The Athlete's Collage

The below image is a collage of famous, world-class athletes who all completed some aspect of school because of their athletic pursuits. Some of them struggled with learning difficulties while some of them struggled to even attend school at first. The point is that, like the above essay says, sports impacted all of these people’s schooling and their lives as a whole.

Top Row, Far Left—Dennis Rodman: Rodman struggled through primary and secondary school, blaming most of his academic and social problems on his father who had abandoned the family. After graduating high school with no impressionable athletic or academic career, Rodman became a night-janitor at the Dallas Airport. Discontent with his life, Rodman chose to go back to school at Cooke County College in order to play basketball. After a year there he transferred to Southeastern Oklahoma University, where he played for three years and earned a degree.  He was drafted by the Detroit Pistons in 1986 and went on to play for the Bulls, Spurs, Mavericks and Lakers, winning five championships in his 14 year career.

Top Row, Middle—Nolan Ryan: The youngest of six children, Ryan struggled through grade school with mediocre grades. Diagnosed with ADHD later in his life, he managed to finish high school, with the help of baseball, before he was drafted by the New York Mets in 1965. He is considered to be one of the greatest, if not the greatest pitcher in baseball history.

Top Row, Far Right—Patrick Willis: (see video below)

Middle Row, Far Left—Michael Phelps: (see video below)

Middle Row, Middle—Terry Bradshaw: Bradshaw considered himself to be a hard worker, but didn’t do too well in school due to ADD and a speech impediment. He played football as a way to cope with frustrations throughout his childhood, earning a football scholarship to Louisiana Tech University. He played for four years, earning a degree and becoming the number one draft pick in 1970. He played 13 seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers, winning four Super Bowls and two Super Bowl MVPs.

Middle Row, Far Right—Magic Johnson: (see video below)

Bottom Row, Far Left—Michael Oher: (see video below)

Bottom Row, Middle—Bruce Jenner: (see video below)

Bottom Row, Far Right—Joe Frazier: Frazier overcame ADD to go on to a professional boxing career. He was an Olympic medalist and the undisputed world heavyweight champion in his career.