Athletes & Adoption….
I’m sure that adoption issues slip the average person’s mind on any given day. However in light of recent additions to our FanBrew Family, I thought it particularly interesting to research Athletes influence in adoption.
Did you know….
3 time NFL Pro Bowl selection Dante Culpepper was one of at least fifteen adopted children of the late Emma Culpepper. Dante Culpper said this of his adoptive mother. “She was an angel, not only to me but to everyone she came in contact with, and she was always on a mission to help people,” the NFL quarterback said Sunday. “If not for her I don’t know where I’d be.” – Dante Culpepper ,
6 time NFL Pro Bowl Selection and NFL Hall of Famer Erick Dickerson was the adoptive child of his great-great aunt Viola Dickerson, whom he calls “Mamma,” adopted him as an infant because his birth mother, who also lived with Viola, was too young to care for him adequately. Although he and his birth mother remain close, it was Viola that made the key decisions in Eric’s early life.
2 time Olympic Gold medalist, Greg Louganis, “the life story of Gregory Efthimios Louganis began in San Diego on Jan. 29, 1960, when he was born to parents of Samoan and Northern European ancestry. Both were only 15, and they gave up their child. He was adopted at nine months by Peter and Frances Louganis, who had already adopted an older daughter .”
3 time Cy Young Award Winner, World Series Champion, and MLB Hall of Famer Jim Palmer had an adoptive father.
Olympic Gold Medalist and Figure skating Icon Scott Hamilton was adopted.
Scott Hamilton: “I was adopted at six weeks old by two school teachers. My father was a professor of biology at Bowling Green State University. My mother was a second grade school teacher. As my skating got more expensive, she became an associate professor at Bowling Green in the home economics department. I was adopted because my parents had trouble having children. My sister is from my parents, and my brother and I were both adopted. I grew up blessed with loving parents and a great household.” – Scott Hamilton
NFL Hall of Famer Dan Marino held or still owns most NFL records. He is an adoptive parent. “Dan Marino seen here with his family, including adopted members.”
NBA Legend, 5 time NBA Champion, and NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson, Named one of NBA’s 50 Greatest Players is an adoptive Parent of Elisa in 1995.
MLB Super Star, named to 24 All Star Selections, 4th in all time home Runs, and MLB Hall of Famer, Willie “Say Hey Kid” Mayes was the adoptive father of Michael Hayes.
Adoption is devotion not only to a child, but to a life. To adoptive parents and children, whether your athletes or not, we at www.fanbrew.com wish better awareness to a fantastic cause. We love you GRF….
Very intresting article. Thank you Ryan for the info. Might I say again congrats on the new addition. Julie and I wish you and jill the best. Yea for Gavin
Peaches wrote this, so the a big shout out to him for helping out while Fasel is taking care of the baby.
That was an amazing article. I don’t know where you found the facts but they speak for themselves. It really puts the whole adoption experience into perspective. Knowing that these successful people have been involved in an adoption is really heartwarming and shows that its something that effects everyone regardless of who they are or what they do and this is something I will definitely be sharing with my new son when he is older.