Barack Obama’s All-Athlete Cabinet

Though it’s been less than a day since his historic win, it’s never too early to discuss which candidates will receive the nod to serve at the side of our nation’s 44th president.

Here is a look at a few possible names President-elect Barack Obama would be wise in considering for his Cabinet, as each of these candidates has displayed the exact same fortitude in the face of adversity in their careers as Obama has shown throughout the election.

Just for the record, these names are listed in no particular order:

Steve Largent

Before becoming an influential member of the House of Representatives for his native Oklahoma from 1994-2002, Largent endeared himself to fans the country over for his obsessive work ethic and steadfast determination during the course of his 14-year NFL career. 

Lacking NFL-caliber size and speed at the wide receiver position, the 5’11”, 187-pound future Hall of Famer compensated for his physical limitations by earning a reputation for being one of the game’s most reliable pass-catchers and consistent performers.

Through his success, Largent not only helped dismiss people’s preconceived notions of what an impact receiver should look like, he also reformed the idea that a player void of traditional skills can’t achieve success in the NFL.

Like Obama, Largent, who grew up in Tulsa, came from a modest upbringing that stressed character and self-responsibility.  As was the case throughout his career, he can relate to what it’s like to have the odds stacked in favor of the opposition. 

Tony Gwynn

In an era when players aided by illegal substances were banging down fences with regularity, Gwynn was busy setting an example for young hitters by excelling at small-ball—cleanly. 

Known for his razor-sharp focus at the plate, Gwynn, a lifetime .338 hitter who went deep only 135 times in 20 major league seasons, followed the mantra that making consistent contact at the plate vastly outweighed the ability to occasionally hit a home run.

In 9,288 career at-bats, the eight-time NL batting champ struck out 434 times, or only once in every 21 trips to the plate, and collected 3,141 hits.

Despite the fact that he was not directly involved with the illegal substance abuse that marred the span of his playing days, Gwynn has said publicly that because the innocent preferred to play the role of bystander, in his mind each player of the era will forever be considered guilty, regardless of whether that player used illegal substances or not.

Gwynn is also a strong proponent that baseball does whatever it takes to restore its tarnished image.  It is this forthright and selfless attitude that would be Gwynn’s most welcomed attribute in Washington.

John Stockton

A player with a committed pass first, shoot second mentality, Stockton made a career out of elevating the performances of those around him. 

His 15,806 career assists are an NBA record, and nearly 6,000 more than the second place mark.  Widely considered to be one the best players never to have won a championship, Stockton, a reserved personality, let his creative play do the talking, often turning down endorsements and even agreeing on one instance to take less money to stay with the Utah Jazz.      

Stockton also played his entire 19-year career in one city, a rare feat that points to his devotion and loyalty.  Equally committed to his family of six, Stockton, in 1996, after negotiating his contract to free up salary cap space, leveraged for his son’s hockey team to have guaranteed ice time at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City.

With the current Republican regime having lost sight of its core values—one of which is family—Stockton would help restore these values by providing Obama, another devoted family man, and his incoming administration with a steady presence that believes in unselfishness and the importance of humility.

Mike Modano 

Now the face of American hockey, Modano was once an aspiring young player from a blue-collar town in suburban Michigan dreaming of one day playing in the NHL. 

Like any other hockey-crazed kid, Modano had big dreams, but he never believed he would eventually be the greatest player our country has ever seen.

Beginning his amateur career competing against the best the world had to offer in the Junior Championships as a bright-eyed teenager 20 years ago, Modano has since enjoyed a lengthy record-breaking professional career that includes a Stanley Cup and the distinction of being the top American-born goal-scorer in the history of the NHL.

Modano’s ascension from humble beginnings to the pinnacle of his craft is a perfect example of the American Dream—a person not of privilege achieving greatness through perseverance.

And Modano’s path to success fits in seamlessly with the message that Obama spread to the four corners of the country during his arduous campaign journey: “Yes, we can.”