Manning has charisma
Dom Amore
Hartford Courant
The coolest athlete playing today? Peyton Manning.
In a sport where trash-talking went over the top years ago, Manning has mastered the art of being open without being obnoxious. He does a ton of commercials, but has anyone ever said, hey, enough already? No, because they're fun to watch. He has charisma, and he seems like a natural.
Peyton also knows how to make fun of himself. And in a league where "I" is fast replacing "we," he still gets it, the team thing.
Could you imagine a cooler big brother? And while you're imagining, Peyton Manning would be a great guy to have a beer with. Seems like he'd enjoy meeting you, and there would be a few laughs.
And, of course, he is pretty cool as a QB and leader too.
damonre@tribune.com
Couples effortless
Teddy Greenstein
Chicago Tribune
The only way I can get away with picking an old white guy is to grade on a curve.
Really, how can golf's Fred Couples compete with the likes of: David Beckham, who almost makes scarves look manly; Tom Brady, with his modified-Fabio hair and whiplash-hot wife; Rafael Nadal, who sports a silky name and tanned guns; and Dwyane Wade, who inspired Jay-Z's "If Jeezy is payin' LeBron, I'm payin' Dwyane Wade"?
Couples has a mailman's first name and is musically associated with Hootie & the Blowfish. But still … everything about his swing and look is smooth and effortless. He's too cool to wear a golf glove — or socks.
And if you ask him about being cool, he'll probably shrug. Like all cool guys do.
tgreenstein@tribune.com
Durant a slam dunk
Chris Korman
Baltimore Sun
Perhaps this all depends on what you consider cool. For these 140 or so words, cool is this: comfortable with who you are, driven by passion for the game and aware that there's more to the world than, well, you.
So the choice here is the Thunder's Kevin Durant. Maybe he's too young to have been spun through the media and marketing machine that makes us sour on most athletes eventually, but for now he seems joyful and genuine on and off the court.
His prolific use of Twitter to banter with fans feels sincere, especially if you have the chance to watch him play on a regular basis. There's no player who better juggles the job of being a cold-hearted winner with the responsibility of showing to all fans that he's lucky to be paid to play a game.
Jeter has it all
Barry Stavro
Los Angeles Times
An easy pick: Derek Jeter.
Sustained grace and excellence — on and off the diamond — for 16 seasons, dating to the first term of the Clinton administration.
Along the way he has picked up five championships, 11 All-Star appearances, a World Series MVP, five Gold Gloves, has a Hall of Fame spot awaiting and has done all this without any hint of being juiced.
In a TMZ era, he's avoided public spats with his managers, has broad respect from his peers and a list of memorable plays — think of his shovel throw from the on-deck circle against the A's in the playoffs — plus an eye for stylish clothes.
Jeter also has pulled off the rarest feat in pro sports: He plays hard every night.
bstavro@tribune.com