JOHN EDWARDS
Before he tossed political footballs as a North Carolina
senator, Edwards
was a walk-on safety for Clemson's freshman team in 1971 (below). (He gave up football when he transferred to N.C. State
after a semester.) Some ACC
fans might be turned off by his flip-flopping allegiances. A North Carolina
law school alum, he's an unabashed Tar Heels
fan, and he has spoken of his "hate" for Duke basketball. Good luck with that Durham
vote, John.
HILLARY CLINTON
Does the former First Lady see both sides of an issue? Or can't she commit? You decide. During the 2000 New York Senate campaign Clinton
told Katie Couric
she had "always been a Yankees fan." That was news to Chicagoans, who had seen her throw the first pitch at a Cubs game in '94 and sport a cap signed by Sammy Sosa
in '98. Asked in 2003 whom she'd root for in a Cubs-Yanks series, she said, "It's like a no-hit game, you don't talk about it."
BARACK OBAMA
If someone asks the candidates to showcase their foul-shooting skills, the Illinois
senator is a shoo-in for the nomination. As a senior Obama
helped the Punahou School
win the Hawaii
state hoops title in '79 (left), and at Occidental College he played in faculty-student games. (One prof recalls him "as better as an offensive player than a defense player.") Obama
is a rabid Bears fan—before the NFC Championship Game
he said, "I am happy for New Orleans
, but this fairy tale ends [now]."
The Pop Culture Grid
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