Way To Go - Derek Jeter Has 3,000 Hits and Is America's Favorite Sports Star

NEW YORK, July 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- While he may have become the 28th player, and the only New York Yankee, to join the exclusive 3,000 hit club in Major League Baseball, Derek Jeter has another milestone to celebrate this July. While he has been on the list of America's favorite sports stars since 2004, this year, for the first time he is at the top, jumping up from number 3 last year.

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Next on the list is Indianapolis Colts' quarterback Peyton Manning at number 2, up from 5th place last year and then in a tie for 3rd place on the list, making the debate of who is the best even harder to determine, is Kobe Bryant, down from tie for first place last year, and Michael Jordan, up from 7th place. Rounding out the top five at number five is someone who was number one from 2006 – 2009 and in a tie for number one last year, Tiger Woods.

These are some of the results of The Harris Poll of 2,163 adults surveyed online between June 13 and 20, 2011 by Harris Interactive.

Looking at the rest of the top ten favorite sports stars, New England quarterback Tom Brady moves up 2 spots and is at number 6 this year while the St. Louis Cardinals great, Albert Pujols returns to the list at a tie for number 7 after a one year absence. The list then has three newcomers: in a tie for number 7, Pittsburgh Steelers great and Dancing with the Stars champion Hines Ward; Chicago Bulls phenom, named Rookie of the Year in his first season as a pro, is Derrick Rose at number 9; and, Green Bay Packers' quarterback Aaron Rodgers comes in for the first time at number 10.

Since there is one sports star returning and three new comers to the list that means four stars dropped off this year's list.  Those stars are: Packers, Jets and Vikings quarterback Brett Favre who was previously number 4, NBA star LeBron James (was number 6), New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees (was number 9) and NASCAR great, Dale Earnhardt Jr. (was number 10).

Different groups have their different favorites. For men, Derek Jeter is number one, but for women it's Peyton Manning. There are also generational differences. Echo Boomers (those 18-34) may not have ever seen him play live, but they still say Michael Jordan is their favorite sports star while for Gen Xers (those 35-46) it is Peyton Manning. Baby Boomers (those 47-65) have Derek Jeter as their number one while Matures (those 66 and older) name Tiger Woods.

Favorite Female Sports Star

Just like the past two years, Serena and Venus Williams are number one and number two on the Favorite Female Sports Star list, again followed by race car driver Danica Patrick.  Tennis star and Wimbledon runner-up Maria Sharapova moves up one spot from number 5 to number 4 this year while soccer legend Mia Hamm drops one point from number 4 to number 5.  Next in the top ten is another tennis star, Anna Kournikova at number 6, same as she was last year and then tennis legend Martina Navratilova moves up from a tie for number 10 to a tie for number 7. Three newcomers round out the top ten: WNBA star Sue Bird at a tie for number 7; beach volleyball player Kerry Walsh at a tie for number 9 and golfer Michele Wie also at a tie for number 9.

The four female sports starts who dropped off the list are gold medal volleyball player Misty May and gold medal-winning gymnast and former Dancing with the Stars champion, Shawn Johnson, who were tied for number 7; women's basketball star Lisa Leslie who was tied for number 9; and former tennis great, Billie Jean King who was tied for number 10.

So what?

This year continues to see the fall of Tiger Woods down the top 10 list of America's favorite sports stars. As his playing woes continue, it is likely that this fall will continue next year. But, with each fall is a rise and as baseball fans watched and waited for Derek Jeter's 3,000th hit, adults in general recognize the feat as well. The continued presence of Michael Jordan on this list is also telling. Here's someone who stopped playing in 2003 but was just so good that he continues to remain one of America's favorite sports stars and has been on this list every year since 1993 and was number one from 1993 – 2005. There is a good chance he will probably be on this list still even 20 years after his last basket was made.

New and returning to the Top 10 This Year – Albert Pujols (returning from 10 in 2009), Hines Ward, Derek Rose, and Aaron Rodgers

On the 2010 List But Dropped off Top 10 This Year – Brett Favre (was 4), LeBron James (was 6), Drew Brees (was 9) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (was 10)

Those who are new or returning to the Top 10 This Year - Sue Bird, Kerry Walsh, and Michele Wie (was 8 in 2007)

Those on the 2010 List Who Have Dropped Out of the Top Ten This Year - Misty May (was =7), Shawn Johnson (was =7), Lisa Leslie (was =9), and Billy Jean King (was =10)

Methodology

This Harris Poll was conducted online within the United States June 13 to 20, 2011 among 2,163 adults (aged 18 and over). Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online.

All sample surveys and polls, whether or not they use probability sampling, are subject to multiple sources of error which are most often not possible to quantify or estimate, including sampling error, coverage error, error associated with nonresponse, error associated with question wording and response options, and post-survey weighting and adjustments. Therefore, Harris Interactive avoids the words "margin of error" as they are misleading. All that can be calculated are different possible sampling errors with different probabilities for pure, unweighted, random samples with 100% response rates. These are only theoretical because no published polls come close to this ideal.

Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in Harris Interactive surveys. The data have been weighted to reflect the composition of the adult population. Because the sample is based on those who agreed to participate in the Harris Interactive panel, no estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

The results of this Harris Poll may not be used in advertising, marketing or promotion without the prior written permission of Harris Interactive.

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Q810, 815, 820, 823

The Harris Poll® #83, July 14, 2011
By Regina A. Corso, SVP, Harris Poll, PR and Youth Research, Harris Interactive

About Harris Interactive

Harris Interactive is one of the world's leading custom market research firms, leveraging research, technology, and business acumen to transform relevant insight into actionable foresight. Known widely for the Harris Poll and for pioneering innovative research methodologies, Harris offers expertise in a wide range of industries including healthcare, technology, public affairs, energy, telecommunications, financial services, insurance, media, retail, restaurant, and consumer package goods. Serving clients in over 215 countries and territories through our North American, European, and Asian offices and a network of independent market research firms, Harris specializes in delivering research solutions that help us – and our clients – stay ahead of what's next. For more information, please visit www.harrisinteractive.com.

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SOURCE Harris Interactive