By GREGG WYCHERLEY
She may not have scored enough goals to win at the Olympic Games, but hockey player Mandy Smith has won the public's heart.
She topped the voting in a Herald-DigiPoll survey that asked who respondents would most like to be their friend from a list of 12 high-profile New Zealanders.
Smith polled 14 per cent of the 756 people questioned nationwide, pipping All Black captain Todd Blackadder and Olympic single-scull champion Rob Waddell (both 12 per cent).
Even New Zealand-born actor Russell Crowe (9 per cent) with all his Hollywood clout could not knock hockey's pin-up girl from top spot.
Then came our next Governor-General, Dame Silvia Cartwright (8 per cent), entertainer Sir Howard Morrison (6 per cent) and mountaineer Graeme Dingle (6 per cent).
Newsreader Carol Hirschfeld (5 per cent) came in eighth, followed by property millionaire Sir Bob Jones (4 per cent).
Bottom place was shared by Telecom chief executive Theresa Gattung, Government minister Tariana Turia and Herald columnist Kate Belgrave (all 1 per cent).
Smith's fortunes were boosted by her popularity among males, with 26 per cent of men surveyed deserting traditional male sporting heroes for the company of the hockey star and part-time model. She was not so popular with females - only 3 per cent of women surveyed chose her.
Crowe was the women's top choice for companion, polling 15 per cent - hardly surprising considering his reputation as one of Hollywood's sexiest men.
Smith was also popular with the younger crowd, polling 20 per cent in the 18-to-39 age group.
The older generation was more keen on the man every mother wants for a son-in-law, Rob Waddell (12 per cent), with Dame Silvia (11 per cent) coming in a close second.
Those who chose none from the list or refused to answer totalled 21 per cent, good enough for first place.
The poll also asked about the person from the list people would least like to have for a friend.
If it is true that it is better to be disliked than ignored, Sir Bob (21 per cent) and Mrs Turia (19 per cent) can rest easy.
Third on the no-mates list was Sir Howard (10 per cent), followed by Blackadder and Dame Silvia (both 4 per cent), and Crowe (3 per cent).
Hirschfeld, Theresa Gattung and Dingle all picked up 2 per cent of the vote with Waddell, Belgrave and Smith (all 1 per cent) sharing bottom place.
Those who refused to answer or could not decide totalled 29 per cent.
Hockey pin-up star top buddy
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