Spring Break
Triple Threat: Former Presidents and athletes
Issue date: 11/5/08 Section: Sports
It's finally over. After months of campaigning, advertisements and primaries, the 2008 election is finally done. Barack Obama and John McCain battled for months in the swing states just as players would on the gridiron. Both politicians have a background in sports, as Obama threw out the first pitch Game 2 of the 2005 World Series for the White Sox and is a big-time hoops fan. McCain is an avid opponent of steroids in baseball and a big boxing fan.
Combining politics and sports, here are three former presidents that were also athletes.
1. Gerald Ford - The 38th President of the United States roamed the gridiron before making his way to the White House. Ford was a two-time national champion in 1932 and 1933 at Michigan and played as a center and linebacker for the Wolverines. He remains the only president to ever tackle a Heisman Trophy winner as he took down Chicago running back Jay Berwanger.
2. Bill Clinton - The 42nd Commander-in-Chief was commanding the pitch before he commanded the country. While studying government at University College at Oxford in London, Clinton played rugby. Clinton loved the sport so much he played for the Little Rock Rugby Club when he got back to Arkansas.
3. Ronald Reagan -The 40th President will always be remembered as his portrayal of the "Gipper" in the classic "Knute Rockne, All American," but Reagan was also a college athlete. He played three sports at Eureka College including football, track and swimming.
-Dan Cusack
Combining politics and sports, here are three former presidents that were also athletes.
1. Gerald Ford - The 38th President of the United States roamed the gridiron before making his way to the White House. Ford was a two-time national champion in 1932 and 1933 at Michigan and played as a center and linebacker for the Wolverines. He remains the only president to ever tackle a Heisman Trophy winner as he took down Chicago running back Jay Berwanger.
2. Bill Clinton - The 42nd Commander-in-Chief was commanding the pitch before he commanded the country. While studying government at University College at Oxford in London, Clinton played rugby. Clinton loved the sport so much he played for the Little Rock Rugby Club when he got back to Arkansas.
3. Ronald Reagan -The 40th President will always be remembered as his portrayal of the "Gipper" in the classic "Knute Rockne, All American," but Reagan was also a college athlete. He played three sports at Eureka College including football, track and swimming.
-Dan Cusack
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