Sports Stars We REALLY Want to See Get a Title Soon
Larry Fitzgerald will go another year without a Super Bowl title. That might be the worst part about the Arizona Cardinals getting trounced by the Carolina Panthers in the NFC Championship Game.
It's bad because Fitzgerald is so great, and he is so likable. Athletes like that tend to inspire people to root for them—to make folks think they deserve a title. And guess what. Fitz does deserve one.
The following are 16 athletes most people would love to see win a championship soon. (Greg Olsen might actually do it very, very soon.) They haven't yet hoisted the highest trophy of their respective games, but they are some of the most talented, well-respected and just generally good people in sports today. And some—some are just so good it is plain wrong to think of them becoming the next Karl Malone.
From "it would be nice to see him win" to "I would consider donating a kidney to see him win," here they are.
Chris Paul
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Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul is one of the more understated superstars in the NBA. A perennial All-Star, who is (as of Jan. 26) averaging 10.7 assists and 20.9 points per 36 minutes, Paul generally goes about his business more quietly than others, but it makes him no less talented.
Even amid turmoil around him, Paul generally remains above the fray (key word: generally). Royce Young of ESPN wrote, "Paul's reputation has always been mostly sterling throughout the league. Despite a lack of postseason success, Paul is regarded as a master craftsman, the prototypical floor general who balances between taking over himself and distributing to others."
Sure, he has had a reputation for flopping, but overall, Paul is one of the more mellow, laid-back guys in the NBA. Even if folks don't want to see the Clippers get a title, it would be nice to see Paul get one.
Candace Parker
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Los Angeles Sparks forward Candace Parker won two NCAA basketball championships at Tennessee, but she has yet to claim the professional game's top prize.
The Sparks won back-to-back titles in 2001 and 2002, but that was years before Parker's arrival on-scene in 2008.
Once she did become a pro, Parker took off running. She was the WNBA Rookie of the Year and MVP in 2008. In her rookie season, she also became the first player to dunk in consecutive games. Since then, Parker has won another MVP (2013) and earned first-team All-WNBA honors four times.
In mid-January, the 29-year-old talked championship dreams with Brittanie Fowler of Swish Appeal. She said, "I want to do that because I feel like when you win championships, that's something that people can't take away from you. You can't dispute who won the WNBA championship. People can argue individual awards, but that championship means a lot."
J.J. Watt
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Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt is still a young man—26 years old—so the desire to see him win a title is less urgent than others on this list.
Still, he is one of the NFL's best defensive players—a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, in fact—and a Super Bowl should be part of his great future. In 2015 alone he recorded 57 tackles and a league-leading 17.5 sacks.
Watt appears to be one of the nicer guys off the field, too. There are constantly stories popping up about him engaging with young fans or doing charitable work. Here's hoping the Texans can improve upon back-to-back 9-7 seasons and help Watt get that ring.
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Jarome Iginla
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Jarome Iginla has been in the NHL since 1996. He is a six-time All-Star, and in early January, he became just the 19th person in NHL history to reach the 600-goal mark.
Yet he has never won a title, and some believe the 38-year-old winger never will. He came close with the Calgary Flames in 2004, losing Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. Later, after over 15 seasons with the Flames, Iginla had chances with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2013 and the Boston Bruins in 2014, only to fall short of the final series both times.
Still, the enduring professional remains easy to root for. In 2013, hockey media member Jordan Shifman tweeted, "You know, Jarome Iginla isn't just a likable, respectable person and #NHL player, he's also a great Canadian."
Russell Westbrook
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In his eighth NBA season, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook does not yet have a title. The five-time All-Star is not only one of the league's best guards, but he is also one of the biggest and most unique personalities in the league.
His blunt honesty might not be for everyone, but Westbrook is certainly not afraid to be himself. And man, is he fun to watch on the court.
Not only that, but his relationship with teammate Kevin Durant is the kind that makes people want to see both of them win a title together. Durant said in November that he and Westbrook are "like family," per Anthony Slater of the Oklahoman.
Calvin Johnson
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Calvin Johnson has been one of the most fearsome wide receivers in the NFL for the better part of a decade. The Detroit Lions drafted Johnson second overall in the 2007 NFL draft, and since then, he has led the league in receiving yards twice (1,681 in 2011 and an NFL record 1,964 in 2012).
At age 30, the All-Pro appears to be falling off a bit from his prime, and he released a statement in early January to announce he is considering retirement. Assuming he does not hang it up, the subsequent urgency will provide even more reason to root for a Super Bowl victory for one of the game's greats.
Given the Lions 7-9 campaign in 2015-16, a title for Megatron may be unlikely, but not impossible. Or he could play for another team entirely.
Paul George
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Indiana Pacers forward Paul George is young, so he has time for the title many basketball fans would like to see him win.
The 25-year-old has been an inspiration to many after his comeback from a horrific leg injury in 2014. On his recovery, George told Michael Lee of Yahoo Sports, "I knew at the end of the road, where I wanted to be. I knew I wanted to be at the highest level. I wanted to return as one of the best players in the world again. That's how I wanted my story to end."
Indeed, he has returned to a high level. George is averaging almost 24 points per game (as of Jan. 26) and was voted a starter for the All-Star team.
Even before the injury, however, George was one of the most exciting young stars in the NBA, and it's always fun to see guys like that succeed.
Caroline Wozniacki
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Danish tennis pro Caroline Wozniacki has been ranked as high as No. 1 in the world, and she has won 23 WTA singles titles, but she has yet to win her first Grand Slam.
Despite her lack of a major win, Wozniacki remains one of the most marketable female athletes in the world and landed at No. 3 on Forbes' 2015 list of the world's highest-earning female athletes.
At the risk of sounding wishy-washy, Wozniacki also just seems like a decent human. She is besties with 21-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams, and if Instagram is to be believed, she is nothing but supportive of her friend's success.
Greg Olsen
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Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen actually has a legitimate shot to win his first Super Bowl title within the next few weeks.
Olsen, a nine-year pro, spent four seasons with the Chicago Bears and five with the Panthers. During that time, he has made it to the Pro Bowl and racked up over 1,000 receiving yards twice. Jerry Angelo, the former Bears general manager who traded him away in 2011, has since admitted he made a mistake.
Plus, the guy is hilarious. Check out his (non) photobomb or Gatorade commercial. He is also selling sweet 1990s-themed Super Bowl T-shirts for charity. Awesome.
Henrik Lundqvist
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New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist is charming, he's good looking and he's exceptionally skilled between the pipes. He is New York's Derek Jeter of hockey.
Lundqvist has played for the Rangers his entire 11-year NHL career, made several All-Star teams and won the Vezina Trophy in 2012. On his watch, the Rangers have made five straight playoff appearances, though they still seek the team's first Stanley Cup victory since 1994.
Like many on this list, Lundqvist is active in charitable causes. He has his own foundation and led his teammates in a mustache-growing Movember effort in 2015.
Felix Hernandez
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Felix Hernandez is one of those guys people want to see win just because he is that good. Also, no one wants to see a great athlete's team be the sole reason he never wins a title.
Hernandez is a six-time All-Star, Cy Young winner, pitcher of a perfect game and holder of a career 3.11 ERA. However, he has also played his entire 11-year career with the Seattle Mariners, a team that has yet to make the playoffs during his time there.
Jason Witten
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Not everyone likes the Dallas Cowboys, but it's hard not to like Jason Witten. The 33-year-old tight end is one of the game's greats, and he is an absolute workhorse.
Witten has played in 207 games, and he quietly goes about the business of being the Cowboys franchise leader in receptions. The All-Pro also set a Cowboys record for consecutive games with a catch in 2015.
Despite talk that a change of scenery might help his Super Bowl chances, Witten said on The Ticket (1310 AM), "I would just say this: I'm all in. I've said that before, with this group and these guys. I haven't even thought about the fact that this team can't do it and this group won't do it here for this city and this franchise," per Todd Archer of ESPN.
What a guy, right?
Shane Doan
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Arizona Coyotes captain Shane Doan has been in the NHL for 20 years, he has been to the postseason nine times and still no Stanley Cup.
Yet his leadership and loyalty have been invaluable to his team. Even during off years, Doan been a stalwart. Josh Cooper of Puck Daddy wrote, "… the 39-year-old Doan has this image of a loyal leader/warrior who has stayed with the Coyotes franchise through the lean times."
For his part, Doan said, "You need to behave and act accordingly and that's the tradition of our sport. And [that's] what I love about our sport. It's held at such a high standard," per Jeremy Fuchs of SI.com.
For a guy with that reputation of always playing the game "the right way," it would be nice to see him get a Cup before he hangs up the skates.
Kevin Durant
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Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder is one of, if not the, best active players in the NBA without a championship.
Durant was the No. 2 overall draft pick in 2007, and he has led the Thunder to the five playoff appearances, including a 2012 trip to the NBA Finals.
His relationship with the media may be a tad on the rocky side, but Durant is still widely likable. He is complimentary of his peers, and Berry Tramel of the Oklahoman called him an "all-world teammate."
In 2013, Durant told Lee Jenkins of Sports Illustrated (via SI.com's Ben Golliver), "I'm tired of being second. I'm not going to settle for that. I'm done with it."
Since he uttered those words, Durant has won an NBA MVP, but he still lacks the title. Like his teammate Russell Westbrook, Durant's greatness does not need, but certainly deserves, the validation of a championship.
Andrew McCutchen
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Andrew McCutchen has been a Pittsburgh Pirate since 2009—his entire MLB career—and team owner Bob Nutting hopes it stays that way.
Nutting told Bob Nightengale of USA Today, "I'm not sure we're allowed to sign lifetime agreements, but I'd love to see him stay with us forever. He's been remarkable for the game, and for Pittsburgh, on-and-off-the field."
The beloved outfielder is a five-time All-Star and 2013 National League MVP. He has helped the Pirates to three straight playoff appearances, though they have failed to advance past the division series in any of those seasons.
In 2015, McCutchen won the Roberto Clemente Award, annually given to an athlete "who best represents the game of baseball through positive contributions on and off the field, including sportsmanship and community involvement," per Matt Snyder of CBS Sports.
Larry Fitzgerald
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In 2015, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald became the first winner of the NFL player-voted Art Rooney Award for sportsmanship. As demonstrated by that sentiment from his peers, and by classy moments like this, Fitzgerald is one of the best guys in sports.
People want to see likable players win, but they also want to see good players win. Fitzgerald embodies both.
The perennial Pro Bowler has over 13,000 career receiving yards, including 1,215 in 2015, a season in which he turned 32. He has also tallied 1,018 catches in his career, well shy of Jerry Rice's record 1,549, but still good for No. 11 on the all-time list.
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