My Sportsman Choice: John Kerry

Sports Illustrated.com ^ | 11-18-04 | By Kostya Kennedy

[Oldeconomybuyer]

When John Kerry weighed in at 180 pounds for the political fight of his life this year, the American people knew they were getting a guy with some serious athletic chops: Cover subject of American Windsurfer magazine (in 1998), able to bike better than 100 miles at a stretch, a hockey player who, at 60, was still lacing 'em up and playing alongside ex-NHLers in charity games.

"It's like you're in heaven," Kerry told me during a February interview. "I mean, you come off your shift and your tongue is hanging out, and you look over and there's Ray Bourque sitting next to you. Then you look to your other side, and there's Phil Esposito. Then you feel a hand on your back and someone says 'nice shift,' and it's Gordie Howe. Come on, it doesn't get any better than that."

Kerry's accomplishments during his 20 years in the Senate were much-discussed during the Presidential campaign, though pundits rarely examined his true feats: On four occasions Kerry windsurfed six hours from Cape Cod to Nantucket. ("It's the mixture of the wind and the sea and flying," he said describing the sport). On a bitter, windy and sleeting day in May '02, Kerry participated in a bike-a-thon from Boston to Hyannisport (80 miles) and was one of the few who made it all the way, arriving soaked at the home of Ted Kennedy to take a hot bath. The next year, Kerry did another charity bike ride, where he finished 32nd out of 3,700 riders, covering 110 miles in less than 6 1/2 hours.

[snip]

[Oldeconomybuyer]

<!-- .sp1 {font-family: helvetica,arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; font-weight: 800; color: white;} .sp2 {font-family: helvetica,arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; font-weight: 100; color: black;} .sp2r {font-family: helvetica,arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; font-weight: 800; color: 993300;} <p>.sp2 a {font-family: helvetica,arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; font-weight: 100; color: black;text-decoration:none;} .sp2 a:hover {color:#000000;text-decoration:underline;} .sp2 a:visited {color:#000000;} -->

[Mr. K]

for a dork liberal idiot he was very athletic for his age - heck for MY age...

[The_Victor]

Must be nice to have a rich wife to pay for your lifestyle.

[Rebelbase]

I hope they cover Kerry's violation of state law while hunting geese in Ohio. (it might even be a federal law)

[Brilliant]

[KevinDavis]

Now I know why I no longer get Sports Illustrated...

[RockinRight]

Yeah, but I bet if he and W met in an alley, W would be the one coming out first...

Plus, he's STILL a dork...

[Sthitch]

Maybe if he took the time he dedicates towards biking and wind surfing and puts it into his job representing the people of Massachusetts he would not be known as a do-nothing playboy Senator. Na, he likes being a playboy.

[loborojo]

I'm John Kerry...and I'm reporting for.....windsurfing.

[Welsh Rabbit]

Kerry's accomplishments during his 20 years in the Senate were much-discussed during the Presidential campaign

Huh?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Or anything from TIME.

[The_Victor]

Maybe if he took the time he dedicates towards biking and wind surfing and puts it into his job representing the people of Massachusetts he would not be known as a do-nothing playboy Senator. Na, he likes being a playboy.

Indeed! In theory the man has a real job, he just chooses not to perform it.

[KevinDavis]

Yep...

[Tallguy]

Kerry's accomplishments during his 20 years in the Senate were much-discussed during the Presidential campaign...

They were? I must have missed it.

[The_Victor]

Kerry's accomplishments during his 20 years in the Senate were much-discussed during the Presidential campaign

Huh?

You must have missed that 1.396 seconds of the disussion.

[RGSpincich]

Written by a Kennedy.

[Dionysius]

One of the funniest pics I have ever seen! Are the (embarrased) people in the background pretending that it isn't happening?

[DM1]

some of us who have to SHOW UP AT WORK for a living dont have time to windsurf off Nantucket

[msnimje]

Do you have to prove he is a man first?