ASU is home to countless prominent alumni. So many in fact, that you probably couldn't read the whole list. Here is a condensed list of business owners, politicians, athletes and other prominent public figures that call ASU their alma mater.
Al Michaels
Best known for his play-by-play commentary for the NFL, Al Michaels is a television sportscaster and ASU alumnus. A sports personality for nearly 40 years, Michaels currently works at NBC Sports and is known for calling the famous "Miracle on Ice" at the 1980 Winter Olympics.
Alicia-Monique Blanco
We all know ASU has lots of beautiful girls, but it is also home to a beauty queen. Alicia-Monique Blanco is an Arizona native from Ahwatukee and a graduate of Desert Vista High School. Blanco was named Miss Arizona USA in 2009 and was second-runner up in the Miss USA 2009 pageant.
Barry Bonds
Photo by Matt Freed | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/MCT
Over 100 ASU baseball players have made it to the MLB and one of them holds the record for most career home runs and most home runs in a single season. Barry Bonds is a former professional baseball player who played 22 seasons in the MLB. Bonds batted .347 with 45 home runs and 175 RBIs during his career at ASU and eventually became one of the greatest professional baseball players of all time.
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Chris Cohan
ASU has several notable business alumni, one of them being Chris Cohan, the former owner of the NBA's Golden State Warriors. Cohan acquired the team in 1995 before selling it to Joe Lacob for $450 million in 2010.
Ira Fulton
Another notable alumni is Arizona businessman, philanthropist and founder of Fulton Homes, Ira Fulton. Fulton has remained close with his alma mater. According to ASU Insight, Fulton and his wife Mary are the University's largest donors. They have given over $160 million toward further developing the university's engineering program and the university as a whole.
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David Spade
Photo by Aanda Parks | ABACA Press
ASU is home to comedians such as Jimmy Kimmel and Steve Allen, but only one actually graduated. David Spade is a stand-up comedian actor, writer and television personality best known for films “Tommy Boy,” “Joe Dirt,” “Grown Ups” and others. Spade earned his bachelors degree in business from ASU in 1986 and was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
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Derrick Hall
The next time you attend a Diamondbacks game, keep in mind that the organization is run by an ASU alumnus. Derrick Hall is the current president and CEO of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Under Hall, the Diamondbacks have been to two NL West Division Championships and one NLCS. In that time, the team has also donated over $30 million to Valley charities.
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Linda Ronstadt
While some of us sing in our dorm room showers, others such as ASU alumna Linda Ronstadt are talented enough make a career out of it. Ronstadt is one of the most successful Latin artists ever; she only attended ASU for one semester before moving to California to pursue her music career. Ronstadt has received 11 Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award, three American Music Awards, and is an Arizona Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame inductee.
Doug Ducey
Photo by Emily Johnson | The State Press
This ASU alumni is a business man turned politician. Doug Ducey is the 23rd and current Governor of Arizona. Ducey is was born in Toledo, Ohio and moved to Tempe, where he attended ASU while working at a beer wholesaler and distributor. Ducey is a trustee for the ASU foundation and is the former CEO of Cold Stone Creamery.
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Phil Mickelson
Photo by Andrew Ybanez | The State Press
ASU has a deep history of breeding athletic talent and golf is no exception. Phil Mickelson is a legend of professional golf who has won 42 PGA Tour events, three Masters titles, an Open championship and a PGA Championship. Mickelson attended ASU on a golf scholarship, won 16 tournaments here and led the Sun Devils to a national championship in 1990.
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Reach the reporter at anicla@asu.edu or follow @AndrewNiclaASU on Twitter
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