Difference between revisions of "Essay:Greatest Conservative Sports Stars"

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(See also: Unplug the NFL)
(Burgess Owens | Football | Ten seasons in the NFL as a safety, including a Super Bowl win with the Raiders. A family man with six children, he wrote a book entitled Liberalism or How to Turn Good Men into Whiners, Weenies and Wimps.)
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Most sports stars are probably [[conservative]]. Athletes at all levels of competition frequently praise [[God]] for giving them the strength to succeed at their sports.  Here are some of the greatest:
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Most [[sports]] stars are probably [[conservative]]. Athletes at all levels of competition frequently praise [[God]] for giving them the strength to succeed at their sports.  Here are some of the greatest:
  
 
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 
{| class="wikitable sortable"
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!Sport
 
!Sport
 
![[Conservatism]]
 
![[Conservatism]]
 +
|-
 +
|[[Bubba Watson]]
 +
|golf
 +
|With 9 PGA Tour wins, including two victories at the [[Masters]], Bubba Watson has spoken out against [[homosexuality]]<ref>http://www.christianpost.com/news/bubba-watson-respects-jason-collins-but-believes-being-gay-is-sin-95263/</ref> and even joking said he may run for president.  He supports the annual [[Tim Tebow]] golf outing and Bubba has adopted a child with his wife, a former professional women's basketball player.  His nickname "Bubba" is in honor of Bubba Smith, who is listed in this entry for a different reason.
 +
|-
 +
|Lance Berkman
 +
|baseball
 +
|switch-hitting slugger who swatted 366 homers while also maintaining a .293 batting average with many bases-on-balls,<ref>http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/berkmla01.shtml</ref> he has done advertisements against the pro-[[homosexual agenda]] Houston bathroom bill (Proposition 1 in 2015).  Voters then agreed with him by a landslide 61-39% margin.
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Chuck Norris]]
 
|[[Chuck Norris]]
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|[[Jim Jordan]]
 
|[[Jim Jordan]]
 
|wrestling
 
|wrestling
|two-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion, which included defeating a future Olympic gold medalist, and four-time state champion; leading [[conservative]] in [[Congress]] who chaired the Republican Study Committee for the 112th Congress.
+
|two-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion, which included defeating a future Olympic gold medalist, and four-time state champion; leading [[conservative]] in [[Congress]] who chaired the Republican Study Committee for the 112th Congress and now leads the House Freedom Caucus.
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Matt Birk
 
|Matt Birk
 
|football
 
|football
|outspokenly pro-life and critical of same-sex marriage, Matt Birk has been repeatedly selected to the Pro Bowl, was the starting center for the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens in 2013, and is ranked as one of the most intelligent professional athletes
+
|outspokenly pro-life and critical of same-sex marriage, Matt Birk has been repeatedly selected to the Pro Bowl, was the starting center for the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens in 2013, and is ranked as one of the most intelligent professional athletes; Matt Birk is the keynote speaker at the 2016 [[March for Life]]'s Annual Rose Dinner
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Nolan Ryan
 
|Nolan Ryan
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|Novak Djokovic
 
|Novak Djokovic
 
|tennis
 
|tennis
|Current number 1 player in the world, Novak gives glory to God with the sign of the [[Crucifixion|Cross]] after big tennis victories.  While he was winning the intense finals of the Australian Open in 2012, he did the sign of the cross after key points and even kissed a wooden cross, which the [[liberal media]] falsely described as "kissing his necklace."<ref>http://trueblueconservative.com/2012/01/djokovic-pulls-a-tebow-southern-prose/</ref>
+
|Current number 2 player in the world after being overtaken by Andy Murray, Novak gives glory to God with the sign of the [[Crucifixion|Cross]] after big tennis victories.  While he was winning the intense finals of the Australian Open in 2012, he did the sign of the cross after key points and even kissed a wooden cross, which the [[liberal media]] falsely described as "kissing his necklace."<ref>http://trueblueconservative.com/2012/01/djokovic-pulls-a-tebow-southern-prose/</ref>
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Tim Tebow]]
 
|[[Tim Tebow]]
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|baseball
 
|baseball
 
|Left a $5,000 a year salary (1891 dollars) as a star baseball player for a $75 a month salary to become a [[Christian]] preacher;<ref>http://www.biblebelievers.com/billy_sunday/</ref> his radio evangelism was such a sensation that the [[FCC]] formed in response
 
|Left a $5,000 a year salary (1891 dollars) as a star baseball player for a $75 a month salary to become a [[Christian]] preacher;<ref>http://www.biblebelievers.com/billy_sunday/</ref> his radio evangelism was such a sensation that the [[FCC]] formed in response
|-
 
|[[Dennis Hastert]]
 
|wrestling coach
 
|longest serving Republican [[Speaker of the House]] in history (1999-2007), he had previously coached Yorkville High School to the Illinois state championship in 1976
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Matt Hasselbeck
 
|Matt Hasselbeck
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|Tim Thomas
 
|Tim Thomas
 
|hockey
 
|hockey
|A [[conservative]], Thomas declined to attend a ceremony staged by the [[Obama]] [[White House]] after Thomas's team won the [[Stanley Cup]].<ref>http://www.politico.com/politico44/2012/01/boston-bruins-goalie-snubs-president-obama-111928.html</ref>  Thomas is a four-time [[NHL]] All-Star as a goalie - a great conservative position to play!<ref>http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=610011</ref>
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|A conservative, Thomas declined to attend a ceremony staged by the [[Obama]] [[White House]] after Thomas's team won the [[Stanley Cup]].<ref>http://www.politico.com/politico44/2012/01/boston-bruins-goalie-snubs-president-obama-111928.html</ref>  Thomas is a four-time [[NHL]] All-Star as a goalie - a great conservative position to play!<ref>http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=610011</ref>
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Curt Schilling
 
|Curt Schilling
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|George Allen
 
|George Allen
 
|football coach
 
|football coach
|The father of [[conservative]] Senator George Allen, the coach ran a trick play once for President [[Richard Nixon]].<ref>http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/politics/GOP_drafts_NFL_talent-53346877.html</ref>
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|The father of conservative Senator George Allen, the coach ran a trick play once for President [[Richard Nixon]].<ref>http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/politics/GOP_drafts_NFL_talent-53346877.html</ref>
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Mike Ditka
 
|Mike Ditka
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|-
 
|-
 
|Janet Lynn
 
|Janet Lynn
|figure skating<ref name="Lynn">"Considered One of the Greatest Freeskaters of All Time." [http://figureskating.about.com/od/famousfemaleiceskater1/p/janetlynn.htm]</ref>
+
|figure skating<ref name="Lynn">[http://figureskating.about.com/od/famousfemaleiceskater1/p/janetlynn.htm "Considered One of the Greatest Freeskaters of All Time."]</ref>
 
|"Before every performance she would close her eyes and give thanks and praise to God. She believed that God had given her the gift of skating and in each performance she worked to glorify God."<ref name="Lynn"/>  Lynn, once the highest-paid female athlete, also has written in support of conservative values.
 
|"Before every performance she would close her eyes and give thanks and praise to God. She believed that God had given her the gift of skating and in each performance she worked to glorify God."<ref name="Lynn"/>  Lynn, once the highest-paid female athlete, also has written in support of conservative values.
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Ted Williams]]
 
|[[Ted Williams]]
 
|baseball  
 
|baseball  
|campaigned for Republicans, served as a fighter pilot, and also criticized the media, which was unfair to him, even denying him the MVP when he hit over .400 in 1941. It could be argued that [[Joe DiMaggio]]'s 56-game hit streak was more impressive that year, but the media bias was clearly a factor in the vote. One sportswriter inexplicably left Williams off his ballot entirely.
+
|campaigned for Republicans, served as a fighter pilot, and also criticized the media, which was unfair to him, even denying him the MVP when he hit over .400 in 1941. Then, in 1947, Williams amazingly won the Triple Crown but was again denied MVP by the [[liberal media]].<ref>http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Ted_Williams.aspx</ref> One sportswriter unjustifiably left Williams off his ballot entirely, which included voting for the top ten players.
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Kurt Warner]]
 
|[[Kurt Warner]]
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|Pete Sampras
 
|Pete Sampras
 
|tennis<ref>Winner of 14 Grand Slam singles titles.</ref>
 
|tennis<ref>Winner of 14 Grand Slam singles titles.</ref>
|Held the record for the longest time as #1 in the world -- more than 5 years -- until tied by Roger Federer due to his winning Wimbledon in 2012.
+
|Held the record for the longest time as #1 in the world—more than 5 years—until tied by Roger Federer due to his winning Wimbledon in 2012.
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Mary Lou Retton]]
 
|[[Mary Lou Retton]]
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|Drew Brees
 
|Drew Brees
 
|football
 
|football
|Led the [[New Orleans Saints]] to victory in the 2009 [[Super Bowl]]--professed his belief in Jesus Christ. <ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=t0buCfbFuHw STV Interview with Drew Brees]</ref>
+
|Led the [[New Orleans Saints]] to victory in the 2009 [[Super Bowl]]—professed his belief in Jesus Christ.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=t0buCfbFuHw STV Interview with Drew Brees]</ref>
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Chris Dudley  
 
|Chris Dudley  
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|[[Jim Ryun]]
 
|[[Jim Ryun]]
 
|track
 
|track
|former Republican Congressman (KS)
+
|considered the greatest high school athlete ever ([[LeBron James]] is considered the second-greatest), Ryun is also a former conservative Republican Congressman from Kansas
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[J.C. Watts]]
 
|[[J.C. Watts]]
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|Eric Liddell
 
|Eric Liddell
 
|track
 
|track
|Honoured in both Scotland and China as one of their greatest ever athletes, Liddell refused to run in the 1924 Olympic 100m on a Sunday despite pressure from a number of high ranking officials including the then Prince of Wales and future King Edward viii. He did compete in the 400m and, though it was not his best event, he won the gold medal! Returned to China as a missionary and was devoted to helping the sick and poor.
+
|Honoured in both Scotland and China as one of their greatest ever athletes, Liddell refused to run in the 1924 Olympic 100m on a Sunday despite pressure from a number of high-ranking officials including the then Prince of Wales and future King Edward viii. He did compete in the 400m and, though it was not his best event, he won the gold medal! Returned to China as a missionary and was devoted to helping the sick and poor.
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Jason Robinson
 
|Jason Robinson
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|[[Gerald Ford]]
 
|[[Gerald Ford]]
 
|Football
 
|Football
|Played center and linebacker for the [[University of Michigan]] and led them to two undefeated championship seasons. He was later offered professional contracts by two NFL franchises, but declined in order to attend law school. Later, Ford became minority leader of the [[House of Representatives]] and was appointed [[Vice President]] following the resignation of [[Spiro Agnew]], and then became president when [[Richard Nixon]] resigned.  Ford praised and introduced [[conservative]] [[Robert Bork]] at the beginning of his contentious nomination hearings in 1987.
+
|Played center and linebacker for the [[University of Michigan]] and led them to two undefeated championship seasons. He was later offered professional contracts by two NFL franchises, but declined in order to attend law school. Later, Ford became minority leader of the [[House of Representatives]] and was appointed [[Vice President]] following the resignation of [[Spiro Agnew]], and then became president when [[Richard Nixon]] resigned.  Ford praised and introduced conservative [[Robert Bork]] at the beginning of his contentious nomination hearings in 1987; nearly two decades earlier, congressman Ford also sought to impeach liberal Supreme Court Justice [[William Douglas]].
 +
|-
 +
|Burgess Owens
 +
|Football
 +
|Ten seasons in the NFL as a safety, including a Super Bowl win with the Raiders.  A family man with six children, he wrote a book entitled ''Liberalism or How to Turn Good Men into Whiners, Weenies and Wimps''.
 
|}
 
|}
  
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!Sport
 
!Sport
 
![[Conservatism]]
 
![[Conservatism]]
 +
|-
 +
|Piotr Malachowski
 +
|discus throw
 +
|Poland's Olympic athlete sells his silver medal a week after winning to pay for the medical expenses of a 3-year-old child with eye cancer. "My silver medal is worth much more today than it was a week ago." <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/health/2016/08/26/athlete-sells-rio-medal-to-help-3-year-old-with-eye-cancer.html Athlete sells Rio medal to help 3-year-old with eye cancer, Fox News, August 26, 2016]</ref>
 +
|-
 +
|Ben Watson
 +
|football
 +
|New Orleans Saints tight end is an outspoken Christian and wrote a book ''Under Our Skin: Getting Real about Race—and Getting Free from the Fears and Frustrations that Divide Us,'' which denounces [[Planned Parenthood]].<ref>[http://www.christianpost.com/news/nfl-star-ben-watson-planned-parenthood-created-exterminate-blacks-its-working-167509/ NFL Star Ben Watson: Planned Parenthood Was Created to 'Exterminate Blacks' and 'It's Working', Christian Post, August 4, 2016]</ref>
 +
|-
 +
|Adam LaRoche
 +
|baseball
 +
|LaRoche walked away from his $13 million contract to spend more time with his family after being told by the team president to cut down the time his son spent in the clubhouse. His public statement on Twitter was "Thank u Lord for the game of baseball and for giving me way more than I ever deserved! #FamilyFirst." <ref>[https://ricochet.com/take-me-out-of-the-ballgame/ Take Me Out of the Ballgame, Richochet, March 18, 2016]</ref>
 +
|-
 +
|Matt Birk
 +
|football
 +
|Former Baltimore Ravens center gave a speech at [[March for Life]] and after his '13 Super Bowl victory, skipped the traditional team visit to the White House to be recognized by [[Barack Obama]] due to his abortion stance.<ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/01/22/exclusive-baltimore-ravens-star-matt-birk-explains-why-he-came-to-the-march-for-life/ Exclusive: Baltimore Ravens Star Matt Birk Explains Why He Came To the March For Life, Breitbart, January 22,2016]</ref>
 
|-
 
|-
 
|James Harrison
 
|James Harrison
 
|football
 
|football
|"...I'm not about to raise two boys to be men by making them believe that they are entitled to something just because they tried their best." He will return his son's 'participation' trophies - #harrisonfamilyvalues. <ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/sports/2015/08/16/steelers-james-harrison-sends-back-sons-participation-trophies-everything-in-life-should-be-earned/ STEELERS’ JAMES HARRISON SENDS BACK SONS’ PARTICIPATION TROPHIES: ‘EVERYTHING IN LIFE SHOULD BE EARNED’, Breitbart, August 16, 2015]</ref>
+
|"...I'm not about to raise two boys to be men by making them believe that they are entitled to something just because they tried their best." He will return his son's 'participation' trophies - #harrisonfamilyvalues.<ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/sports/2015/08/16/steelers-james-harrison-sends-back-sons-participation-trophies-everything-in-life-should-be-earned/ STEELERS’ JAMES HARRISON SENDS BACK SONS’ PARTICIPATION TROPHIES: ‘EVERYTHING IN LIFE SHOULD BE EARNED’, Breitbart, August 16, 2015]</ref>
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Daniel Murphy
 
|Daniel Murphy
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|Tara Lipinski
 
|Tara Lipinski
 
|Figure skating
 
|Figure skating
|Youngest (15) gold medalist in figure skating history, Tara gave credit to St. Therese of Lisieux for helping her win.<ref>http://www.thegregorian.org/blog/american-catholic-hall-of-fame-sports-figures</ref>
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|Youngest (15) gold medalist in figure skating history, Tara gave credit to St. Therese of Lisieux for helping her win.<ref name="thegregorian.org">http://www.thegregorian.org/blog/american-catholic-hall-of-fame-sports-figures</ref>
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Yulia Lipnitskaya
 
|Yulia Lipnitskaya
 
|Figure Skating
 
|Figure Skating
||Russia's youngest gold medalist proudly displays her Christian cross necklace for the world to see. <ref>[http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1953244-russian-teen-yulia-lipnitskaya-steals-show-in-olympic-figure-skating-team-trophy Russian Teen Yulia Lipnitskaya Steals Show in Olympic Figure Skating Team Trophy, Bleacher Report.com, February 8,2014]</ref>
+
||Russia's youngest gold medalist proudly displays her Christian cross necklace for the world to see.<ref>[http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1953244-russian-teen-yulia-lipnitskaya-steals-show-in-olympic-figure-skating-team-trophy Russian Teen Yulia Lipnitskaya Steals Show in Olympic Figure Skating Team Trophy, Bleacher Report.com, February 8,2014]</ref>
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Babe Ruth]]
 
|[[Babe Ruth]]
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|Roger Staubach
 
|Roger Staubach
 
|football
 
|football
|an active Catholic, he told the press he said a "[[Hail Mary]]" during his last-ditch 50-yard pass toward the end zone in a 1975 playoff game, which was caught for a come-from-behind victory for his Cowboys; the name for such a football pass has stuck ever since.<ref>http://www.thegregorian.org/blog/american-catholic-hall-of-fame-sports-figures</ref>
+
|an active Catholic, he told the press he said a "[[Hail Mary]]" during his last-ditch 50-yard pass toward the end zone in a 1975 playoff game, which was caught for a come-from-behind victory for his Cowboys; the name for such a football pass has stuck ever since.<ref name="thegregorian.org"/>
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Manny Pacquiao
 
|Manny Pacquiao
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|The greatest [[National League]] player from the [[World War II]] era, Musial was a devout, lifelong Catholic<ref>http://www.patheos.com/blogs/getreligion/2013/01/stan-musial-wore-his-faith-on-his-sleeve/</ref> who attended church every week and was married for nearly 72 years to the same woman.
 
|The greatest [[National League]] player from the [[World War II]] era, Musial was a devout, lifelong Catholic<ref>http://www.patheos.com/blogs/getreligion/2013/01/stan-musial-wore-his-faith-on-his-sleeve/</ref> who attended church every week and was married for nearly 72 years to the same woman.
 
|}
 
|}
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 +
== See also ==
 +
 +
*[[Underrated Sports Stars]]
 +
 +
*[[Overrated Sports Stars]]
 +
 +
*[[Irreligion and unsportsmanlike conduct]]
  
 
== References ==
 
== References ==
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*[[Overrated Sports Stars]]
 
*[[Overrated Sports Stars]]
 
*[[Unplug the NFL]]
 
*[[Unplug the NFL]]
 +
*[[Underrated Sports Stars]]
 
{{Conservatism}}
 
{{Conservatism}}
 
[[Category:Essays]]
 
[[Category:Essays]]
 
[[Category:Sports]]
 
[[Category:Sports]]
 +
{{DEFAULTSORT:Greatest Conservative Sports Stars}}

Revision as of 23:22, April 6, 2017

Most sports stars are probably conservative. Athletes at all levels of competition frequently praise God for giving them the strength to succeed at their sports. Here are some of the greatest:

Athlete Sport Conservatism
Bubba Watson golf With 9 PGA Tour wins, including two victories at the Masters, Bubba Watson has spoken out against homosexuality[1] and even joking said he may run for president. He supports the annual Tim Tebow golf outing and Bubba has adopted a child with his wife, a former professional women's basketball player. His nickname "Bubba" is in honor of Bubba Smith, who is listed in this entry for a different reason.
Lance Berkman baseball switch-hitting slugger who swatted 366 homers while also maintaining a .293 batting average with many bases-on-balls,[2] he has done advertisements against the pro-homosexual agenda Houston bathroom bill (Proposition 1 in 2015). Voters then agreed with him by a landslide 61-39% margin.
Chuck Norris karate Six-time undefeated World Professional Karate Champion, middleweight division, and the first westerner ever to achieve an eighth degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do; now a leading conservative commentator.
Jim Jordan wrestling two-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion, which included defeating a future Olympic gold medalist, and four-time state champion; leading conservative in Congress who chaired the Republican Study Committee for the 112th Congress and now leads the House Freedom Caucus.
Matt Birk football outspokenly pro-life and critical of same-sex marriage, Matt Birk has been repeatedly selected to the Pro Bowl, was the starting center for the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens in 2013, and is ranked as one of the most intelligent professional athletes; Matt Birk is the keynote speaker at the 2016 March for Life's Annual Rose Dinner
Nolan Ryan baseball went from being one of the greatest pitchers of all time (7 no-hitters) to endorsing Texan Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst as "a proven conservative"
Jon Runyan football one of the best linemen in the NFL who was selected for the Pro Bowl, Runyan was a two-term Republican Congressman (NJ) from 2011 to 2015
Novak Djokovic tennis Current number 2 player in the world after being overtaken by Andy Murray, Novak gives glory to God with the sign of the Cross after big tennis victories. While he was winning the intense finals of the Australian Open in 2012, he did the sign of the cross after key points and even kissed a wooden cross, which the liberal media falsely described as "kissing his necklace."[3]
Tim Tebow football[4] pro-life, outspoken Christian; an analyst for the lamestream media said about him, "You need to disappear, okay, Tim Tebow?"[5] Pressed for a response, Tebow simply smiled and said, "I can't help him with that. That would be pretty hard."[6]
Josh Hamilton baseball Used to be a drug addict, then became a born-again Christian and plays major league baseball now. He has appeared on Glenn Beck's show to talk about his faith and addiction.
Billy Sunday baseball Left a $5,000 a year salary (1891 dollars) as a star baseball player for a $75 a month salary to become a Christian preacher;[7] his radio evangelism was such a sensation that the FCC formed in response
Matt Hasselbeck football Pro Bowl quarterback is a Christian who lends his name to "Tweet for Youcef" campaign organized by the ACLJ, in support of the Iranian Christian pastor who has been sentenced to death.
Bill Laimbeer basketball led the Detroit Pistons to two NBA titles by defeating Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson; for a center, Laimbeer had an amazing outside shot and free-throw percentage, showing the versatility of a conservative; illustrating their double standard, liberals whined about Laimbeer's rough style of play, without complaining about Dennis Rodman
Tim Thomas hockey A conservative, Thomas declined to attend a ceremony staged by the Obama White House after Thomas's team won the Stanley Cup.[8] Thomas is a four-time NHL All-Star as a goalie - a great conservative position to play![9]
Curt Schilling baseball led the hopeless Boston Red Sox to a stunning World Series championship in 2004 after defeating the liberal New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series; for an encore he helped Scott Brown win "Kennedy's seat," an even greater upset. Also was co-MVP of the 2001 World Series, in which he helped the Arizona Diamondbacks defeat the Yankees in one of the biggest World Series upsets in history.
Jim Bunning baseball former Republican Senator (KY); he pitched a perfect game with the fewest pitches ever in the National League (only 90) -- like a true conservative! A Hall of Famer, Bunning is also one of only five players to pitch a no-hitter in both the National and American Leagues.[10]
George Allen football coach The father of conservative Senator George Allen, the coach ran a trick play once for President Richard Nixon.[11]
Mike Ditka football player and coach outspoken pro-lifer when he was considering running for public office
Philip Rivers football endorsed Rick Santorum with a strong statement on religious values
Janet Lynn figure skating[12] "Before every performance she would close her eyes and give thanks and praise to God. She believed that God had given her the gift of skating and in each performance she worked to glorify God."[12] Lynn, once the highest-paid female athlete, also has written in support of conservative values.
Ted Williams baseball campaigned for Republicans, served as a fighter pilot, and also criticized the media, which was unfair to him, even denying him the MVP when he hit over .400 in 1941. Then, in 1947, Williams amazingly won the Triple Crown but was again denied MVP by the liberal media.[13] One sportswriter unjustifiably left Williams off his ballot entirely, which included voting for the top ten players.
Kurt Warner football pro-lifer who led two different teams to the Super Bowl, one of whom was the underachieving Cardinals.
Zach Johnson golf won the Masters on Easter Sunday in 2007 against the heavily favored Tiger Woods,[14] when Woods was at the peak of his career, and then gave credit to Jesus Christ; won the British Open in 2015 while reading the Bible along the way.[15]
Trevor Bayne auto racing Gave credit to God for being the youngest Daytona 500 winner
Pete Sampras tennis[16] Held the record for the longest time as #1 in the world—more than 5 years—until tied by Roger Federer due to his winning Wimbledon in 2012.
Mary Lou Retton gymnastics Olympic gold medalist, delivered the Pledge of Allegiance at the 2004 Republican National Convention.
Karl Malone basketball NBA Most Valuable Player and All-Star selection. He overcame troubled youth years and became a role model. Donated to the George W. Bush campaign and visited our troops in Afghanistan.
Steve Largent football former Republican Congressman (OK)
Jack Kemp football author of Kemp-Roth tax cuts as a Republican congressman from upstate New York; was also the vice presidential Republican candidate in 1996
Drew Brees football Led the New Orleans Saints to victory in the 2009 Super Bowl—professed his belief in Jesus Christ.[17]
Chris Dudley basketball Republican nominee for Oregon governor
Jim Ryun track considered the greatest high school athlete ever (LeBron James is considered the second-greatest), Ryun is also a former conservative Republican Congressman from Kansas
J.C. Watts football former Republican Congressman (OK)
John Elway football supporter of Republican candidates
Lynn Swann football Republican candidate for governor (PA)
Jeff Suppan baseball did a pro-life ad while winning the World Series in 2006
Rick Monday baseball In 1976 he saved an American Flag from burning at the hands of two protestors
Dan Hampton football helped lead the Chicago Bears to their 1985 Super Bowl title, but declined an invitation to a ceremony held decades later by the Obama White House.
Paul Azinger golf PGA champion who criticized Obama
Jack Lynch hurling One of the greatest ever dual players. As Taoiseach, reduced taxes and thereby increased employment in Ireland.
Lewis Hamilton auto racing outspoken Christian, describing his 2008 world championship win as "a blessing"
Doug Flutie football endorsed Scott Brown for U.S. Senate in Massachusetts
John Elway football Is a registered Republican in Colorado.
Michael Jones rugby His Christian beliefs caused him to abstain from playing or training on Sundays. Recently endorsed the conservative New Zealand National Party
Ewan Murray rugby Observes the Sabbath and does not play for his club (Newcastle) or country (Scotland) on Sundays.
Eric Liddell track Honoured in both Scotland and China as one of their greatest ever athletes, Liddell refused to run in the 1924 Olympic 100m on a Sunday despite pressure from a number of high-ranking officials including the then Prince of Wales and future King Edward viii. He did compete in the 400m and, though it was not his best event, he won the gold medal! Returned to China as a missionary and was devoted to helping the sick and poor.
Jason Robinson rugby Becoming a born-again Christian enabled him to reform his troubled personal life
Ryan Hall Track Evangelical Christian, said God was his trainer
Annie Oakley Sharpshooter Came to fame in her teens as an exhibition shooter, later to international fame in Buffalo Bill's Wild West show.
Gerald Ford Football Played center and linebacker for the University of Michigan and led them to two undefeated championship seasons. He was later offered professional contracts by two NFL franchises, but declined in order to attend law school. Later, Ford became minority leader of the House of Representatives and was appointed Vice President following the resignation of Spiro Agnew, and then became president when Richard Nixon resigned. Ford praised and introduced conservative Robert Bork at the beginning of his contentious nomination hearings in 1987; nearly two decades earlier, congressman Ford also sought to impeach liberal Supreme Court Justice William Douglas.
Burgess Owens Football Ten seasons in the NFL as a safety, including a Super Bowl win with the Raiders. A family man with six children, he wrote a book entitled Liberalism or How to Turn Good Men into Whiners, Weenies and Wimps.

Stars Who Have Taken a Conservative or Religious Position

Athlete Sport Conservatism
Piotr Malachowski discus throw Poland's Olympic athlete sells his silver medal a week after winning to pay for the medical expenses of a 3-year-old child with eye cancer. "My silver medal is worth much more today than it was a week ago." [18]
Ben Watson football New Orleans Saints tight end is an outspoken Christian and wrote a book Under Our Skin: Getting Real about Race—and Getting Free from the Fears and Frustrations that Divide Us, which denounces Planned Parenthood.[19]
Adam LaRoche baseball LaRoche walked away from his $13 million contract to spend more time with his family after being told by the team president to cut down the time his son spent in the clubhouse. His public statement on Twitter was "Thank u Lord for the game of baseball and for giving me way more than I ever deserved! #FamilyFirst." [20]
Matt Birk football Former Baltimore Ravens center gave a speech at March for Life and after his '13 Super Bowl victory, skipped the traditional team visit to the White House to be recognized by Barack Obama due to his abortion stance.[21]
James Harrison football "...I'm not about to raise two boys to be men by making them believe that they are entitled to something just because they tried their best." He will return his son's 'participation' trophies - #harrisonfamilyvalues.[22]
Daniel Murphy Baseball "I do disagree with the lifestyle, 100%," he said in 2015 in reference to homosexuality.[23]
Kevin Durant Basketball Gives all the credit to Christ as he proves he is the most valuable player in the NBA. The liberal media actually scoffed at his expression of faith.
Gabby Douglas Gymnastics Gave glory to God upon making the cut to represent the United States in the 2012 Olympics, and won the gold in the All-Around competition, as well as with the United States team event.
Tara Lipinski Figure skating Youngest (15) gold medalist in figure skating history, Tara gave credit to St. Therese of Lisieux for helping her win.[24]
Yulia Lipnitskaya Figure Skating Russia's youngest gold medalist proudly displays her Christian cross necklace for the world to see.[25]
Babe Ruth baseball defended Catholicism, saying that it gave him a standard for him to strive for personally
Jackie Robinson baseball pioneer in human rights and racial equality, first African-American Major League Baseball player, Republican activist with the courage to stand up against liberal attacks on his character
A.C. Green basketball record-holder for the longest number of consecutive games in the rough, injury-prone NBA, Green has long been an outspoken advocate of abstinence
Lolo Jones Olympic hurdler outspoken supporter of abstinence
Al Oerter track and field a self-confessed "old fashioned Olympian,"[26] this four-time Olympics discus champion spoke out against the use of steroids and their harmful effects during a time when other athletes were relying on them
Bubba Smith football one of the greatest defensive lineman, Bubba Smith gave up a lucrative contract to do beer commercials because he was concerned about the effect that alcohol has on people
David Tyree football hero of the upset victory by the New York Giants in the 2008 Super Bowl with a phenomenal catch, Tyree spoke out against same-sex marriage, and later tweeted: "People of faith ... direct some prayers my way. Got darts comin from every direction. Blessed are those persecuted for His name's sake."[27]
Roger Staubach football an active Catholic, he told the press he said a "Hail Mary" during his last-ditch 50-yard pass toward the end zone in a 1975 playoff game, which was caught for a come-from-behind victory for his Cowboys; the name for such a football pass has stuck ever since.[24]
Manny Pacquiao Boxing Evangelical Roman Catholic Politician for The Philippians House of Representatives, has spoken out against Gay "Marriage".
Stan Musial Baseball The greatest National League player from the World War II era, Musial was a devout, lifelong Catholic[28] who attended church every week and was married for nearly 72 years to the same woman.

See also

References

  1. http://www.christianpost.com/news/bubba-watson-respects-jason-collins-but-believes-being-gay-is-sin-95263/
  2. http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/berkmla01.shtml
  3. http://trueblueconservative.com/2012/01/djokovic-pulls-a-tebow-southern-prose/
  4. The first college sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy, and the only quarterback to lead his team to two BCS college championships.
  5. Tedy Bruschi continued to say about Tebow, "You're not the starting quarterback, it's Mark Sanchez's team. I want my voice to come from my head coach and my quarterback -- my starting quarterback. That message has to be consistent. I don't want all this competition brewing, and every time you speak and anytime you talk about competition or anything like that, you're twisting things," he went on. "I want one voice. One quarterback, not two." Tedy Bruschi thinks Tim Tebow should pipe down nfl.com, retrieved June 26, 2012. (Tedi Bruschi was a former New England Patriots linebacker.)
  6. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/thehuddle/post/2012/06/jets-tim-tebow-on-tedy-bruschis-advice-i-just-do-what-im-told/1?loc=interstitialskip
  7. http://www.biblebelievers.com/billy_sunday/
  8. http://www.politico.com/politico44/2012/01/boston-bruins-goalie-snubs-president-obama-111928.html
  9. http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=610011
  10. http://baseballhall.org/hof/bunning-jim
  11. http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/politics/GOP_drafts_NFL_talent-53346877.html
  12. 12.0 12.1 "Considered One of the Greatest Freeskaters of All Time."
  13. http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Ted_Williams.aspx
  14. http://www.fcagolf.org/masters-peace
  15. http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/other-sports/454922/Devout-Christian-Zach-Johnson-reading-bits-scripture-myself-during-The-Open
  16. Winner of 14 Grand Slam singles titles.
  17. STV Interview with Drew Brees
  18. Athlete sells Rio medal to help 3-year-old with eye cancer, Fox News, August 26, 2016
  19. NFL Star Ben Watson: Planned Parenthood Was Created to 'Exterminate Blacks' and 'It's Working', Christian Post, August 4, 2016
  20. Take Me Out of the Ballgame, Richochet, March 18, 2016
  21. Exclusive: Baltimore Ravens Star Matt Birk Explains Why He Came To the March For Life, Breitbart, January 22,2016
  22. STEELERS’ JAMES HARRISON SENDS BACK SONS’ PARTICIPATION TROPHIES: ‘EVERYTHING IN LIFE SHOULD BE EARNED’, Breitbart, August 16, 2015
  23. http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/billy-bean-mlb-inclusion-ambassador-visits-mets-article-1.2135840
  24. 24.0 24.1 http://www.thegregorian.org/blog/american-catholic-hall-of-fame-sports-figures
  25. Russian Teen Yulia Lipnitskaya Steals Show in Olympic Figure Skating Team Trophy, Bleacher Report.com, February 8,2014
  26. http://www.sify.com/sports/olympics/Profile/Al_Oerter.html
  27. http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/news/story?id=6667583
  28. http://www.patheos.com/blogs/getreligion/2013/01/stan-musial-wore-his-faith-on-his-sleeve/

See also