Jock For Congress

With rumors flying that former New York Rangers goalie Mike Richter may consider running for the House of Representatives against New England's lone Republican Congressman, Chris Shays, in the Connecticut Fourth District, I've been hearing a lot of rumbling about how dumb an idea it is to run a professional athlete for elected office.

It's not as uncommon as you might think...Plenty of former jocks turned to the political arena after retiring;

One of the most famous examples is Bill Bradley, the former New York Knicks basketball star had a successful career as a Democratic United States Senator from New Jersey from 1979-1997. He unsuccessfully challenged Al Gore in 2000 for the Democratic nomination for President

Football Players have fared pretty well;

Former Buffalo Bills star Jack Kemp made a bigger name for himself as a member of the Republican Party, first representing New York in the House of Representatives from 1971-1989. He represented a suburban Buffalo district. He later served as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in Bush 41's administration and later as Bob Dole's running mate in the 1996 Presidential Election

NFL Hall-of-Famer Steve Largent spent 8 years in the US House of Representatives from Oklahoma, until he was narrowly defeated for Governor in 2002. Also in Oklahoma, former Canadian Football League star J.C. Watts served as a Congressman, the only black Republican in the House recently.

Just this past year, former NFL player Heath Shuler, a Democrat, was elected to represent North Carolina's 11th district around Asheville in the House of Representatives.

Although never a professional, Forner President Gerald Ford was a star football player in his youth

From Other Sports:

Senator Jim Bunning (R-Kentucky) used to pitch for the Philadelphia Phillies (as well as for the Pirates and the Dodgers). His career ERA is 3.27.

If you consider wresting a sport, and most do, then former Independent Governor of Minnesota Jesse Ventura makes this list.

Although not yet elected, former NBA star Charles Barkley had been rumored to be interested in running for Governor of Alabama, his home state one day. Once a Republican, Barkley is now an Independent.

Hockey Players have sat in the Canadian Parliament; Maple Leafs star and NHL Hall-Of-Famer Howie Meeker was elected to Parliament as a Conservative in the 1950's, but only served one term. Frnak Mahovlich current sits in the Canadian Senate