Before they were famous, many actors, politicians and TV personalities had pretty average childhoods attending public schools, hanging out with friends and playing sports. And even though they’ve found success off the field, their love and passion for sports continue to this day.
Many boldfaced names, including the five below, learned at a young age that the benefits of sports go beyond physical and mental health. Whether it’s through a competitive sport, a group activity or a pick-me-up hobby, sports can benefit you physically, mentally and socially today and in the future.
Read on to see how sports continue to play a starring role in the lives of these accomplished Americans:
1. Actor Ed O’Neill and Football: If you ever watched the television hit “Married… With Children,” you might remember the main character Al Bundy recounting his exploits as a star high school football player. Emmy-nominated actor Ed O’Neill (for his role on “Modern Family”) wasn’t fibbing about his football prowess on television. He earned a football scholarship to Ohio University before transferring to Youngstown State University, where he played as a defensive lineman for the Penguins. In 1969, he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers–but was cut in training camp.
2. Fashion Designer Vera Wang and Ballet: Growing up in New York City, Vera Wang attended the renowned School of the American Ballet at a very young age. Those early steps led to larger strides when Wang moved on to figure skating, even competing at a national level. After that, she leapt even higher to Vogue, Ralph Lauren and ultimately her own bridal gown label. Today, Wang remains committed to being fit and says her passion for fashion was influenced by her early activities, saying, “All those years of skating and dancing have carried over.”
3. Secretary of State John Kerry and Ice Hockey: Being able to break the ice is an important diplomacy skill and our current Secretary of State gained a lot of experience doing just that as a hockey player. According to ESPN, at his high school – St. Paul’s in New Hampshire – every one of the male pupils played hockey on the campus’ enormous Turkey Pond in the 1950s and ‘60s. Kerry will still lace up nowadays for charity games, including one in recent years that left him with a broken nose and two black eyes. Guess he plays as hard as he works!
4. Today Show Anchor Natalie Morales and Running: Because her dad’s job in the U.S. Air Force involved frequently relocating the family, Natalie Morales had to learn how to be flexible with her fitness routine. She played soccer and volleyball and other sports throughout her primary and high school years, but at age 18, Morales turned her focus to running. As a top news anchor and mother, she now navigates an incredibly busy schedule but still finds a way to fit in her training – she’s a 3:31 marathoner!
5. President Barack Obama and Basketball: How much does our 44th president love basketball? So much that it has remained a constant in his life since his teen years when he dreamed big hoops dreams in Hawaii. That never happened, of course, but since his days of playing on one of the best high school teams in the country, Obama has always found a way to play whenever and wherever he could – on playgrounds, in fancy sports clubs, at home and on the road. And in his presidency, the sport has become a recurring theme. Obama can often be seen cheering for his beloved Chicago Bulls, and he even had basketball court lines painted onto the White House tennis court so he could play full-court ball!
