Famous People from Nevada

Nevada is located in the western region of the United States. Carson City is the capital of Nevada, and Las Vegas, its largest city. It's also called the 'Silver State' due to the large number of silver deposits that were discovered there. It is a hometown to many famous personalities of the United States.

Andre Agassi: Andre Agassi was born in the city of Las Vegas. He started his professional tennis career at just 16 years of age. This former World No. 1 professional tennis player from Nevada, has won a record-winning eight Grand Slam singles tournaments and an Olympic gold medal in singles. Andre Agassi achieved the 'World No. 1' ranking in April 1995. He is also the only male tennis player to have won a career Grand Slam. Andre Agassi has also been acknowledged as being the 'best service returner' and 'best ball striker' by many professional tennis personalities. He is the founder of 'Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation' for the children in Southern Nevada and 'Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy' in Las Vegas.

Pat Nixon: Pat Nixon was the wife of Richard Nixon, the 37th President of the United States of America. She was the First Lady from 1969 to 1974. She was born in Nevada, but later shifted to Los Angeles and then California, where she completed her graduation. She married Richard Nixon on 21st June, 1940, and assisted him in his presidential election campaigns. She was diagnosed with lung cancer in the early 1990s, and died aged 81, in 1993.

Jim Gibbons: Jim Gibbons is the 28th Governor of Nevada state. He was born on 16th December, 1944 in Sparks, Nevada. He's also the former member of the 'United States House of Representatives' from 1997 to 2006. He served the US Air Force during the Vietnam War, from 1967-1971. He completed his graduation from the US Air Force Air Command and Staff College and the Air War College. In 1975, he joined the Nevada Air National Guard and worked as a Vice-Commander from 1990 to 1996, and later during the first Gulf War. During his military career, he received nineteen service medals.

Edna Purviance: Edna Purviance was an American actress who was born in Paradise Valley, Nevada, on 21st October, 1895. She was well-known as Charlie Chaplin's girl who worked as a leading lady, in more than 30 of his films, over a span of eight years. She was romantically involved in a relationship with Charlie Chaplin, but eventually married John Squire, an airline pilot. On 13th January, 1958, she died of cancer.

Jack Kramer: Jack Kramer is a champion US tennis player of the 1940s, who was born in Las Vegas, Nevada on 1st August, 1921. He held the 'World No. 1' title for a number of years. He is also considered to be one of the greatest tennis players of all time. He was the first executive director of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), which was founded in 1972. He attended Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida, and participated in its tennis sessions in the 1941-1942 seasons. In 1968, he was admitted as a member in the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island.

Kurt Busch: Kurt Busch was born on 4th August, 1978, in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a professional race car driver. He drives a Miller Lite Dodge in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He is the elder brother of Kyle Busch who is also a professional race car driver. He entered the racing world at the age of 22. He married Eva Bryan in Virginia, and both are currently living in North Carolina.

These are a few famous people born in Nevada, but there are many more Nevadans who have also contributed to the success of the United States of America.

Famous People Born in Africa

Africa, the second-most populated continent in the world, has produced individuals who have excelled in diverse fields, ranging from politics to sports. Over a period of time, Africans have spread all over the world but they still trace their roots to their birthplace. Here are some famous people born in Africa.

Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela was the first President of South Africa to be elected by a democratic representation. He held office from May 10, 1994 to June 14, 1999. Born on July 18, 1918 as Rolihlahla, he was named 'Nelson' by his school teacher, Miss Mdingane. He was the first member of his family to attend school. After completing his basic education, Nelson joined the University College of Fort Hare to pursue a bachelors degree in Arts. He was very active in student politics. He participated in a protest, as a result of which, he was suspended from the institute. He went to Johannesburg, where he completed his studies through correspondence. After graduation, Nelson started studying LLB. In 1942, after finishing his LLB studies, he joined the African National Congress. He played an active role in the Anti-apartheid movement. In 1960, he proposed a military arm for ANC, which led to formation of Umkhonto we Sizwe. His anti-apartheid stand landed him in prison on July 12, 1964. After being in prison for 27 years, he was finally released on February 11, 1990. In 1991, Mandela was elected as the first President of African National Congress. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his valuable contribution to the African nation.

Omar Sharif
Omar Sharif is an Egyptian actor, who has worked in numerous Egyptian, French and English films. He was born to Claire and Joseph Chalhoub on April 10, 1932 as Michel Demitri Chalhoub, in Alexandria, Egypt. Sharif graduated from Victoria College in Alexandria, and went on to earn a degree in Mathematics from Cairo University. He started his acting career in 1953, with an Egyptian film named Sira Fi al-Wadi. In 1955, he took the name Omar al-Sharif after converting to Islam and married the Egyptian actress Faten Hamama. After a few more Egyptian films, he made his debut in Hollywood with the 1962 film, Lawrence of Arabia. His portrayal of the character, Sherif Ali, won him a Golden Globe Award for the Best Supporting Actor. His other notable films were Dr Zhivago and Funny Girl. Monsieur Ibrahim et les fleurs du Coran, in 2003, was his first French film. In November 2005, Omar Sharif was awarded a medal by the UNESCO for his significant contribution to films and cultural diversity.

Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron is an African American actress and a former model. She was born on August 7, 1975 in Benoni, South Africa. Charlize spent the initial 15 years of her life in Benoni, before moving to Milan, Italy for a one-year modeling contract that she had won at a local competition. After her contract ended, she stayed back and joined ballet dancing classes. But a knee injury shattered all her hopes of becoming a dancer. After a small role in a 1993 film, 'Children of the Corn III', Charlize got many opportunities to showcase her talent. She rose to fame with movies like 'Mighty Joe Young', 'The Devils Advocate' and 'Two Days in the Valley'. She became the first African to win an Academy Award, when she won the Oscar for Best Actress for her portrayal of the character Aileen Wuornos in 2003 flick 'Monster'.

Kevin Pietersen
Kevin Pietersen is an English cricketer, whose roots can be traced to the African continent. He was born on June 27, 1980 in Pietermaritzburg, Natal in South Africa. Born to an English mother and Afrikaner father, Kevin was one of the four siblings in the family. In 1997, he made his first class debut for Natal's 'B' team at the age of 17. Soon after, he moved to England, disappointed with the racial quota system in South African cricket. His mother's English nationality did help him in this migration but he still had to wait and play county cricket in England for four years, before making his debut at the one day internationals in 2004. His test debut was soon to follow. Pietersen made the most of this opportunity and, very soon, became the third English cricketer to reach the number one position in ICC rankings.

These were just a few of the long list of individuals, who have carved for themselves, a niche in society, against all odds. This was possible only due to their sheer determination, courage and creativity.

Famous Spanish Explorers and Conquerors

The desire to discover the unseen and the unknown, coupled with the motivation to expand empire, wealth and power have compelled human beings to reach the unexplored lands against hundreds of trials and tribulations. The Spanish explorers and conquerors, also driven by these desires, once dominated the world of exploration. The history of Spanish exploration goes back to 1469, when Spain was ruled by King Ferdinand V and Queen Isabella I.

Christopher Columbus, Vasco Nunez de Balboa, Francisco Pizarro and Hernando DeSoto, are some of the famous explorers who expanded Spanish trade, and brought in immense wealth for the country. Let's have a look at their adventures.

Famous Spanish Explorers and Conquerors

Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus, the renowned explorer was born on August 25, 1451, in Genoa, Italy. He set out on his first expedition on August 3, 1492 at the age of 14. King Ferdinand V and Queen Isabella I of Spain provided him three ships for his voyage, Niña, Pinta, and the Santa Maria. With these ships and 90 crewmen,Columbus set out on a journey to find a new route to the far east.

On October 7, 1492, Columbus and his crewmen landed on the Bahamian Island of Guanahani, which was renamed as San Salvador by Columbus. They also traveled to Hispaniola, Cuba and other small islands in search of gold and treasures.

On December 25, 1492, the ship Santa Maria smashed against a rock and was abandoned. Columbus left 39 of the ship's crewmen on Hispaniola island and reached Spain in the ship Nina on March 15, 1493. He was rewarded with new titles and wealth by the Spanish rulers for his endeavors.

Hernando De Soto
Hernando De Soto, the famous explorer and conqueror of Spain was born in 1500. He was the first to lead an European expedition to America and discover the Mississippi River.

Hernando De Soto sailed to America in 1514 with Pedrarias Dávila, the governor of Panama. He proved himself to be a clever and excellent leader in the conquest of Central America. In 1530, De Soto led an expedition to the coast of Yucatán Peninsula in search of a passageway between the Atlantic and Pacific ocean, but could not succeed. He joined Francisco Pizarro in an expedition to Peru, and played an important role in its conquest.

In 1536, Hernando De Soto returned to Spain and was made the governor of Peru. In 1539, he reached Florida, with more than 600 soldiers, explorers and priests. They explored the whole region looking for gold, silver and valuable treasures, and discovered the Mississippi river. He also desired to find out a passage to China, for expanding Spanish trade. Fernando De Soto died in 1542 and was buried on the banks of the Mississippi river.

Hernando Cortes
Hernando Cortes, the famous conqueror and explorer was born in 1845, in Medellín province in Spain. He was a student of law in the University of Salamanca, but could not complete his education. Hernando Cortes went to the Spanish colonies in North and South America in the hope of finding better prospects to acquire wealth. He took part in the conquest of Hispaniola and Cuba and was rewarded with a large estate of land for his endeavors.

In 1519, he set out on an expedition to Mexico with 500 men. In his voyage towards the Aztec empire, he subjugated many tribes. When Cortes reached the capital of the empire, the people of Aztec mistook him to be the light-skinned god Quetzalcoatl, and greeted him.

Montezuma, the Aztec leader wanted to oppose Cortes, but could not gather a strong force against him; as people of Aztec believed Cortes to be the god Quetzalcoatl. On November 18, 1519, Cortes reached Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec empire and captured Montezuma.

In July 1520, the Aztecs attacked Cortes and his men in Noche Triste and defeated them. Cortes fought back and conquered Tenochtitlan on August 13, 1521. He was awarded the title of Marquis of the Oaxaca Valley by the Spanish government.

Vasco Nuñez de Balboa
Vasco Nuñez de Balboa was a renowned explorer, conqueror and governor of Spain. He was the man behind establishing Darién colony in Panama, one of the oldest European colonies in America. In 1501, he went to the Hispaniola island along with Rodrigo de Bastidas and Juan de la Cosa and settled as a planter.

Vasco Nuñez de Balboa set out towards San Sebastian in a ship commanded by Martín Fernández de Enciso. In San Sebastian, they found that the settlement was completely destroyed and many inhabitants were murdered by the local tribes.

Balboa proposed the dwellers of the colony to move towards Darien, to the west of Gulf of Uraba. The people of San Sebastian moved to the Darien region, where they had to fight a battle against 500 local warriors. It was a hard battle, but the Spanish emerged victorious. In September, 1510, Balboa established the Santa Maria colony in Darien, which was the first permanent settlement on American mainland.

On September 1, 1513, Balboa along with 190 Spaniards set out on a journey across the Isthmus of Panama to discover a sea, rich in gold. During his journey, he subdued many local tribes and gathered substantial treasures. Vasco Nuñez de Balboa was the first European to discover the Pacific ocean.

Vasco Nuñez de Balboa is greatly revered in Panama; many places, parks and avenues are named after him. Balboa, the currency of Panama is also named after this great conqueror.

Francisco Pizarro
Fransico Pizarro was the Spanish conqueror of Peru. He was born in Trujillo, Spain. In 1509, he went to North and South America and took part in different explorations and conquests. He also accompanied Vasco Nuñez de Balboa in the discovery of Pacific ocean.

On November 16, 1532, Pizarro along with his brother and 180 men arrived at Cajamarca and defeated and captured Atahuallpa, the King of the Inca empire(ancient empire of South America covering parts of present day Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Argentina and Chile). He conquered the Inca empire and founded the city of Lima on January 18, 1535.

No doubt, the main intentions behind the Spanish explorations were expansion of empire and market; and accumulation of gold and treasures for Spain. But, they were also inspired by a desire to explore the unseen world, and in the process, contributed to the advancement of the entire world by discovering many new lands and trade routes.

Famous People in the Dominican Republic

Considering the small size and economy of the Dominican Republic, it has been tough for people to excel in professional field and make their presence felt all over the world. The country has produced some of the best sport persons and musicians. Let us know some of the famous people from this Caribbean country.

Juan Pablo Duarte
Juan Pablo was a liberal leader of the famous La Trinitaria, along with Francisco del Rosario Sanchez and Ramon Matias Mella. These people are considered as national heroes, as they helped the Dominican Republic achieve independence from Haiti in 1844. Juan Pablo is considered as the architect of the Dominican Republic.

Rafael Trujillo
Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina was a famous military dictator, who ruled the Dominican Republic from 1942 to 1952. He was also the official president of the country from 1930 to 1938. His totalism known as, 'The Trujillo Era', is referred to as, one of the bloodiest in the 20th century.

Mariasela Alvarez Lebron
Mariasela Lebron was the first Dominican woman to win the Miss World contest in 1982. She became a noted television personality, with the successful run of her award-winning show, Esta Noche Mariasela. A mother of four, Mariasela lives in Spain.

Pedro Mir
Pedro Julio Mir Valentin was a poet and writer. His only novel, When They Loved the Communal Land, was highly appreciated not only in the country, but all over the world. In 1984, the Dominican Congress named him, Poet Laureate of the Dominican Republic. Pedro Mir was also awarded the Dominican National Literature Award for his lifetime achievements in 1993.

Milly Quezada
Milagros Quezada Borbon (better known as Milly Quezada), is considered as the queen of merengue music in the Dominican Republic and USA. She received the Latin Grammy awards for her albums, Pienso asi and MQ.

Santiago Rodriguez
Santiago Luis Polanco Rodriguez was considered as one of the richest Dominican drug kingpins in the United States. He was the first to distribute crack cocaine in mass quantity in the country. Santiago Rodriguez organized Dominican, Jamaican and American street drug dealers into an empire. He has retired from his life of crime, and lives in the Dominican Republic.

Oscar de la Renta
Oscar de la Renta was born in the Dominican Republic but, at present he is an American citizen. A leading fashion designer, Oscar has won many awards which includes CFDA Lifetime Achievement Award in 1990, and CFDA Womenswear Designer of the Year in 2000.

Junot Diaz
He is a famous novelist and a professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). His best-known works include, Drawn (1996) and The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (2007), for which he won the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for fiction. The New Yorker magazine included him in the list of 20 top writers of the 21st century.

Juan Luis Guerra
One of most of the most recognized international faces of the country, Juan Guerra has won 11 Grammy and Latin Grammy awards, and two Latin Billboard Music awards. He has sold over 20 million records and is known for his merengue, bolero, and Latin fusion pop style.

Felix Sanchez
An athlete by profession, he won the first ever gold medal for the Dominican Republic in 400 meters hurdles, during the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. Born in the United States, Felix has competed for the Dominican Republic since 1999, because his parents were from that country. Felix Sanchez is also known as Super Felix, Invincible and the Dictator.

Amelia Vega
Amelia Victoria Vega Polanco was crowned Miss Universe in 2003, the first Dominican woman to achieve this feat. She also won the National Costume competition, and is the third among Miss Universe winners to do so.

Dania Ramirez
Dania Ramirez is a television star. She has acted in Heroes, and the award winning television series, The Sopranos. She has appeared in many music videos, and won critical appraise for her role as, Callisto in X-Men: The Last Stand.

Alexandra Cheron
Alexandra Cheron is a successful Hollywood actress and model. One of the richest persons of Latin origin, she has acted in movies like, Miami Vice (2006) and the recently released Fast and Furious 4 (2009).

Alex Rodriguez
Nicknamed as A-Rod, he is a professional baseball player. Considered as one of the best baseball players of all time, A-Rod plays for New York Yankees, of Major League Baseball. He holds the record of hitting 500 home runs at the youngest age. In 2007, Rodriguez and Yankees signed a 10 years contract for $275 million, which is the richest contract in baseball history.

Making an exhaustive list of famous people from the Dominican Republic is not possible. Sports is an area in which Dominicans excel. There are famous sport persons like, Carlos Cruz (World Lightweight Boxing Champion), Joan Guzman, Leo Cruz, Sammy Sosa, etc. Baseball is the national game of the country, and Dominican baseball players dominate the game all over the US.

Famous African American Actors

An African American is an individual who is a resident of United States, whose roots can be traced to the African continent. They make up approximately around 13 % of the United States population and have made their presence felt in diverse fields, ranging from politics to sports. Here are some African Americans who have excelled in the field of acting.

Denzel Washington
An American actor and director, Denzel Washington, was born on December 28, 1954 in New York, United States. His father, Reverend Denzel Washington Sr., was an ordained Pentecostal minister while his mother, Lennis "Lynne" owned a beauty parlor. In 1977, Denzel completed his B.A. in Drama and Journalism from Fordham University. In 1982, he got his big break in acting in a TV series named 'St. Elsewhere'. In 1992, Spike Lee's film, 'Malcolm X' proved to be a turning point in his career. His portrayal of the Black Nationalist leader earned him appreciation from all around. He also portrayed other real-life figures like Steve Biko, Rubin Carter and Frank Lucas on big screen. 'Cry Freedom', 'Glory', 'The Hurricane', 'Training Day' and 'American Gangster' are some of his notable films. Denzel Washington has won two Oscars; for his performance in 'Glory' (1989) and 'Training Day' (2001). He became only the second African American actor to win the Academy Award, when he got the Oscar for his portrayal of Detective Alonzo Harris in 'Training Day'.

Eddie Murphy
Eddie Murphy is an American actor, a comedian and a singer, hailing from Brooklyn, New York. Born on April 3, 1961, Eddie was one of the two children born to Lillian and Charles Edward Murphy. Being a son of a comedian, Eddie started experimenting with his talent at the age of 15 by writing and performing. He made his big screen debut with 1982 film, '48 Hrs'. In 2007, he won the Golden Globe for the Best Supporting Actor for his role in 'Dreamgirls'. He has also starred in noteworthy films like 'Beverly Hills Cop', 'Dr. Dolittle', 'I Spy' and 'The Nutty Professor'. He has been nominated for various awards including the Oscars and BAFTA.

Halle Berry
Halle Berry is an American actress, who became the first African American to win the Academy Award. She was born on August 14, 1966 in Ohio, United States. In 1986, she became the first Afro-American to take part in the Miss World. Her Hollywood journey started with Spike Lee's 'Jungle Fever' in 1991. She won the Academy Award for the Best Actress for her film 'Monster's Ball' in 2001. Her 1998 film, 'Introducing Dorothy Dandridge' earned her a Golden Globe as well as an Emmy Award. Some of her prominent films were 'Gothika', 'X Men', 'X Men United' 'Race the Sun' and 'The Flintstones'. In 2003, she topped For Him Magazine's list of 100 Sexiest Women in the World.

Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman is an Academy Award winner American actor. He was born on June 1,1937 in Memphis, United States. His father, Morgan Porterfield Freeman Sr. was a barber and his mother, Mayme Edna was a cleaner. Morgan made his television debut in 1971 with a TV series 'The Electric Company'. His film debut came with an American film, 'Brubaker' in 1980. He won an Academy Award for 'Million Dollar Baby' in 2005 and a Golden Globe for 'Driving Miss Daisy' in 1989. Some of his notable films were 'Deep Impact', 'Unforgiven' 'Street Smart' and 'Bruce Almighty'. In partnership with Lori McCreary, Freeman has a production company named Revelations Entertainment.

Will Smith
Will Smith is an American actor and a rapper. He was born on September 25, 1968 in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to a refrigeration engineer, Willard Smith and a school administrator, Caroline Smith. A talented rapper, he started rapping in his teens itself. His big screen debut came in 1993, with Fred Schepisi's 'Six Degrees of Separation'. Smith made his presence felt in the industry with an action role in 'Bad Boys' in 1995. Other notable Will Smith films include 'Men in Black', 'Ali', 'I Robot', 'I am Legend' and 'Hancock'. Will Smith has been nominated for two Academy Awards and four Golden Globes. He is the only actor to have eight consecutive films open at Number 1 position and eight consecutive films to gross over $100 million.

Famous People from Africa

A vast continent, stretching from the deserts of the Sahara to the fertile tracts of the Nile; from the Atlas mountains in the north to the Cape of Good Hope in the south. This might be the first picture that comes to our mind, when we think about Africa. Africa also has a rich tradition of leaders, environmentalists, sportsmen and statesmen. Let's study a few of them.

Wangari Maathai
A famous environmentalist from Kenya, Wangari Maathai is the first woman to attain a doctorate degree from the under privileged region of East and Central Africa. Wangari Maathai led a life full of struggles and is still working hard for the sake of environmental conservation. Well known for the "Green Belt Movement", she has inspired people worldwide, to take up the cause of afforestation.

Wangari Maathai was born in a Kikuyu family, an ethnic group in Kenya and came from the Ihithe village of Nyeri District. She did her schooling at St. Cecilia's Intermediate Primary School. After completing graduation from the Loreto High school in Limuru, she received a scholarship for studying at Mount St. Scholastica College in Kansas, USA. Biology was her major subject at the graduation level. Her brilliant academic record became her driving force and she went on to pursue a Master's degree in biology, at the University of Pittsburg.

Returning to her homeland was not a pleasant experience. Despite her great achievements, Wangari Maathai had to face gender bias in her own country and also found it difficult to get a job. However she didn't lose hope and finally got employed as a research assistant in the School of Veterinary Medicine in Nairobi. In 1971, Wangari Maathai became the first woman from East Africa to attain a Doctorate degree in Anatomy.

Dr. Maathai was an activist by nature and got involved with organisations like the Red Cross Society, United Nations Environment Programme and National Council of Women of Kenya. 5th June 1977 was a historic day in the life of Wangari Maathai, as the first sapling of the "Green Belt Movement" was planted that day. The main objective of the Green Belt Movement is to preserve native plant species by creating nurseries. The nurseries are also meant to provide income to the women and their families running them.

Wangari Maathai's husband filed for divorce in 1979. She also lost the elections for the post of chairman of the National Council of Women of Kenya. But her personal problems and failure in the elections didn't stop her from continuing with her work in various activities of the Green Belt Movement. Many non-governmental organizations from European countries supported the cause of environmental conservation taken up by her. Dr. Maathai was often referred to as a crazy woman opposing the developmental activities in the country; however it didn't deter her from pursuing a hard battle of saving trees. Once she was even attacked by miscreants during a tree plantation program.

Resilience was one force which helped Wangari Maathai to deal with failures in life. Finally, in 2004 Dr. Maathai was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Nelson Mandela
One of the greatest leaders of the 20th century, Nelson Mandela demonstrated immense courage, patience and determination to free his nation from the shackles of apartheid. Born on 18th July, 1918 in Transkei, South Africa, Mr. Mandela became the President of South Africa in 1993. Before that, he had to spend 27 years in prison. He is also known by an honorary title Madiba, in South Africa.

Mandela's political life began after the 'National Party' which supported racism came to office in South Africa. Thereafter Mr. Mandela entered the fray and his struggle began. Foundation of the African National Congress' Youth League was laid in 1944 by Nelson Mandela and African National Congress too adopted its 'Programme of Action' in 1949. He actively participated in the 'Defiance Campaign' of the African National Congress.

The African National Congress was banned in 1960, which led to the arrest of Mr. Mandela. After which he went underground and founded Umkhonto we Sizwe, the military outfit of the African National Congress. This military wing carried out the sabotage operations of government installations. Nelson Mandela left for Algeria in 1962 for military training. He was arrested after his return and charged for illegally fleeing the country. Mr. Mandela was sentenced to five years of rigorous imprisonment. He was charged with sabotage while serving this five year sentence, and further sentenced to life imprisonment.

Mandela's popularity grew after he was imprisoned. Robben Island, where he was sent for serving the term, became the 'center of learning'. Mandela organized political education classes in the jail. Mr. Mandela refused to accept the remission offered to him in the '70s and '80s decade. He never compromised with his ideologies for the sake of remission and was finally released on 11th February, 1990. The armed struggle against the government was stopped immediately. Nelson Mandela influenced the struggle against apartheid greatly during his stay in jail.

On 10th May 1994, Nelson Mandela became the President of South Africa and completed his term in 1999. He was the first President to be elected democratically in the History of South Africa. He retired in June 1999 and now lives in Transkei, his birthplace.

Kofi Annan
The former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan was born in Kumasi, Ghana on 8th April 1938. He was the seventh Secretary-General and served two terms starting from 1st January 1997 to 1st January 2007.

Mr. Annan is known for the reforms he brought about in the functioning of the United Nations. His priorities included:

    * Strengthening the operations carried out in the areas of security and peace-keeping.
    * Promoting the virtues of equality, human dignity and tolerance.
    * To reinstate people's faith in the United Nations, by forging ties with new partners in economic and cultural areas.

Kofi Annan influenced world politics positively and tried to resolve the conflicts between different nations peacefully. During the invasion of Iraq in 2003, he did not permit the US and UK to go ahead without the consent of the United Nations. The transfer of power from African Union peacekeeping mission to United Nations took place peacefully in Sudan; Mr. Annan played a vital role in this process of peaceful transition.

Addressing the HIV/AIDS pandemic was at the top in his priority list. For the same reason, he proposed to set up a 'Global AIDS and Health Fund'. This was an attempt to increase funding to battle AIDS. In collaboration with a few Arab and Muslim nations he tried to work in the sector of women empowerment. On the 10th of December 2001, Kofi Annan was given the Nobel Peace Prize.

In his farewell address on 31st December 2006, Mr. Annan shared his views regarding the unjust world economic policies, violence in Middle East and Africa and the issue of human rights.

Desmond Tutu
The world famous religious leader Desmond Mpilo Tutu was born on 7th October 1931 in Klerksdorp, Transvaal South Africa. Bishop Desmond Tutu was honored with many different awards including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984.

Desmond Tutu studied at the Johannesburg Bantu High School. Before graduating from the University of South Africa in 1954, he took up training for teaching from the Bantu Normal School in Pretoria. After teaching in high school for three years, Desmond Tutu went to England to pursue a Master's course in Theology. He served in many respectable posts and positions including the Dean of St. Mary's Cathedral located in Johannesburg, Bishop of the country called Lesotho and the General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches.

This famous theologian voiced his opinion fearlessly against apartheid and xenophobic violence in South Africa. He also criticized Robert Mugabe, the President of Zimbabwe for racist violence against white people.

Desmond Tutu advocated free trade between the developed and poor countries. Tutu's following statement made at the 31st G8 Summit at Gleneagles, Scotland in 2005 speaks a lot about his study and concern for the poor countries.

"I would hope they would begin to say, 'lets to do something about subsidies'. You ask the so-called-developing world, 'Why can't you people produce more?' - and they produce - and then they find that the markets have barriers that are put down or are clobbered twice over."

A counselor at 'One Young World', an organization trying to bring together 1500 leaders of the morrow, Desmond Tutu holds immense faith in today's youth.

The works and sacrifices of these great souls of Africa will inspire people from the world for a long time. They have laid a path with utmost sincerity and honesty. Let's make a resolve to carry their work forward.

Famous People from Alaska

Alaska is the 49th state of the United States of America and has evolved from being an undeveloped state to one of the major contributors to the US economy. Today, it boasts of more than 5 times the jobs it had 50 years ago and a much more prosperous population. During the 1970s and 1980s, Alaska witnessed an unprecedented development phase due to which its population thrived. Earlier people who lacked facilities, now progressed in all aspects of life. Famous people from Alaska who were and are still a subject of public interest are listed below.

Irene Bedard
Irene Bedard is a famous American actress born and brought up in Anchorage, Alaska. Irene has acted in a lot of Hollywood flicks and was voted by People Magazine, as one of the top 50 beautiful people in 1995. She is best known as the voice for the main character in the animated Disney film Pocahontas.

Molly Hootch and Anna Tobeluk
Both Molly Hootch and Anna Tobeluk, were credited with revolutionizing the native Alaskan village education. Prior to 1976, many native villages in Alaska lacked education facilities beyond the eighth grade. A number of native students together filed a suit against the State of Alaska to provide high schools in 100 of its villages. The case was named Tobeluk but is popularly referred to as the Molly Hootch case for her role as a leader in the plaintiffs agitation. 126 schools were granted high school status by the court as a result of this effort.

Howard Rock
Howard Rock edited the Tundra Times and was instrumental in getting the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act passed. His efforts prevented the Atomic Energy Commission from conducting nuclear tests at a site near Point Hope in Alaska, which is where he was born.

Trajan Langdon
Trajan Langdon is a famous basketball player who played for Cleveland Cavaliers and currently a top player for CSKA Moscow in Russia. Langdon, also nicknamed 'Alaska Assassin', is the first Alaskan to play in the NBA.

Carlos Boozer
Carlos Boozer is yet another basketball sensation raised in Alaska. He has been a part of the All-Star NBA team as well as a part of the gold medal-winning US basketball team at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Elizabeth Peratrovich
Elizabeth Peratrovich was a civil rights activist who worked for the native Alaskan people. She was the major force behind bringing about a change in the government attitude with regards to the Alaska's racial relations. Elizabeth championed the passage of the Anti Discrimination Bill which guaranteed equal treatment in public accommodations for all the citizens.

Ernest Gruening
Ernest Gruening was the territorial governor of Alaska from 1935-1953. As a governor, he formed the Territorial Guard to protect the Alaskan region from Japanese incursions during World War II. He lobbied for the statehood of Alaska and was senator from Alaska from 1956 to 1958. He served as an able leader and opposed the Vietnam War very strongly.

Benny Benson
Benny Benson is the person who was instrumental in created the official flag of the State of Alaska. In a competition for students of grades seven through twelve in 1926, Benny's design was selected as the winning entry for the territorial flag which later on became Alaska's state flag.

Libby Riddles
Libby Riddles was the first woman to win the 'Last Great Race on Earth' in 1985, which is the name for the 1,049-miles Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. She achieved this at the age of 29 years, and took 18 days, 2 minutes and 17 seconds on a route from Anchorage to Nome.

Susan Butcher
Susan Butcher is the only woman to win the Iditarod Sled Dog Race, for three consecutive years in a row, from 1986 to 1988. Butcher is a very popular figure among the Alaskans.

Scott Gomez
Scott Gomez is the first Alaskan to play in the American National Hockey League (NHL) and also the first player of Latino origin to achieve this distinction. Currently, he is playing for the New York Rangers.

Big Mike Heney
Heney is best known as the person who built two of the most impeccable railroads: the White Pass and Yukon Route, and the Copper River and Northwestern Route; which are considered to be a marvelous engineering feat. He did this without having any sort of formal technical education.

Ray Mala
Ray Mala was a famous actor of yesteryears and the most famous Alaskan film personality. He starred in Eskimo/Mala The Magnificent, an Oscar-winning film, and also the first film to win an Academy Award in the Best Film Editing category.

Sarah Palin
Sarah Palin, the governor of Alaska, captured the world's attention when she was nominated for the post of vice-president by the Republican Party. Although she lost along with Senator John McCain who was the presidential nominee, her popularity grew manifold. Sarah Palin is one of the most sought-after politicians in the world.

These people have brought glory, name and fame to Alaska and the state continues to revel in their glory.

Father Charles Coughlin, New Deal Critic Extraordinaire

Father Charles Coughlin was a Roman Catholic priest in Michigan who, despite being a religious leader, was also a political leader of his time. His radio programs during the 1930s reached a mass audience of more than 40 million listeners each week. Coughlin took advantage of this open channel to the public to support Franklin D. Roosevelt and the early discussions of his proposed New Deal plans. He also offered anti-Semitic opinions and attempted to rationalize some political policies espoused by Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler. Coughlin’s broadcasts were seen by many to be just variations upon a Fascist mentality, yet applied to the culture and society in America.

Coughlin’s primary topics in his radio addresses were economic and political messages, and he started out in full support of Roosevelt’s New Deal. He was the originator of the phrase, "Roosevelt or ruin," a slogan that was popular during the early days of Roosevelt’s first administration. Coughlin also coined the phrase, "The New Deal is Christ’s Deal," claiming that God was directing FDR’s administration. Coughlin was so supportive of Roosevelt that in January 1934, he appeared before Congress and testified in support of the policies FDR had implemented, saying that if Congress failed to back FDR in the New Deal, the country would suffer a revolution that would make the French Revolution pale in comparison.

But over time he gradually shifted his opinions and became one of the harshest, most outspoken critics of the New Deal. In 1934 he created the National Union for Social Justice (NUSJ), an organization that supported workers’ rights and had grown impatient with Roosevelt’s monetary policies, which the group viewed as being pseudo-capitalistic and unconstitutional. Coughlin’s radio programs gradually began to preach about the negative impact of "money changers," and he campaigned for monetary reform. He stated that the Depression was actually a "cash famine" and he proposed that eliminating the Federal Reserve system would solve the problem.

Coughlin’s organization, the NUSJ, was committed to guaranteeing work and income, nationalizing the industries that were necessary to society, redistributing wealth by taxing the wealthy, protecting workers’ unions, and supporting government control of property for the "good of the public." Coughlin underscored his dislike of capitalism by saying that there could not be any lasting prosperity for Americans if industries were allowed to compete for customers. He believed that the government should impose a minimum wage and maximum work schedule that all companies had to abide by, but the government should also discourage individualism, license factories, and limit industrial output.

When Coughlin began criticizing Roosevelt’s New Deal, FDR tried to tone down his opposition by sending well-known Irish Catholics to meet with him. Coughlin’s response was to spout that Roosevelt was just a "Wall Street tool." His radio program became increasingly vehement toward Roosevelt, Jews, and capitalists. Joseph P. Kennedy, a staunch supporter of the New Deal, warned that Coughlin was becoming dangerous in his opposition to Roosevelt, and worked with other prominent Irish Catholics and the Pope to eventually silence Coughlin.

Charles Coughlin dedicated his life to fight against modern capitalism, saying that it steals goods from laborers, and he also struck against Communism, saying that it robs civilizations from being happy. Many liberals in today’s political world have opined that Fox News host Glenn Beck is the Charles Coughlin of today’s society. In Beck’s pointed criticism of President Barack Obama, they hear echoes of Charles Coughlin’s radio diatribes toward Roosevelt and his New Deal. But Beck doesn’t hold forth on the same insane anti-Semitic and pro-socialist rants that Coughlin was known for. However, despite the seven decades that separate the two commentators, they share the same passion for stirring up controversy - and making people think instead of being content to be sheep.

Famous People from Venezuela

Venezuela, a country on the northern coast of the South American continent, has been the motherland to many individuals who made a mark in their respective fields, on the basis of their sheer talent and strong determination. Some of these famous people from Venezuela are as follows:

Simon Bolivar
Simon Bolivar, also known as El Libertador, was a revolutionary and a military leader of South America, who eventually went on to become a political leader. Bolivar was born on July 24, 1783, in Caracas, Venezuela. He played an important role in the liberation of a large part of South America from Spanish rule in the 19th century. On his visit to Europe, Bolivar got the opportunity to witness the coronation of Napoleon. This incident sparked the idea of revolution in his mind, so on returning home, he joined the Venezuelan revolution. He was barely in his 20s then. His victory spree came to an abrupt halt, when his forces were defeated by the Royalist army in 1815, and he was exiled to Jamaica. Subsequently, a strong counterattack ensured Bolivar a victory over the Spanish army, following which he established Greater Columbia (comprising Venezuela, Colombia, Panama and Ecuador). Eventually, a victory in Peru in 1824, led to the end of Spanish rule in the continent, making Bolivar a powerful force in Latin America. His dream of uniting South America though, was never realized, because of political instability triggered by the various separatist movements. Bolivar died due to tuberculosis, a few months after he resigned as the president of Greater Columbia.

Hugo Chavez
Hugo Chavez, a political leader of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (USPV), is the current president of Venezuela. He was born on July 28, 1954, in Sabaneta, Barinas state, Venezuela. A former military officer, he founded the left-wing Fifth Republic Movement, a socialist political party, after his attempted coup to overthrow President Carlos Andres Perez failed in 1992. After spending two years in prison, he was pardoned by President Rafael Caldera. Being a good orator helped Chavez in his political aspirations and he was elected as the president of Venezuela for the first time in 1998. His reforms, popularly known as the 'Bolivarian Revolution', helped him to create his own image, that of a populist leader and champion of the poor. He was re-elected as president for successive terms in 2000 and 2006. A firm advocate of Third World Solidarity, Chavez is a staunch supporter of Fidel Castro, and an ardent critic of former United States President George W. Bush. It is only due to the sheer charisma of this leader, that he is known as the modern-day Simon Bolivar in Venezuela.

Oscar D'León
Oscar D'León, also known by his Spanish nickname El Sonero del Mundo, is a Venezuelan musician whose claim to fame was his salsa music. Oscar was born on July 11, 1943, in Caracas, Venezuela. He took interest in bass guitar at a very early age. While working as an auto mechanic, he would alternate as a bass guitar player for the local conjuntos or ensemble. He was the founder of La Golden Star orchestra and a music group called Los Psicodélicos. In 1972, he formed La Dimension Latina along with musicians Jose Rodriguez, Cesar Monge and Jose Antonio Rojas. In 1976, after quitting La Dimension Latina, Oscar formed La Salsa Mayor. Oscar has made sure that his legacy will be taken forward by his children, who are well-versed in music. Some of his famous salsa dance numbers include songs like Préstame Tu Piel, Deja Que Te Quiera and Esperando Por Ella. He has worked with stars like Celia Cruz, Arturo Sandoval and Luis Enrique. He was the first Latino to have a contract with BBC.

Luis Aparicio
Luis Aparicio is a former professional baseball player, who played for teams like Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox. He was born on April 29, 1934, in Maracaibo, Venezuela. He made his Major League Baseball debut on April 17, 1956, playing for Chicago White Sox. Aparicio won the Rookie of the Year and The Sporting News Rookie of the Year awards in his debut year itself. His 2583 games played at shortstop was a record for that position until May 2008. He features in The 100 Greatest Baseball Players of All Time, a book authored by Lawrence Ritter and Donald Honig in 1981. In 1984, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, thus becoming the first South American to make it to the list. In 2006, a bronze statue of Luis Aparicio was unveiled at the U.S. Cellular Field to honor this great baseball star.

Famous American Doctors

American doctors have done pioneering work in their respective fields - be it the first polio vaccine, specialization in diabetes, or any leading work, that has won them the Nobel Prize for many years. They have always stood distinct from the rest of the world. Here is a peek into their works.

Charles Horace Mayo

One of the most famous doctors in America, Charles Mayo (July 19, 1865 - May 26, 1939) was one of the founder members of Mayo Clinic that is an internationally renowned non-profit medical organization headquartered in Rochester, Minnesota. Charles Mayo, along with his six partners, established the world's first integrated (Mayo Properties Association) group practice. It is said that in his lifetime, Charles Mayo registered one million patients.

William James Mayo

William James Mayo (June 29,1861 - July 28, 1939), elder brother of Charles Horace Mayo, was one of the founding members of Mayo Clinic. He joined his father's private medical practice after graduating from a medical school in 1880s. In 1919, this private practice came to be known as non-profit Mayo Clinic. William recounts an incident when his father had to perform an autopsy on a stormy night. He was 16 years old and his father had taken him along. He stood there watching the procedure. His father finished and had to rush to see another patient. He asked William to clean up and sew the incisions, tucking the sheet around the corpse. Instead of running away, William stood there and did what his father had asked him to do.

William Osler Abott

William Osler (July 26, 1902 - September 10, 1943) was a well known physician of his time. His most known contribution was the development of Miller-Abbott tube that had two lumens – one ended in a small collapsible balloon whereas the other, was a metallic tip with numerous openings. He is often considered as the 'father of modern medicine.'

Benjamin Spock

Benjamin Spock (May 2, 1903 – March 15, 1998) was an American pediatrician, often referred to as the 'world's most famous baby doctor.' He authored a book called Baby and Child Care in 1946, which is one of the bestsellers of all time. His line for all mothers was, "You know more than you think you do." He was also the first pediatrician to study psychoanalysis in order to understand the needs of children . A good sportsperson, Dr Benjamin Spock was also an Olympic gold-medalist in rowing.

Jonas Salk

Jonas Salk (October 28, 1914 – June 23, 1995) a medical researcher and virologist, is known for his work on the development of the first safe and efficient polio vaccine. His parents were Russian-Jewish immigrants but they left no stone unturned to make sure that he got the best of education.

Elliot P. Joslin

The first doctor in the United States to specialize in diabetes, Elliot Joslin (June 6, 1869 – January 28, 1962) was the founder of Joslin Diabetes Center, the world's largest diabetes research center. He stood for teaching patients to take care of their diabetes, the approach now known as Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME).

These were a few of the famous American doctors who not only made a difference in the United States, but throughout the whole world. Their significant contributions will always be remembered.

Successful Entrepreneurs List

They came. They saw. They conquered. They became the successful entrepreneurs in America with their undying grit, ceaseless gumption and a will that was beyond anyone's realm of imagination. As Gordon Ramsay puts it "the secret is to make sure the business is running to perfection with or without me", held true of each and every one of these aspiring and successful entrepreneurs in the world. Their alpha personality characteristics have become the cornerstones of their foundations. The successful entrepreneurs list, of men and women, has inspired and continues to inspire young minds across the globe. Let's find out a little more about these successful entrepreneurs in the world. Read more on entrepreneurship.

Successful Entrepreneurs List

Mary Kay
The women behind many gorgeous faces and the founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics, Inc. Mary Kay Ash wrote a book to help women in business. The book later become the plan of action for starting the company with a mere investment of $5000.

Alvin Ailey
Alvin Ailey, the revolutionary, the dancer and the choreographer, saw the bigger picture while he grew up in the times of violent racial segregation. His signature work has its roots in the great sense of pride in the black race.

Bill Gates
This successful entrepreneur and philanthropist began programing at the age of 13, which later became his dream. Bill Gates built his dream with Microsoft Corporation, a company boasting a workforce of 93,000 employees in over 100 countries.

Richard Branson
The flamboyant English industrialist, Richard Branson, synonymous with Virgin Records, began his first successful business with at the age of 16 with his magazine 'Student'. Post that, there was never looking back for this man who went on to acquire a net worth of $2.5 billion.

Ben & Jerry
For Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, the sweet taste of success came in many flavors. The duo started the Ben & Jerry's in a gas station after a lot of toil and turmoil and failed attempts at alternative ways of earning money!

Walt Disney
Walt Disney, the film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, philanthropist and above all the creator of Mickey Mouse. Need I say more?

Donald Trump
The real man behind the real-estate development, Donald Trump is an American business magnate, socialite, celebrity and a television personality. The anchor of 'The Apprentice' has been an ardent student of life himself, which has gained him laurels after laurels.

Other Most Successful Entrepreneurs

    * P.T. Barnum - Entertainment (Barnum & Bailey)
    * Jeff Bezos - Internet (Amazon)
    * Andrew Carnegie - Steel (US Steel)
    * Michael Dell - Computers (Dell Computer)
    * Larry Ellison - Software (Oracle)
    * Joyce Hall - Greeting Cards (Hallmark)
    * Milton Hershey - Chocolate
    * J. W. Marriott - Hospitality
    * Louis B. Mayer - Entertainment (MGM)
    * Rupert Murdoch - Media
    * David Packard - Electronics (Hewlett-Packard)
    * John D. Rockefeller - Oil (Standard Oil)
    * Sam Walton - Discount Retail (Wal-Mart)
    * Oprah Winfrey - Entertainment
    * Steve Case - Internet (America Online)
    * Debbi Fields - Cookies (Mrs. Fields)
    * A. P. Giannini - Banking (Bank of America)

For those aspiring to be successful entrepreneurs under 25, there is a lesson to be learnt from this successful entrepreneurs list. Effective time management, leadership qualities and the 'never give up spirit' is what got them to the pedestal they are on. A lot of money is not what you need. It is the vision, determination, commitment, dedication and the honesty towards oneself that leads you on the path of success, filled with wealth.

The Real Story of Snoopy’s Adversary

Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen never knew as a young man that he would be the most successful pilot during World War I and one day his nickname would be heard on the radio every year around Christmastime in the United States. Born in 1892 in Kleinburg, Poland, into a prominent aristocratic family, Richthofen had an older sister and two younger brothers. His father was a Major in the military, and when Manfred was nine years old, he enjoyed hunting wild boar and elk, riding horses, and doing gymnastics at school. He was particularly skilled at the parallel bars, and won several awards in competitions at school.

When he was just 11 years old, Richthofen began his military training. He completed his cadet training in 1911 and joined a cavalry unit. When World War I broke out, Richthofen served on both the Eastern and Western fronts as a reconnaissance officer for the Polish cavalry. But traditional operations were soon thwarted because of barbed wire defenses and machine guns, so Richthofen’s unit was used as infantry instead. Chagrined by not being able to take part in combat very often, Richthofen applied to transfer to the Imperial German Army Air Service, and he was granted the permission to join in the spring of 1915.

Richthofen began as an observer flying on reconnaissance missions, and when his unit was transferred to the front at Champagne, he was able to shoot down a French enemy aircraft with the machine gun in his observer’s station, but he did not receive credit for the kill because it could not be confirmed since the plan fell behind the Allied lines. In October 1915, Richthofen began his official training as a fighter pilot, and the following year he joined a bombing unit flying an Albatros C, a two-seater fighter plane. The following year he again downed a French enemy aircraft, but again, he did not receive official credit for the kill.

Later that year, Oswald Boelcke, the accomplished ace fighter pilot, was visiting the East to look for candidates to serve in the fighter unit he had just formed, and he selected Richthofen as a pilot for his fighter squadron. This new assignment led to Richthofen’s first official recorded kill, when he won an aerial combat over France. After the victory Richthofen celebrated by ordering a silver cup from a jeweler in Berlin, engraved with the date of the battle and the type of enemy plane that was shot down. He continued this tradition with every kill until he had amassed 60 cups, but by then the supply of silver in Germany was restricted because of the war.

Richthofen followed a strict set of guidelines in his combat strategies to ensure success for his squadron, instead of using aggressive, risky tactics such as those his brother Lothar used. Richthofen was not a particularly spectacular pilot and did not participate in fancy acrobatics like his brother or the famous Werner Voss did. But he was a superb marksman in addition to being a skilled combat technician and leader of his squadron. He thought of his aircraft as a military platform he used to fire his guns. His typical approach was to dive from above, with the sun behind him, with other pilots supporting him from behind.

In November of 1916, Richthofen brought down his most celebrated adversary, the British fighter pilot Major Lanoe Hawker VC. Following his victory, Richthofen decided he needed an aircraft that was more agile, whether or not it was as fast as his Albatros D.II that he had flown. So he changed to flying an Albatros D.III, and scored two victories before the plan suffered a crack in its lower wing. Richthofen switched back to the Albatros D.II for five weeks and scored one victory, but when he was later able to go back to his D.III he scored 22 victories. Richthofen’s unit was incredibly successful and contained some of the most elite fighter pilots in Germany. To easily identify their planes in combat, the squadron painted their airplanes red, with individual markings to distinguish specific planes. The Albatros D.III was painted bright red, and was the plane in which Richthofen earned his famous name and reputation as "The Red Baron," although Richthofen is associated most frequently with the Fokker Dr. I triplane, with which he made only 20 of his total 80 kills.

In 1917 Richthofen was seriously wounded during combat and was grounded as a result for several weeks. Although he was returned to active duty later, his wound caused permanent damage, resulting in headaches and nausea, as well as changes in personality and demeanor. Some people believe his injuries eventually led to his death on April 21, 1918, when he was pursuing a Sopwith Camel flown by a novice pilot from Canada. Richthofen may not have been as alert as usual, and he was hit by one single bullet that caused severe damage to his lungs and heart. He managed to land his plane quickly, but died almost immediately. His airplane was not badly damaged by the hasty landing, but was rapidly dismantled by souvenier hunters.

Credited officially with 80 confirmed victories in the air, Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen was the most successful of the flying aces decorated in World War 1. His exploits, colorful personality, and colorful aircraft were the basis of his colorful nicknames, the most popular of which was "The Red Baron." But although Richtofen’s legend and successes remain firmly rooted in the history books, his exploits will continue in perpetuity in his fictional battle with another ace fighter pilot, a beagle named Snoopy.

Successful People without College Degrees

Whoever said that college education necessarily makes you a successful individual! David Frost, a British Media Personality, writer, comedian and journalist once opined "Don't aim for success if you want it. Just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally." Come to think of it, it seems so true. Just think of the likes of Bill Gates and Henry Ford, they never had any conventional academic training. That did not prove to be a hindrance to achieve the pedestal they are on. They are undoubtedly the most successful people on the face of this earth! Care to know about these two and more? Here is an enumeration of successful people without college degrees, so read on.

Successful People Who Didn't Go To College

Bill Gates: Do i need to mention about the founder of Microsoft? I mean, thanks to him, we are using our computers so smoothly. Bill Gates, as most of us know was a Harvard drop out and it was from that, he came up with this operating system for computers, which now seems inevitable and irreplaceable.

Ralph Lauren: Do I need to tell you about one of the top most fashion designers in the world? Ralph Lauren is an American fashion designer and CEO of Polo Ralph Lauren - a luxury lifestyle company. He was a business college drop out, then was a part of the US army and then also worked as a salesman before he came up with his necktie store in 1967.

Mary Kay Ash: College was not a priority for this leading woman entrepreneur after she got married. Yes, that was Mary Kay Ash, founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics Inc. She started Mary Kay Cosmetic Inc with just $5,000. She passed away in 2001, but not before she had made her mark on the cosmetics market in the USA and worldwide.

Halle Berry: Who does not know Halle Berry? The 'Cat Woman' never went to college and has still won an Oscar. This actress is also a spokesperson for Revlon Cosmetics and has given excellent performances in Hollywood movies. (College Education? D-uh! What is that?) Undoubtedly one of the most successful people without a college degree.

Michael Dell: We get to use fantastic laptops and notebooks and computers, thanks to this man called Michael Dell, founder and CEO of Dell, Inc. Imagine he stopped going to school at the age of 19 and whoa! If it was for such a thing called Dell computers, who needs to go to college? He, according to 2009 figures has assets worth a whopping $12.3 billion.

Henry Ford: The pioneer of the assembly line car manufacturing, Henry Ford never completed his high school education. Instead, he started Ford Motor Company, one of the largest automobile companies in the world. A perfect and simply amazing example of one of the most successful people without college education.

Andrew Jackson: Andrew Jackson was the 6th president of the United States. In addition to that, he was a Congressman, a military governor, Army Commander and (phew!) finally an attorney - what more do you want from one of the most successful people without college degrees!

Rachel Ray: She is America's most loved chef. Rachel Domenica Ray, an author and a TV personality, never had proper culinary training and never went to a cookery college.

John D. Rockefeller Sr.: He is the first ever billionaire that USA had and is the richest man in history. Standard Oil Company was his brainchild and he revolutionized the petroleum industry totally. Again, he was apparently a high school drop out.

Dhirubhai Ambani: He was a billionaire and Indian businessman and founder of Reliance Industries Limited. He, shockingly, never attended high school. He is one of the most potent examples in India of the most successful people who didn't go to college. For more on such entrepreneurs, check out successful entrepreneurs list.

Julie Andrews: The pretty, petite and happy go lucky Maria from the movie Sound of Music Oscar winning actress, singer, author barely made it till middle school. She has been honored with awards like the Golden Globe, Emmy, Grammy, BAFTA, People's Choice Award, Theatre World Award, Screen Actors Guild and an Academy Award.

Sachin Tendulkar: Master Blaster, Sachin Tendulkar is the god of cricket in India. He almost attained an unbeatable and legendary status just at the age of 36. He never went to college. He is compared to the likes of Don Bradman and Brian Lara and other cricketing greats!

There are umpteen personalities like them who never attended college, but still made their lives enviable! To know about most successful people without college degrees is really not that incredulous as it seems! I mean, if you know what you want to do and you are good at it, no matter what happens, the circumstances, you will excel! You need not go to a Harvard or Stanford to be in the list of the most successful people who didn't go to college!

Famous Puerto Ricans

A self-governing territory of the United States of America, Puerto Rico lies to the west of Virgin Islands, east of the Dominican Republic and in the northeastern Caribbean Sea. It is an archipelago, formed of several small islands. The 'Mona', 'Culebra' and 'Vieques' are the largest of all the islands. Read more on islands of the Caribbean sea.

History of Puerto Rico
The earliest settlers of the islands of Puerto Rico were the Ortoiroid people who lived there between 3000 and 2000 BC. The Indian tribes of 'Arawak' and 'Saladoid' made Puerto Rico their home from 430 BC to 1000 AD. The 'Taino' culture was prevalent in Puerto Rico when Christopher Columbus first arrived in the 'New World' (1492). Puerto Rico was part of the Spanish empire for many years. Today, it is ruled by the United States of America. Read more on:

    * Puerto Rican Culture
    * Puerto Rico Facts: Interesting Facts about Puerto Rico

List of Famous Puerto Ricans
The following list covers famous Puerto Ricans who attained success in their respective professions.

Jose Rivera
A playwright from Santurce, San Juan, Jose Rivera was born in 1955. Nominated for an Oscar, he was the first Puerto Rican to achieve this feat. 'The Twilight Zone' and 'The Outer Limits' were the TV series that he enjoyed watching in his childhood. His plays got translated in various languages. Here are some of the plays written by Jose Rivera: Giants Have Us in Their Books, Sonnets for an Old Century, Sueño, Cloud Tectonics, The Street of the Sun and The House of Ramon Iglesias. The awards won by Jose Rivera include the 'Obie Award', 'Fulbright Arts Fellowship', 'Norman Lear Writing Award' (2005) and 'Whiting Writers' Award'.

Kirk Acevedo
He was born on 27th November, 1974 in Brooklyn. Kirck Acevedo is of Chinese and Puerto Rican descent. He has won the ALMA award in the year 1999 for acting in the movie, 'The Thin Red Line'. Kirck Acevedo is also known for playing the character of Miguel Alvarez in a TV series called 'Oz'. He acted in a TV series, 'Band of Brother' in which he played the character, SSgt. Joseph Toye. The series was produced by Steven Spielberg.

Rafael Bracero
A sportscaster by profession, Rafael Bracero was born in 1950. He joined Channel 11 after completing his graduation and worked there as a main reporter for sports. Later he worked as a sportscaster for WAPA-TV. Rafael Bracero also worked with Luis Rigual during sports events like boxing matches.

Ivan Calderon
A baseball player, Ivan Calderon Perez was born on 19th March, 1962. On 30th July, 1979, Seattle Mariners signed him as an amateur free agent. On 10th August, 1984, he debuted in the Major League. He was however traded to the Chicago White Sox in the year 1986. He was once again traded in 1990 to Montreal Expos. In the mean time, he had seasons full of success during his stint with the Chicago White Sox. Speed and power were his specialties. He met an unnatural death as he was shot dead on 27th December, 2003 in a bar in Loiza.

Yiye Avila
Born in Camuy, Puerto Rico (1925), Yiye Avila is a former Mr. Universe and also an evangelist. He received training as a weight lifter and also played baseball. He won the title, Mr. Puerto Rico in 1952 and Mr. North America in 1954. Yiye Avila had to cut short his sporting career in 1956 due to chronic arthritis. His interest in Christianity drew him towards evangelism and he also produced some literary works thereafter. 'The Fast of the Lord: Fast of Victory', 'Los Dones del Espiritu (The Gifts of the Spirit)' and 'La Ciencia De La Oración (The Science of Prayer)' are some of his creations pertaining to spirituality. As an evangelist, he visited most of the countries in Latin America, some parts of Europe and many cities in North America.

Trini Alvarado
An actress by profession, Trini Alvarado was born on 10th January, 1967 in New York. Her father, a Spanish-born was a flamenco dancer. Trini's mother Sylvia, a Puerto Rican, was also a flamenco dancer. At the age of 7, Trini joined her family dance troupe and played many different roles. She is best known for the role of 'Meg', a character in the film 'Little Women'.

Along with some famous Puerto Ricans in History, information about Americans who were Puerto Ricans originally, is also provided in the above paragraphs. The famous Puerto Ricans in America gained popularity in many different fields due to their determination and hard work. The above list of famous Puerto Ricans thus, presents information about a few of many personalities of this island nation.

Famous Soccer Players

The game of soccer has everything that can attract a man. It has speed, obstacles and threats in the form of opponents. The soccer player takes the risk of losing the ball to the opponent while dribbling past him or her. Moreover, when it comes to scoring a goal, it is one man trying to score a goal against many. This thrilling game has its surprises and twists, which can turn a certain loss, for a team, into a victory by narrow margin within the time span of few minutes. Every year, many new soccer players set their foot on the soccer fields. However, only few of them rich the stardom level. Out of these only a handful are considered as the famous soccer players. The following is information on a few famous soccer players, which you may find interesting.

Most Famous Soccer Players

Pele: Pele is the best footballer, ever to play on the field. He grew up in Brazil and honed his skills in its slums. His real name is Edison Arantes do Nascimento. In the year 1957, at the age of 15, Pele was included in the Brazil national team for the World Cup. In his debut match, Pele scored two goals. For his skills with the ball and the goal scoring capacity he is known as the King of Soccer. In his long career, spanning 25 years, he scored 1,000 goals. In 1999, Pele was chosen as "The Athlete of The Century" by the international Olympic committee. The Time magazine, in the same year, included Pele in the list of 100 Most Influential People of the 20th Century.

Diego Maradona: Maradona is the most celebrated Argentine football player. Throughout his career, Maradona enthralled his fans and the opponents with his extraordinary footwork and by scoring goals after goals. His career lasted for 26 years from 1975 to 2001. Diego Armando Maradona is an icon and hero for many footballers. Even though he was involved in many controversies, on the field and off the field, he is still regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time.

Hristo Stoichkov: Hristo Stoichkov is thought to be the most successful Bulgarian soccer player. He started his professional career with CSKA Sofia and later moved on to the FC Barcelona soccer club. He played an influential role in club's winning the Spanish Primera Division. During his career Stoichkov earned global acclaim four times in a row. In 1992, his scintillating play was responsible for his club's Championships League victory. Stoichkov bid good-bye to the field of soccer in 2003.

David Beckham: His full name is David Robert Joseph Beckham. In 1991, Manchester United, singed this 16 year old teenager for it's youth squad. After a span of 5 years, Beckham was finally selected for the Manchester United team. After the season of 1997 - 1998 season, Beckham was selected for England's World Cup team. In 2006 FIFA World Cup, David Beckham led the English football team. He shares the honor of representing the England in 3 World Cups with the 5 others, including Sol Campbell and Micheal Owen.

Famous Soccer Players from Brazil

Ronaldo: There is no doubt that Ronaldo is one of the most celebrated players from Brazil, after Pele. He is also known as the Phenomenon, because of his speed, dribbling and passion for scoring again and again. His full name is Luís Nazario de Lima Ronaldo. Born in the poor suburbs of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, he was influenced by another legend of the football Zico. Ronaldo played for Brazil in the 1998 FIFA World Cup, in which Brazil lost to the French side in the final match. However, in the year 2002, as a member of Brazil squad for the FIFA World Cup, Ronaldo scored eight goals in only seven games. Top scorer of the tournament, Ronaldo helped the Brazilian team to win their fifth FIFA World Cup title.

Ronaldinho: Ronaldinho is another jewel from Brazil. He is famous for his natural play and terrific control over the ball. He was a part of the Brazilian team, for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, which was jointly hosted by Korea and Japan. The highlight of this prestigious tournament was the goal, a 35 meter free kick, scored by the Ronaldinho against England. Brazil went on to win the 2002 FIFA World Cup. In June 2005, Ronaldinho captained the Brazilian side to their second FIFA Confederations Cup title by beating Argentina in final match 4 - 1. In the past, he has played for the Gremio, Paris SG, FC Barcelona soccer clubs. This skillful footballer has won many awards and acclaims. He was chosen twice, as the FIFA World Player of the Year Award. Read more on Ronaldhino named world player of the decade.

Garrincha: A team mate of the legendary Pele, Garrincha was part of the Brazilian team that won the 1958 and 1962 World Cups. Although his full name is Manoel Francisco dos Santos, he earned the nickname of Garrincha, a term meaning "little bird", for his playful behavior on the field. His skills included decisive and accurate passes and he was well known for his powerful free kicks. Garrincha ranks second, after Pele, in the list of best Brazilian soccer players.

Leonidas da Silva: He is the man who shouldered the responsibility of giving the Brazilian football the solidity, it deserved. This pre-Pele era player was known as the Rubberman, because of his elastic body. Through Leonidas da Silva, in 1938 World Cup, soccer world came to know about the natural talent, techniques and the spirit of Brazilian football. The most famous socceror of his time, Leonidas da Silva is also believed to the father of the Bicycle kick. He was the first player to score 4 goals in World Cup soccer bout.

Famous Italian Soccer Players

Roberto Baggio: This most beloved Italian footballer was included, in the greatest living footballers list, which was prepared by none other than the famous Pele. He represented Italy in the World Cup 1994 and scored 5 goals for his team. Italy lost to Brazil in the final match in penalty shoot out. Most unfortunately, Baggio missed his penalty kick. Baggio scored 27 goals, in all, for his national team. 9 of these goals were scored in three World Cups. He retired from football in 2004.

Francesco Totti: In 2000 - 01, Totti, another celebrated Italian football player, scored 13 goals and helped his favorite club, A.S. Roma, to win first league title, since 1983. Francesco Totti is also known as the Prince and Er Pupone. Totti was twice named as the Italy's Player of the Year in 2000 and in 2003. He was part of the Italian National squad in the Euro 2000 qualifiers. Totti scored against Romania and Belgium and got the team in the Finals. Although, France had beat Italy in the final match, they couldn't stop Totti, from lifting the Man of the Match title.

Fabio Christian Vieri: Fabio Christian Vieri is well known for defense. Considered as one of the best defenders on the field, he rarely failed at, being in the right place to make the interception and steal the ball away from the opponent. Vieri was part of the Italian National squad for the World Cup 1998, where he scored 5 goals. He also represented Italy in the 2002 World Cup and scored 4 goals for his team.

Famous Female Soccer Players

Michelle Akers: One of the famous female soccer players, Michelle was known for her goal scoring and assists skills. During the period, when she was the part of the USA national team, she scored 105 goals in the official matches. Her passing skills enabled others to score not less than 37 goals, for the USA team. Michelle Akers was a legendary striker of the USA women's national soccer team. She is one of the only two women, included in the FIFA list.

Mia Hamm: The most successful soccer player when one takes into account the scoring ability. Mia is a living legend and record holder for netting the most goals, in the international matches by any male or female soccer player. Mia has won the women's FIFA World Player of the Year award twice in, 2001 and 2002. Along with the Michelle Akers, Mia has the honor of being in the list of "125 Greatest Living Soccer Players", which was prepared by Pele. Mia has also made a space for herself in the National Soccer Hall of Fame in the USA. Along with the Landon Donovan, Cobi Jones and Michelle Akers, Mia is one of the famous American soccer players. Read more on history of soccer and history and timeline of soccer.

The famous soccer players, such as Pele and Maradona are not only worshiped in their native place, but they are also idolized throughout the world. Their skills, timing and desire to shoot the ball in the net are admired all over the world, even if they are not on the field. I hope the above information about the famous soccer players is satisfactory.

Famous Short People

According to The Guinness Book of World Records, the shortest person in the world was Gul Mohammed, hailing from New Delhi, India. At 1 ft 10 inches in height, he was less than a meter to be precise. Gul Mohammed got all the fame in the world for being the shortest man, but there were some people who were short in height, but became famous for their sheer talent, achievements and illustriousness. Although they were not as short as Gul Mohammed, they can be referred to as short if the average height of the people on this planet is taken into consideration.

How Short is Short?

Before we move on to the famous short people in history, let's try to understand what we mean by short. It may sound funny, but there is outright disagreement about what height can be referred to as short. The height of an individual may vary according to the region as well as ethnicity. The term shortness is a vague term, which doesn't have a concrete reason to support it.

A pygmy from the Congo Basin may appear to be short for the whole world, but when a person 6 ft tall sees someone 5 ft tall, he is bound to refer to the later as a short person. Basically, the term short stature is used to refer to a person whose height is below expected. Generally, the individuals with height less than 4 feet 10 inches are the people suffering from a genetic disorder referred to as dwarfism.

Famous Short People in the World

The average height for a man in the United States is 5 ft 9.2 inches, and therefore while compiling a list of famous short people in the world, we have taken a benchmark of 5 ft 5 inches, which is considerably short when equated for the whole world. Here are some of the most famous short people in the world, who are remembered even today for their talent and achievements, and not their height.

Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan was the founder emperor of one of the largest empire in the history - the Mongol empire. Although he was just 5 ft 1 inches, he was one of the best commanders and the most ferocious warrior the world ever saw. The strategy of uniting the various nomadic tribes worked in favor of Genghis Khan, as the Mongol empire spread over the vast parts of Central Asia and China under his regime. Read more on Genghis Khan.

Yasser Arafat
Yasser Arafat was a Palestinian leader and the chairman of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). Standing 5 ft 2 inches tall, Yasser Arafat was regarded as a freedom fighter by many Palestinians. But at the same time many looked upon him as a terrorist. He spent his entire life for Palestinian self determination, till he died on November 11, 2004, at the age of 75. Read more on Yasser Arafat.

Yuri Gagarin
Yuri Gagarin was a Soviet cosmonaut, who went on to become the first person to travel in space, as well as the first person to orbit the Earth. He was just 5 ft 2 inches tall. For this heroic feat which didn't just help the Soviet Union, but also helped the entire human race, Yuri was awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union - the highest distinction in the Soviet.

Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi, known as the Father of the Nation in India, was one of the most prominent personalities the world ever saw. He played a vital role in gaining India independence from the British rule spanning over a century. Mahatma Gandhi advocated non-violence throughout his life. Although just 5 ft 3 inches tall, his high stature in the society was witnessed by means of several agitations he lead, not just in pre-independence India, but also in nations like South Africa. Read more on Mahatma Gandhi.

Voltaire
François-Marie Arouet, more popular as Voltaire, was a French writer philosopher renowned for his witty writing. At 5 ft 3 inches, Voltaire was one among the several famous short people in history. He was an ardent advocate of civil liberties, and most of his literary works had a hint of the same. An ardent supporter of social reforms, Voltaire turned out to be influential for many thinkers involved in the American and the French revolution. Read more on Voltaire.

Pablo Picasso
Although just 5 ft 4 inches tall, Pablo Picasso was known to work wonders with his paint brush. This Spanish painter and sculptor has some of the best works of the 20th century to his credit. Picasso's creativity was not just restricted to the canvas, some of his famous works also include sculptures and architectures. His aesthetic skills played a vital role in finding Picasso a place among the most famous short people in the world. Read more on famous painters and Pablo Picasso.

James Madison
James Madison was the 4th President of the United States, who held the office from March 4, 1809 to March 4, 1817. Standing at 5 ft 4 inches, Madison worked closely with George Washington in order to organize the Federal Government. He was regarded as one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. Some of his greatest achievements included supervising the Louisiana Purchase and the War of 1812, against Great Britain. Read more on facts about James Madison.

Vladimir Lenin
Vladimir Lenin was a leader of the Bolsheviks party, who acted as the first Head of State of the Soviet Union. He was 5 ft 5 inches tall. Lenin played a vital role in propagation of Leninism, which is believed to be an adaptation of Marxism for the age of imperialism. One of the most famous revolutionary of his times, Lenin hit the headlines for both good as well as bad reasons.

Charlie Chaplin
There would be hardly any person in this world who is not familiar with the name Charlie Chaplin, but at the same time not many people knew he was just 5 ft 5 inches in height. Charlie Chaplin was an English comedian, actor and film director, who ruled the silver screen in the first half of the 20th century. His sense of humor and slapstick comedy made him a cult figure, who is revered by millions of people around the world even today. More on Charlie Chaplin.

Diego Maradona
Diego Maradona was an Argentine soccer player, who always stayed in limelight for his on-field as well as off-field antics. The 5 ft 5 inches tall footballer ruled the hearts of the people the world over with his immense passion for the game. His popularity reached all time high for the in-famous 'Hand of God Goal', which he scored by putting the ball into nets using his hand. More on Diego Maradona.

These were some of the famous short people in history, who carved a niche for themselves and made sure that their presence was felt. The height of these famous short people was never an issue for them. They proved that being short is not at all a disadvantage, and if you want you can achieve anything in this world on the basis of your sheer determination and will power.

Famous Football Players

"I don't know where home is. Yeah ya do. It's green an' it's got a goal post at each end."

This dialog from the movie Goal according to me epitomizes and summarizes the passion of all the famous and the best football players. They just know what is home, be it for a football club or their country. All they know is that they have to 'Just Do It'. That is precisely the reason why soccer fans the world over go gaga over them, idolized because of their sheer hard work and talent. Want to meet some of them with the best feet and best trysts with publicity? Well, then here is the kick off!

England

David Beckham
Whoa! Do we need say anything abut this oh-so-hot and amazing football player? The eye-candy boy for Manchester United had always dreamed of playing at the magnificent Old Trafford and he did and how! He has been pivotal in Manchester United's monumental success with his superb football skills in the late 90's. With a wife like Posh Spice, aka Victoria Beckham, he is most loved face of the international media and of football. David Beckham took the number 7 t-shirt from Eric Cantona and wow! Talk about famous football players numbers! Now after all this, no wonder every football lover wants to 'Bend it Like Beckham'!

Steven Gerrard
The Mr Cool for the fabulous Liverpool! ( I actually came up with a rhyme for Gerrard!) Steven Gerrard, another gem of English football is the captain of the English Club Liverpool. Playing as a midfielder, he is one of the best England has got. In 1998, he made his professional debut for Liverpool and since then the captain cool has never looked back. He is a master of penalties and free kicks and has been the man for Liverpool in times of crisis many a times and the most prized possession is the UEFA Champions League in 2004-2005.

Michael Owen
The blue eyed boy, almost as good as Beckham in English football is Michael Owen. With football genes in his blood, it would have been a surprise if he would not have excelled in the game. Started off with playing for Cardiff, then Liverpool and then NewCastle United. He has proved his mettle in world cup clashes and otherwise. He is one of the most famous football players from England.

Wayne Rooney
One of the spearheads of Man United attack is Wayne Rooney. He has made his mark on the football scene since around 2002. He has great footwork and never leaves a chance to attack. He was the youngest player in the English squad ever in the year 2003. He is undoubtedly one of England's most expensive players.

Alan Shearer
Alan Shearer was Newcastle United's captain and a significant player for the English squad. Started off playing for Balckburn in 1992. But before that he was chosen to play for England u-21. In 1996, he was bought by Newcastle United. He proved his worth- a whopping 15 million pounds by scoring 25 goals in the season for NewCastle.

Italy

Alessandro Del Piero
Good looks, great pair of legs and footballing sense is what characterizes this former captain and second striker from Italy, Alessandro Del Piero. He is Italy's one of the leading goal scorers and made his tournament debut in Euro '96. As far as club is concerned he was the top notch guy for Juventus. His name is amongst the famous football players names in Italy and world over.

Francesco Totti
One should see this Italian stallion strike and attack as a midfielder in action and you would be in awe. Franceso Totti is one of the best and most stylish Italian players though is best known for his job as a second striker.

Gianluigi Buffon
Ah the man in the box is as good at saving goals as his looks. Gianluigi Buffon always had it in his blood to be in sports. Lovingly called Gigi, he has proved himself for Juventus as well as for the national team. He has been a part of the Italian team which won the world cup in 2006.

Alessandro Nesta
Here comes the defending man for AC Milan football club, Alessandro Nesta. He is one of Italy's best known centerbacks and has given a good hand to another of the greats, Fabio Cannavaro.

Roberto Baggio
Amongst the all time greats of Italian football is Roberto Baggio. The second striker graced many a Italian clubs and the national team and lead Italy to dizzying heights of success.

France

Zinedine Zidane
The man with the unforgettable head butt, Zizou, aka Zinedine Zidane is still the most sought after player in the world of football. Excellent player and a star for the French team, he has helped France get the glory in 1998 (World Cup) and 2000 (European Championship). Interestingly the country with which he carved his career as midfielder, bought curtains on his flourishing football career and that is Italy.

Thierry Henry
Be it France or the English Club Arsenal or la Espana Barcelona, fiery Theirry Henry is not be held back. Henry plays a pivotal role when it comes to France's attack. He plays as a forward for France and has been a golden man for Arsene Wenger. Along with Zidane, Henry made France team a force to reckon with.

Portugal

Cristiano Ronaldo
The girls go crazy when she shows his bare torso on the pitch. The football connoisseurs are enchanted when he shows his bare footballing skills. One of the youngest and exciting heartthrobs of football is Cristiano Ronaldo, from Portugal. He is known for his excellent footwork, especially his soccer dribbling moves. Wow! You could just go on looking at his ball play! This winger and a forward recently became the world's most rich and famous football players when he moved to Spanish Giant Real Madrid recently.

Luis Figo
Late 90 and early 200 was the peak period for this serious looking darling of Portugal and has appeared in Euro 1996, 2000 and 2004, as well as the FIFA World Cup’s in 2002 and 2006. The midfielder rapidly catapulted real Madrid to glory in early 2000. He was a former captain of Portuguese national team and has played under Luiz Felipe Scolari and Carlos Queiroz as managers.

Brazil and Argentina

Ronaldo
Needless to say he is one of the most famous footballer of all times - Ronaldo. The Brazilian has no competition when it comes to scoring in finals. Ronaldo Luíz Nazário de Lima has played for Brazil as well as Real Madrid alongside Beckham and Figo. He has awards like FIFA World Player of the Year in1996, 1997, 2002, World Soccer Player of the Year in 1996, 1997, 2002 and European Footballer of the Year (Ballon d'Or) in 1997 and 2002 to his credit. Need I say more?

Diego Maradona
What do I say about this 'Argentine' god of football? World Cup went to Argentina in 1985, thanks to this man called Diego Maradona. The man who has been a subject of dazzling popularity as well as infamy. He is more known as a attacking midfielder and a second striker for his beloved Argentina rather than any club.

Pele
Another Brazilian hero, who perhaps paved way for Ronaldo, Kaka and the likes is Pele or Edison Arantes do Nascimento. He played as a forward for Brazil and was a top scorer for Brazilian national football team.

Kaka
Okay Kaka is anytime easier than Edison Arantes do Nascimento, right, for calling this handsome Brazilian footballer? Kaka is the most well known amongst Brazilian midfielders. He also plays for Real Madrid. His awards list is endless and some of them are -

    * Serie A Footballer of the Year: 2004, 2007
    * UEFA Champions League Bronze Top scorer: 2005-06
    * UEFA Champions League Best Midfielder: 2005
    * UEFA Team of the Year: 2006, 2007
    * FIFPro World XI: 2006, 2007, 2008
    * Pallone d'Argento: 2006-07
    * UEFA Champions League Top Scorer: 2006-07
    * UEFA Champions League Best Forward: 2006-07
    * UEFA Club Footballer of the Year: 2006-07

The list, however, does not end here! This is just a trailer! Read more on famous soccer players.

Gosh! I wish I could write on and on about these famous football players, but then if I go on I am afraid I might culminate into a small book! These players won hands down when I compared them with others so that was put on the platter for you!

Famous People of China

China is an Asian country with the largest human population. The Chinese culture has been flourishing since since thousands of years and has a vast legacy of a rich history and traditions. The ancient Chinese civilization has played a major role in shaping the world's history, as Chinese were at the forefront of advanced arts and sciences.

China is a nation that can boast of many scholars, scientists, philosophers, artists, etc., who have contributed and are contributing towards the rich Chinese culture. The Chinese are famous for their entrepreneurship, industriousness and their martial arts skills. You will find a Chinese population residing in most of the major cities around the world. You can read more on interesting facts about China.

China is known for many famous Chinese inventions and of these many inventions, the Four Great Inventions of ancient China include paper, compass, gunpowder and printing. Such a great nation is bound to have given the world some famous personalities. Let us have a look at some of the famous people of China, who are known for their remarkable stories of greatness.

Famous People Born in China

Confucius
One of the most famous Chinese philosophers is Confucius, an influential Chinese thinker who had a great impact on Chinese, Korean, Japanese and Vietnamese lifestyle. His philosophy emphasized personal and government morality. He preached justice and sincerity and his thoughts were developed into a system of philosophy called Confucianism.

Lao Tzu
Lao Tzu was one of the famous people of ancient China who is considered to be the father of Chinese Taoism. Taoism is an ancient philosophy that advocates living a simple life. He is said to have lived in the 6th century BC, according to ancient Chinese history.

Xi Shi
Xi Shi is one the famous women of China, who lived around 500 BC. She is one of the Four Great Beauties of China. Xi Shi's father was a tea trader and she was trained in court etiquette. She was given to the King Fuchai of Wu and her goal was to bewitch the king so that it would lead to his downfall. She was successful in her task and then she withdrew herself from public life. You can read more on women in the ancient Chinese culture.

Empress Dou
She is one of the most famous people of Chinese history, who was also known as Shiao Wen. Empress Dou was the wife of Emperor Wen of the Western Han. She was a follower of Taoist philosophy and was able to influence her husband with this philosophy. Thus, she could create an era of peace and tranquility in her husbands empire of Western Han.

Zhang Ziyi
Another one of the famous Chinese women who is a dancer and actress. She won the Silver Bear award in 2000 Berlin Film Festival for her first film The Road Home. She is known for her roles in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Rush Hour 2.

Jackie Chan
Perhaps of the most famous Chinese actor is Jackie Chan. He is an not only an actor, but also an action choreographer, filmmaker, comedian, producer, martial artist, singer, stunt man, screenwriter, entrepreneur, the list is simply endless. He is one of the most known Chinese faces in Hollywood, whose impressive stunts have mesmerized the audience. He has also sung many pop songs and lend his voice for many cartoons and video games.

Yao Ming
He is the tallest basketball player with the gigantic height of 7 feet, 6 inches. He is one of the famous Chinese people in NBA and has a reputation of begin personable that makes him one of the very popular celebrity players.

These were just a few of the famous people of China. The list of famous Chinese people is endless and you find many names in Chinese history that have made a mark in world history. Chinese have been known for their global culture and Chinese food is one of the top cuisines around the world. This vast nation of rich cultures and traditions have given the world many famous people born in China and outside China. China, for sure will continue to churn many more famous people, who will make the nation proud before a global audience.

Famous Tennis Players of All Time

For them, the lawn, the net, the ball and the racket beckons and nothing else matters. That is what is the 'advantage' they have got in their lives. There are no deuces and there are no faults. Only the match points. Well, no prizes for guessing here as to what I am referring to! I am referring to the famous tennis players of all time! These are the players who have ruled the nets and have ruled the hearts of tennis aficionados! Here I 'serve' you the best amongst the best when it comes to tennis players - the famous tennis players!

Famous Women Tennis Players

Steffi Graf
The German star reigned supreme during the 1990's . Countless grand slam titles and the no.1 in tennis rankings are the feathers in the very heavy cap of the legendary Steffi Graf! As if the tennis career was not enough of a dream come true, she married another 'ace', yeah, Andre Agassi!

Martina Navratilova
A hoard of tennis accolades, Martina Navratilova had started conquering the grass since the age of 16. On 9 occasions this fabulous tennis star has won the women's single title in Wimbledon. She was 'the' female tennis star in the 1980's.

Monica Seles
A contemporary of Steffi Graf, Monica Seles is one of the best and most famous female tennis players to have graced the tennis court. She was on top, ranking no.1 at a tender age of 17. Her career was marred when she got stabbed by a Graf fanatic at the age of 20. Still she proved herself later on, but it was too late.

Anna Kournikova
Need I say anything? Guys drool over her and girls are jealous of her! As we all know, Anna Kournikova is known more for her looks, than her tennis exploits!

Maria Sharapova
In the late 90's and 2000's, a star emerged and made a mark on the tennis scene. Good looks, fabulous legs and tennis prowess is what characterized Maria Sharapova. This Russian star is a 3 time grand slam champion and won the Wimbledon title at the age of 17. One of the super cool amongst the famous tennis players of all time is this Russian player! Read more on women tennis players.

Serena Williams and Venus Williams
This sister duo is absolutely unbeatable. These 'slam' Venus and Serena Williams sisters are the best in the business, with Venus a tad behind Serena. They have claimed number of titles, together and individually, being the best female duo on the tennis horizon. The two undoubtedly are the most famous black tennis players.

Jennifer Capriati
One of the top players to have ruled American tennis is Jennifer Capriati. She has 3 grand slam titles under her belt. She also has around 14 professional titles to her name. Read more on stars in women tennis.

Famous American Tennis Players

Andre Agassi
Need I say anything about him? Could you believe that he has won all the grand slam championships in his glittering and dream-like career? Yes, ladies and gentlemen, Andre Agassi, the master, has! He is amongst the 5 greatest tennis players to do so. To top it all, he married another legend, Steffi Graf!

Andy Roddick
This is another gem of an American tennis player. Andy Roddick is a former no.1 and the only one from the USA to do so. He is a master on grass and clay courts.

Pete Sampras
Another breath-taking player and a darling of the paparazzi is Pete Sampras. What do I say about this player who is a former no.1 and has won a whopping 14 grand slam titles! Hats off to this tennis great!

John McEnroe
John McEnroe was a former World No.1 tennis player. He was known for his rivalry with Ivan Lendl, Bjorn Borg and Jimmy Connors. He has won 7 grand slam titles in his career along with many other accolades.

Jim Courier
Jim Courier was another world no.1 from USA, with 4 grand slam titles to his credit.

Famous Australian Tennis Players

Mark Philippoussis
The Scud, as he is called, Mark Philippoussis has been one of the most prominent and famous tennis players from Australia. He has been a part of major grand slam finals and is known for his strong backhand.

Lleyton Hewitt
Another Australian player who has made a mark on the tennis stage is former world No.1 Lleyton Hewitt. He has few ATP titles to his name along with a few grand slams. He has amazing fitness, consistency and footwork.

Amongst others, there are the famous French tennis players Amelie Mauresmo and Marie Pierce. In addition to this, if I do not mention Rafeal Nadal, Roger Federer, Ivan Lendl, Jimmy Connors, Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, Martina Hingis, Lindsay Davenport and Boris Becker, it would be an absolute sin!

I hope I have covered almost all the famous tennis players of all time, as there are so many! At the end, you can only say one thing about these famous tennis players what Agassi opined, "It's shocking how little there is to do with tennis when you're just thinking about nothing except winning every point."