Essay:Greatest Conservative Sports Stars

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
Novak Djokovic	tennis	Number 1 player in the world, Novak gives glory to God with the sign of the Cross after big tennis victories.
Tim Tebow	football	pro-life, outspoken Christian
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. Thomas is a four-time NHL All-Star as a goalie - a great conservative position to play!
Curt Schilling	baseball	led the hopeless Boston Red Sox to a stunning World Series championship in 2004 after defeating the liberal New York Yankees; for an encore he helped Scott Brown win "Kennedy's seat," an even greater upset.
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! Bunning is also one of only five players to pitch a no-hitter in both the National and American Leagues.
George Allen	coach	The father of conservative Senator George Allen, the coach ran a trick play once for President Richard Nixon.
Philip Rivers	football	endorsed Rick Santorum with a strong statement on religious values
Janet Lynn	figure skating	"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." 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. 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.
Kurt Warner	football	pro-lifer who led two different underachieving teams to the Super Bowl
Zach Johnson	golf	won the Masters on Easter Sunday against the heavily favored Tiger Woods, when Woods was at the peak of his career, and then gave credit to Jesus Christ
Trevor Bayne	auto racing	Gave credit to God for being the youngest Daytona 500 winner
Pete Sampras	tennis
Mary Lou Retton	gymnastics	Olympic gold medalist, delivered the Pledge of Allegiance at the 2004 Republican National Convention.
Karl Malone	basketball
Jon Runyan	football	Republican Congressman (NJ)
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.
Chris Dudley	basketball	Republican nominee for Oregon governor
Jim Ryun	track	former Republican Congressman (KS)
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
Billy Sunday	baseball	Left professional baseball and became a famous evangelist
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 RINO Scott Brown
Michael Jones	rugby	His Christian beliefs caused him to abstain from playing or training on Sundays. Recently endorsed the conservative New Zealand National Party
Sir John Major	Cricketeer who wrote More Than A Game	British Prime Minister, Conservative
David Icke	soccer	Currently best known for his outspoken opposition to attempts by liberals to control government and people's lives.
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 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.
Gavin Peacock	soccer	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.
Jason Robinson	rugby	Becoming a born-again Christian enabled him to reform his troubled personal life
Josh Hamilton	baseball	Used to be a drug addict, then became a born-again Christian and plays major league baseball now
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.

See also

• Essay:Greatest Conservative Songs
• Essay:Greatest Conservative Movies
• Essay:Greatest Conservative Television Shows