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Most Influential Man of 2009 Is... Don Draper?

The winner isn't even real, and Usain Bolt leaves Obama in his dust

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 8, 2009 4:18 PM CDT
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(Newser) – The most influential man of 2009—at least in the eyes of AskMen.com readers—isn't actually a man. He's a fictional creation, none other than Don Draper of Mad Men. "In a turbulent 2009, men are seeking the stability of tradition in the masculine qualities that they imagine their fathers and grandfathers to have had," explains the editor. Draper, as portrayed by Jon Hamm, "brings all these traits together." The rest of the top 10:

     

  1. Usain Bolt: Jamaican sprinter outruns everyone.
  2. President Obama: "Male portrait of classic statesmanship."
  3. Mark Zuckerberg: Facebook's CEO is a billionaire by 25.
  4. Simon Cowell: Love him or hate him, you can't avoid him.
  5. Michael Jackson: An "untimely exit."
  6. Steve Jobs: Still top dog in the tech world.
  7. Roger Federer: Greatest tennis player ever.
  8. Peyton Manning: Colts QB is talented and classy.
  9. Dana White: President of Ultimate Fighting Championship brings mixed martial arts into the mainstream.

Sorry, Obama. You may be No. 1 in the White House, but you're a lowly No. 3 on the poll.
Sorry, Obama. You may be No. 1 in the White House, but you're a lowly No. 3 on the poll.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg: No. 4.
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg: No. 4.   (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
Simon Cowell: No. 5.
Simon Cowell: No. 5.   (AP Photo/Charles Pulliam)
Michael Jackson: No. 6.
Michael Jackson: No. 6.   (AP Photo/Michael A. Mariant, file)
Apple CEO Steve Jobs: No. 7.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs: No. 7.   (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
Roger Federer: No. 8.
Roger Federer: No. 8.   (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Peyton Manning: No. 9.
Peyton Manning: No. 9.   (AP Photo/Tom Strattman)
Dana White, in middle, president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship: No. 10.
Dana White, in middle, president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship: No. 10.   (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Neil Davidson)
Don Draper (aka Jon Hamm): No. 1.
Don Draper (aka Jon Hamm): No. 1.   (AP Photo/AMC Frank Ockenfels)
Usain Bolt of Jamaica: No. 2.
Usain Bolt of Jamaica: No. 2.   (AP Photo/Thannasis Stavrakis)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
BleeBloo
Oct 9, 2009 1:35 AM CDT
Annnnnnd that's why he's the most influential man of 2009.
brawne
Oct 8, 2009 9:40 AM CDT
Well, the culture dies by proxy. Bad enough that a fictional character is a 'realistic' role model, but a fictional character playing a man pretending to be someone else is fucking depressing. But--love DD.

 
Barack Obama • Steve Jobs • Simon Cowell • Roger Federer • Mark Zuckerberg • Peyton Manning • Michael Jackson • Ultimate Fighting Championship • Usain Bolt • Mad Men • Jon Hamm • Don Draper • Dana White

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