OCCASIONALLY AN ATHLETE will make a daring jump into the American government. Notables include Bill Bradley (D-NJ, F-NY) and Gerald Ford (U of M center, US of A president). Sports icons like Mike Ditka and Richard Petty and have contemplated getting into politics.
On the flipside, Congress will intervene in sports, like the Congressional hearings regarding steroids. But for the most part, the two entities are separate.
Yet while each of these worlds are polar opposites, these two groups have very uncannily similar characters. So, if more sports figures went into politics, they'd give certain political figures a suitable stunt double.
Lost? Then let's jump right into the examples to see what I mean.
IF former Cincinnati Reds player/manager Pete Rose was in politics, he'd be President George W. Bush.
Rose finally admitted what everyone already knew — he bet on baseball, but it was too late and now people think less of him. Bush admitted what most people knew — his government was responsible for the slow response to the flooding in New Orleans, but it was too late and now people think less of him.
IF San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds was in politics, he'd be Vice President Dick Cheney.
Bonds is very unapproachable by the media, comes off as very cold. Got little sympathy after his knee injury. Likewise, Cheney comes off as very cold in the media, and gets little sympathy for his heart condition. But you'll have that for a 41-year old muscly ballplayer or a 64-year old politician.
IF New York Knicks' coach Larry Brown was in politics, he'd be Democratic Party chairman Howard Dean.
Dean is the head of a defeated party trying to regain control of Congress. Brown is the head of an overpaid, overrated Knicks team trying to regain playoff glory.
IF Philadelphia Eagles' wide receiver Terrell Owens was in politics, he'd be Bush strategist Karl Rove.
Owens used the media to make his contract dispute of national media interest. Karl Rove used the media for his own agenda. People overreacted to Owens for being selfish. People overreacted to Rove for being hypocritical. Meanwhile, the Eagles kept playing games. And the Republican Party continued ... whatever it is politicians do.
Article comments
1 - Dave Nalle
Aww, you passed on the obvious Bill Clinton/O.J. Simpson comparison.
Dave
2 - MT
If Dave Nalle was in politics he'd be Bill Bennett.
3 - RogerMDillion
"If New York Yankees' general manager Brian Cashman was in politics"
I don't remember seeing Cashman lie to the media on a repeated basis.
If Dave Nalle was in politics he'd be Al Barger.
4 - Matthew T. Sussman
Assuming of course Dave Nalle was in sports.
5 - MT
If Dave was in politics he'd be Mike Tyson.
6 - Chelsea Snyder
If Dave was in politics, he'd be a banana.
... I think I read the question wrong.
7 - Silas Kain
Ari Fleischer = Mike Piazza
Bill Frist = John Rocker
I would have said Roger Clemens for John Edwards - a pretty Southern boy who got far on looks and lack of character.
8 - Matthew T. Sussman
At least Clemens had substance. 300 wins and 4000 strikeouts.
Palmer was born in Canada, but he was a Gator for some time. Although was there anyone else as Southern who used TV that much and fell to the ground?
Tim Couch wasn't camera friendly. Jason Sehorn was too big city. Brett Favre turned out to be good.
9 - RJ
Dan Quayle = Joey Harrington?
Al Gore = A field goal post?
Paul Begala = Eddie Gaedel?