New Yorkers love Derek Jeter

New York loves its sports teams and no other athlete seems to draw quite as much respect as the Yankees’ Derek Jeter.

The Bronx Bombers’ star shortstop topped a Siena College poll of the greatest New York athletes of all time, even edging out the likes of sports greats Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle.

Here are some of the findings of Siena ’s poll of 801 New Yorkers:

Greatest New York athlete:

Derek Jeter – 14 percent

Babe Ruth – 11 percent

Joe DiMaggio – 4 percent

Mickey Mantle – 4 percent

Joe Namath – 4 percent

Favorite Empire State sports team:

Yankees – 30 percent

Mets – 11 percent

Knicks – 11 percent

Jets – 9 percent

Giants – 8 percent

Favorite spectator sport:

Football – 23 percent

Baseball – 22 percent

Basketball – 19 percent

Say they are sports fans:

Yes – 59 percent

No – 41 percent

Men: 76 percent yes, 24 percent no

Women: 43 percent yes, 56 percent no

How often do they watch sports on TV:

About once or twice a week – 30 percent

Every day or almost every day – 28 percent

(Margin of error+/- 3.5 percent)