(The Center Square) – At least one legend with ties to the Old North State has been tapped for the initiative of “restoring health and fitness for America’s youth.”
Lawrence Taylor, collegiate All-American at Carolina who went on to a Hall of Fame career in the NFL with the New York Giants, was tapped by second-term Republican President Donald Trump for the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition. Taylor, a native of Williamsburg, Va., in 1980 was ACC Player of the Year, unanimous All-American and the No. 2 pick in the NFL Draft.
The council, founded in 1956 by Republican President Dwight Eisenhower, has previously been chaired by such sports greats such as Stan Musial, Florence Griffith Joyner and Lynn Swann. Trump tapped golfer Bryson DeChambeau as chairman.
Executive director of the council is Catherine Granito, former standout in lacrosse for Michigan and the senior advisor at the Department of Health and Human Services for the Make America Health Again policy initiative.
The son-in-law of New Bern native Linda McMahon, Trump’s secretary of the Education Department, is on the council. Paul “Triple H” Levesque is a former professional wrestler in WWE and serves as its chief content officer today.
“I’ve watched the decline of the youth of America, and their ability, and the decline of the importance of fitness, health and nutrition,” Levesque said in a video shared by the White House. “It’s an incredible honor and I’m thrilled to dig in and get to work.”
Commissioners Gary Bettman of the NHL and Roger Goodell of the NFL are on the council. Also, hockey legend Wayne Gretzky; golfing greats Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Annika Sorenstam and Nelly Korda; baseball Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera; from the NHL, Florida Panthers right wing Matthew Tkachuk; from the NFL, Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa and Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa; and former NFL player Tony Romo and former college football player Cody Campbell.
Butker was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in 2017. Nicklaus’ son, Jack Jr., played collegiately at Carolina. Sorenstam won the 1996 U.S. Women’s Open at Pine Needles. And Bettman oversaw the move of the Hartford Whalers to become the Carolina Hurricanes.
Making a comeback as determined by the council will be the criteria for a Presidential Fitness Award, and reestablishment of the Presidential Fitness Test to be administered by Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
“We’re all about helping young youth,” Sorenstam said. “It’s about sports, it’s about fitness, nutrition – I have a passion for all of them, so I’m excited to be able to make a difference in kids’ lives moving forward. I’m very thankful to President Trump for giving me this platform for us to change a generation.”
Trump, in a fact sheet, said the “rates of obesity, chronic disease, inactivity and poor nutrition are at crisis levels, particularly among our children. These trends weaken our economy, military readiness, academic performance and national morale.”
The White House narrative said, “Trump is creating a national culture of strength, vitality and excellence for the next generation by promoting the physical, mental and civic benefits of exercise and good nutrition.”
America next year will celebrate its 250th anniversary of the 70th anniversary of Eisenhower’s founding of the council. Within the next three years, the United States also hosts the Summer Olympics, FIFA World Cup, the Ryder Cup and the President’s Cup.
