DEREK JETER of the YANKEES!

Kobe Bryant is no longer America’s 

most popular athlete

By Eric Freeman

Every year, Harris Interactive conducts a poll to list
America's most popular sports stars. While popularity
can be a fungible concept, the results remain
somewhat instructive, especially in terms of which
players have reached a level of fame beyond their
sport's diehard audience.

Last season, Kobe Bryant(notes) found himself at the
top of the list of male stars. Now, he's dropped to
No. 3 in a tie with Michael Jordan, and behind
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning
and new champ Derek Jeter of the Yankees.
From Janis Carr on OCRegister.com:

Kobe Bryant no longer is the favorite athlete in

America, according to a Harris poll, having

slipped to No. 3 in 2011. But that's nothing

compared to the free fall for LeBron James(notes).

James, who was rated the No. 6 overall favorite

athlete in 2010, didn't make the top 10 list this

year after leaving Cleveland for Miami's South

Beach. He shouldn't feel too badly, though.

Brett Farve (No. 4)  New Orleans quarterback

Drew Brees(No. 9) and NASCAR great Dale

Earnhardt Jr. (No. 10) alsowere left off the

list this year. [...]

According to the poll, Bryant remains the top

athlete among Hispanics and African-Americans

and on the West Coast.

You can access the poll directly here if you have
concerns about methodology. While Jeter is the
new champ, Serena Williams is listed as the most
popular female athlete for the third year in a row.
Better luck next time, Abby Wambach.

It's not a surprise to learn that Bryant and James
have dropped on this list, because popularity in
America is often tied to winning at the highest levels.
In the past, both players have been divisive, to the
point where they've only been considered likable
when they win championships. With the Lakers
losing to the Mavericks in the second round of the
playoffs, Bryant is no longer the league's golden
god. James, obviously, is largely seen as a bratty
loser. As such, they're no longer at the top of this
vaguely scientific heap.

Maybe next year they'll see their fortunes change.
Or, perhaps, Derrick Rose(notes) (No. 9 this year) will
move higher after another long playoff run. Worse
yet, maybe there won't be an NBA season and the
poll participants won't name anyone from the league.
And then this post will end up on Shutdown Corner,
and you can substitute Tom Brady in for Bryant and
read the same post. The world works in mysterious
ways.

Here's the complete Top 10:

Male

1. Derek Jeter
2. Peyton Manning
3. (tie) Kobe Bryant
3. (tie) Michael Jordan
5. Tiger Woods
6. Tom Brady
7. (tie) Albert Pujols
7. (tie) Hines Ward
9. Derrick Rose
10. Aaron Rodgers

Female

1. Serena Williams
2. Venus Williams
3. Danica Patrick
4. Maria Sharapova
5. Mia Hamm
6. Anna Kournikova
7. (tie) Martina  Navratilova
7. (tie) Sue Bird
9. (tie) Kerry Walsh
9. (tie) Michele Wie