Petrino1 said:

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chico said:

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Simone Biles?
I'd argue Mary Lou Retton and Chris Evert were at one time "America's Sweetheart" so athletes certainly qualify.
For today - I'd say Taylor Swift and/or Simone Biles.

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I think Simone's reputation took a big hit after she quit in the Olympics and she came across very unlikeable after that whole incident. I don't think her reputation has recovered from that.

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Yeah, I saw her a clip of her getting ready for the upcoming trials a few days ago, and immediately thought back to her bailing 4 years ago.

Caitlin Clark

If she dominates for us in Paris I think a lot will be forgiven. Would make for a good redemption story.

Brian Earl Spilner said:

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I think the next one might be Zendaya.

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LOL...my how we have fallen...I don't disagree with you though.

rhutton125 said:

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Jennifer Lawrence was on her way but we like to turn on people as soon as we've raised them up. So people were over her schtick within a few years, I think.

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Didn't she supposedly disown her family or something because they didn't hate Tump and think he was the spawn of Hitler and Satan. Such a lady.

She also seems just too b*tchy in general. Solid actress, but wouldn't call her a "sweetheart".

chico said:

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Simone Biles?
I'd argue Mary Lou Retton and Chris Evert were at one time "America's Sweetheart" so athletes certainly qualify.
For today - I'd say Taylor Swift and/or Simone Biles.

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I'd put Kerri Strug above all of these.

El Gallo Blanco said:

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rhutton125 said:

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Jennifer Lawrence was on her way but we like to turn on people as soon as we've raised them up. So people were over her schtick within a few years, I think.

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Didn't she supposedly disown her family or something because they didn't hate Tump and think he was the spawn of Hitler and Satan. Such a lady.

She also seems just too b*tchy in general. Solid actress, but wouldn't call her a "sweetheart".

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She was at her peak America's Sweetheart when she tripped before her Oscar's acceptance speech and seemed so "relatable." Then she turned into a total wacko nut job and lost that status.

TCTTS said:

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Personally, I don't think "America's Sweetheart" has to be American. IMO, it's the actress who wins the heart of America, not necessarily one of America's own. If so, I would agree that it's currently Margot Robbie, especially after starring as/dominating with Barbie, which is about as American as consumerism gets.

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Haven't seen that movie, but I'd give it to her with Once Upon a Time in Hollywood largely in mind, even though she wasn't the main star or anything. That is the exact vibe she gives off in that movie to me, America's Sweetheart. She gorgeous/sexy of course, but comes off as playful and innocent with girl-next-door personality in that flick...something wholesome about the whole movie theater scene.

Jennifer Lawrence has photos of face shots out there so that automatically excludes her.

The trend for the past few decades has been "tough women" (aka men). It's hard to come off as a "sweetheart" that way. So that eliminates a ton of people who otherwise could have easily become one like Daisy Ridley, Chloe Grace Moretz, anybody from the MCU movies, etc.

And I don't think one needs a long career either. Julia Roberts became one after Pretty Woman alone.

Maybe Cameron Diaz?

Uh... SANDRA BULLOCK?!?!

bagger05 said:

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If she dominates for us in Paris I think a lot will be forgiven. Would make for a good redemption story.

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Im not an expert on gymnastics, but isnt Simone a little old to be competing? Shes 27, and it seems like most of the Olympic gymnasts are in their late teens or early 20's.

I looked it up and most of the recent women's champion's were around 16-19 years old. The last woman in her 20's to win it was in 1972 and she was 20.

Petrino1 said:

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bagger05 said:

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If she dominates for us in Paris I think a lot will be forgiven. Would make for a good redemption story.

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Im not an expert on gymnastics, but isnt Simone a little old to be competing? Shes 27, and it seems like most of the Olympic gymnasts are in their late teens or early 20's.

I looked it up and most of the recent women's champion's were around 16-19 years old. The last woman in her 20's to win it was in 1972 and she was 20.

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According to her wiki page she was world champion in a variety of disciplines (including all-round) up through this past year. But yeah, in general it seems like gymnasts get burned out/used up/washed earlier than athletes in other sports.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simone_Biles

Quote:

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. . .
Biles is a six-times World all-around champion (2013-2015, 2018-2019, 2023), six-times World floor exercise champion (2013-2015, 2018-2019, 2023), four-times World balance beam champion (2014-2015, 2019, 2023), two-times World vault champion (2018-2019), an nine-times United States national all-around champion (2013-2016, 2018-2019, 2021, 2023-2024), and a member of the gold medal-winning American teams at the 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, and 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships. She is also a four-times World silver medalist (2013-2014 and 2023 on vault, 2018 on uneven bars) and a three-times World bronze medalist (2015 on vault, 2013 and 2018 on balance beam).
. . .

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Biles is done as far as "American sweetheart" chances go. That whole thing from last time around turned a lot of people off on her. I forgot exactly what she did after she quit. Played victim card maybe?

aTmAg said:

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Biles is done as far as "American sweetheart" chances go. That whole thing from last time around turned a lot of people off on her. I forgot exactly what she did after she quit. Played victim card maybe?

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Yes, she claims she quit to prioritize her mental health.

TCTTS said:

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aTmAg said:

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Biles is done as far as "American sweetheart" chances go. That whole thing from last time around turned a lot of people off on her. I forgot exactly what she did after she quit. Played victim card maybe?

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It's truly astonishing how attitudes like this have become the norm for some folks. In addition to being on the world stage, subject to pressures most of us can't even begin to image, she was also molested. And though you admit to not even remembering exactly what it is that she did, instead of granting her the benefit of the doubt or expressing even the faintest hint of empathy, you assume/sum the whole thing up as "quitter," "don't like her," and "victim card."

So typical.

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So typical for you go get butt hurt over that post.

Just telling you the facts on why she is basically disqualified as "America's sweetheart" for a crap ton of Americans. Nobody cares if you like it or not.

Cliff.Booth said:

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Thisguy1 said:

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Agsinheart said:

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In my own opinion, I think the next one might be Margot Robbie

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Shouldn't a requirement for America's Sweetheart be the person is American?

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Once a person works in Hollywood long enough and never uses their native accent, Americans honor them with Americanization. Mel Gibson, Nicole Kidman, and Christian Bale are all from Ohio now.

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Not to be that guy but Mel Gibson was born and remains an American.

How can you possibly know that the sexual abuse wasn't a contributing factor to her deteriorating mental health?

TCTTS said:

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How can you possibly know that the sexual abuse wasn't a contributing factor to her deteriorating mental health?

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1. I think she is allowed to take off all the time she needs for a horrible situation like that for the rest of her life.
2. The worst time to decide to do it is like midway through the Olympics. I also don't like college athletes sitting out bowl games. I would hate my starting QB for all time if he decided in the first quarter of the national championship that he couldn't play anymore because of personal issues, no matter how traumatic.
3. I'm a 30 something year old white man, and Olympic gymnastics are important to ME!
4. Is the E-board the best place for an Olympics mega-thread when the time comes?

Sea Speed said:

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Kristen bell could have done it. She seems pretty wholesome and has a very kind face. She made that show the good place watchable.

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You should watch Reefer Madness. She was awesome in it, and it's very little known.

TCTTS said:

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How can you possibly know that the sexual abuse wasn't a contributing factor to her deteriorating mental health?

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I'm talking about why people (that I find online) criticized Biles. Not about what was going on in her mind.

Remember when she first quit, she said nothing about "mental health". She said it was because of the "twisties". Critics pointed out that would adversely effect her legacy. That if Jordan quit a playoff game because of the "shooties" or something then he would never hear the end of it. Just look at Pippen. He quit a playoff game and is bashed for it to this very day.

After the initial burst of criticism she claimed "mental health" (and said nothing about Nassar). That's why people accused her of playing the "victim card". After all, half the internet rushed to her defense and called her "brave" for "raising awareness" for mental health. And she ate that up.

If she said something about Nassar being part of the cause, then it was well after. Well after people accused her of playing the victim card.

Claude! said:

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BowSowy said:

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Maybe I'm wrong, but in my mind America's Sweetheart is not an athlete

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Only during Olympic season and only gymnasts.

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Figure skaters during Winter Olympics occasional fill this role as well.

Petrino1 said:

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El Gallo Blanco said:

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rhutton125 said:

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Jennifer Lawrence was on her way but we like to turn on people as soon as we've raised them up. So people were over her schtick within a few years, I think.

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Didn't she supposedly disown her family or something because they didn't hate Tump and think he was the spawn of Hitler and Satan. Such a lady.

She also seems just too b*tchy in general. Solid actress, but wouldn't call her a "sweetheart".

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She was at her peak America's Sweetheart when she tripped before her Oscar's acceptance speech and seemed so "relatable." Then she turned into a total wacko nut job and lost that status.

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Ironically, being a total wacko nut job makes her more like regular women...

Atmag didn't even give his personal opinion on Simone best i can yell, just noted a general sentiment that many Americans share. She will be known as a quitter to a LOT of people. That makes her done as America's sweetheart. I dont think that is a controversial opinion, but TC has the largest of axes to grind with atmag so here we are.

Again, the motivations you're ascribing to her, without having any idea what she was truly thinking/going through, are so incredibly fascinating, in the most bad faith effort possible.

Opinions he clearly shares, obvious to anyone who can read.