Athletes with Children in Different Sports

SI Staff | Mar 21, 2014

Athletes with Children in Different Sports

Manny Millan/SI; Michael O'Day/Icon SMI

In June 2011, the son of NHL legend Wayne Gretzky, first baseman Trevor Gretzky, was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the seventh round of the second day of the MLB Amateur Draft. On March 20, 2014, the Cubs traded Gretzky to the Los Angeles Angels for minor league first baseman Matt Scioscia, son of Angels manager Mike Scioscia. While Matt may be trying to follow in his father's footsteps like many athletes before him, Trevor has been divergent from his dad. Here are some others who took up a different sport than their fathers.

J.D. Cuban, Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Popeye Jones played 11 seasons in the NBA, leading the league in offensive rebounds during the 1994-95 season. His son, Seth, was the top defenseman taken in the 2013 NHL draft, selected 4th overall by the Nashville Predators.

Damian Strohmeyer/SI; Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

Hall of Fame shortstop Barry Larkin played 19 years in the big leagues, all with the Cincinnati Reds. The 12-time all-star was also voted the NL MVP in 1995. His son Shane, a point guard out of the University of Miami, was selected 18th overall by the Atlanta Hawks and then traded to the Dallas Mavericks during the 2013 NBA Draft.

Manny Millan, Greg Nelson/SI

Joakim Noah of the Chicago Bulls is the son of International Tennis Hall of Famer Yannick Noah, who was the last French tennis player to win the French Open (1983).

Walter Iooss Jr., John Biever/SI

The NFL's 1969 Offensive Rookie of the Year, running back Calvin Hill made four Pro Bowls and won a Super Bowl with Dallas. His son Grant was named the NBA's Rookie of the Year in 1995 and has played in seven All-Star games.

Tony Triolo, Peter Read Miller/SI

Former linebacker Ken Norton Jr. is the son of former heavyweight champion Ken Norton. Jr. has a championship of his own; in fact, three. He is the only NFL player in history to play on three consecutive Super Bowl-winning teams (Dallas Cowboys, 1992-1993; San Francisco 49ers, 1994).

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Mike Conley, Sr. won gold in the triple jump at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. His son was drafted 4th overall in the 2007 NBA Draft and continues to play point guard for the Memphis Grizzlies.

AP; John Biever/SI

The Animal and the Ram. "The Animal," Joe Laurinaitis, was one deadly half of arguably the most feared tag-team in professional wrestling history: The Road Warriors. His son, James, kept the tights and the shoulder pads but ditched the spikes. A former linebacker at Ohio State, James was drafted 35th by the St. Louis Rams in 2009. An "animal" in his own right, James has amassed over 500 tackles in just five NFL seasons.

Rick Stewart/Getty Images; Andrew Brownbill/AP

Sloane Stephens was the talk of the 2013 Australian Open after upsetting tournament favorite Serena Williams in the quarterfinals. Her late father, John, was a Pro Bowl running back for the New England Patriots.

Manny Millan, Robert Beck/SI

Lonnie Shelton was a power forward who played ten seasons in the NBA and was named an All-Star in 1982. His son, L.J., was selected 21st overall in the 1999 NFL Draft and played offensive line for eight seasons.

Vernon Biever/Getty Images; Robert Beck/SI

Jack Snow was an NFL Pro-Bowl wide receiver who played 11 seasons with the Los Angeles Rams. His son, J.T., played first base and won six gold gloves over 16 years in the majors.

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Bubba Paris has three Super Bowl rings from his days on the offensive line with the San Francisco 49ers. His daughter, Courtney, was selected No. 7 overall in the 2009 WNBA Draft and currently plays center for the Tulsa Shock. Her twin sister, Ashley, was also drafted in 2009 but only managed to play in one preseason game.

Manny Millan, Bob Martin/SI

It was during Alexandra Stevenson's run to the Wimbledon semifinals in 1999 that NBA Hall of Famer Julius Erving publicly acknowledged being her biological father after having an extramarital affair with a sports writer in Philadelphia when Erving starred there for the 76ers. Stevenson won over $1 million in prize money as a professional tennis player.

Heinz Kluetmeier/SI; Mitch Stringer/Icon SMI

Three-time NFL champion Mark Schlereth played guard in 156 games for the Redskins and Broncos during his NFL career. After retirement he joined ESPN as an NFL analyst and columnist, and launched his very own brand of Mark Schlereth's Stinking Good Green Chili. Mark's son, Daniel, was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2008 as a relief pitcher and pitched for the Detroit Tigers for three seasons.

Heinz Kluetmeier/SI; Chris Coduto/Icon SMI

MLB's 1983 Rookie of the Year, Darryl Strawberry was an eight-time All-Star who won four World Series championships as an outfielder and slugger for the Mets and Yankees. His son D.J. took to the courts, was drafted by the Phoenix Suns in 2007, and currently plays for French professional basketball club Élan Béarnais Pau-Orthez.

George Rose/Getty Images; Rod Mar/SI

Manu Tuiasosopo is a former defensive lineman, selected 18th overall in the 1979 NFL Draft. His son, Matt, was taken in the third round of MLB's 2004 amateur draft and has served as a utility player with brief stints in the majors.

Steve Lipofsky/Corbis

The only daughter of Celtics coach and former NBA point guard Doc Rivers, Callie Rivers took her magic from the University of Florida to Puerto Rico, where she played volleyball for the Leonas de Ponce.

Neil Leifer/SI

The first overall pick in the 1951 NFL Draft, Kyle Rote played in four Pro Bowls and four championship games with the New York Giants. Kyle Jr. chose shin guards instead of shoulder pads and dribbled his way into the National Soccer Hall of Fame. He was dubbed "The Great American Hope" for a then unpopular sport in America.