30 位名人故事（下）

16. Barry Bonds: Cheater or Legend?

Baseball is the oldest major league sport in the United States today. With the growing

popularity of American football and basketball, baseball now must share the limelight with

these sports. During the late 1990s, baseball was in trouble. Attendance was down. High

profile sports that featured fast-paced action such as football and basketball were stealing

baseball's thunder. That was all before Barry Bonds and a couple of other sluggers brought

the game back to center stage.

Bonds played the first part of his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he enjoyed

moderate success. After being traded to the San Francisco Giants in 1992, Bonds began

a second career that put him into the spotlight for both the right and wrong reasons. At an

age when most players begin to decline in performance because of their advancing age,

Bonds went on a home run tear that was unprecedented in the history of the game.

Bonds never hit more than 34 home runs in one year for the Pirates, but, playing for the

Giants, he hit an astounding 73 home runs in 2001. This shattered a record that had stood

for 40 years. Bonds was 38 years old by the end of the 2001 season, and many questioned

how he could put up numbers like that. The answer to that question came out years later

when Bonds was accused of taking illegal, performance-enhancing drugs. Bonds

eventually broke Henry Aaron's record for most home runs in a career, but many baseball

purists feel that the record is tainted because of the illegal drug use.

Bonds' post baseball career has been damaged because of the drug use, and Major

League Baseball has implemented a drug use policy since his retirement. He was indicted

by a federal grand jury on charges of perjury for lying about his drug use, but was able to

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strike a deal to stay out of jail. In any event, his legacy is forever soiled.

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 17. Mike Tyson: The Youngest Boxing Champ

Boxing is big in America. The history of the sport precedes the establishment of the United

States by thousands of years. The ancient Greeks are said to have included a form of

boxing as far back as 600 BC. The modern sport of boxing can be traced to the 16th

Century when it became a popular sport in Great Britain. Today, the sport still uses a

variation of the Marquess of Queensberry rules that were established in 1867. Boxing is

the purest form of competition. It pits one man, or woman, against another in an enclosed

ring with only the person's fists as weapons. Early matches in the United States featured

bare-knuckle fighting, but today boxers use protective gloves.

One of the most successful boxers in America is Mike Tyson. Tyson holds several boxing

records. The greatest is possibly when he became the youngest boxer ever to win the

heavyweight championship in three different boxing organizations. Tyson was just over 20

years old when he accomplished this feat. He was one of the most feared fighters of his

time. Tyson won a total of 50 fights with 44 of those victories coming by knockout.

Twelve of Tyson's knockouts came in the first round, which earned him the nickname of

Iron Mike. Eventually, his advancing age and fast living took their toll on Tyson. By the early

90s, his career was virtually over. Even though his boxing career lasted until 2002, Tyson

was never the same. He went on to a brief acting career, most notably in the popular 2009

comedy hit The Hangover.

Tyson's post-boxing career had its ups and downs. He appeared on Barbara Walter's talk

show with his wife, television actress Robin Givens, where Givens called Tyson a manic-

depressive, and that living with him was pure torture. Tyson was arrested in 1991 for raping

an 18-year-old girl, and spent several years in jail. He has attempted several comebacks,

but has never regained his old glory.

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 18. Barack Obama: America's First Black President

Since 2008, Barack Obama has been president of the United States of America. He is a

historic figure primarily because he is the first African American to hold the position of

president. His policies have gained him many supporters, as well as many detractors. He

is one of the greatest presidents to govern the country in the history of the United States.

Obama is a representative of the Democratic Party with his presidency coming after the

controversial George W. Bush left office.

One of the defining aspects of his presidency is the Patient Protection and Affordable Care

Act, commonly and inaccurately called Obamacare. This act, passed into law by the U.S.

Congress and signed by the president in March 2010, became effective on January 1,

2014. It is the single, most significant change in government healthcare since Medicare

was implemented in 1965. This act was intended to increase the affordability of care for

Americans, expand insurance coverage, and lower the uninsured rate in the country. It is

a controversial act that has many detractors, but most Americans now carry health

insurance, which was not true before 2014.

Obama was born in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1961. He is a graduate of both Columbia University

in New York City, and Harvard Law School. Before becoming president, he served as

senator for the state of Illinois. He is considered a liberal by many southern conservatives,

but this may be an unfair label. The perception is largely due to the Affordable Care Act,

and his attempts at immigration reform. Additionally, Obama ended the U.S. involvement

in the Iraq war. He also ordered the military operation that eventually resulted in the death

of Osama Bin Laden. Obama was reelected as president in November, 2012.

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 19. Yao Ming: Bigger than Life

Yao Ming is one of the most influential individuals ever to live in the United States of

America. So, how does a 22-year-old Chinese male, born in Shanghai, become an

international superstar, who changes the way both cultures look at each other? Ming

stands 7'6", which makes him one of the tallest players ever to play the game, but that is

not the extent of his power. Ming was tall, and talented.

Ming started his career in China, where he played for the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese

Basketball Association. That was the season when the Sharks won a CBA championship.

He was able to negotiate a release from his contract with the Sharks, making him eligible

for the National Basketball Association draft in 2002. Ming was one of the most sought-

after players ever to come from China, and he was eventually drafted by the Houston

Rockets.

Ming found moderate success in the NBA. His size and strength made him a formidable

presence. He was so big and talented that he could dominate any game just by being on

the court. Ming led the Rockets to the team's first playoff appearance in several years, but

his statistical totals were not so impressive. Still, Ming was one of the most popular players

in NBA history. The fans loved him, and voted him into the All-Star game eight times.

Ming did create some degree of resentment from other players, most notably Shaquille

O'Neal from the Los Angeles Lakers. O'Neal was one of the most dominant players in the

game for a brief number of years, and in 2003, Ming outvoted O'Neal in an NBA fan vote

by more than 250,000 votes. This angered O'Neal, who vowed to outplay Ming whenever

the two giants met on the court.

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 20. Oprah Winfrey: Her Incredible Life

Oprah Winfrey is one of the most successful women in the history of the United States of

America. Winfrey was born in a small town in Mississippi in 1954 into a poor family. She is

now one of the richest people in the world, and the richest black Americans in the country.

She was also named as the richest African American in the 20th Century. Winfrey is known

to most Americans through her daytime show called "The Oprah Winfrey Show." Her show

is very popular among television viewers because she likes to tackle the tough issues many

other daytime TV hosts avoid.

Winfrey's early life was difficult. She lived with her mother and grandmother at times. While

living with her grandmother, she learned to read by the age of three, and had memorized

many bible passages. Her mother was an unwed teenager at the time of her birth, and had

a difficult time raising her. Winfrey had two half-sisters. One died young as a result of

cocaine addiction, and she did not learn about her other sister until 2010. Winfrey also was

not certain who her father was.

Winfrey suffered from sexual abuse from her uncle, cousin, and family friend, and became

pregnant at 14. She lost her baby shortly after birth though. Winfrey survived her early

years, and at 17 won a local beauty contest before getting her first break in the media

industry as a radio newscaster. This was her first step into the media market.

Her show began in Chicago in 1983, and within a few years, it became the No. 1 daytime,

talk show in the country. She has interviewed some of the most famous people in the

country on her popular show. Winfrey starred in the movie The Color Purple, and now owns

her own production company called Harpo Films. She is a philanthropist who is famous for

her generosity, and remains one of the most influential Americans in the country.

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 21. Abraham Lincoln: America's Greatest President

Abraham Lincoln is a name that is forever embedded into the collective conscience of

every American. It is perhaps the most recognizable name in the history of the country

even as his death occurred approximately 150 years ago. Lincoln presided over the country

during, what is perhaps, the most divisive era in its history. Lincoln served as president for

only four short years, but his impact on the country at the time, and today, has been huge.

During his presidency, the United States was in the middle of a terrible civil war. At the

center of the split between the two sides was slavery. The north was a fast-growing,

industrial region that was more progressive than their southern counterpart. The southern

economy was based on cotton production that mostly used forced labor. The north viewed

this practice as unethical, and immoral, while southerners claimed it was an integral part

of their culture. When Lincoln won the election, the southern states began to secede from

the Union, and the war began.

Lincoln vowed to end slavery during his campaign for president, while never speaking

about how the country would keep its relationship with the southern states when slavery

was ended. This angered many southerners who promised to rebel if Lincoln won. The war

lasted four years, and about 620,000 soldiers died. In what is considered the turning point

of the war, Lincoln issued his famous Emancipation Proclamation in January 1863. What

it did was gain international favor from the world because of its ethical qualities. It put

pressure on those countries doing business with the south to review their practices. It

effectively put an end to the war. Lincoln was assassinated on April 15, 1865 by a southern

sympathizer as he sat in a theater with his wife.

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 22. Muhammad Ali: The Greatest Boxer

The greatest boxer of the modern era is Muhammad Ali. There is generally no question

about this in the boxing circles. However, there are those who would argue that there were

others who were just as great. Ali was born in Louisville, Kentucky, and was first called

Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., but changed his name in the late 1960s after adopting Islam

as his religion.

Ali was not only one of the greatest heavyweight boxers ever to step into the ring, but also

a deeply spiritual person who defied the United States government by standing on his

ethics. He was a controversial and divisive man who elicited great emotion from those who

loved him, and those who wanted him jailed.

Ali was on top of his profession in the late 60s when his draft classification was changed.

He was ordered to enlist in the Army, but he refused. He claimed that he could not go to

war because of his religious convictions. Many saw this move by the U.S. government as

a way to silence the outspoken boxer because he was well beyond the age most young

American men were being drafted at the time. Ali was stripped of his title, and was banned

from boxing, while his case went through the U.S. court system. Ali was inactive during his

ablest years from the age 25 to almost 29. There is no telling how many more victories and

titles he could have won during his stolen prime.

Eventually, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in an 8 - 0 decision in Ali's favor, overturning his

conviction of draft evasion. His stance was not popular at the time among conservative

Americans; many people disliked him very much, but his determination and moral

principles held up his decision. He is now regarded as one of the most influential persons

in the history of the U.S. He was named "Sportsman of the Century" by Sports Illustrated

magazine, and "Sports Personality of the Century" by the BBC.

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 23. Carl Sagan: Visionary Astronomer

Carl Sagan was possibly the most famous American astronomer ever. He was an

astronomer, scientist, author, cosmologist, and television host. His landmark show

"Cosmos" was one of the first science shows to gain acceptance by the general public in

the United States. Sagan challenged Americans to think about their place in the universe

like no other person before him. Using the scientific method, Sagan challenged long-held

beliefs about the genesis of life on earth. This he has done to the enlightened scientific

community, and to the anger of the religious community. Many of Sagan's teachings

contradict the creationist belief of the beginning of life. He was also interested in the search

for life beyond the planet earth, and participated in the only human message sent into

space intended for an alien race.

Sagan was born in Brooklyn, New York on November 9, 1934. His interest in science began

at an early age. He wrote and co-wrote 20 books, and had more than 600 scientific

research papers published. His most popular work was "Contact", which tells the story of

first contact with an intelligent alien species. The book was made into a movie in 1997

starring Jodie Foster. The book and movie angered many religious groups because of its

message that human beings are not alone in the universe.

Sagan earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in physics from the University of

Chicago in the 1950s. His scientific curiosity led him into developing the television series

"Cosmos". It was one of the most watched science series, and has been recreated and is

currently on the air. His work on the Galileo project lives on today. The spacecraft is

speeding its way through infinite space today with his message of greeting to whatever

race of beings finds it. Sagan died at the age of 62 from complications resulting from

pneumonia.

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 24. Beyonce Knowles: Beauty and Talent Personified

Beyonce Knowles is an American singer, songwriter, and performer, who was born in

Houston, Texas in 1981. She is one of the biggest female stars on the American music

scene today. Knowles began her singing career in her hometown of Houston as a child.

She was encouraged by her parents to cultivate her musical talents, and her parents are

still a big part of her life. Her father serves as her personal manager, while her mother

designs many of the costumes she wears on her concert tours, and in her music videos.

She first found fame as a member of the R&B group Destiny's Child, which was one of the

most popular girl groups in the history of American music. Beyonce began her solo career

during her time with Destiny's Child. After their break-up in 2005, the artist went completely

solo. She found instant success in the music industry because of her unbridled enthusiasm

for her work. She is a tireless worker, and a talented musician. Knowles is also one of the

most beautiful women in the music industry.

Beyonce won her first award at the age of seven while in elementary school. By the age of

eight, Beyonce, along with two childhood friends, auditioned for an all-girls group. The

group won the competition, and was featured on "Star Search", a popular, American talent

search show of the time. Although the group did not win the Star Search competition,

Beyonce and the original members of Destiny's Child had their start.

Some of Beyonce's biggest hits were Deja Vu, Irreplaceable, and Beautiful Liar. She has

won many awards, including nine American Music Awards, 16 BET Awards, and 18

Billboard Music Awards. In all, Beyonce has won more than 262 awards, and has been

nominated for 361.

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 25. Jack Kevorkian: Hero or Murderer?

One of the most controversial figures in the history of the United States of America was Dr.

Jack Kevorkian. He was a pathologist, euthanasia advocate, and author, who came into

fame during the late 1990s. He died in 2011. Kevorkian was a firm believer in euthanasia

for the terminally ill. He designed a suicide machine that helped 130 people end their lives.

Kevorkian was persecuted throughout his career as a suicide facilitator, and was convicted

in 1999 for his involvement in an assisted suicide. He served eight years in prison, and

was released in 2007 after agreeing to no longer assist with anyone's suicide.

Kevorkian had a difficult time working as a pathologist at the University of Michigan, where

he earned his doctorate degree. He did not see eye to eye with his employers, and chose

to leave the hospital to pursue his own interests. In 1987, Kevorkian purchased advertising

space in Detroit newspapers as a "death consultant." His first known assisted suicide was

for a 54-year-old woman who suffered from advanced Alzheimer's disease. Kevorkian was

not charged in the case because Michigan did not have a law in place regarding assisted

suicide. The state did file murder charges initially, but those charges were dropped. The

Michigan Medical Board, however, did strip Kevorkian of his medical practitioner's license.

Kevorkian defended himself at subsequent trials by claiming he took no action to assist in

his patient's suicide. He had invented a machine that was designed to be operated by the

patient using the machine. Therefore, Kevorkian argued he had no hand in causing the

death of his patients. His patients had complete control of the suicide from start to finish.

Kevorkian's role in the deaths was to simply help attach his patients to his machine. The

rest was up to them. Some called Kevorkian a raging madman who lost his mind, while

others called him an angel for helping to end the suffering of his patients.

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 26. Amelia Earhart: America's Lost Heroine

There is perhaps no greater mystery in the annals of American history as that of the Amelia

Earhart story. Earhart's story is one of controversy, and intriguing. She was an

accomplished aviator, the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean solo. She

accomplished this during a time when women were not highly regarded in the United States.

American women during the 1930s did not have the same advantages men had. There

were few employment opportunities. Educated women were a scarcity. Women who did

find employment during this era were working as grade-school teachers, nannies, and

maids for the most part. Amelia Earhart did a lot to change that perception.

Although Earhart was born into a family that did see financial success, but that success

was fleeting. There were times in her life when her family struggled to make ends meet

because of poor money management. Earhart was home schooled for most of her life, and

she gained her pilots license at an early age. In December of 1920, Earhart's father took

Amelia to an airshow in Long Beach, California. This is where she first became interested

in flying. After earning her aviator's license, she accomplished a feat that only a few men

had ever done: flying solo across the Atlantic. She earned national fame for this and was

soon a household name.

Tragically, Earhart was lost in an attempt to fly around the world in 1937. She was never

found. The theories about how she met her end are countless. Many think she fell victim

to the Japanese prior to the start of World War II. This thinking was rooted in the idea that

Earhart was a spy. Other outlandish theories include alien kidnapping, but most likely she

had mechanical difficulties flying over the Pacific Ocean. Earhart was either killed instantly,

or survived, according to one popular theory, and lived out her days on a deserted island.

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 27. Charles Lindbergh: A Superstar Pilot

Charles Lindbergh is an American hero, who took the nation, and the world by storm as a

25-year-old pilot in 1927. That was the year Lindbergh flew from New York City to Paris

across the Atlantic Ocean solo. Aviation technology was not very advanced during that

time period. Lindbergh's plane The Spirit of St. Louis was believed by many to be simply

too small to make the solo flight across the great Atlantic. Just carrying enough fuel for the

flight was a challenge, and so was the trip itself. Because of the limitations on the speed

of aircraft at the time, it would take many hours to make the trip; it was generally accepted

that a pilot could not make it alone. Lindbergh would not be deterred though.

Lindbergh was working as a mail pilot when he decided to make his cross-Atlantic flight.

Six well-known and trained aviators had lost their lives trying to make the flight before him,

so his odds for success were not in his favor. On the morning of May 20, 1927, Lindbergh

launched his small plane from Roosevelt Field in New York, and determined to reach Paris.

The flight was an international event as Lindbergh's progress was reported by report

stations throughout his flight. Lindbergh faced many dangers and challenges during his

flight, including foul weather, and flying blind through thick fog. He also had to fight his

fatigue during the nearly 54-hour flight.

It was all well worth the trouble when Lindbergh landed in Paris on Saturday night, May 21,

1927. More than 150,000 French citizens had gathered to join the celebration of his historic

flight. Lindbergh had become an international superstar literally overnight. He came home

to an adoring the American public that celebrated his fame with a parade through the

streets of New York City.

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 28. Susan B. Anthony: The First Women's Rights Activist

Long before the women's movement of the late 1960s and 70s, lived a 19th Century

woman by the name of Susan B. Anthony. Anthony was fighting for women's rights long

before the social revolution 50 years ago. She was born in 1820 to a Quaker family.

Quakers are a close-knit, faith-based group of people who live a very simple and strict life.

It is a traditional way of life where gender roles are clearly defined.

She spent much of her early life fighting for social change. She was an anti-slavery

abolitionist, teacher, author, and was a leading figure in gaining women the right to vote,

and to hold office. The suffrage movement was designed to gain voting rights for women

who previously had no voice in government. Another social cause Anthony was heavily

involved with was the anti-slavery movement. Anthony made her family farm available for

like-minded people to have anti-slavery meetings. She was involved in the abolitionist

movement until the end of the American Civil War, when slavery was abolished. She then

turned her attention to women's rights.

Anthony founded a weekly publication called "The Revolution", which she used to publish

women's rights literature. The newspaper's motto was "Men their rights, and nothing more;

women their rights, and nothing less."

In 1872, after touring the country trying to build momentum for women's rights, she illegally

voted in the presidential election. She was arrested and fined, even though she fought.

Anthony never paid the fine. The incident served to bring more awareness to the struggle

women had to endure. Anthony fought the good fight until her death in 1905 at the age of

84. She is honored today by the United States mint with the Susan B. Anthony $1 coin.

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 29. Bill Clinton: Popular Modern American President

William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton was the 43rd American president, presiding over the country

for eight years from 1993 to 2001. He was the third youngest president to hold the office,

behind Theodore Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy. Clinton was a very popular president,

who led the country during one of the most successful eras in American history. His

economic policies contributed greatly to the country's economic strength during his tenure.

Clinton is a member of the Democratic Party, and served as governor of the state of

Arkansas for two five-year terms. He is credited with overhauling the state's education

system during his tenure.

Clinton presided over the longest, peacetime economic expansion in American history. He

is married to Hillary Clinton who he met at Yale Law School. Hillary Clinton was Secretary

of State from 2009 to 2013, after serving as senator of the state of New York from 2001 to

2009. Additionally, Hillary Clinton is considered one of the top prospects to gain the

Democratic nomination for the presidential election in 2016. When Bill Clinton left office in

2001, he enjoyed the highest approval rating from the American public in the history of the

United States, but his presidency was not without controversy.

Bill Clinton's presidency was marred by the Monica Lewinsky affair. Lewinski was a White

House intern who engaged in sexual activity with the president. Bill Clinton denied any

wrongdoing, but his political opponents, the Republicans, pursued Clinton in an effort to

damage his reputation and the Democratic Party in general. Republican politicians tried to

have Clinton impeached from office and dogged him for years. In the end, Clinton survived

the controversy, and completed his successful term as president. Hillary stood by him

during the dark times, and the couple remains together to this day.

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 30. Forrest Gump: An American Film Legend

Forrest Gump is a 1994 film depicting the life of a simple, Alabama-born man who achieves

great success in life despite being mentally slow. The lead character is played by the great

Tom Hanks, who is involved in many of the most significant moments in American history.

The film and character have become iconic figures in American society because of its

message that any feat can be accomplished no matter what obstacles are faced.

Gump was born to a single mother in rural Alabama during the 1950s. He is a slow-witted

boy who seems unaware of his surroundings, or purpose in life. A school counselor tells

his mother Gump's IQ is so low, and would be placed into a special vocational program.

His mother convinces the counselor to disregard Gump's low IQ score. Forrest is allowed

to attend a regular public school.

Because of his athletic ability, Gump gets a scholarship to play football at the University of

Alabama, where he excels at the game. Upon graduation, he is approached by an army

recruiter, and joins the military, where again he excels. Gump is awarded the

Congressional Medal of Honor for saving the lives of many of his fellow troops during a

vicious firefight in the Vietnam War.

After his time in the service, Gump wins an international ping pong competition in China,

brings down President Richard Nixon while staying at the infamous, Watergate Hotel,

meets three presidents, and goes on several, cross-country runs that gain massive media

attention. Throughout his life, Gump maintains solid relationship with his friends from the

Army, and dearly loves his only childhood friend and sweetheart, Jenny. Forrest Gump

touches the American spirit like no other film ever has.

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