Athletes Turned Politicians

In November 2009, the hard-hitting Filipino became the first boxer in history to earn world championships in seven different weight classes. Six months later, Pacquiao upset heavy favorite Roy Chiongbian in the race to represent the southern province of Sarangani in the Philippine Congress.

He got our attention as a bodybuilder, proclaimed "I'll be back" in The Terminator, and has proved to be an astute politician, winning the governorship of California in 2003.

The former NBA all-star was a Rhodes scholar and won two NBA titles with the Knicks. He settled in New Jersey, was elected to the Senate in 1978 and served three terms. In 2000, Bradley ran for president, eventually losing the Democratic nomination to Al Gore. He hasn't ruled out running again.

He has proven to be a winner on and off the field. Largent was the NFL's alltime leading receiver with the Seahawks (his records have since been broken by Jerry Rice) and then went on to a prosperous career in politics. He was elected to serve in Congress as a representative from Oklahoma in 1994 and narrowly was defeated in a bid to become the state's governor in 2002.

After an accomplished NFL career in which he led the Bills to a pair of AFL championships and was the league MVP in 1965, Kemp was a Buffalo representative in the House for 18 years before becoming Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under George H. Bush.

Osborne became an icon on the sidelines at Nebraska, averaging 10 wins in his 25 seasons and leading the Cornhuskers to bowl games every year. He's been nearly as popular in politics and served three terms as a U.S. representative in Nebraska's third district.

A three-time Olympian and world record holder in the mile, 1,500 meters and 800 meters, Ryun served as a representative from Kansas.

As a pitcher for the Tigers and Phillies, he blew away opponents and became the second player in history to win 100 games in both the American and National leagues. Currently in his second term as a senator from Kentucky, Bunning is leading the battle for stiffer penalties for steroid users in Major League Baseball.

The Liberian soccer legend was known as "the King", had a successful career in Europe and was the first African to be named the world's best player, in 1995. In 2005, he lost a runoff for president in his native country.

Dryden's motto: The puck stops here. As a Hall of Fame goaltender for the Canadians, Dryden became a national hero by helping Montreal win six Stanley Cups from 1971 through '79. Later, he'd be elected to Parliament and named to Cabinet as Minister of Social Development.

The 41st President of the United States captained the Yale baseball team, and as a left-handed first baseman, played in the first two College World Series. As the team captain, Bush met Babe Ruth (inset) before a game during his senior year.

Baseball is in his blood. Before becoming the 43rd President of the United States, Bush was a second baseman at Yale and a part-owner of the Texas Rangers.

Watts exhibited his charismatic leadership as a quarterback at Oklahoma, leading the Sooners to consecutive Orange Bowl titles. He then served as an Oklahoma representative in Congress for four terms.

After competing for the United States in 1964 Olympic Games in judo, Campbell was elected to the House of Representatives in 1987, where he served for two terms. He became a Senator in 1992, switched parties in 1995, and was reelected in 1998.

At 17, Bob Mathias won his first gold medal in decathlon, only to repeat four years later at the 1952 Olympics. In 1966 he was elected to Congress and was reelected three times, before losing in the 1974 election. He went on to become the deputy director of the selective service and assist Gerald Ford in his presidential campaign.

A few years after his football career at West Point ended with a knee injury, Eisenhower became a little better known as a war hero and the 34th President of the United States.

A hero of the Michigan football team before taking over for Nixon, Ford was named the Wolverines' team Most Valuable Player after his senior year.

A Tennessee star, Shuler played for the Saints and Redskins before injuries ended his career. He returned to his home state of North Carolina, where he outsted Rep. Charles Taylor to help the Democrats take control of the U.S. House in 2006.

Jesse "the Body" Ventura smoothly transfered from a life of pro wrestling to the governor's house of Minnesota. He didn't seek a second term.

The former Raven holds the franchise record with 70 career sacks, and narrowly lost a campaign for a Florida House seat. After the election, however, Gov. Charlie Crist appointed him to the Florida Board of Education.

The three-time NBA All-Star added another title to his resume in November 2008, when he won a runoff election to be Sacramento's mayor. K.J. reached the playoffs every season after his rookie campaign, and is the Suns all-time leader in assists.

Mesi was 36-0 when the Nevada Athletic Commission suspended him because of injuries he suffered against Vassiliy Jirov. Mesi, who defeated Hasim Rahman as an amateur, lost his 2008 bid for a seat in the New York State Senate.

The 1966 NBA Rookie of the Year and a member of the league 50th Anniversary Team, Dave Bing became Detroit's third mayor in less than a year after winning a special runoff election in May 2009.

Sam Wyche started just nine games at quarterback in the NFL, but went on to coach eight seasons with Cincinnati and four with Tampa Bay. Wyche, who made it to the Super Bowl with the Bengals after the 1988 season, won a seat as a Republican on the Pickens County Council in South Carolina in 2008.

Baron Hill is seeking his sixth term as a Congressman representing Indiana's ninth district. Hill was a standout basketball player in high school, and played in college for Furman University. He was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000, the same year as Larry Bird.