Ronald Reagan and Sports

SI Staff | Jun 5, 2014

Ronald Reagan and Sports

Venus Williams, Ronald Reagan and Serena Williams

Ken Levine/Getty Images

Former President Ronald Reagan, who passed away 10 years ago today (June 5, 2004), enjoyed a lifelong passion for sports. He was a high school football player and added track and swimming while in college. After graduation, he worked as a sports announcer at radio stations in Iowa, and later, as an actor, Reagan portrayed Notre Dame halfback George Gipp in "Knute Rockne All American" and pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander in "The Winning Team." As President, Reagan loved meeting athletes, and famously, in January 1985, he flipped the coin (via satellite) to begin Super Bowl XIX between the Niners and Dolphins. Here's a look at some of his most famous sports-related photos Here, Reagan poses with 10-year-old Venus and nine-year-old Serena Williams at the Nancy Reagan Tennis Tournament.

Ronald Reagan

Michael Rougier/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images

Reagan poses with his high school football team in Dixon, Ill.

Ronald Reagan

AP

Reagan poses as Notre Dame football star George Gipp, whom Reagan played in the 1940 film <italics>Knute Rockne All American</italics>.

Bob Lemon and Ronald Reagan

AP

Reagan gets some firsthand instruction from Cleveland Indians pitcher Bob Lemon for his role as pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander in the film <italics>The Winning Team</italics>.

Jack Kemp and Ronald Reagan

AP

California Governor Ronald Reagan and his special assistant, Buffalo Bills quarterback Jack Kemp, discuss football in his office in Sacramento, Calif. Kemp would later serve as a congressman for Western New York's 31st district from 1971-89, Housing Secretary under President George H.W. Bush (1989-93) and Republican Vice President nominee in the 1996 election.

Richard Nixon, Pat Nixon, Nancy Reagan and Ronald Reagan

AP

California Governor Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy excitedly follow the progress of a horse running in the sixth race of the Kentucky Derby program alongside President Richard Nixon and his wife, Pat, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

Ronald Reagan and Gene Tenace

Neil Leifer/SI

Oakland A's catcher Gene Tenace tosses a ball to California Governor Ronald Reagan during Game 3 of the World Series between the Athletics and the Cincinnati Reds at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

George Foreman and Ronald Reagan

AP

Heavyweight boxing champ George Foreman and California Governor Ronald Reagan compare fists in the governor's office in Sacramento.

Nancy Reagan, Ronald Reagan and Roger Staubach

AP

Nancy and Ronald Reagan admire the Dallas Cowboys football jersey given to Reagan by former Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach in Dallas.

Ronald Reagan

Mary Anne Fackelman-Miner/White House/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images

President Reagan throws a football from his desk in the Oval Office.

Pel&eacute; and Ronald Reagan

Dirck Halstead/Time &amp; Life Pictures/Getty Images

Pelé kicks a soccer ball around in front of a local boys' soccer team as President Reagan looks on in the Rose Garden at the White House.

Ronald Reagan

AP

Reagan reacts after scoring against USA Olympic team goalie Bob Mason during a ceremony at the White House Rose Garden for members of the 1984 U.S. Olympic team.

Julius Erving, Ronald Reagan and Moses Malone

AP

Reagan holds up a Philadelphia 76ers basketball jersey presented to him by the team after they won the NBA title.

Nancy Reagan, Ronald Reagan, Debbie Armstrong and Scott Hamilton

AP

President Reagan accepts an Olympic parka from Olympic gold medalist in figure skating, Scott Hamilton, as women's giant slalom gold medal winner Debbie Armstrong looks on during a ceremony at the White House.

Pam Magee and Ronald Reagan

AP

U.S. Olympic basketball player Pam Magee of USC talks with President Reagan during his visit to the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

Ronald Reagan

AP

President Reagan displays a jacket given to him by Boston Celtics General Manager Red Auerbach during a White House ceremony after Boston won the NBA title.

Ronald Reagan and Richard Petty

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President Reagan enjoys a fried chicken lunch with NASCAR great Richard Petty at a banquet hall in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Ronald Reagan

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President Reagan poses with Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics, Mary Lou Retton, at a breakfast for U.S. Olympic athletes in Los Angeles.

John Thompson, Ronald Reagan and Patrick Ewing

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President Reagan shows off his basketball skills as Georgetown coach John Thompson and Patrick Ewing look on. The three appeared on the 1984 SI College Basketball preview issue.

Los Angeles Lakers and Ronald Reagan

Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images

Head coach Pat Riley and the rest of the Los Angeles Lakers visit the White House with a Lakers hat and jersey for President Reagan after winning the NBA title.

Ronald Reagan and New York Mets

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President Reagan shakes hands with New York Mets pitcher Jesse Orosco as Bob Ojeda, Lee Mazzilli and Dwight Gooden look on. The players were at the White House after winning the 1986 World Series.

Dennis Conner and Ronald Reagan

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President Reagan poses with Stars &amp; Stripes skipper Dennis Conner, winner of the America's Cup yacht race, for the cover of Sports Illustrated.

Ronald Reagan with SI Sportsmen and Sportswomen

Heinz Kluetmeier/SI

President Reagan gets some golf tips from golfer Patty Sheehan while Sports Illustrated 1987 Sportsmen and Sportswomen of the Year (left to right) Ethiopia runner Kip Keino, Chicago Bulls point guard Rory Sparrow, Wake Forest fullback Chip Rives, Athletics West hurdler Judi Brown King, Atlanta Braves outfielder Dale Murphy, and Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Reggie Williams look on during a visit to the White House.

Ronald Reagan and Doug Williams

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President Reagan receives a football and Redskins jersey from quarterback Doug Williams during a ceremony honoring the Super Bowl champion Washington Redskins at the White House.

Ronald Reagan

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President Reagan throws out the first pitch before a Chicago Cubs game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

Ronald Reagan, Tommy Lasorda and Orel Hershiser

AP

President Reagan holds a bat given to him by members of the 1988 World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

Ronald Reagan and Notre Dame football team

AP

President Reagan rears back to pass a football presented him by the Notre Dame football team during a ceremony in the Rose Garden. Behind Reagan is the Irish head coach Lou Holtz.

Vin Scully and Ronald Reagan

V.J. Lovero/SI

Former President Reagan joins Vin Scully in the broadcast booth at the MLB All-Star game.

Bo Jackson and Ronald Reagan

V.J. Lovero/SI

Former President Reagan shakes hands with All-Star game MVP Bo Jackson following the game in Anaheim, Calif.

Goldie Hawn, Nancy Reagan, Ronald Reagan and Michael Eisner

Robert Beck/SI

Former President Reagan watches the Los Angeles Kings play the Montreal Canadiens in Game Three of the Stanley Cup Final alongside wife Nancy Reagan, Goldie Hawn and Disney CEO Michael Eisner in Los Angeles.

Bob Hope and Ronald Reagan

Handout

Former President Reagan poses with Bob Hope before an afternoon of golf on Reagan's 84th birthday.

Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images

One day after his passing, former President Ronald Reagan is commemorated before the start of Game One of the NBA Finals between the Detroit Pistons and the Los Angeles Laker at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.