Every year since '95, the ESPN Chilton Sports Poll has
asked over 9,000 respondents, age 12+, to name the one
specific athlete they would choose to endorse a product.
Michael Jordan has consistently remained far and above the
athlete chosen most often, while a number of other athletes
have entered and exited the list of the top five athletes
mentioned. With his announcement that he will no longer
pursue endorsement contracts, the Sports Poll states that it
is likely that Jordan's top standing will decline in years
to come. But based on Jordan's continued prominence as
"Favorite Athlete for Endorsement" in '99, a year in which
he did not even play basketball, the Sports Poll states it
will be some time before Jordan's top status is threatened.
1995 1996 1997
1) M. Jordan 27.3 1) M. Jordan 30.4 1) M. Jordan 34.0
2) Shaq. O'Neal 5.0 2) Emmitt Smith 3.1 2) Tiger Woods 4.4
3) Joe Montana 4.6 3) Shaq. O'Neal 2.8 3) Troy Aikman 2.4
4) Troy Aikman 3.4 4) Troy Aikman 2.5 4) Emmitt Smith 1.9
5) Emmitt Smith 2.2 5) Joe Montana 2.0 5) Cal Ripken 1.6
1998 1999
1) Michel Jordan 35.9 1) M. Jordan 32.2
2) Tiger Woods 2.8 2) Mark McGwire 4.6
3) Mark McGwire 2.4 3) Tiger Woods 2.8
4) Troy Aikman 1.9 4) John Elway 2.2
5) Brett Favre 1.7 5) Troy Aikman 1.6
