Recently, it has seemed as though many of the top athletes are the children of other great athletes. Strong genes!
As we inch our way to Father’s Day, we share the following list of dads and their blossoms, which unmistakably shows that genes have a significant role in the growth of the most successful athletes.
Steph Curry and Dell Curry
As some of you may not know, from the middle of the 1980s until his retirement, Dell Curry was one of the most explosive shooters in both college basketball and the NBA. He played for five teams that include the Utah Jazz, Milwaukee Bucks, and most notably, Charlotte Hornets. So it’s not surprising that his son, Stephen Curry, is one of the best shooters out there.
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In a 2020 interview with Reuters, Dell talks about raising Stephen saying “I taught my boys the fundamentals of the game and fundamentals of the shot. They had to have their own work ethic and dedication, of course being around the game, watching myself and some of the best players in the world.” Steph has gone on to become a four-time NBA champion and was named MVP after his win against the Boston Celtics in the 2022 NBA final.
Charlie Axel Woods and Tiger Woods
Charlie Woods, who’s considered a rising golf prodigy, has demonstrated his outstanding skills on the junior circuit as well as at the PNC Championships. He has competed in the PNC Championship three times with his father as a duo team, where Charlie drew worldwide notice after his play at the 2020 PNC Championship.
Fans have drawn several resemblances between the father-son duo, but Charlie has a long way to go before he can replace his father’s shoes, who has won 15 major titles. Although he’s only thirteen and just beginning his career in professional golf, he looks to be on the right road and continues to show flashes of his enormous potential.
“I meant to do that.” 🤭
Just how Charlie Woods drew it up. pic.twitter.com/5L4hODR75t
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 18, 2022
Laila Ali and Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali declared himself the best boxer of all time, and several boxing professionals agree. He was the first heavyweight boxer to win the title three times. And it seems like it runs in the family.
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Laila Ali is a role model for women all around the world. She is not just the daughter of ‘the Greatest’ Muhammad Ali, but she has also tried her own hand at boxing and has won multiple titles during her career in boxing.
According to Insider, Muhammed had once told Laila not to fight because “Boxing is not for women.” She clearly didn’t listen to him, but it was good she didn’t. She concluded her career flawlessly with a 24-0-0 record and 21 knockouts. Many believe her to be the best female boxer of all time.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Dale Earnhardt Sr.
Dale Earnhardt is one of NASCAR’s most popular drivers. In his career, he achieved 76 victories, 428 top-10 finishes, and 22 pole positions. And like a lot of athlete legends, there was a movie made after him called ‘3: The Dale Earnhardt Story’. Now that’s something to gloat about.
Dale Jr. has upheld his father’s heritage. He has 18 Sprint Series victories, 18 pole positions, and has finished in the top 10, 149 times. He won the 2004 Daytona 500, which is the third time a father-son team had done so.
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Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are arguably the most popular father-son racing team of all time, so who knows how much they could have done on the track if ‘The Intimidator’ hadn’t died at Daytona in 2001?
Cal Ripken Jr. and Cal Ripken Sr.
Cal Ripken Jr., the son of the Major League coach, Cal Ripken Sr., dedicated his life to baseball from an early age and was rewarded with the opportunity to make his ambitions come true. Ripken had a lengthy and successful Hall of Fame career, becoming one of baseball’s most important players. And that might be thanks to his dad.
Cal Sr. had been a part of the Baltimore Orioles organization for numerous years, working as a catcher in their minor league system before injuries ended his opportunity at a Major League career. Ripken Sr. continued with the Orioles as a coach when his playing days were through, and stayed on for many years.
Cal Jr. grew up in Baltimore with his father and was always exposed to baseball. This exposure inspired the young Ripken to devote his life to the sport of baseball. By the time he himself joined the Orioles as a player, he had won the AL Rookie of the Year Award after hitting 28 home runs, 32 doubles, and driving in 93 runs.
OTD in 1983, Cal Ripken Jr. became the first player to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in consecutive seasons. pic.twitter.com/Ejb0OpRS40
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) November 15, 2019
Brett Hull and Bobby Hull
Like father, like son. Both father and son were elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Bobby Hull won the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks, led the league in goals scored seven times, and played in 12 All-Star Games. Over the years, the NHL has had several amazing father-son duos. But none of them came close to matching what the Hulls performed on the ice.
ICYMI: Father-son Hall of Famers Bobby and Brett Hull dropped in for the #WinterClassic. pic.twitter.com/le41KKt3aO
— NHLPA (@NHLPA) January 2, 2017
The cool thing I noticed about these two is how both father and son stayed with only one team for a large portion of their careers. Bobby Hull played for the Chicago Blackhawks for 15 seasons and his son played for the Calgary Flames for 11 seasons.
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