|
Data are
from nationwide surveys of Americans 18 & older. |
|
Athletes
|
FOX
News/Opinion Dynamics Poll. Aug. 21-22, 2007. N=900 registered voters
nationwide. MoE ± 3. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
. |
|
"Do you think
most professional athletes are good role models for children today?" |
|
|
|
|
|
|
. |
|
|
Yes |
No |
Unsure |
|
|
|
|
% |
% |
% |
|
|
|
8/21-22/07 |
38 |
57 |
5 |
|
|
|
3/1-2/05 |
39 |
58 |
4 |
|
|
|
9/3-4/97 |
35 |
58 |
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
. |
|
"Which comes
closer to how you feel about the increased number of professional athletes
in the news recently for their bad behavior? There are more professional
athletes who behave badly these days. The number of athletes misbehaving is
the same, there are just more news stories about it these days." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
. |
|
|
More Bad
Behavior |
More News
Stories |
Combination
(vol.) |
Unsure |
|
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
8/21-22/07 |
27 |
56 |
14 |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
. |
|
"Do you think
professional athletes and sports officials regularly bet on professional
sporting events, or not?" |
|
|
|
|
|
|
. |
|
|
They Do |
They Do Not |
Unsure |
|
|
|
|
% |
% |
% |
|
|
|
8/21-22/07 |
62 |
21 |
17 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
. |
|
"Which one of
the following scandals do you think has done more harm to its sport? The NBA
referee caught betting on basketball games. Professional football player
Michael Vick who has agreed to plead guilty to illegal dog fighting charges.
Professional baseball player Barry Bonds being suspected by many to be a
steroid user." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
. |
|
|
NBA Referee |
Michael Vick |
Barry Bonds |
Unsure |
|
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
8/21-22/07 |
23 |
38 |
26 |
13 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CNN/USA Today/Gallup
Poll. Feb. 24-26, 2003. N=1,003
adults nationwide. MoE ± 3. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
. |
|
"In
addition to scholarships, do you think college athletes should be paid for
playing on college teams, or not?" |
|
|
|
|
|
|
. |
|
|
Yes |
No |
Unsure |
|
|
|
|
% |
% |
% |
|
|
|
2/03 |
24 |
72 |
4 |
|
|
|
3/01 |
21 |
75 |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| The
Gallup Poll. Aug. 24-27, 2000. N=1,019 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
. |
|
"In your opinion, who is the greatest athlete active in the
world of sports today?"
Open-ended
question. |
|
|
% |
|
|
|
|
|
Tiger Woods |
30 |
|
|
|
|
|
Michael Jordan |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
Mark McGwire |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Cal Ripkin |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
Other * |
26 |
|
|
|
|
|
None |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
No opinion |
31 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
. |
|
*
1% or less apiece |
|
| Gallup/CNN/USA
Today Poll. Dec. 20-21, 1999. N=1,031 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
. |
|
"What
man or woman living anytime this century do you think was the greatest athlete of the
century, in terms of their athletic performance?"
Open-ended
question. |
|
|
% |
|
|
|
|
|
Michael Jordan |
23 |
|
|
|
|
|
Muhammad Ali |
9 |
|
|
|
|
|
Babe Ruth |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
Jim Thorpe |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
Jesse Owens |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Walter Payton |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
Jackie
Joyner-Kersee |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
Other |
27 |
|
|
|
|
|
No opinion |
26 |
|
|
|
|
|
| The
Harris Poll. Oct. 27-Nov. 2, 1999. N=1,011 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3. |
| . |
|
"Who is your favorite
sports star?"
Open-ended question. |
|
Top Responses, Ranked |
|
|
1999 |
1998 |
1997 |
1996 |
1995 |
1994 |
1993 |
|
Michael Jordan |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Joe Montana |
2 |
9 |
5 |
8 tie |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Troy Aikman |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
3 |
8 |
|
Brett Favre |
4 |
4 |
3 |
8 tie |
* |
* |
* |
|
Mark McGwire |
5 |
2 |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
|
John Elway |
6 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
* |
10 |
* |
|
Tiger Woods |
7 |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
|
Dale Earnhardt |
8 |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
|
Sammy Sosa |
9 |
7 |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
|
Steve Young |
10 |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
. |
|
|
* Not in top 10 |
|
|
|
|
|
| NBC News/Wall
Street Journal Poll conducted by the polling organizations of Peter Hart (D) and
Robert Teeter (R). Sept. 9-12,1999. N=1,010 adults nationwide. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
. |
|
"Which one of the
following do you consider to be the greatest American male athlete of the 20th century? .
. ." |
|
|
% |
|
|
|
|
Michael Jordan |
35 |
|
|
|
|
Babe Ruth |
13 |
|
|
|
|
Muhammad Ali |
11 |
|
|
|
|
Jim Thorpe |
11 |
|
|
|
|
Jesse Owens |
10 |
|
|
|
|
Jackie Robinson |
7 |
|
|
|
|
Jack Nicklaus |
2 |
|
|
|
|
Johnny Unitas |
1 |
|
|
|
|
All (vol.) |
4 |
|
|
|
|
None/Other (vol.) |
1 |
|
|
|
|
Not sure |
5 |
|
|
|
|
Favorite
Sport
|
FOX
News/Opinion Dynamics Poll. Aug. 21-22, 2007. N=900 registered voters
nationwide. MoE ± 3. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
. |
|
"What is your
favorite spectator sport?"
Open-ended |
|
|
|
|
|
|
. |
|
|
% |
|
|
|
|
|
Football |
36 |
|
|
|
|
|
Baseball |
13 |
|
|
|
|
|
Basketball |
8 |
|
|
|
|
|
Soccer |
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
Auto racing/NASCAR |
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
Tennis |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Golf |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
Hockey |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
Ice skating |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
Gymnastics |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Horse racing |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Volleyball |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Other |
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
None |
9 |
|
|
|
|
|
Unsure |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
. |
|
"And what's
your favorite sport to participate in?"
Open-ended |
|
|
|
|
|
|
. |
|
|
% |
|
|
|
|
|
Baseball |
10 |
|
|
|
|
|
Football |
8 |
|
|
|
|
|
Basketball |
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
Golf |
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
Tennis |
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
Swimming |
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
Volleyball |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
Bowling |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Soccer |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Track and field |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
Auto racing/NASCAR |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Skiing/Snowboarding |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Hockey |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Other |
15 |
|
|
|
|
|
None |
24 |
|
|
|
|
|
Unsure |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| The Harris
Poll. Aug. 12-17,
2003. N=1,011 adults
nationwide. MoE ± 3. |
. |
|
Asked of those who said they
follow a sport:
"If you had to choose, which one of these sports would you say is your favorite? . .
." |
. |
|
|
2003 |
2002 |
1998 |
1997 |
1994 |
1993 |
1992 |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
Pro football |
29 |
27 |
26 |
28 |
24 |
24 |
28 |
|
Baseball |
13 |
14 |
18 |
17 |
17 |
18 |
21 |
|
Men's pro basketball |
10 |
11 |
13 |
13 |
11 |
12 |
8 |
|
Auto racing |
9 |
10 |
7 |
5 |
5 |
6 |
5 |
|
College football |
9 |
9 |
9 |
10 |
7 |
8 |
7 |
|
Men's college basketball |
6 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
|
Men's golf |
5 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
5 |
6 |
4 |
|
Hockey |
3 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
3 |
3 |
|
Soccer |
3 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
|
Track and field |
3 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
Women's tennis |
2 |
3 |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
|
Men's
tennis |
2 |
1 |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
|
Horse racing |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
|
Women's pro basketball |
1 |
1 |
- |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
|
Bowling |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
|
Women's golf |
1 |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
|
Women's college basketball |
- |
1 |
1 |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
|
Not sure |
1 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
|
| The
Gallup Poll. March 26-28, 2001. N=1,024 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
. |
|
"Next,
we’d like to ask you some questions about sports. What is your favorite sport to
watch?" |
|
|
% |
|
|
|
|
|
Football |
28 |
|
|
|
|
|
Basketball |
16 |
|
|
|
|
|
Baseball |
12 |
|
|
|
|
|
Auto racing |
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
Golf |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
Ice/Figure skating |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
Ice hockey |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Soccer |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
Tennis |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
Boxing |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
Gymnastics |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Motorcross |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Wrestling |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Volleyball |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Other |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
None |
12 |
|
|
|
|
|
No opinion |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
. |
|
"For
each of the following, please say whether you are a fan of that sport or not. . . ." |
|
|
Yes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
% |
|
|
|
|
|
Professional football |
54 |
|
|
|
|
|
Professional baseball |
46 |
|
|
|
|
|
College football |
44 |
|
|
|
|
|
Figure skating |
40 |
|
|
|
|
|
College basketball |
38 |
|
|
|
|
|
Professional basketball |
36 |
|
|
|
|
|
Auto racing |
31 |
|
|
|
|
|
Professional golf |
27 |
|
|
|
|
|
Professional ice hockey |
24 |
|
|
|
|
|
Professional tennis |
19 |
|
|
|
|
|
Professional wrestling |
12 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Associated
Press Poll conducted by ICR. Aug. 23-30, 1998. N=1,006 adults nationwide. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
. |
| "I'm going to read
you a list of several spectator sports. Please tell me which one you enjoy following the
most: Professional football. Figure skating. Professional basketball. Major League
Baseball. Professional hockey." |
|
|
% |
|
|
|
|
|
Professional football |
38 |
|
|
|
|
|
Figure skating |
20 |
|
|
|
|
|
Professional basketball |
20 |
|
|
|
|
|
Major League Baseball |
11 |
|
|
|
|
|
Professional hockey |
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
Don't know/Refused |
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
Women's
Sports
|
NBC
News/Wall Street Journal Poll conducted by the polling
organizations of Peter Hart (D) and Robert Teeter (R).
Jan. 19-21, 2003. N=500
adults nationwide. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
. |
|
"Title Nine
is a federal law that prohibits high schools and colleges that receive
federal funds from discriminating on the basis of gender. Title Nine is most
commonly invoked to ensure equal opportunities for girls and women in high
school and college athletics. Do you approve or disapprove of Title Nine as
it is described here?" |
|
|
|
% |
|
|
. |
|
Approve |
68 |
|
|
|
|
Disapprove |
20 |
|
|
|
|
Don't know enough (vol.) |
6 |
|
|
|
|
Not sure |
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
. |
|
"To comply
with Title Nine, many schools and universities have had to cut back on
resources for men's athletic programs and invest more in women's athletic
programs to make the programs more equal. Do you approve or disapprove of
cutting back on men's athletics to ensure equivalent athletic opportunities
for women?" |
|
|
|
% |
|
|
. |
|
Approve of cutting back |
66 |
|
|
|
|
Disapprove of cutting back |
27 |
|
|
|
|
Not sure |
7 |
|
|
|
|
| The Harris
Poll. February 11-15, 1999. N=1,007 adults nationwide. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
. |
| "Do you ever watch or
follow any women's sports?" |
|
|
ALL |
Men |
Women |
|
|
|
|
% |
% |
% |
|
|
|
Yes |
40 |
46 |
33 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
. |
Asked of those who said they watch
or follow women's sports:
"What is your favorite women's sport -- the one you like to watch or follow
the most?" |
|
|
ALL |
Men |
Women |
|
|
|
|
% |
% |
% |
|
|
|
Basketball |
37 |
39 |
34 |
|
|
|
Figure skating |
20 |
13 |
30 |
|
|
|
Tennis |
12 |
13 |
10 |
|
|
|
Golf |
7 |
7 |
7 |
|
|
|
Gymnastics |
6 |
7 |
5 |
|
|
|
Volleyball |
5 |
6 |
4 |
|
|
|
Track and field |
3 |
4 |
2 |
|
|
|
Soccer |
3 |
4 |
1 |
|
|
|
Baseball |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
Swimming |
1 |
- |
1 |
|
|
|
Hockey |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
Other |
4 |
4 |
5 |
|
|
|
None |
1 |
1 |
- |
|
|
|
Don't know |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
. |
Asked of those who said they watch
or follow women's sports:
"Who is your favorite women's sports star?" |
|
|
Rank |
|
|
|
|
|
Jackie Joyner Kersee |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Michelle Kwan |
2 |
|
|
</ | |
