolades, but one of the most important achievements in his life was the fact that he wanted to make sure he gave back to those in need. Unfortunately, he passed away in a flight delivering baseball equipment and food to Nicaragua, but his memory continues to shine.
10. Kobe Bryant
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10. Kobe Bryant
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Kobe Bryant is not only a five-time NBA champion, he also became the youngest player ever to reach over 30,000 career points. The Los Angeles Lakers have elevated plenty of athletes in their history, but for the past two decades, none have done it better than Bryant. He's earned respect for his ability to be a game-changer and for playing through injury to the benefit of his team.
9. Jackie Robinson
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9. Jackie Robinson
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Jackie Robinson was the first-ever African American to play in MLB. He ended the segregation of baseball by being the leading example that no athlete should be banned from playing the sport they love due to the color of their skin.
8. Tom Brady
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8. Tom Brady
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Tom Brady has earned respect for being one of the best quarterbacks in the history of the NFL that wasn't drafted in the first round. The sixth-round pick went on to inspire anyone who wasn't considered great to pursue their dreams.
7. Muhammad Ali
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7. Muhammad Ali
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Muhammad Ali is considered by many to be the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time. He took care of business in the boxing ring and also was a huge example of how to speak your mind in the spotlight. Ali never held back when he spoke about his views.
6. Peyton Manning
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6. Peyton Manning
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Peyton Manning revolutionized the way a quarterback handles his responsibilities in the NFL. He is able to memorize over 600 plays every training camp, and change plays in the blink of an eye at the line of scrimmage like no other. Manning holds a 97.2 overall passer rating, and continues to prove why he's one of the best ever at his position.
5. Babe Ruth
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5. Babe Ruth
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Babe Ruth played over two decades of baseball that saw him become one of the greatest of all time in both hitting and pitching. He undeniably became the first face of the New York Yankees, won seven World Series, and helped inspire the famous pinstripe look the Yankees are widely recognized for around the world. To this day, no one hit better or harder than the "Sultan of Swat."
4. Jerry Rice
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4. Jerry Rice
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When it comes to the greatest wide receiver of all time, look no further than Jerry Rice. He played for 20 years and set plenty of franchise and NFL records. The way he played has been an inspiration to many receivers trying to imitate greatness. As a three-time Super Bowl champion, Rice never had to talk trash or live a crazy lifestyle off the field to enjoy success.
3. Joe Montana
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3. Joe Montana
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Joe Montana is considered by many to be the most clutch quarterback to ever play professional football. If your team was down and needed to score with just two minutes left on the clock, Montana was the player everyone would want leading the no-huddle.
2. Michael Jordan
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2. Michael Jordan
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Considered by many to be the greatest basketball player of all time, Michael Jordan has done it all. In addition to winning six NBA championships and four gold Olympic medals, Jordan ushered in nearly two decades of everyone wanting to be like Mike.
1. Derek Jeter
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1. Derek Jeter
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Derek Jeter has done more for not only professional baseball, but the world of sports, than most can ever dream of. As the all-time leader in hits as a shortstop, he helped catapult the Yankees to success during the height of his career. Not many can be called "Mr. November" come the postseason, but Jeter always came through in the clutch during key moments. He's always been professional his entire career, and has earned the utmost respect.
Spain became the first team to win three major tournaments (Euros and World Cups are put in this category) in a row, and cemented their place in the annals of football history. Read More
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