First-term Congressman Heath Shuler (D-NC) is often mentioned along with Sen. James Webb (D-VA) as the kind of hillbilly moderate-conservative Democrat who might do well on the national stage. Shuler, was the runner-up for the Heisman trophy at the U. of Tennessee in 1993. He later returned to school, finished his degree in psychology, started a successful real estate firm, and won election to Congress in 2006.
That's the good news. On the other hand, he was a complete bust in the NFL, listed by one count as the 17th biggest flop of the last quarter century in sports. This may have something to do with his reported Wonderlic IQ score of 16, which translates to about a 90.Shuler replies that he didn't take the test seriously.
On the other other other hand, he named his children "Navy" and "Island," so maybe the Wonderlic score does say something about him.
My published articles are archived at iSteve.com -- Steve Sailer
Posts
32 comments:
FYI: Shuler is D-NC, not D-TN.
Stupidity is a good thing for a candidate. Look at what we've got now.
Schuler is good on immigration, and is pro-life......
Looks like he found his vocation, then.
That Dems have to scrape the bottom of the barrel to get candidates who appeal to white men (as opposed to coastal rich yuppie scum) says something.
Not the least the profound feminization (in an Oprah-Dr. Phil way) of the Democratic Party.
The last time somebody went straight from the House to the Vice-Presidency was Ford, and that was under rather unusual circumstances.
Its going to be bit of a wait for Shuler to do much good/damage.
Shuler is not that tall. It was a big problem for him in the NFL.
I'm sensitive about the children's name thing. I gave my son a classic English name, but gave my daughter a Welsh/Chinese name that has a similar meaning and sound in both languages. Her name is very rare in the US (but not so uncommon in Britain and the commonwealth), so I hope people don't think I just made it up on a whim. Actually, it sounds very pretty and is made up of two beautiful characters in Chinese.
From Wikipdia, for the benefit of of foreign iSteveistas:
Heath Shuler
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from North Carolina's 11th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 4, 2007
Preceded by Charles H. Taylor
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Born December 31, 1971 (age 36)
Bryson City, North Carolina
Political party Democratic
Spouse Nikol Shuler
Residence Waynesville, North Carolina
Alma mater University of Tennessee
Profession Real estate, Professional sports
Religion Southern Baptist
Heath Shuler
Position(s):
QB Jersey #(s):
5
Born: December 31, 1971 (1971-12-31) (age 36)
Bryson City, North Carolina
Career Information
Year(s): 1994–1997
NFL Draft: 1994 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3
College: Tennessee
Professional Teams
Washington Redskins (1994-1996)
New Orleans Saints (1997)
Oakland Raiders (1998) *
*Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career Stats
TD-INT 15-33
Yards 3,691
QB Rating 54.3
Career Highlights and Awards
1993 Heisman Trophy Runner-Up
Joseph Heath Shuler (born December 31, 1971) is a congressman and former professional football player. On November 7, 2006 Shuler was elected to the U.S. House as a Democrat from North Carolina's 11th congressional district (map). The district, based in Asheville, includes most of the Blue Ridge Mountains in western North Carolina.
A former NFL quarterback and real-estate investor, Shuler was born in Bryson City, North Carolina, a small town in the Great Smoky Mountains. Shuler attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville from 1990-93. He and his family now live in Waynesville, North Carolina.
Contents [hide]
1 Athletic career
2 Post-athletic Life and Career
3 Politics
3.1 Committee Assignments
4 Electoral History
5 References
6 External links
[edit] Athletic career
Heath Shuler's athletic career began at Swain County High School. He was a standout quarterback who drew plenty of scout attention, and accepted an athletic scholarship to the University of Tennessee.
At Tennessee, Shuler gained national attention as one of the SEC's top quarterbacks. He held nearly all Volunteer passing records at the end of his career, although most of them were later shattered by Peyton Manning. In 1993, he came in second in the vote for the prestigious Heisman Trophy.
Shuler was a first round selection in the 1994 NFL Draft, taken by the Washington Redskins with the third overall pick. He held out of training camp until he received a 7-year, $19.25 million contract. The Redskins had fallen on hard times since winning Super Bowl XXVI, and Shuler was looked on as the quarterback of the future. However, Shuler's poor play contributed to a quarterback controversy with fellow 1994 draft pick Gus Frerotte. This was evident when Shuler threw 5 interceptions in a game against the Arizona Cardinals. This was surprising because Shuler had only thrown 8 interceptions in his senior year as a Volunteer. Shuler started only 18 games in his first two years with the team and was benched in his third year, as Frerotte went to the Pro Bowl.
After the 1996 season, Shuler was traded to the New Orleans Saints for a 5th round pick in the 1997 draft and a 3rd round pick in 1998. With less talent on the New Orleans roster, Shuler's statistics remained poor. He suffered a serious foot injury during the 1997 season in New Orleans and went through two surgeries.
After being unable to take the field due to his foot injury in his second season in New Orleans, Shuler signed with the Oakland Raiders, where he re-injured his foot in training camp and retired. As a pro, his career passer rating was a low 54.3 and in 2004 ESPN rated him the 17th biggest 'sports flop' of the past 25 years.[1] In 2008, ESPN rated him the 9th biggest NFL Draft bust of all time.[2]
[edit] Post-athletic Life and Career
After retiring from the NFL, Shuler returned to the University of Tennessee and completed his education, graduating with a degree in psychology. He then became a real estate professional in Knoxville, where he had starred in college. His real estate company is one of the largest independent firms in East Tennessee.
In 2003, Shuler moved back to western North Carolina. He now lives in Waynesville, 30 miles southwest of Asheville, with his wife Nikol and two children, Navy and Island. In 2008, he was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason under the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of North Carolina, and is a member of Oconee Lodge 427.[3]
[edit] Politics
In July 2005, Shuler announced his intentions to seek the Democratic nomination to run against eight-term incumbent Republican Charles H. Taylor. The district covers most of the Western North Carolina mountains where Shuler grew up.
In the November election, Shuler won with 54 percent of the vote to Taylor's 46 percent. He carried nine of the district's 15 counties, including several areas that had reliably supported Taylor over the years. He even carried Taylor's home county of Transylvania.
On economic and environmental matters, Shuler tends to vote with the Democratic Party.[4]
In 2007, Shuler introduced proposed legislation co-sponsored with Congressman Walter Jones of North Carolina to require airlines to have sections of the aircraft where large movie screens would not be visible.[5] No mention was made regarding airlines who use a safety video for In-flight safety demonstration.
Reportedly owing to his success in real estate, Shuler was named chairman of the House Small Business Subcommittee on Rural and Urban Entrepreneurship.[6] He is also a deputy majority whip.
he was a bust, but was not even close to being the number 9 biggest bust of all time, which is the most recent ESPN commentary.
unfortunately, ESPN has a rather transparent agenda these days. every year before the NFL draft they do the same silly "Biggest busts of all time" show where they trot out the same 5 white guys.
their list always ignores literally dozens of black players who were colossal busts. first round picks who barely even played.
not sure where you got 6'7" . . . he's like 6'2"
Man I wish he was 6'7"- may have had some success with my Skins- 6'2tops, I think. Gives off a weird vibe though- humorless, Christian type. Don't get me wrong, that's much better than a humorless muslim.
Shuler was listed at 6'2 and 220 when he was at Tennessee. He was a "built" quarterback, good arm and good feet, who was also (then) a very nice-looking photogenic kid.
He didn't strike me as exceptionally verbose though, but could speak as least as well as John McCain. He repeated a great many cliche's in interviews seemingly memorized in order to not say anything construed as controversial. He was a better athlete than quarterback IMO. Ran very well for a big white kid (think Tebow).
If you are interested in former Vol Quarterbacks who would have presidential timber, Peyton Manning comes to mind. He is a thinker, and nobody doubts it.
Its astonishing someone who comes off as dullard as Bush ever got to be president of this nation. No wonder the elite constantly try and hang the underclass on the shoulders of the striving middle class whites...............they are scared $h*tless of them. I work with 20 men, all of whom are ten times brighter than George Bush. Could you imagine GWB in an honest debate, honestly moderated, with someone like Pat Buchannan? Leon Hadar? Jared Taylor? Steve Sailer? Bush would learn the spelling and meaning of s-l-a-u-g-h-t-e-r after that one....
He sure was great as The Joker in the new Batman movie, though....
"their list always ignores literally dozens of black players who were colossal busts. first round picks who barely even played."
There is a lot of territory in the phrase "first round pick" you could be the first player drafted and you could be the 28th player drafted. The biggest busts of all time usually come from one of threecategories: QB, number one (or occasionally #2) pick in the draft., or 'trancendent' player who is supposed to change the game.
Blair Thomas for instance was a high draft pick (not #1 or #2) from Penn State who Fizzled. He did not fall into one of those categories so he is all but forgotten. Courtney Brown is a DE from Penn State drafted #1 who did not become a star, but he is a 9 year veteran and solid against the run, therefore he is not considered a colossal bust.
The busts we remember are white guys like Tim Couch (QB and #1 pick in the draft). Brian Bozworth (shameless self promoter, supposed to change the state of NFL linebacking), and Tony Mandarich (#1 pick, cover of sports illustrated titled 'greatest lineman ever?')
It really is not all about the white man being held down, Al Sharpton.
One thing that was odd about Schuler is that he became a Freemason after he was elected. Rather a risky move for someone trying to appeal to the Christian Fundamentalist or the left wing Democrat vibe but a genius move if you want to appeal to the embattled small town American white man.
It may be an idea for a Republican negative ops guy to see if the North Carolina Grand Lodge allows blacks in or has reciprocal relations with the Prince Hall lodges.
anonymous:
This is probably not the best website to disparage Bush's intellect without evidence. In a well-known analysis, Steve concluded that Bush's IQ is above 120, placing him about the 90 percentile. If the twenty people you work with are ten times smarter (I assume that means, say, the 99th percentile) then you must work for an Ivy, for JPL, a top law firm or perhaps a high-tech startup.
Should you blame silly childrens' names on a husband when his wife is "Nikol"?
At some time in the past, Steve published the Wonderlic scores associated with various positions.
I seem to recall centers were the brainiest, followed by tackles, with QB being third--and, if memory serves, at about Shuler's level.
Also, if Bush lost an argument against Buchanan (that's one "n", by the way) it would be because of laziness and/or cowardice, not intelligence. Buchanan's points are false, and he gets them across by browbeating and dishonesty. Plenty of historians with IQs around that of Bush have trashed Buchanan's WW2 book already.
As for Shuler's IQ, what are his SATs? He got through college with a mid-range degree and founded a business which involves some degree of math. I suspect his IQ is up to that magic number 115 mentioned elsewhere.
That Dems have to scrape the bottom of the barrel to get candidates who appeal to white men (as opposed to coastal rich yuppie scum)
testing99 is a real man!
So let's see, Shuler was successful in business, successful in politics, was in the top 1% of football players but not quite the top one-tenth of one percent it takes to star in the NFL...sounds like someone random blog commenters can definitely look down on!
Argent paladin:
Bush HAD a 120 IQ. A popular theory is brain damage from alcoholism.
That fact that YOU (brilliant, naturally) disagree with the actions or words of GWB is not evidence for lack of intelligence (on his part anyway).
ah truth, you didn't let me down. ESPN has conditioned people well to remember the same 5 white guys. the US sports media has been very effective.
repeat it every year on every show on every channel, and people learn.
most people have already forgotten all the huge black busts from only a few years ago. i guess "remember" is not the right word, because they don't even notice most black busts in the first place. the US sports media is not there to point them out and remind people every chance they get.
Steve Sailer: He later returned to school, finished his degree in psychology, started a successful real estate firm, and won election to Congress in 2006
Wikipedia, via David Davenport: He held out of training camp until he received a 7-year, $19.25 million contract.
Let's say that between the IRS, the mansion, the Humvees, the ho's, the bling-bling, and the nose candy, he retired from the NFL with $5 million in cash.
With that kind of seed capital, a real estate firm could run $500,000/year losses for a decade, and no one would ever know the difference.
PS: Compare your recent thread, Local politics explained in one sentence - "national" politicians have been known to profit from these scams as well.
Just ask Nancy Pelosi, Diane Feinstein, Geraldine Ferraro, etc etc etc.
anonymous said: "Schuler is good on immigration, and is pro-life......"
Would these positions really survive if he became Obama's running mate? I remember how Joe Leiberman disagreed with affirmative action but changed his tune after Al Gore picked him as his running mate.
Shuler to be Obama's VP? Impossible- why would they buttress Obama's incompetence with Shuler's inexperience.
Navy and Island are two really stupid names. I guess their next kid will be named... Midway?? Or better yet, Guadalcanal Shuler....nice to meet you.
Agree though to a point about mocking Shuler's career...I still live with my parents- so suffice it to say- he's done ok by me.
"most people have already forgotten all the huge black busts from only a few years ago."
Apparently Jody, both you and 'anonymous' are like 'most people' because neither of you have mentioned any of these 'black busts.'
Allow me to help you out:
Here is a random list of the top ten NFL busts of all time:
http://football.about.com/od/nfldr
afthistory/tp/topdraftbusts.htm
Well what do you know? 5 blacks 5 whites, who would have thunk it?
Now if you have some football knowledge (which I do) you could make a strong case that this list is politically correct as is.
numbers 1, 2, and 3 (Leaf, Mandarich, Bosworth) I have already addressed. Where they worse than a few other blacks who could be mentioned? only slightly, but the difference is they were hyped and promoted as future hall-of-famers while they were in college.)
#4 Akili Smith, bad player, certainly a bust. In comparison, however, he was not the first player drafted, he was actually the THIRD QB drafted that year behind #1 Tim Couch (white guy, total bust) and #2 Donovan McNabb (very good player). Smith is probably an 'reverse affirmative action' pick for this list because of the reason above, and in addition he had played only one year of major college football. Smith was a big guy who ran fast and threw the ball a long way. He never experienced the media hype of the first three guys.
#5 Lawrence Phillips: Huge bust and a violent criminal. He was however, not considered to be the second coming out of college as were the first 3. Phillips was considered just another good Nebraska halfback, of which there have been many.
#6 Heath Shuler: Huge bust, who not only lost his job, but lost his job to a 7th rounder TAKEN IN THE SAME DRAFT HE WAS, who has not distinguished himself as anything more than a journeyman since Shuler retired.
PS; in terms of Shuler starting a successful real estate business, often times an athlete starting this times is a figurehead with a 5'6 Jew standing behind him marketing his name. Is it the case with Shuler? I don't know, but it happens more often than not.
#7 Blair Thomas: black, bust. Yet Thomas did run for 2,200 yards in the NFL. Was he the bust the first three were, No. the main reason Thomas is considered a bust for the New York Jets is that they could have taken Emmit Smith, the NFL's alltime leading rusher instead. He was, however, an NFL starter and not a QB or a trancendent player.
#8 Bruce Pickens: Black, bust. A very poor NFL player, yet not a glamour position offensive player (he played cornerback), not the number one pick in the draft (he went #3) and not out of the league in a year or two. Ergo, he cannot be considered a but on the same level as the first three.
#9 Andre Ware: black, bust. Ware is on this list although he was drafted relatively low in the first round (#7). Ware was a QB from the University of Houston, and was no better or worse an NFL player than David Klingler who was his immediate postdecessor and was drafted higher (#6). Klingler broke every record Ware set in college and was the first Q selected in his draft wheras Ware was the second in his (Jeff George #1). Also, consider that Klingler lost his job to a (black) QB named Jeff Blake who was drafted IN THE SIXTH ROUND of his same draft class. Conclusion: Ware is a reverse affirmative action pick, Klingler should have been here.
#10 Todd Marinovich: White, Bust. This is an interesting pick. Marinovich was a low first round draft pick (#24) which should preclude him from being on this list, yet there are three reasons he's on this list.
1) He's a QB.
2) He was hyped to the ceiling nog only while in college as were Bosworth and Mandarich, but was featured in Sports illustrated WHILE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. His father was a self promoter who bragged to all whom would listen that he was creating an NFL 1st round QB from the cradle. Technically, he was right, but Marinovich did nothing in the NFL.
3) The guy picked 9 spots later in the second round: Brett Favre.
Biggest bust in sports history -- how about Andruw Jones right now? The Dodgers are paying him 18 million per year to not slug (.246) his weight. He hit 92 homers in 2005-06, but in late July 2008 he's batting .162 with 2 homers and 10 RBIs because he's fat.
Bush is dumb. He'll be remembered as one of the dumbest presidents in U.S. history. He doesn't like to think, he is stubbornly resistant to outside ideas and new evidence and considers this a sign of strength of character. It hardly makes a difference if he got an above-average number of questions right on a pencil-and-paper test when he was a teenager, all that shows is he had some academic potential once upon a time. Intelligence cannot be separated from character, because thinking well takes effort and wisdom. If you won't put in the effort and you don't have the wisdom, you will think stupid thoughts and make stupid decisions and therefore you will be dumb.
Kerry cleaned Bush's clock in the 2004 debates, BTW.
steve sailer
Biggest bust in sports history -- how about Andruw Jones right now? The Dodgers are paying him 18 million per year to not slug (.246) his weight. He hit 92 homers in 2005-06, but in late July 2008 he's batting .162 with 2 homers and 10 RBIs because he's fat.
Jones is certainly not a bust in the sense the word is normally used -- he's been a terrific hitter for a decade.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/j/jonesan01.shtml
On the other hand, I note he hit .222 with 26 homers in 2007 (down from 41 the year before) so this year didn't come out of nowhere.
Steve, Jones isn't even the worst this year. The Mariners RELEASED Richie Sexson last week at the tune of $15,500,000 for this year!
Brutus
Post a Comment