Top 10 Favorite Professional Athletes

30-08-2008 - 20:30

For the third year in a row, Tiger Woods has been named the favorite professional athlete, according to an annual Harris Poll of 2,454 U.S. adults. Following close behind is former NBA basketball star Michael Jordan, who reigned at the top of this list from 1993 to 2005--long after he retired from the sport. Who's hot and who's not in the world of sports?

See photos of Ashley Harkelroad in action! The first professional tennis player to appear in Playboy, she says athletes' bodies are sexy.

Top 10 favorite male professional athletes:
1. Tiger Woods (golf)
2. Michael Jordan (basketball)
3. Brett Favre (football)
4. Kobe Bryant (basketball)
5. Jeff Gordon (NASCAR)
6. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (NASCAR)
7. Derek Jeter (baseball)
8. Peyton Manning (football) and Tom Brady (football) (tie)
10. Kevin Garrett (basketball)

If you want to win at competitive sports, wearing one color in particular could give you the edge. Click to find out what it is.

Top 10 favorite female professional athletes:
1. Danica Patrick (racing)
2. Serena Williams (tennis)
3. Venus Williams (tennis)
4. Maria Sharapova (tennis)
5. Mia Hamm (soccer)
6. Annika Sorenstam (golf)
7. Candice Parker (basketball)
8. Kristi Yamaguchi (ice skating)
9. Michelle Kwan (ice skating)
10. Billie Jean King (tennis)

By looking at one part of a woman's anatomy, you can tell her ability to do well at sports. Click to find out what part it is!

Fun facts to know and tell:
--Men chose Danica Patrick as their favorite female athlete, while women favored Serena Williams.
--In the East, Derek Jeter jumps to the top spot, while Tiger is tops in all other regions of the country.
--Among Echo Boomers (those aged 18 to 31), Maria Sharapova is the No. 1 female athlete, while for Gen Xers (32 to 43) Danica Patrick is the favorite. Serena Williams is number one for both Baby Boomers (44 to 62) and Matures (those 63 and up).

What is the favorite sport in the U.S.A.? More than baseball and college football, American sports fans like this one sport the best.