Vegetarian Star

Photo Credit: Craig Davidson

Besides the whole Freedom of Speech thing, NYC, and baseball, name some great things about the United States of America.

Add Leilani Munter to your list, as the vegetarian race car driver who races with divisions of both NASCAR and IndyCar has made Reader’s Digest’s 10 Reasons to Love Our Country.

“Münter, 33, who’s both a stock-car and open-wheel driver, has made it her mission to “green” big-time auto racing—which, at 100 million strong, may have the most enthusiastic fan base on the planet. Her goals: renewable biofuels and recycled tires for the cars and recycling programs at the tracks. For doubters, she has a message: “Never underestimate a vegetarian hippie chick with a race car.””

Leilani consistently delivers her message as an environmentalist through public speaking engagements, interviews, and her website, carbonfreegirl.com.

Not to mention she’s lightening her carbon footprint every time she sits down at the dinner table and consumes a plant based meal.

“The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world,” she said, “are the ones who end up doing it.”

What can we say? We love those crazy girls.

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Vegan marathoner Scott Jurek is gearing up to compete in the Western States Endurance Run from June 27-28.

Jurek won seven consecutive titles from 1999-2005, then went on hiatus because he was looking for a different challenge.

As if the Western States Endurance Run wasn’t challenging enough. According to the organization’s website:

“The Run is conducted along the Western States Trail starting at Squaw Valley, California, and ending in Auburn, California, a total of 100 miles. The trail ascends from the Squaw Valley floor (elevation 6,200 feet) to Emigrant Pass (elevation 8,750 feet), a climb of 2,550 vertical feet in the first 4½ miles. From the pass, following the original trails used by the gold and silver miners of the 1850’s, runners travel west, climbing another 15,540 feet and descending 22,970 feet before reaching Auburn.”

“Most of the trail passes through remote and rugged territory, accessible only to hikers, horses and helicopters.”

No problem for a guy who fills up on the beans and tofu, right?

Although Scott grew up in a fishing, hunting, and meat eating world, he later went vegan, and now the 6 ‘2″, 170 pound athlete lives a world of beans, legumes, lentils, and soy.

Wishing Scott the best of luck. Show ’em how vegans do it, man.

via sacbee.com

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Tennis legend John McEnroe has recorded a PSA advocating spaying and neutering animals.

McEnroe was known for his temper tantrums and other failed attempts at anger management on the court, and the video humorously plays on that.

McEnroe meets a man at the vet who wonders what he’s doing there. After informing the man he’s there to get his dog fixed, the man says he could never do that to his dog, which prompts McEnroe to give a tirade about how spaying and neutering is best for lowering the number of animals euthanized in shelters and even…gasp…helps with your pet’s temper.

Although John got some good points in about spaying and neutering, he failed to clarify what the guy meant: He was only talking about John’s poor choice of outfit for his dog!

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Sad news for those rooting for John Salley on I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!

Spider legs Salley came in third, behind Torrie Wilson, and Lou Diamond Phillips taking the cake.

Before the final showdown all three finalist had to endure a “jungle spa,” consisting of creepy crawlers, baby crocodiles, and mealworms to win a gourmet meal.

No one was a loser in that round (or perhaps they all were because they had to put up with that) and all three got their grub on.

John had a tofu burger waiting for him, but Torrie’s meal choice wasn’t too shabby either, as she requested a vegetarian pizza. Lou Diamond? Fried chicken! Boo!

Lou’s charity of choice, Art Has Heart Foundation, will get a fat check for his victory. The organization awards scholarships to lower-income high school students.

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Oh, yeah.

It’s time celebrate another veggie athlete.

Blake Griffin is expected to be the first pick in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday.

LA is a great place for Blake to reside, since it’s practically the vegetarian and vegan mecca (sharing the title with NYC), so sounds like he’s on the right track, although he got a little side swiped recently.

During a pre-draft meeting, Griffin got treated to dinner at a steakhouse, of all places!

Dude, didn’t they check with the guy first?

We’re sure he practiced good sportmanship and ate his salad without too much sulking.

via peta.org

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Satirical news stories are hilarious.

But one particular document by The Onion highlights the serious issue of racing and entertainment animals that are put to sleep after an injury.

Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson gets put to sleep after a leg injury. It was a difficult decision for her parents and tough on her fans, but she just wouldn’t be competitive anymore and it had to be done.

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Ah, would you like to recommend Tofurky Jurky to the office jerky who everyone tries to avoid?

That might not be such a bad idea as Boston Celtics legend and NBA Hall of Famer Bill Russell said being vegetarian made him more friendly and cooperative.

From a recent interview:

Q: Your book talks a lot about male friendship. You thought your intense competitiveness made it difficult for you to have friendships. Are you competitive about everything?

A: No. When I was playing I was, extraordinarily so. But after I retired I was a vegetarian for a couple years, and it’s probably silly but I thought carnivores were very competitive. I thought if I was vegetarian, I would be more co-operative than competitive.

Q: Did it work?
A: Yes, and I was better able to exercise friendship.

Of course we already know being vegetarian doesn’t interfere with the competitive edge of being an athlete, given the highly successful veg men and women out there.

Read Bill Russell’s entire interview and find out why he refuses to visit the Hall of Fame he’s a part of at macleans.ca.

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Yesterday we told you vegan cookbook author Isa Chandra Moskowitz was featured in Grist.org’s 13 Badass Greens for her vegan cooking show and delicious recipes that can lighten your footprint by shedding that heavy egg and dairy.

But who is the greenest badass of all?

None other than vegetarian race car driver Leilani Munter.

“Stunt double? Check. Race car driver? Check. Biologist and conservation activist? Uh, OK. Munter doesn’t mess around when it comes to the environment: she hopes to educate racing’s 100 million racing fans about green living, serves as an ambassador for the National Wildlife Federation, has testified on Capitol Hill, and wants to convince her industry to use more alternative fuels. Says this CarbonFreeGirl: “Just because you’re green … doesn’t mean you can’t be fast.””

You can learn more about life in Leilani’s fast lane at her website, carbonfreegirl.com.

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