Using Google searches from April 2013 through April 2014, Best Tickets put together these maps showing the most popular athletes and sports in each state.
Interestingly, LeBron James is the most popular athlete in 24 states. Even in Ohio, where hard feelings persist nearly four years after the Ohio native left the state for the Miami Heat, James remains the top athlete.
Most of the results for the other 26 states are predictable, though there are a few interesting choices…
Even less surprising than LeBron James’ supremacy as an athlete is the NFL’s total dominance as the United States’ most popular sport. Only one state, New York, has a sport more popular than the NFL. The NBA reigns supreme in the Empire State and is tied with the NFL in three others…
While it’s not surprising to see hockey fail to show up anywhere on a list of popular U.S. sports, it’s a bit surprising to see no love for America’s national pastime. Baseball has clearly passed the title of America’s most popular sport to football.