Presidents' Day 2011: Power Ranking The 25 Most Athletic Politicians

Politicians, from the founding fathers, to the current White House administration, have been great leaders of people. They have been headstrong in crisis, able to make swift decisions with good judgement. They have been adored by many and criticized and scrutinized by many others.

So it should come as no surprise that plenty of the politicians that have been flourished in the politics all over the world have been former athletes. After all, there is no great template for the responsibilities of the politician, and working within the complex political system than that of an athlete.

So here is a look at some of the most athletic politicians in history, and they’ll be ranked 25 to 1. There are sure to be omissions and some disputes along the way, but a healthy debate won’t hurt…especially when talking about politics.  

Honorable Mention: Baron Hill

How many congressman can say that not only do they have a successful political career, but they have been inducted into the Hall of Fame alongside Larry Bird?

Baron Hill is Indiana 9^th district representative. But before that he was a standout basketball player in high school and in college. In 2000, he was honored with induction into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.

25. Heath Shuler

Heath Shuler never got the most out of his pro career as an NFL quarterback. His time with the Redskins and the Saints was riddled with injuries.

However, when he decided to get into the political game, he certainly got the most out of that. In 2006 he defeated North Carolina house rep Charles Taylor in an election that not only gave him the seat, but gave the democrats control of the house. 

24. Dave Bing

In 2009, when Detroit was running through mayors like they used to run cars through the assembly line, Dave Bing got his shot at office by winning a 2009 run off election.

The man who was the 1966 Rookie of the Year, and a member of the NBA’s 50^th Anniversary Team turned his winning attitude on the court to a winning attitude as the mayor of the Motor City. 

23. Chris Dudley

Chris Dudley could not get a penny from Nike as a defensive minded player for the New Jersey Nets. However, as a candidate in the race for governor of the great state of Oregon, Dudley got millions.

Although Dudley could outspend his candidate, he could not sway the vote in his direction and lost the election. Still, there could be a political career in his future. 

22. J.C. Watts

There are two things that J.C Watts knows how to do as well as anyone: play the political game in the House of Representatives, and win Orange Bowl titles.

Before he was elected to four consecutive terms before retiring in 2003, Watts managed to lead the Oklahoma Sooners to two straight Orange Bowl titles. That makes him both a hero and a humble servant in the great state of Oklahoma. 

21. John McCain

Many have disagreed with John McCain’s politics and his policies, but few can argue that the guy is not tough. Before he was ever a P.O.W. and a wounded soldier for the United States Navy, he got some of that trademark toughness in the ring.

Upon his arrival at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, he decided to get some formal training to toughen him up. He turned out to be a lightweight boxer, and lucky for Barack Obama that all those jabs he threw during the 2008 presidential campaign were verbal. 

20. Barack Obama

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WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 27: (AFP OUT) U.S. President Barack Obama watches a college basketball game at Howard University November 27, 2010 in Washington, DC. President Barack Obama attended the game between Howard University and Oregon State, which is coac

Just because you are the most powerful man in the world, doesn’t mean you don’t have a little time now and then to pop a 15 foot jumper.

Barack Obama gets credit for not just being a solid varsity basketball player in high school, but being one of the few presidents to take office who could still hoop it up.

19. Richard Nixon

Tricky Dick is largely regarded as one of the greatest political minds of his generation. You could also put that he was one of the greatest athletes too.

While Nixon never played pro sports, he did find time to excel at baseball, football and track at Whittier College. 

18. Gerald Ford

Ford isn’t the most decorated president in history, but he does go down as one of the more athletic.

Long before Nixon had to turn over the presidency to Ford, he was a beloved and valued member of the Michigan Wolverines football team. His senior season with the team he was named their MVP.

17. John Kerry

Perhaps if the 2004 presidential election taken place in a sporting arena, John Kerry would have won the election. While George W. Bush was a good college athlete, Kerry was simply better.

In his time at Yale, Kerry excelled in Hockey, soccer, lacrosse, and fencing. If that is not enough to prove his mastery of hand eye coordination, he picked up flying lessons in his spare time. Too bad those debates weren’t done on a football field. 

16. George H. W. Bush

George Bush is a part of United States history for not only being president, but being the one of two presidents to have a son also take the Oval Office.

However, Bush was a part of history long before he was ever sworn in. As the Captain of the Yale baseball team, and a lefty first baseman, Bush managed to take part in the first two College World Series ever. 

15. Jon Runyan

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PHILADELPHIA - 2008: Jon Runyan of the Philadelphia Eagles poses for his 2008 NFL headshot at photo day in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Getty Images)

Run will be remembered forever.

Jon Runyan didn’t waste a minute on his retirement plays. Just following his last game as an offensive tackle in the NFL, he got right into the political system.

He found himself in a dead heat three way race for a seat in the House of Representative for New Jersey’s 3^rd Congressional district.  He won the race and thus his political career is off. If it’s half as successful as his NFL career he’ll be very happy after football.

14. Peter Boulware

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Baltimore Ravens linebacker Peter Boulware during action against the Buffalo Bills in Baltimore, Maryland, Aug. 9, 2003. The Bills defeated the Ravens 20 - 19 in pre-season play. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Boulware has never met a quarterback that he could not chase down. The all-time Ravens sack leader with 70 sacks, Boulware tried to make a name for himself in politics after his career was over.

He ran, and lost, his bid for a house seat in Florida in 2008. However, his eagerness to be a part of change didn’t go unnoticed. Shortly following his defeat, Gov. Charlie Crist appointed Boulware to the Florida Board of Education. 

13. Jesse "The Body" Ventura

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PHOENIX - MARCH 27: Former Governer Jesse Ventura arrives at 'Celebrity Fight Night X', a charity event to raise money for the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Research Center at Barrow Neurological Institute March 27, 2004 in Phoenix, Arizona. The institute is lo

Jesse Ventura has two claims to fame. The first is he was one of the most colorful and outlandish personalities that the WWE has ever seen. In his time as a wrestler and a commentator for Vince McMahon he left an impression on the wrestling world.

His second claim to fame is shocking the world when, what seemed like a harmless publicity stunt to run for the Governor of Minnesota, turned into a landmark win. He was a one and done governor, but his run will be remembered forever.

12. Kevin Johnson

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PHOENIX - DECEMBER 10: Former NBA player Kevin Johnson attends the game between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center on December 10, 2010 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by d

When Kevin Johnson was ballin’ for the Phoenix Suns during the 1990’s, there are probably few, and maybe even Johnson himself, who thought he’d end up being the mayor of Sacramento when his playing days were over.

In a 2008 run off election, the three time NBA All-Star managed to win the job as mayor of Sacramento and managed to create off the court the same way he did on the court. 

11. Jack Kemp

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U. S. Sen. Jack Kemp and former Buffalo Bills quarterback before Super Bowl XLI between the Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears at Dolphin Stadium in Miami, Florida on February 4, 2007. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

To many of the younger generation, Jack Kemp is most known for being the running mate of Bob Dole in the 1996 presidential election. However, he’s known to the older generation as a winner both on and off  the football field.

After a couple of years in the late 1950’s of sitting on the bench, in what is most notably now known as “The Greatest Game Ever Played” he decided to try his hand in the AFL. During his time, he won two AFL titles for the San Diego and Los Angeles Chargers. He won himself an MVP and made noise on the field the same way he would in Congress, and then the White House. 

10. Bob Mathias

Bob Mathias has always been a multi-talented individual. In his political career, he was three times elected to the United States Congress. Upon losing the 1974 election, he went on to assist Gerald Ford in his presidential campaign and was the deputy director of the Selective Service.

So it should come as no surprise that in 1948 and 1952 Olympics, Mathias won back to back gold medals in the decathlon. From the age of 17, Mathias was a talented individual.  

9. Jim Bunning

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WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 15: U.S. Senator Jim Bunning (R-KY) speaks to reporters during a news briefing on steroid use associate with the Major League Baseball November 15, 2005 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Major League Baseball players and owners rea

Maybe the reason that Jim Bunning was a successful member of the United States House of Representatives and of the United States Senate from 1986 till he retired in 2009, is that he knew how to play both sides of the aisle.

That would ring true for a man who pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies and the Detroit Tigers. In his time in both leagues Bunning became the only man to win 100 games in both the NL and the AL. A two party political system must have made sense to him. 

8. Lynn Swann

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TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 01: Hall of fame player and current broadcaster Lynn Swann on the field prior to Super Bowl XLIII between the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers on February 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Ja

So not every political career for an athlete is successful. When former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Lynn Swann tried to run for governor, he lost. When he said he was going to run for the House of Representatives, he lost.

I’m sure all his Super Bowl rings help ease the pain of a less than successful political career. 

7. Arnold Schwartzenegger

Before Governor Schwartzenegger was doing his best to lift California out of it’s massive financial problems, he was lifting massive weights in the gym.

To say that Arnold was big in the world of professional body building would be an understatement. He was professional body building in the 1970s. From 1970 till his retirement in 1975, he won six consecutive Mr. Olympia competitions and still holds the record for being the youngest man, at 23, to ever win the award. 

6. Bill Bradley

Bill Bradley has built himself an impressive life resume. He’s went from being a Rhodes Scholar, to being an NBA All Star. During his time with the New York Knick he won two NBA titles.

After his playing days were over, he landed in New Jersey and ran for Congress, winning, and serving three terms. And, had fate been just a bit kinder to the distinguished Senator from New Jersey(that sounds funny) that he would have been the Democratic Nominee in 2000. Still, I bet he’s not complaining. 

5. Jim Ryun

Jim Ryun knows a lot about winning a race. When Sam Brownback vacated his seat in the House of Representatives, Jim Ryun got into a three person race for the vacated seat. He won with 62 percent of the vote.

However, Ryun was winning races well before the 1996 election. Ryun was a three time Olympian and also the record holder in the mile, 1,500 and 800 meter races. The winners circle is all too familiar for this former Kansas representative. 

4. Steve Largent

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20 Nov 1988: Wide receiver Steve Largent of the Seattle Seahawks looks on during a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs won the game, 27-24.

If you knew anything about Steve Largent as a wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks you knew this: what he lacked in size and speed, he more than made up for in his preparation and mastery of his craft.

It’s no wonder why when he retired from the NFL as the all time receptions leader, he found his way into another field that took planning, preparation, and the ability to dodge some hits.

Steve Largent was elected to Congress as a representative of the state of Oklahoma in 1994. There he stayed for three consecutive terms and fought for largely conservative Christian issues. 

3. Alan Page

Alan Page was so used to handing out judgment to NFL quarterbacks in the 1970’s that he carried it over to his post NFL career.

As a member of the famed “Purple People Eaters” Alan Page played his way into a hall of fame career, and carried that kind of passion and talent to the courtroom. During his time as a player he found himself attending Minnesota Law School. In 1992, he became a member of the Minnesota Supreme Court.  Now he is a full member of the court and makes the kinds of decisions he never had to on a football field. 

2. Ken Dryden

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MONTREAL- DECEMBER 4: Former Montreal Canadien Ken Dryden skates during the Centennial Celebration ceremonies prior to the NHL game between the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins on December 4, 2009 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The

Ken Dryden is a winner. In his political career he managed to be elected to the Canadian Parliament and was later elected to the Cabinet as the Prime Minister of Social Development.

However, Dryden’s winning ways started long before he was a politician. As the goalie for the Montreal Canadiens from 71’-79’, he was the best goalie in the game and helped the Canadiens win an impressive six Stanley Cup titles. He was later enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame. 

1. Manny Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao has made a career out of doing the impossible. In his time as the greatest boxer in the sport, he has won belts in eight, count em’, eight different weight classes.

So, when it came to try his hand at politics it seemed only natural that, in his home country of the Philippines, that he would upset Roy Chiongbian to become the representative for the Sarangani providence.