Pro Sports – A Family Affair
With plenty of friends and family around this weekend, you’ll probably want to keep the conversation light. Sarah Palin’s sudden resignation should provide plenty of “fireworks” around the nacho platter, so let me set you up with a completely non-offensive topic – namely, the plethora of family connections in professional sports.
With the Williams sisters (Serena and Venus) squaring off in the women’s Wimbledon final on Saturday, the timing couldn’t be better. Not only that, but Venus and Serena have also reached the doubles finals as well.
Just about every major sport has some combination of siblings or offspring excelling in the league. Currently, Peyton Manning and brother Eli Manning were the starting quarterbacks on two of the last three Superbowl champions. Furthermore, the Manning brothers are the sons of former Saints quarterback Archie Manning. In basketball, Kobe Bryant just finished winning his fourth NBA title. Bryant is the son of “Jellybean Joe” Bryant, a former NBA player in his own right.
The NHL is always brimming with connections along the family tree. Brett Hull earned his way into the upper echelon of players over the past couple decades, but it didn’t hurt that his dad (Bobby Hull) was one of the greatest hockey players to ever put skate to ice in the NHL. With SIX Sutter brothers in the NHL in the 80s, it seems there are more Sutters in hockey than Kennedys in politics.
like father, like son
Major League Baseball has its share of family time too, from the Griffeys to the Ripkens to, more recently, Prince Fielder taking over the role of hefty slugger from his dad Cecil. To make this post useful, however, bust out the following bit of trivia at your next get together. It won’t get you many “wows” but it should change the subject away from Sarah Palin, and that’s always a good thing.
Pro sports family-related trivia:
Wednesday night’s starting outfield for the San Diego Padres consisted of Tony Gwynn, Jr., Scott Hairston, and Will Venable. All three players are sons of former major league ballplayers (Tony Gwynn, Sr., Jerry Hairston, and Max Venable).
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