Republicans Ride Sports Connection

There are four former world-class athletes roaming the halls of the U.S. Congress, yet none of them go to their left?

Representatives Steve Largent (R-Okla.), J.C. Watts (R-Okla.) Jim Ryun (R-Kan.) and Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) are all grand old sports stars representing the GOP.

It should be noted that Ryun, the former mile record-holder, at least had to circle left around the track.

Truth is, most sporting figures entering politics today are Republicans.

Former Nebraska coach Tom Osborne and NFL star Russ Francis, both seeking U.S. House seats in November, are conservatives.

The GOP has long tried to recruit Roger Staubach and Nolan Ryan. Steve Young recently gave the invocation at the Republican National Convention.

Jack Kemp, Gerald Ford, both former star athletes. Both Republican.

The two notable exceptions in recent years have been ex-NBA stars Bill Bradley, the former New Jersey senator, and Tom McMillen, a former Maryland congressman.

Paul Equale, a Democratic advisor based in Washington, says there’s a reason so many sporting stars are conservatives.

“All politics is local and all politics is personal,” Equale said. “The successful athlete starts to make money and starts to feel it in the pocketbook.”

Read their lips: “No new taxes.”

Watts, the ex-Oklahoma quarterback who now represents the state’s 4th District, doesn’t disagree.

“I think, bottom line, when you make a lot of dollars, people should want to protect their interests,” Watts said. “Athletes have been good at giving back, but you can’t unload a wagon from an empty wagon.”

When President Clinton raised taxes in 1993, several of sports agent Leigh Steinberg’s star-studded clients reportedly called to complain. Steve Young, according to a published report, angrily faxed Steinberg a copy of his tax return.

Bob Rusbuldt, a GOP strategist, says there are plenty of Democrats in sports, they have simply not elected to seek public office.

“If you look at famous sports figures, I see most of them as Democrats,” Rusbuldt says. “Phil Jackson, Michael Jordan, Kevin McHale, they’ve done a lot of Democratic work.”