15 Certified American Treasures in Sports

Not every American treasure is found on a map drawn from a convoluted set of riddles and other clues uncovered by Nicholas Cage. Some treasures are embodied by who someone is—and not solely by what they have accomplished during the course of their lives and careers (like Nicholas Cage).

The sports industry is very good at creating heroes and villains, because winning and losing ensures the people responsible for the results are either one or the other. So being an American sports treasure isn't necessarily defined as being a hero—heroics in sports are much too fleeting.

An American Sports Treasure can be any American who is vitally important to sports and relevant today—but is uniquely iconic and influential...even loved. Their statuses may not be possible without their achievements, but their success—their place in sports—feels bigger than their career achievements.

These are 15 certified American Sports Treasures.

LeBron James

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When someone has the kind of talent people like to describe as rare or once in a generation, inevitably his career is compared to past greats in the sport—or even sports as a whole. And when the athlete isn’t being measured against historically great careers, the very fact he merits consideration makes his relevance to the sport easy to take for granted. Really, this dynamic boils down to one truth: Haters are gonna hate.

Cleveland Cavaliers superstar Lebron James is a perfect example—lauded coming out of high school, he (like Kobe Bryant) is one of those rare NBA players who has been every bit as good as anticipated despite bypassing the NCAA process. James’ infamous, televised free-agency spectacle, The Decision, was a terrible idea, but he’s back in the city that had its heart broken and playing in the conference finals.

The Decision is almost irrelevant at this point, and compared to some of the mid-career decisions made by the greatest in any sport, hardly a footnote. The fact he is as much a decision-maker as a player simply underscores his importance to the game.

Not only is King James the best player in the NBA (and arguably has been since he went pro), with two championships and more hardware than can be reasonably listed here, he’s multi-talented as a human being. He dedicates significant time and resources to philanthropic efforts in communities that need it and is as savvy as anyone in the business. His path to success wouldn’t be possible without once-in-a-generation talent, character and ambition—the fundamental elements found in the American Dream.

McKayla Maroney

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Say what you will about Americans, but in no other country in the world would the immortal words of one Ricky Bobby, “If you ain’t first, you’re last,” be so seriously embraced. The character in the movie who made it up even admitted he was drunk when he came up with it and that it didn’t make any sense.

Yet it endures. And there may be no better real-world example of an athlete taking that philosophy to heart than gymnast and vault specialist McKayla Maroney at the 2012 Olympics in London. The U.S. team won overall gold, but Maroney was expected to take home another gold as the favorite in the individual vault.

Maroney came up just short in her quest for first, placing second to Romania’s Sandra Izbasa. Though some may have been thrilled to be on that podium, McKayla couldn’t quite hide her disappointment. Her complete lack of being impressed would launch countless memes—at least the PR she got was worth its weight in gold. 

Jack Nicklaus

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Legendary pro golfer Jack Nicklaus’ legacy in the sport isn’t up for debate. Over his 26-year career on the PGA tour, The Golden Bear won 71 tournaments, including a record 18 major championships—the high-water mark by which all other greats are compared. When a prodigal young golfer like Tiger Woods or Rory McIlroy looks unbeatable, the narrative is always: Can they win more majors than Nicklaus?

Beyond his place as golf’s version of The Great One, Nicklaus has always been the approachable, friendly face of the sport, a man who has done nothing to shake the notion of his role as the quintessential family man and compassionate philanthropist. Nicklaus has raised more than $12 million for pediatric health care and has led efforts to support and raise money for military families.

The merits of his career, life and charitable causes were recognized in March 2015 when he received the Congressional Gold Medal—the highest civilian honor. So even though some folks can always find a reason to debate the veracity of a legend’s greatness, even when it seems obvious to most, Nicklaus’ status as a national treasure is now on the record.

Michael Phelps

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Since the closing ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, swimmer Michael Phelps hasn’t generated the best headlines—or done much to inspire confidence in his ability to be as dominant next year at the Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro as he was in Beijing and London. For almost any athlete—regardless of talent and hardware—spending 45 days in alcohol rehab and serving a six-month suspension after being arrested a second time for DUI would be anything but an opportunity.

But Michael Phelps is not almost anyone; he’s the U.S. swimmer who made winning Olympic gold look almost easy en route to winning 18 of them over eight years—blowing away the international competition and Olympian Mark Spitz’s previous record of nine.

Phelps is a preternatural athlete who has never truly failed to live up to expectations in competition; and after being a world-beater for Team USA, he has the chance to do it again while adding two more titles treasured by Americans to his repertoire: underdog and redemption story.

John Madden

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NFL everyman John Madden is the goofy, collective grandfather of pro football; and if not because of his existing relationship with the sport, he earns the designation for his influence on contemporary culture. He’s a big, weird-looking guy who’s afraid of flying and says things that can simultaneously make fans cringe and laugh, but when he says, “Sit up straight, son!,” you listen.

Madden is one of the rare sports icons whose reach extended beyond a single aspect of the game. He was thrown into the national spotlight when the 33-year-old became the head coach of the Oakland Raiders in 1969—by his retirement in 1979, he had helped transform the franchise into a fearsome winner and a virtual NFL brand of the same ilk.

But it was as an NFL broadcaster that John Madden became more than just a respected coach and “Immaculate Reception” conspiracy theorist—his let’em play style and ability to explain finer points of the game was neither pretentious nor offensive. Madden’s voice grew into the voice of NFL broadcasts in the 1990s and Monday Night Football in the first decade of the 21st Century—so much so that Madden continues to be one of the biggest video game franchises on the market.

Will Ferrell

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When it comes to celebrity sports fans, they don't get more dedicated or more beloved than legendary comedian Will Ferrell. He has more than proved his love of all thing sports with his movie choices over the years, which have focused on everything from NASCAR to figure skating.

A Southern California native, Ferrell is a well-known USC football and Lakers fan. He’s routinely spotted at baseball games and tennis matches and has recently played every position for 10 teams in a single day, all for charity. His spring training stunt raised nearly $1 million for various cancer charities.

On Saturday Night Live, Ferrell’s cheerleader character and impression of the late Cubs broadcaster Harry Caray both helped to define him as one of the funniest cast members in the show’s history. He’s also left us in stitches announcing the starting lineups at a number of MLB and NBA games.

Shaquille O'Neal

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Shaquille O’Neal was one of the greatest and most entertaining players in the NBA during his prime. His sometimes whip-smart and witty way with words, combined with the epic ongoing saga that played out between him and former teammate Kobe Bryant, should alone be enough to get the guy into the Hall of Fame.

Since playing his last game in the 2010-11 season, Shaq has remained among the most visible and popular people in the game. Perhaps the funniest and most fascinating thing about O’Neal, who is generally a one-man force of nature, is the hilariously monotone and mockable presence on TNT’s Inside the NBA.

Of course, the one usually doing the mocking is cross-table adversary Charles Barkley. Shaq Fu’s most recent snafu on the set came just weeks ago, when he attempted to get up from his stage on set and promptly fell flat on his face. Instead of hiding in shame, as most of us would, Shaq offered $500 on air for the best #Shaqtinafall meme.

Alex Morgan

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U.S. women’s soccer striker Alex Morgan is one of the rare people on this planet who literally has it all. First of all, there’s no denying her beauty. The quintessential girl next door, Morgan’s moony-eyed male fanbase extends well beyond soccer fans.

That’s not to say she’s not loved by the ladies, too—she is. Morgan is a certified superstar in women’s soccer. In 2009, she was the youngest member ever to be named to the women’s national team, and she hasn’t disappointed.

Not only that, Morgan is an outspoken activist for gender equality and hasn’t been shy about publicly tackling tough issues facing athletes, like the toll that playing on artificial turf takes on players. If someone doesn’t like Alex Morgan, it says a lot more about that person than it does about her.

Derrick Rose

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Bulls point guard Derrick Rose is on this list not just because, for a minute there, it looked like he might a man who could almost fill the shoes of a certain former Bulls superstar before him, but also because he’s a literally delicate treasure.

The sky was the limit for the NBA’s 2011 MVP, but after spending the next two seasons largely inactive due to injuries, Rose has many wondering if he’ll ever be the player it once looked liked he would be.

That being said, Rose is still beloved in and out of Chicago. Of course, every time he takes an awkward step, we collectively gasp, assuming it’s going to be the end, but we’re invested. People outside his town want him to succeed, which is more than you can say about a lot of athletes.

Rachel Nichols

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ESPN’s one that got away, sports journalist and personality Rachel Nichols is the go-to woman at Turner these days, covering the NBA, MLB, and NCAA Tournament on a variety of platforms. She’s at her best when asking the questions and has earned a reputation for not backing down.

Nichols has made a name for herself by landing high-profile interviews with the likes of LeBron James, who has sat down with her on a number of occasions, and Floyd Mayweather Jr., who she grilled about his history of domestic violence in September 2014. The interview left quite an impression on Mayweather, who was so bothered by it nine months later that he allegedly attempted to ban Nichols (as well as ESPN’s Michelle Beadle) from receiving media credentials for his fizz-out bout with Manny Pacquiao. Eventually, he backed down.

Honestly though, it was an interaction Nichols had with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell which truly certified her as an American Treasure. At an awkward and bumbling press conference in January 2015, Goodell was on the defensive throughout, but his worst moment was belittling Nichols for what was a very reasonable question. She was lauded for doing her job like a true professional, while he was chided for behaving like a jag.

Drew Brees

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Though he was the second quarterback taken in the 2001 NFL draft, former Purdue standout Drew Brees played four very solid seasons in San Diego before the Chargers gave him up for dead following the 2005 season. It was especially brutal, given he suffered what could have been a career-ending shoulder injury playing in what was an absolutely meaningless game.

The Chargers made a martyr out of Brees when they released him, and the Saints changed the course of history when they signed him in March 2006—not just for their franchise, but obviously for Brees himself. Coming off surgery for a torn labrum, suitors weren’t exactly beating down his door. In fact, Miami and New Orleans were the only teams even interested.

We all know what thappened next. The previous season, the Saints finished 3-13, mired in the horrendous aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. In his first season under center, Brees led the Saints to a 10-6 record, first place in the NFC South and all the way to the conference championship. It was their first playoff appearance since 2000—their last postseason appearance was in 1992.

Much like the city itself, Brees’ career rose from the ashes like a phoenix in New Orleans, constantly improving on personal bests and setting NFL records along the way. The highlight was his defeating the Colts in Super Bowl XLIV in February 2010. Brees led the Saints to the playoffs that season (obviously) and three of the next four, too. He's a beloved figure in the sports world and one of the league's truly nice guys. 

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

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Even for the most casual NASCAR fan, or even a non-NASCAR fan, there are a handful of drivers who are easily recognized. Danica Patrick is obviously one, but considering her general lack of success, her popularity doesn’t come without controversy.

A less questionable name on that list is Dale Earnhardt Jr., the son of famed driver Dale Earnhardt, who died in 2001 following an accident at the Daytona 500. Both father and son are among the most popular drivers in the sport’s history.

In fact, so popular is the family name in NASCAR, that in December 2014, Earnhardt Jr. won the Sprint NMPA Most Popular Driver Award for the 12th consecutive time.

Serena Williams

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Tennis great Serena Williams has seen her share of controversy over the years. On occasion, she has let her temper and her mouth get the better of her, and her fierce fashion choices have been criticized—and one time she caught a lot of heat for doing a little dance.

Williams is big, bad and bold and apologies for nothing. And she shouldn’t have to. Not only is she the only American name in tennis these days, but she’s also already mentioned among the greatest female players to ever play the game. By the time she retires, she may very well be the absolute best.

She may be polarizing, but that doesn’t make her any less of an American Treasure. In fact, few countries are more polarizing in the world than ours, which makes Williams’ status as a certified national treasure all the more fitting.

Derek Jeter

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Retired but never forgotten, former Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter was one of the most popular athletes in all of sports throughout his esteemed career and will remain so for decades to come–if not forever.

Keith Olbermann might not agree, but the fact that a New York Yankee was celebrated on the road throughout his final season in 2014, including in Boston, speaks to the high esteem in which he’s long been held.

Stephen Curry

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Warriors point guard Stephen Curry hasn’t just put the Warriors on the map (literally, until last year I wasn’t even sure where Golden State was, like if it was a real place or something); he’s made them legitimate contenders. The No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, they are just three games away from advancing to the NBA Finals, assuming they can put the Houston Rockets to rest.

Of course, that’s anything but a sure thing, but reaching the Western Conference Finals alone is no small achievement. The Warriors are easy to root for because Steph Curry is impossible not to root for. There are few things that we, as a nation, love more than an underdog story, and Curry definitely classifies as such. He may be the 2015 NBA MVP, but Curry didn’t get much attention by recruiters in high school and ended up playing college ball at Davidson.

In 2013 he was dropped by Nike, which refused to match neither the pay nor the enthusiasm offered by Under Armour. Today, he’s one of the hottest commodities in all of sports, not to mention one of the most adorable. As if Curry wasn’t already lovable enough, the postgame press conference he recently held with his little girl on his lap melted the heart of anyone (with a soul) who saw it.