Bruce Dern. Before he was the go-to guy in Hollywood for scary, old dads who need to learn to love their kids, actor Bruce Dern was a long distance runner. He probably still is, considering his rangy physique hasn't filled out any.

Michael Landon. Before he was building houses on prairies (but only little ones), he was a New Jersey state javelin champ. The most disconcerting news is that New Jersey has a javelin championship. He attended USC on a scholarship, but tore his shoulder after one meet and got cut from the team.

Garth Brooks. Country singer Brooks went to Oklahoma State on a javelin scholarship. Are there a lot of those or do famous people just like the javelin? Maybe that's how they get famous? Anyway, before he was strumming the guitar, he was throwing eight feet of sharpened wood for distance.