KEYSTONE, SOUTH DAKOTA – JULY 02: The busts of U.S. presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln tower over the Black Hills at Mount Rushmore National Monument on July 02, 2020 near Keystone, South Dakota. President Donald Trump is expected to visit the monument and speak before the start of a fireworks display on July 3. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
In honor of the inauguration, it’s time to count down the 10 best presidential names of former or current athletes:
10. Earl Monroe (James)
LANDOVER, MD – CIRCA 1977: Earl Monroe #15 of the New York Knicks in action against the Washington Bullets during an NBA basketball game circa 1977 at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. Monroe played for the Knicks from 1971-80. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
Former NBA All-Star
9. Elvin Hayes (Rutherford B.)
LANDOVER, MD – CIRCA 1978: Elvin Hayes #11 of the Washington Bullets in action against the New Jersey Nets during an NBA basketball game circa 1978 at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. Hayes played for the Bullets from 1972-81. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
Former NBA All-Star
8. Bud Grant (Ulysses)
UNSPECIFIED – CIRCA 1977: Head Coach Bud Grant of the Minnesota Vikings stands with his team prior to the start of an NFL football game circa 1977. Grant was the head coach of the Vikings from 1967-83 and 1985. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
All-time great NFL Head Coach
7. Whitey Ford (Gerald)
NEW YORK – CIRCA 1963: Pitcher Whitey Ford #16 of the New York Yankees pitches during an Major League Baseball game circa 1963 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. Ford played for the Yankees in 1950 and 1953-67. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
Former MLB All-Star
6. Buck Buchanan (James)
Kansas City Chiefs Defensive Lineman Buck Buchanan, circa 1970. (Photo by Bettmann Archive/Getty Images)
Former NFL Great
5. Paul Pierce (Franklin)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 22: Former Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce, holds the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy during the NBA Championship Ring ceremony prior to the game against the New York Knicks at TD Garden on October 22, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images)
Former NBA All-Star
4. Gary Carter (Jimmy)
FLUSHING, NY – OCTOBER, 1986: Gary Carter #8 of the New York Mets swings at the pitch during the 1986 World Series game against the Boston Red Sox in October, 1986 at Shea Stadium in Flushing, New York. The Mets won the series 4-3. (Photo by Getty Images)
Former MLB All-star
3. Lawrence Taylor (Zachary)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – DECEMBER 5: Lawrence Taylor #56 of the New York Giants in action against the Houston Oilers during an NFL football game December 5, 1982 at The Meadowlands in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Taylor played for the Giants from 1981-93. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
NFL Hall of Famer
2. Reggie Jackson (Andrew)
The New York Yankees’ Reggie Jackson batting during a game against the Texas Rangers, New York, May 25th 1977. (Photo by UPI/Bettmann Archive/Getty Images)
MLB Hall of Famer
1. Magic Johnson (Andrew)
(Original Caption) Magic Johnson (r) wipes the face of Lakers’ owner Dr. Jerry Buss after he poured champagne over him after the Lakers beat the Sixers 123-107 to win here, 5/16.
