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9. Soccer: John Harkes
If you’re ever asked a trivia question about Americans in English soccer, always guess John Harkes. After a distinguished college career at the University of Virginia, Harkes headed to England in 1990 to join the Sheffield Wednesday Football Club. Although British fans were skeptical, he quickly earned their respect after smoking a 35-yard, game-winning goal in the last minute of a match against Derby County. Fans were so impressed they selected the shot as England’s “goal of the year.”Harkes continued to win over the English with his scrappy play, and he became the first American to compete in several major European tournaments. In 1996, he returned to the United States, but his legacy overseas remained. His feistiness proved to the British that Americans could excel at European football, and it paved the way for the influx of Americans playing in Europe today.
10. Fencing: Keeth Smart
Like lots of kids growing up in the 1980s, Brooklyn’s Keeth Smart adored the lightsaber battles in the Star Wars movies. But, unlike most of those kids, Smart parlayed that into the top saber fencing ranking in the world—a first for an American in a sport historically dominated by French and Hungarian swordsmen.
In 1990, Smart’s parents convinced him to sign up for lessons with fencer Peter Westbrook. Westbrook, who won the bronze at the 1984 Olympics, had recently opened a school to expose New York City’s youth to the sport. Turns out, Smart’s body was perfect for fencing. His long legs allowed him to quickly cover the field, and his long arms allowed him to attack from safe distances.
Smart went on to become a four-time All-American at St. John’s University in New York and a two-time Olympian. But, stunningly, he wasn’t even a professional fencer when he grabbed the world’s top saber ranking in 2003. While most of his European rivals spent their days training and living off sponsorships, Smart was working full-time as a financial analyst for Verizon and practicing just three nights a week.
Don’t forget to sign our petition below!
Comments (126)
Comment
You’ve got my vote!
posted by MrBabyMan on 4-25-2008 at 2:06 am
These guys are waaaaaaay cooler than the people on most cereal boxes!
posted by Elizabeth on 4-25-2008 at 7:14 am
Let’s see some sumo elephant polo cereal box action! I want it now!
Does leaving this comment mean I’ve signed the petition, or do I need to do something else? Can someone let me know?
ecstacie@gmail.com
Stacie B.
posted by Stacie Bigelow on 4-25-2008 at 7:43 am
Awesome!! And I
posted by Mellissa on 4-25-2008 at 7:46 am
Definitely Wheaties material!
posted by John on 4-25-2008 at 7:47 am
Sign me up!
posted by Brian on 4-25-2008 at 7:51 am
Consider this my signature! I would sooner pick up a cereal box with an elephant polo player on it than some steroid-chugging baseball pitcher, anyway. :D
posted by Allison on 4-25-2008 at 7:52 am
I’m in! The sumo wrestler rocks!
posted by Casey on 4-25-2008 at 7:55 am
Unite, underappreciated sports heroes of the world! Demand your fair time on Wheaties boxes so that my dad can add them to his collection!
Come on, GM, you know you want to.
posted by Erin on 4-25-2008 at 7:57 am
Consider this my signature.
posted by Anella Harmeyer on 4-25-2008 at 7:59 am
The best part about most of these athletes is that they’re probably better role models than several people who have been on the Wheaties boxes in the past.
They do it for the love of the sport.
posted by Julie on 4-25-2008 at 8:03 am
I’m in!
posted by Em on 4-25-2008 at 8:04 am
Signed :)
posted by Katie D. on 4-25-2008 at 8:18 am
Signed
posted by Dave Banker on 4-25-2008 at 8:21 am
count me in!
posted by Claudia on 4-25-2008 at 8:35 am
I’m in total support of this petition.
~KK
posted by Korie K. on 4-25-2008 at 8:48 am
i like it when america kicks butt.
signed
posted by meta on 4-25-2008 at 8:53 am
These people are fantastic!
Please count me in =D
posted by Angie on 4-25-2008 at 8:55 am
Wow! i hope to one day fulfill my dream of being a grand champion sumo wrestler! that guy gives me hope! YOU HAVE MY VOTE!
posted by Briana on 4-25-2008 at 9:08 am
I’m in! Awesome stuff!
posted by T on 4-25-2008 at 9:08 am
I AGREE! TOTES DEF FOR REAL SIGNED!
posted by Melanie on 4-25-2008 at 9:10 am
I’m in… think how much more interesting reading the cereal box would be!
posted by Lisa on 4-25-2008 at 9:17 am
It’s about time someone recognized the real athletes!
I’m in.
posted by Lisa on 4-25-2008 at 9:21 am
Sign me up, as well.
posted by bre on 4-25-2008 at 9:29 am
I’m definitely in. *signs*
posted by Jeremy on 4-25-2008 at 9:48 am
With people like these on the boxes, I might actually start eating Wheaties again.
posted by Perry Adanick on 4-25-2008 at 9:49 am
I am totally in support of this petition. Thanks for a great article!
posted by Mandy B on 4-25-2008 at 9:57 am
Signed!
posted by Allanna on 4-25-2008 at 9:59 am
Definitely signed.
posted by Christa Timbers on 4-25-2008 at 10:00 am
Yes, I am signing this petition, but I don’t want to support bullfighting. it’s a cruel and inhumane sport and i think honoring its participants is wrong.
posted by Patricia on 4-25-2008 at 10:08 am
Very interesting! Sign me up!
posted by Katie on 4-25-2008 at 10:11 am
1 More for the real American sports heros!!!
posted by Cujo on 4-25-2008 at 10:13 am
Cheers to these and all underappreciated American athletes. These men and women worked hard to be the best and knew that there were no million dollar contracts at the end of their rainbows. And thank you to Mental Floss for giving them the recognition they deserve.
Im in.
posted by Hugo Eraso on 4-25-2008 at 10:13 am
I’m in!
Joyce
posted by Joyce Morrison on 4-25-2008 at 10:42 am
I am in!
Joyce
posted by Joyce Morrison on 4-25-2008 at 10:45 am
Signed, sealed, delivered!
Kind of reminds me of Dodgeball. . . You know. . . Obscure Sports Quarterly and ESPN 8, the “Ocho”
Elephant polo looks amazing!
posted by andrea on 4-25-2008 at 10:47 am
Sign me up!
posted by Dan on 4-25-2008 at 10:58 am
SIGNED!!!
posted by Pearl on 4-25-2008 at 11:04 am
I’m in too!
posted by Fruppi on 4-25-2008 at 11:17 am
Triumph over adversity! It’s the American Way!
posted by E. Murphy on 4-25-2008 at 11:50 am
signed!
posted by leah on 4-25-2008 at 11:54 am
Willie Mosconi is one of my heroes! The rest of these people deserve respect too. Sign me up please!
posted by Terri on 4-25-2008 at 11:54 am
Darn right! These dudes need 2B reconized …. and now!!!
posted by PSuds on 4-25-2008 at 11:56 am
Willie Mosconi is one of my heroes! Please consider me signed up!! The rest of these people deserve respect too. This is a great article.
posted by Terri on 4-25-2008 at 11:56 am
Count me in!
posted by Audrey on 4-25-2008 at 12:14 pm
Signed
posted by Kira on 4-25-2008 at 12:42 pm
Signed
posted by Mandy on 4-25-2008 at 12:50 pm
Yes!
posted by Avanti on 4-25-2008 at 1:11 pm
I say, give these folks the recognition they deserve on a box of Wheaties! Count me in for a vote!
posted by Krie on 4-25-2008 at 1:13 pm
You’ve got my vote! Those are tough sports!
posted by kitsana_d on 4-25-2008 at 1:35 pm
I would love to see some of these featured on a Wheaties box!
posted by Marie on 4-25-2008 at 1:49 pm
signed!
posted by Jessie on 4-25-2008 at 2:04 pm
I was at an elephant polo match in February and loved it. sign me up.
posted by Margaret on 4-25-2008 at 2:05 pm
Consider me signing the petition!
posted by Danielle on 4-25-2008 at 2:19 pm
Word.
posted by adrienne on 4-25-2008 at 2:31 pm
Consider the petition signed.
posted by PeteRepeat on 4-25-2008 at 2:34 pm
Signed!
good luck!!
posted by Caitlin on 4-25-2008 at 2:45 pm
autographed
posted by septer on 4-25-2008 at 2:45 pm
Sign me up!
posted by Anna on 4-25-2008 at 3:15 pm
Up with obscure athletes! Signed!
posted by Kristin on 4-25-2008 at 3:43 pm
go Elephant Polo! Man, I want to play that now.
posted by Stephanie on 4-25-2008 at 4:21 pm
go athletes!
posted by Robert Austria on 4-25-2008 at 4:41 pm
Count me in. I want to play elephant polo but no way am I practicing on top of a swing set!
posted by Louanne on 4-25-2008 at 5:06 pm
Signing on! Great idea!
posted by Alice on 4-25-2008 at 5:14 pm
definitely signed
posted by Augusta on 4-25-2008 at 5:22 pm
signed
posted by AK on 4-25-2008 at 5:55 pm
I very much approve *signed*
posted by esskay on 4-25-2008 at 6:11 pm
The lack of Australians concerns me. I am a sucker for a good petitioning, though. Who are we getting killed again?
posted by NerdFury on 4-25-2008 at 6:13 pm
I’ll take Akebono over A-Rod any day!
posted by JDB on 4-25-2008 at 6:45 pm
I’m on board as well!
posted by K. Abry on 4-25-2008 at 7:15 pm
I sign on too!
Anyone who can learn to play pool with a broomstick and a potato, deserves recognition!
So can anyone who plays polo on a pachyderm, races terrified, sumos, etc…
And I am signing this petition from Canada. It should count double!
(My cat agrees with this petition, too!)
Pierre
posted by Pierre M. Laberge on 4-25-2008 at 9:18 pm
It’s about time to honor these unsung sports heroes
posted by Robb on 4-25-2008 at 9:45 pm
These people should be recognized.
posted by Cyra on 4-25-2008 at 11:09 pm
Count me in!!
posted by Jacqui on 4-26-2008 at 12:53 am
I totally agree. Consider my signature added
posted by Cait on 4-26-2008 at 3:02 am
Count me in. The sumo wrestler gets my vote.
Though we should probably switch to Count Chocula anyway - it makes chocolate milk. Or Lucky Charms as it is magically delicious.
posted by Z on 4-26-2008 at 8:21 am
I love a good story about under appreciated sport heroes. Signed!
posted by David on 4-26-2008 at 9:21 am
Approved!
posted by Nicole W. on 4-26-2008 at 2:08 pm
About time other sports were recoginzed!
posted by Rebekah Davies on 4-26-2008 at 3:18 pm
signed from here
posted by James Hoff on 4-26-2008 at 4:02 pm
AS an avid fencer I totally agree with getting some of these guys on a wheaties box. Also, elephant polo sounds like a fun sport, I wonder if I could get a team started at my school…
posted by Forest Ownbey on 4-26-2008 at 5:13 pm
This is a travesty that General Mills must correct!
posted by D Ferry on 4-26-2008 at 5:53 pm
As I read this article in the magazine, I thought “They really should put these people on the Wheaties box; that would be cool.” Then lo and behold, there’s a petition! It’s kismet.
I hereby sign. Woooo, go obscure heroes!
posted by Jenny M on 4-26-2008 at 8:05 pm
The American public must realize the accomplishments of these ten athletes.
I sign.
posted by A Grieser on 4-27-2008 at 8:30 am
Sign me on! I’m using this as a reason to switch to Count Chocula!
posted by Kevin on 4-27-2008 at 12:24 pm
RIGHT ON! Petition signed!
posted by Nico Arciniegas on 4-27-2008 at 2:02 pm
RIGHT ON! I HEREBY SIGN!
posted by Nico A on 4-27-2008 at 2:06 pm
After reading about these fabulous atheletes, and all the hard work they endured to be the best of the best, Wheaties MUST recognize their skills, and show every day boys and girls of America they, too, can look good on a box.
posted by Clarke on 4-27-2008 at 6:37 pm
Signed
posted by Elicia on 4-27-2008 at 8:17 pm
count me in they all deserve the honor
crazy stuff
posted by Nick on 4-27-2008 at 10:01 pm
How about our own American bullfighters, the rodeo clowns. Not only are they superb athletes, they also protect other rodeo athletes from the bulls that just tossed them.
posted by Ingrid on 4-28-2008 at 1:03 am
I’m all in favor of having these guys/gals recognized on the Wheaties box!
posted by Beth Agejew on 4-28-2008 at 10:21 am
sign me up.
posted by beth on 4-28-2008 at 10:42 am
Signed! Let’s see that fencer (and all the others) on a Wheaties box!
posted by Caitlin on 4-28-2008 at 12:18 pm
Petition signed. Bring on those dedicated, deserving sports players.
posted by Lisa on 4-28-2008 at 12:31 pm
AMEN!
posted by Gene Smith on 4-28-2008 at 1:47 pm
meh tuh
posted by pineapplesauce on 4-28-2008 at 10:58 pm
Way to go, oh athletes of untold glory. Hope you get your 15 minutes of Wheaties fame!
posted by Kristi Marie on 4-30-2008 at 9:36 am
Signed!
posted by Danette on 4-30-2008 at 3:55 pm
Count me in!
posted by Julia on 4-30-2008 at 4:05 pm
I think that all of them should definitely be there….except….
for the bullfighter.
Anything having to do with a ’sport’ of the maiming and eventual soon demise of any animal is not a sport.
It’s just a blood bath.
But hey! For dang sure the rest are a shoe-in.
posted by Adele on 5-1-2008 at 11:46 pm
I assume the author has never heard of Mariel Zagunis, the woman who won America’s first Olympic gold in fencing in a century at the 2004 Athens games. Mr. Smart is not the only talented sabre fencer that the US has spawned in recent years.
posted by Nashira on 5-4-2008 at 1:33 pm
I am very much in favor of elephant polo. Although Sue Sally Hale is cooler in absolute terms.
posted by KTAFKZ on 5-17-2008 at 8:21 am
Elephant Polo gets my vote
posted by Fergus Prentice on 5-17-2008 at 8:34 am
One vote for ELEPHANT POLO right here! :)
posted by Courtney on 5-17-2008 at 2:09 pm
gogogo elepolo
posted by lemrix on 5-17-2008 at 4:01 pm
More or less has to be elephant polo doesn’t it?
posted by Ian on 5-18-2008 at 3:47 am
This is a great idea- Elephant polo looks amazing and congratulations to Kimberly and her team!
signed !
posted by Sebastian C on 5-18-2008 at 6:50 am
Who wouldn’t vote for Elephant Polo?
Signed, Ariel
posted by Ariel on 5-18-2008 at 11:58 am
Love it. Put them all on the box!
posted by Michael P. on 5-18-2008 at 8:22 pm
Another vote for Elephant polo :)
posted by Amy on 5-19-2008 at 7:52 am
Another vote for elephant polo:)
posted by Amy on 5-19-2008 at 8:14 am
Up the elephants!
posted by Bazza on 5-19-2008 at 3:19 pm
Elephant polo rocks!
posted by HJL on 5-19-2008 at 5:28 pm
I support elephant polo!
posted by Aimee on 5-19-2008 at 10:07 pm
Great idea! Elephant Polo has my vote.
posted by carlos on 5-20-2008 at 4:43 pm
Elephant polo for me
posted by Nicole on 5-20-2008 at 11:36 pm
Elephant Polo is my vote.
posted by Boopsie on 5-21-2008 at 3:01 pm
3 votes from the Patrones
posted by Nena, Michael & Ethan on 5-21-2008 at 8:33 pm
GO Elephant Polo!!! You got our votes!
posted by The Patrone Family on 5-21-2008 at 8:36 pm
elephant polo!!
posted by Josh on 5-23-2008 at 4:34 pm
Elephant Polo!
posted by ScottW on 5-28-2008 at 6:51 am
Elephant Polo rocks!!?!
posted by Eliot on 5-29-2008 at 7:21 am
elephant Polo!!
posted by Eliot Sokalsky on 5-29-2008 at 7:23 am
DC Elephant Polo Rocks the House!!
posted by Peter on 5-29-2008 at 8:13 am
Signed and crossing my fingers
posted by James Halcomb on 6-10-2008 at 3:52 pm