Need more proof LeBron James has become the most vilified athlete in America?
A new poll shows James has tumbled out of the top 5 of a list of favorite American athletes, according to Harris Interactive.
When he wore No. 23 in Cleveland, James rivaled Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan in popularity. But free agency may have changed all that.
James is now sixth on the ego-boosting list, but luckily the poll was taken before the made-for-TV debacle and his decision to join the Superfriends in Miami.
If the 2,227 people polled were asked after that night, he probably would have been erased from the list or ranked behind some obscure ping-pong player.
Tops on the list is Kobe Bryant and Tiger Woods, who has been America's darling since 2006. Sex scandals and romps with porn stars allowed Bryant, who was ranked fourth last year, to catch up.
Apparently, infidelity is a little easier to swallow than taking a dump on your hometown in front of the entire nation.
It's OK, LeBron. Bryant's jump was likely because he won the NBA title this year and after all, isn't that the goal? Even if popularity doesn't come with championships, those eight rings James promised us will surely keep him consoled at night.
South Florida's Serena and Venus Williams were the top two fave female athletes.
