Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Big Election Night for Ex-Athletes


Former Phoenix Suns point guard Kevin Johnson was elected Mayor of Sacramento yesterday. He was one of more than a dozen former athletes who were seeking office last night.

Heath Shuler, a Heisman Trophy runner-up at Tennessee who played quarterback for the Washington Redskins and New Orleans Saints, was re-elected to Congress for his second term. Another former NFL quarterback and head coach, Sam Wyche, won a seat on the Pickens County Council in South Carolina. Peter Boulware ran for state legislature in Florida. The former Ravens linebacker appears headed for a recount.

Among those who were unsuccessful in their election bids last night was Joe Mesi, a top heavyweight boxer from Buffalo. He sat behind me at the Hasim Rahman bout last June and has 36-0 record in the ring, but lost his bid for a New York state Senate seat.