| When the Miami Dolphins took Samson Satele as | | | | The Alous: Felipe Alou, a man who changed |
| the 60th overall pick of the 2007 NFL draft, and | | | | baseball by becoming the first Dominican to |
| then took Reagan Mauia as the 181st overall pick, | | | | consistently play in the major leagues, was the |
| Satele and Mauia, distant cousins, joined the long | | | | oldest brother in a trio of Alous: he enjoyed a 17 |
| line of relatives who have helped make sports a | | | | year stint as a player before moving onto |
| family affair. Though they have yet to prove | | | | managerial duties. His younger brothers, Matty and |
| themselves in professional sports, as they are | | | | Jesus, were both longtime players in the National |
| both rookies, there is no telling whether this | | | | League. Moises Alou, the son of Felipe, followed in |
| particular kin will be akin to winning. Still, they give | | | | his father's and uncles' footsteps by becoming an |
| us reason to remember that sometimes sports is | | | | excellent player; he currently plays for the New |
| quite literally all relative. The following is our list of | | | | York Mets. With the exception of Jesus, all of the |
| the top athletes who owe at least some of their | | | | Alous have been elected to a Major League All |
| genius to their genus. | | | | Star game at least twice. |
| The Mannings: There's a story of a man named | | | | Bobby and Barry Bonds: Bobby Bonds set the |
| Manning, who was busy with three boys of his | | | | pace for his son to follow. As a player, Bobby |
| own...three very athletic boys of his own. Archie | | | | was a three-time Golden Glove winner, and a |
| Manning, a former pro-bowl quarterback who | | | | three-time All Star. He also was named MVP in |
| could have been one of the greatest had he not | | | | 1973. The younger Bonds, Barry, has baseball in |
| been on such a bad team, is the proud father to | | | | his blood, both metaphorically and biologically: Willie |
| Cooper, Peyton, and Eli. Though Cooper, the | | | | Mays is his godfather and Reggie Jackson is his |
| oldest, never played professional football, he was | | | | cousin. A shoe in for the Hall of Fame, Barry is |
| a standout wide receiver in high school before his | | | | the all time leader in career walks and intentional |
| career was cut short by spinal stenosis. Peyton, | | | | walks, holds the record for most homeruns in a |
| the middle child, has grown to become one of the | | | | season with 73 and is only eleven home runs |
| best quarterbacks to ever play the game and will | | | | away from breaking Hank Aaron's 30 year old |
| likely retire as a legend. Eli, the youngest, is an up | | | | record. |
| and coming quarterback with the New York | | | | Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Jr.: One of the most |
| Giants. While he has yet to truly prove himself, | | | | famous names in NASCAR, the Earnhardts have |
| eventual greatness seems almost inevitable. | | | | earned a place in the hearts of all those who love |
| Ken Griffey Sr. and Jr.: Fathers and sons play a | | | | racing. The elder Earnhardt became known for his |
| game of catch all the time, but rarely in front of | | | | Winston Cup Series victories, seventy six races |
| ten of thousands of cheering fans. Ken Griffey Sr. | | | | won, seven championships, his aggressive driving |
| and Ken Griffey Jr. did just that, making history | | | | style and, of course, the number 3. Dying as he |
| when they became the first father and son duo | | | | did something he loved, Earnhardt Senior fatally |
| to play together on the same team, the Seattle | | | | crashed during the last lap of the 2001 Daytona |
| Mariners. They added to history when they hit | | | | 500. As for the younger, Earnhardt Junior is |
| back to back homeruns on September 14, 1990, | | | | two-time Busch Series champion, and the winner |
| undoubtedly causing the senior to see the junior | | | | of the 2004 Daytona 500. He won it exactly six |
| as a chip off the old block, and a ball off the old | | | | years after his father's victory in the same race. |
| bat. In 2004, Ken Griffey Sr. was inducted into | | | | Note only do the above families allow us to see |
| the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame. As for Junior, he | | | | how greatness is inherited, but they also give |
| continues to play, frightening pitchers with his | | | | those of us with no athletic talent the chance to |
| power hits and shutting down batters with his | | | | do something we all love to do: blame our parents. |
| stellar defense. | | | | |