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

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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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{| class="wikitable sortable"
 
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|-
 
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!Athlete
 
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!Sport
 
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![[Conservatism]]
 
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|-
 
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|[[Chuck Norris]]
 
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|karate
 
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|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.
 
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|-
 
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|[[Jim Jordan]]
 
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|wrestling
 
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|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.
 
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|-
 
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|Matt Birk
 
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|football
 
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|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
 
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|-
 
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|Nolan Ryan
 
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|baseball
 
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|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"
 
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|-
 
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|[[Jon Runyan]]
 
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|football
 
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|one of the best linemen in the NFL who was selected for the Pro Bowl, Runyan is now a Republican Congressman (NJ) who won reelection in 2012
 
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|-
 
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|Novak Djokovic
 
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|tennis
 
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|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>
 
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|-
 
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|[[Tim Tebow]]
 
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|football<ref>The first college sophomore to win the [[Heisman Trophy]], and the only quarterback to lead his team to two [[BCS]] college championships.</ref>
 
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|[[pro-life]], outspoken Christian; an analyst for the [[lamestream media]] said about him, "You need to disappear, okay, [[Tim Tebow]]?"<ref>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." [http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d829b6a76/article/tedy-bruschi-thinks-tim-tebow-should-pipe-down Tedy Bruschi thinks Tim Tebow should pipe down] nfl.com, retrieved June 26, 2012.  (Tedi Bruschi was a former New England Patriots linebacker.)</ref>  Pressed for a response, Tebow simply smiled and said, "I can't help him with that.  That would be pretty hard."<ref>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</ref>
 
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|-
 
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|Josh Hamilton
 
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|baseball
 
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|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.
 
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|-
 
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|Billy Sunday
 
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|baseball
 
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|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
 
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|-
 
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|[[Dennis Hastert]]
 
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|wrestling coach
 
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|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
 
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|-
 
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|Matt Hasselbeck
 
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|football
 
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|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.
 
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|-
 
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|Bill Laimbeer
 
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|basketball
 
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|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]]
 
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|-
 
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|Tim Thomas
 
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|hockey
 
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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>
 
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|-
 
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|Curt Schilling
 
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|baseball
 
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|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 "[[Ted Kennedy|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.
 
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|-
 
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|[[Jim Bunning]]
 
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|baseball
 
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|former Republican Senator (KY); he pitched a perfect game with the fewest pitches ever in the National League (only 90) -- like a true conservative!  Bunning is also one of only five players to pitch a no-hitter in both the National and American Leagues.
 
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|-
 
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|George Allen
 
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|football coach
 
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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>
 
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|-
 
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|Mike Ditka
 
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|football player and coach
 
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|outspoken pro-lifer when he was considering running for public office
 
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|-
 
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|Philip Rivers
 
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|football
 
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|endorsed [[Rick Santorum]] with a strong statement on religious values
 
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|-
 
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|Janet Lynn
 
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|figure skating<ref name="Lynn">"Considered One of the Greatest Freeskaters of All Time." [http://figureskating.about.com/od/famousfemaleiceskater1/p/janetlynn.htm]</ref>
 
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|"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.
 
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|-
 
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|[[Ted Williams]]
 
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|baseball
 
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|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.
 
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|-
 
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|[[Kurt Warner]]
 
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|football
 
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|pro-lifer who led two ''different'' teams to the [[Super Bowl]], one of whom was the underachieving Cardinals.
 
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|-
 
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|[[Zach Johnson]]
 
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|golf
 
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|won the [[Masters]] on [[Easter Sunday]] against the heavily favored Tiger Woods,<ref>http://www.fcagolf.org/masters-peace</ref> when Woods was at the peak of his career, and then gave credit to [[Jesus Christ]]
 
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|-
 
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|Trevor Bayne
 
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|auto racing
 
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|Gave credit to God for being the youngest Daytona 500 winner
 
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|-
 
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|Pete Sampras
 
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|tennis<ref>Winner of 14 Grand Slam singles titles.</ref>
 
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|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.
 
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|-
 
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|[[Mary Lou Retton]]
 
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|gymnastics
 
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|Olympic gold medalist, delivered the Pledge of Allegiance at the 2004 Republican National Convention.
 
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|-
 
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|Karl Malone
 
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|basketball
 
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|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.
 
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|-
 
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|Steve Largent
 
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|football
 
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|former Republican Congressman (OK)
 
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|-
 
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|[[Jack Kemp]]
 
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|football
 
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|author of Kemp-Roth tax cuts as a Republican congressman from upstate [[New York]]; was also the vice presidential Republican candidate in 1996
 
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|-
 
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|Drew Brees
 
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|football
 
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|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>
 
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|-
 
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|Chris Dudley
 
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|basketball
 
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|Republican nominee for Oregon governor
 
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|-
 
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|[[Jim Ryun]]
 
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|track
 
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|former Republican Congressman (KS)
 
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|-
 
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|[[J.C. Watts]]
 
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|football
 
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|former Republican Congressman (OK)
 
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|-
 
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|[[John Elway]]
 
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|football
 
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|supporter of Republican candidates
 
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|-
 
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|Lynn Swann
 
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|football
 
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|Republican candidate for governor (PA)
 
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|-
 
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|Jeff Suppan
 
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|baseball
 
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|did a pro-life ad while winning the World Series in 2006
 
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|-
 
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|Rick Monday
 
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|baseball
 
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|In 1976 he saved an American Flag from burning at the hands of two protestors
 
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|-
 
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|Dan Hampton
 
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|football
 
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|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.
 
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|-
 
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|Paul Azinger
 
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|golf
 
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|PGA champion who criticized Obama
 
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|-
 
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|Jack Lynch
 
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|hurling
 
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|One of the greatest ever dual players. As Taoiseach, reduced taxes and thereby increased employment in Ireland.
 
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|-
 
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|Lewis Hamilton
 
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|auto racing
 
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|outspoken Christian, describing his 2008 world championship win as "a blessing"
 
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|-
 
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|Doug Flutie
 
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|football
 
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|endorsed [[Scott Brown]] for [[U.S. Senate]] in [[Massachusetts]]
 
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|-
 
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|John Elway
 
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|football
 
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|Is a registered Republican in Colorado.
 
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|-
 
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|Michael Jones
 
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|rugby
 
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|His Christian beliefs caused him to abstain from playing or training on Sundays.  Recently endorsed the conservative New Zealand National Party
 
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|-
 
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|Ewan Murray
 
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|rugby
 
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|Observes the Sabbath and does not play for his club (Newcastle) or country (Scotland) on Sundays.
 
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|-
 
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|Eric Liddell
 
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|track
 
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|Honoured in both Scotland and China as one of their great-ever athletes, Liddell refused to run in the 1924 Olympic 100m on a Sunday. Instead, he competed 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.
 
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|-
 
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|Gavin Peacock
 
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|soccer
 
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|Attacking midfielder for Newcastle, Chelsea and QPR then a respected footballer commentator. From 2006, combined commentating with attending a seminary. Now training full-time for the ministry.
 
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|-
 
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|Jason Robinson
 
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|rugby
 
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|Becoming a born-again Christian enabled him to reform his troubled personal life
 
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|-
 
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|Ryan Hall
 
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|Track
 
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|Evangelical Christian, said God was his trainer
 
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|-
 
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|[[Annie Oakley]]
 
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|Sharpshooter
 
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|Came to fame in her teens as an exhibition shooter, later to international fame in Buffalo Bill's Wild West show.
 
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|-
 
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|[[Gerald Ford]]
 
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|Football
 
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|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.
 
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|}
 
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== Stars Who Have Taken a Conservative or Religious Position ==
 
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{| class="wikitable sortable"
 
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|-
 
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!Athlete
 
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!Sport
 
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![[Conservatism]]
 
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|-
 
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|[[Kevin Durant]]
 
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|Basketball
 
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|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]].
 
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|-
 
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|Gabby Douglas
 
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|Gymnastics
 
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|Gave glory to God upon making the cut to represent the United States in the [[Olympics 2012|2012 Olympics]], and won the gold in the All-Around competition, as well as with the United States team event.
 
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|-
 
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|Tara Lipinski
 
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|Figure skating
 
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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>http://www.thegregorian.org/blog/american-catholic-hall-of-fame-sports-figures</ref>
 
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|-
 
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|Yulia Lipnitskaya
 
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|Figure Skating
 
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||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>
 
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|-
 
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|[[Babe Ruth]]
 
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|baseball
 
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|defended [[Catholic]]ism, saying that it gave him a standard for him to strive for personally
 
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|-
 
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|[[Jackie Robinson]]
 
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|baseball
 
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|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
 
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|-
 
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|A.C. Green
 
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|basketball
 
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|record-holder for the longest number of consecutive games in the rough, injury-prone [[NBA]], Green has long been an outspoken advocate of [[abstinence]]
 
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|-
 
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|Lolo Jones
 
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|Olympic hurdler
 
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|outspoken supporter of [[abstinence]]
 
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|-
 
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|Al Oerter
 
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|track and field
 
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|a self-confessed "old fashioned Olympian,"<ref>http://www.sify.com/sports/olympics/Profile/Al_Oerter.html</ref> 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
 
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|-
 
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|Bubba Smith
 
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|football
 
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|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
 
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|-
 
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|David Tyree
 
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|football
 
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|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 [[Jesus|His name]]'s sake."<ref>http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/news/story?id=6667583</ref>
 
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|-
 
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|Roger Staubach
 
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|football
 
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|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>
 
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|-
 
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|Manny Pacquiao
 
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|Boxing
 
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|Evangelical Roman Catholic Politician for The Philippians House of Representatives, has spoken out against Gay "Marriage".
 
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|-
 
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|[[Stan Musial]]
 
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|Baseball
 
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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.
 
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|}
 
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== References ==
 
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<references/>
 
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== See also ==
 
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*[[Essay:Greatest Conservative Songs]]
 
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*[[Essay:Greatest Conservative Movies]]
 
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*[[Essay:Greatest Conservative Television Shows]]
 
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*[[Overrated Sports Stars]]
 
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{{Conservatism}}
 
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[[Category:Essays]]
 
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[[Category:Sports]]
 

Revision as of 16:36, December 1, 2014

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