Posted on 02/17/2016 8:38:36 AM PST by justlittleoleme
Donald Trump is many things; billionaire businessman, global brand, reality TV star and lately, a polarizing U.S. presidential candidate.
But before all that, did you know that the man with a networth in excess of $4.5 billion was also a high school jock back in the day?
Oh yes. Turns out, "The Donald" was a three-sport athlete back at the New York Military Academy, playing baseball, football and --?? yup! --?? one season of varsity soccer.
Apparently Trump was pretty good, too.
In an interview with Business Insider a few months ago, Ted Levine, a former high school classmate, says Trump was so athletic he even could have turned pro in baseball.
"He was just the best, a good athlete, a great athlete," Levine told Business Insider. "He could have probably played pro ball as a pitcher. I think he threw 80 miles an hour. I was the catcher. He made my hand black and blue every day . . . Could he play football? Could he play soccer? He could do anything he wanted. He was physically and mentally gifted."
(Excerpt) Read more at foxsports.com ...
True about the stamina required. I’m just curious about how many schools actually had soccer teams in that era? I’m pretty sure mine didn’t, and I’m a few years younger than Trump. I wonder if it was more popular on the east coast than the Midwest at that time?
Soccer and baseball, interestingly enough, evolved at the same time. One became the “world sport,” and the other, “specialized” due to the nature of the sport’s leaders and owners.
Especially back in the 90s ...but, still
Men brag about sex. Its not new. :-)
That it's worth a try, so you know for sure instead of wondering later?
We did not have soccer in the west at that time, but by the time I got to college, where they had a flourishing soccer program (I discovered that students from the east coast had played the game for years.) We had a lot of catching up to do.
We had a good soccer program at my midwestern state university in the `70s.
But the players were almost all from private, Catholic prep schools, not public high schools.
As a one-flashing-yaller-light on Main street redneck myself, like everyone else I played contact football.
There’s a lot of talk now about concussions and head trauma, but it didn’t affect me.
Yeah uou know there’s a lot of talk about head injures nad such, but din’t hert me nome ... nope (drooling)
Can’t wait until he throws out the first pitch.
I played soccer from 9th grade up. First day I saw the other guys running around like maniacs, and I chose to play goalie. I never thought the refs understood the meaning of —roughing the goalie!—
— I’m just curious about how many schools actually had soccer teams in that era? —
All the Prep Schools had them back then. We played a full schedule, and that was in Ohio.
Now we are faced with a person who did exist in younger days and might become POTUS?
This is over powering
So after the 1970’s there was no military to volunteer for? Could have fooled me. I’d have sworn my son signed up voluntarily. Gotta check that out.
lol. Didn’t say that..
Trump avoided the draft even though he was obviously an athletic young man.
Cruz had no draft to avoid. I don’t see military experience as a prerequisite to be the commander in chief.
What I find offensive is Trump’s pandering to veterans when he avoided the draft.
My high school in Connecticut never had football until they co-op with another town.
Here he is last June tossing out MAGA hats:
STRIKE ONE! LOL
It's a pity that all you can do is troll.
The article says he got a college deferment, then, over a period of two years had two Army physicals. At the first he was deemed “!A” and fully qualified to serve; the 2nd he was deemed “1Y” and not qualified to serve, except in case of a national emergency.
Joe Namath was “1Y” due to a football injury. My husband suddenly became “1Y” from a sports injury, albeit not earning the $ or celebrity of Namath. It could be that between Trump’s Army physicals, he had a disqualifying sports injury. Stuff happens. There’s no information about his athletic participation (other than golf) after whatever injury he sustained that disqualified him from military service.
There is nothing in the record to indicate that Trump would have refused to serve; he never made anti-war speeches that we’ve ever heard of, nor spoke of running off to Canada, nor joined any of the many student groups that organized against the Vietnam conflict. We’ve never heard of him marching or protesting the war or the military.
He wasn’t drafted, but other than taking his standard college deferment, which IS only a deferment - he didn’t “avoid” the draft. I knew many men in those days who took college deferments, then went into the military and served. It was common then. Remember, to be reassigned as “1Y’ he had to appear for the physical. That’s not a sign of someone seeking to avoid the draft.
But I don’t get why someone like Cruz, or Rubio, or any of the younger politically ambitious candidates who were healthy young men couldn’t voluntarily join the military. Not one of them did.
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