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Most of Babe Ruth's records have been broken. In 1961, not only did Roger Maris break The Babe's 34-year-old record for most home runs in a season with 61* (2001), but Maris' teammate on the '61 Yankees, pitcher Whitey Ford broke the Babe's 43-year-old record for most scoreless innings pitched in a World Series when the Yankees dispatched the Reds that year in the postseason. (When asked how it felt to have beat the Babe's "other" record, Whitey responded, "It was a bad year for the Babe".)
Though Barry Bonds now holds the record for most home runs in a season (73), most home runs in a career (762), highest slugging percentage, most intentional walks, etc., The Babe still must be considered the greatest player who ever graced the game. In addition to his record 12 home run titles, his 13 slugging titles, his six R.B.I. titles, and his solo batting title (.378 in 1924; The Babe placed in the top five hitters in terms of batting average eight times, including a career high of .393 in 1923, when Harry Heilmann hit .403), The Babe won 18, 23 and 24 games as a left-handed pitcher for the Boston Red Sox in 1915, 1916 and 1917, and won the American League E.R.A. title in '16. He set his first home run title in 1918, another year the Sox won the World Series, as a part-time position player and part-time pitcher, notching up 11 homers and nine wins. George Herman Ruth likely will remain the sole player in major league baseball history to win batting, home run, R.B.I., slugging *and* E.R.A. titles, plus eat a dozen hot dogs and drink the better part of a keg of bootleg "needle" beer before suiting up for a game.
From 1914 to 1919, The Babe played for the Boston Red Sox, with whom he appeared on three World's Championship teams. Sold to the New York Yankees by Red Sox owner and theatrical impresario Harry Frazee, he led the-then no pennant American League franchise in Gotham to seven A.L. pennants and four World Series titles from 1920-1934. He played out his string with the Boston Braves in 1935; even a washed-up Babe was still able to pole three circuit clouts in one game before calling it quits after 28 games and six in that last season. The following year, he was one of the inaugural inductees into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Yes, the Babe was mighty, and he did prevail more often than naught except over one opponent: Father Time.
The Babe ended his 22 years in the Big Leagues with 2,873 hits good for a career batting average of .342, 714 home runs, 2,217 R.B.I.s, and 2,174 runs scored in 2,503 games. (From his debut in 1914 through the 1918 season, when he was making his transition to becoming a full time position player, Ruth only appeared in 261 ball games as he was considered the top left-handed pitcher in the American League.) In the record books, Ty Cobb scored more runs and Hank Aaron hit more homers and racked up more R.B.I.s (Interestingly, Hammerin' Hank and The Babe ended their careers with the exact same number of runs scored.), but they played in far more games than the The Babe, with 3,035 and 3,298 games, respectively. Among modern players, Rickey Henderson, who surpassed Cobb's record for runs after 25 years in The Show, played in 3,081 games, and Barry Bonds appeared in almost 3,000 games.
No player ever had the impact, both on and off the field, as did the charismatic Babe. When he died of cancer in 1948, the New York Times headline read, "Babe Ruth/Idol of Millions of Boys/Dead".- Actor
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Michael Jeffrey Jordan was born in Brooklyn, New York on February 17, 1963. He was the fourth of five children born to James and Deloris. James Jordan was a mechanic and Deloris Jordan was a bank teller. Soon after Michael's birth, James and Deloris felt that the streets of Brooklyn were unsafe to raise a family, so they moved the family to Wilmington, North Carolina.
As a youngster, Michael immediately became interested in sports. However, it was baseball not basketball that was his first love. He would play catch in the yard with his father, who loved baseball. He soon started to play basketball to try and follow in the footsteps of his older brother, Larry, whom he idolized growing up.
At Laney High School, as a sophomore, he decided to try out for the varsity team but was cut because he was raw and undersized. The following summer, he grew four inches and practiced tirelessly. The hard work paid off as he averaged 25 points per game in his last two years and was selected to the McDonald's All-American Team as a senior.
Following high school, he earned a basketball scholarship from North Carolina University where he would play under legendary coach Dean Smith. In his first year, he was named ACC Freshman of the Year. He would help lead the Tarheels to the 1982 NCAA Championship, making the game-winning shot.
After winning the Naismith College Player of the Year award in 1984, Jordan decided to leave North Carolina to enter the NBA draft. Although he decided to leave college early, he would later return to the university in 1986 to complete his degree in geography.
In the 1984 NBA draft, he was selected with the third overall pick by the Chicago Bulls. As a rookie for the Bulls, he made an immediate impact, averaging an amazing 28.2 points a game, including six games where he scored 40+ points. He was selected to the NBA All-Star Game and named Rookie of the Year. This would just be the beginning of a career filled with awards and accolades. In the upcoming years, he would go on to win five regular season MVP awards, six NBA championships, six NBA finals MVP awards, three All-Star game MVP awards, and a defensive player of the year award.
In 1993, tragedy struck Jordan's seemingly perfect life. On July 23, 1993, his father, James, was murdered off Interstate 95 in North Carolina. Two locals had robbed him, shot him in the chest and threw his body in a swamp.
Three months later on October 6, 1993, following a run of three consecutive NBA championships, Jordan announced his retirement from basketball citing that "he no longer had the desire to play." Now "retired" at age 33, it was uncertain what Jordan would do next. Would he take a year off out of the public eye to grieve and then come back to the Bulls? Would he go out and look for a white collar job in the field of geography, his college major? Or would he take up a completely different hobby like golf?
In early 1994, Jordan decided to take up a new hobby alright. However, it wasn't golf. It was baseball. Despite not playing baseball since high school some 13 years ago, he signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox in 1994. He played one unspectacular season for the Double-A Birmingham Barons.
On March 18, 1995, Jordan, a man of few words since his retirement, sent two important words to media sources everywhere: "I'm Back". He celebrated his return to the NBA by doing what he always did best: winning. Although the Bulls would lose in the playoffs to the Orlando Magic, it was obvious that Jordan was still the same superstar player. He would go on to lead the Bulls to three more consecutive NBA championships and etch his place in the history as the "NBA's greatest player of all-time".
On January 13, 1999, Jordan re-announced his retirement, saying that "he was 99.9 percent sure that he would never play again". Soon after, Jordan became part owner of the Washington Wizards.
Near the start of the 2001-02 season, there were hints that Jordan may try another comeback to the NBA. On September 25, 2001, Jordan confirmed those rumors, announcing that he would once again return to the NBA as a member of the Wizards. His two seasons in Washington were mediocre at best. His statistics were solid and he showed some flashes of his old self but he could not lead the Wizards to the playoffs and missed several games due to injury. He retired for good following the 2002-03 season and was subsequently dismissed as president of the Washington Wizards.
In June 2006, he became part owner of the Charlotte Bobcats. Later that year, he filed for divorce from Juanita, his wife of 17 years. They have three children together.- Producer
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LeBron James is an American basketball player and film producer who played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers. He is one of the most accomplished basketball players of the 21st century. He played himself in Space Jam: A New Legacy and Trainwreck. He is the owner of a film production company called SpringHill Company.- Actor
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Derek Jeter was born on 26 June 1974 in Pequannock, New Jersey, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for The Other Guys (2010), Anger Management (2003) and History's Greatest Warriors. He has been married to Hannah Jeter since 9 July 2016. They have four children.- Producer
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Alexander Emmanuel "Alex" Rodriguez was born on July 27, 1975 in Manhattan, New York City, New York and raised in Miami, Florida to Lourdes Nelly Navarro & Victor Rodríguez Castillo. He played 7 seasons with the Seattle Mariners, 3 seasons with the Texas Rangers & 12 seasons with the New York Yankees. He's now the chairman & CEO of A-Rod Corp as well as the chairman of Presidente beer.- Producer
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Kobe Bean Bryant was an American professional basketball player. A shooting guard, he spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, Bryant won five NBA championships, was an 18-time All-Star, a 15-time member of the All-NBA Team, a 12-time member of the All-Defensive Team, the 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP), and a two-time NBA Finals MVP. Bryant also led the NBA in scoring twice, and ranks fourth in league all-time regular season and postseason scoring. He was posthumously voted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020 and named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.
Born in Philadelphia and partly raised in Italy, Bryant was recognized as the top American high-school basketball player while at Lower Merion. The son of former NBA player Joe Bryant, he declared for the 1996 NBA draft and was selected by the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th overall pick; he was then traded to the Lakers. As a rookie, Bryant earned a reputation as a high-flyer by winning the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest, and was named an All-Star by his second season. Despite a feud with teammate Shaquille O'Neal, the pair led the Lakers to three consecutive NBA championships from 2000 to 2002.
In 2003, Bryant was charged with sexual assault;with the alleged victim being a 19 year old hotel employee. Criminal charges were later dropped after the accuser failed to testify, and a lawsuit was settled out of court, with Bryant issuing a public apology and admitting to a sexual encounter while maintaining the interaction was consensual. The accusation briefly tarnished Bryant's reputation, resulting in the loss of several of his endorsement contracts.
After the Lakers lost the 2004 NBA Finals, O'Neal was traded and Bryant became the cornerstone of the Lakers. He led the NBA in scoring in the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons. On January 22, 2006, he scored a career-high 81 points; the second most points scored in a single NBA game, behind Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game. Bryant led the team to consecutive championships in 2009 and 2010, both times being named NBA Finals MVP. He continued to be among the top players in the league through the 2012-13 season, when he suffered a torn Achilles tendon at age 34. His next two seasons were cut short by injuries to his knee and shoulder, respectively. Citing physical decline, Bryant retired after the 2015-16 season. In 2017, the Lakers retired both his #8 and #24 jerseys, making him the only player in NBA history to have multiple jerseys retired by the same franchise.
The all-time leading scorer in Lakers history, Bryant was the first guard in NBA history to play 20 seasons. His 18 All-Star designations are the second most all time, and he has the most consecutive appearances as a starter. Bryant's four NBA All-Star Game MVP Awards are tied with Bob Pettit for the most in NBA history. He gave himself the nickname "Black Mamba" in the mid-2000s, and the epithet became widely adopted by the general public. He won gold medals on the 2008 and 2012 U.S. Olympic teams. In 2018, he won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film for the film Dear Basketball (2017).
Bryant died, along with his daughter Gianna and seven others, in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, in 2020. A number of tributes and memorials were subsequently issued, including renaming the All-Star MVP Award in his honor.
He was. 5× NBA champion (2000-2002, 2009, 2010); 2× NBA Finals MVP (2009, 2010); NBA Most Valuable Player (2008); 18× NBA All-Star (1998, 2000-2016); 4× NBA All-Star Game MVP (2002, 2007, 2009, 2011); 11× All-NBA First Team (2002-2004, 2006-2013); 2× All-NBA Second Team (2000, 2001); 2× All-NBA Third Team (1999, 2005); 9× NBA All-Defensive First Team (2000, 2003, 2004, 2006-2011); 3× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2001, 2002, 2012)- Producer
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Dwyane Wade was born on 17 January 1982 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He is a producer and actor, known for What to Expect When You're Expecting (2012), Shot in the Dark (2017) and Relentless. He has been married to Gabrielle Union since 30 August 2014. They have one child. He was previously married to Siohvaughn Wade.- Actor
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Chris Bosh was born on 24 March 1984 in Dallas, Texas, USA. He is an actor and director, known for Entourage (2004), Parks and Recreation (2009) and Telenovela (2015). He has been married to Adrienne Nicole Williams since 16 July 2011. They have four children.- Producer
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Kevin Durant was born on 29 September 1988 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA. He is a producer and actor, known for Swagger (2021), Two Distant Strangers (2020) and The 2017 NBA Finals (2017).- Actor
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Shaquille O'Neal is a retired professional American basketball player who is a sports analyst on the television program Inside the NBA on TNT. He is considered one of the greatest players in National Basketball Association (NBA) history. He was one of the tallest and heaviest players ever. O'Neal played for six teams over his 19-year career.
O'Neal's individual accolades include the 1999-2000 MVP award, the 1992-93 NBA Rookie of the Year award, 15 All-Star game selections, three All-Star Game MVP awards, three Finals MVP awards, two scoring titles, 14 All-NBA team selections, and three NBA All-Defensive Team selections. He is one of only three players to win NBA MVP, All-Star game MVP and Finals MVP awards in the same year (2000); the other players are Willis Reed in 1970 and Michael Jordan in 1996 and 1998. Largely due to his ability to dunk the basketball, O'Neal ranks third all-time in field goal percentage (58.2%). O'Neal was elected into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016. He was elected to the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2017.
In addition to his basketball career, O'Neal has released four rap albums, with his first, Shaq Diesel, going platinum. O'Neal is an electronic music producer, and touring DJ, known as Diesel. He has appeared in numerous films and has starred in his own reality shows.- Producer
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Peyton Manning is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback for 18 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Considered to be one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time due to his numerous career achievements, Peyton spent 14 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and was a member of the Denver Broncos in his last four seasons. Manning played college football for the University of Tennessee, leading the Tennessee Volunteers to the 1997 SEC Championship in his senior season. He is the second son of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning and older brother of New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning.
Peyton Manning was selected by the Colts as the first overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft. From 1998 to 2010, he improved the fortunes of the struggling Colts franchise and helped transform them into consistent playoff contenders. During his tenure as starting quarterback, Manning led the team to eight division championships, two AFC championships, and one Super Bowl title, the franchise's first in over three decades, as well as their first since relocating to Indianapolis.
After undergoing neck surgery that forced him to miss the entire 2011 season, Manning was released by the Colts and signed with the Broncos. Serving as the team's starting quarterback from 2012 to 2015, he contributed to the Broncos reaching the top of their division each year and his playing career concluded with a victory in Super Bowl 50.
Peyton Manning holds many NFL records, including AP MVP awards (5), Pro Bowl appearances (14), 4,000-yard passing seasons (14), single-season passing yards (5,477 in 2013), single-season passing touchdowns (55 in 2013). He tied for most First-Team All Pros for a quarterback with 7, and is second in career passing yards (71,940) and passing TD (539). At 39 years of age, Manning was the oldest quarterback to start in and win a Super Bowl until Tom Brady surpassed him by winning a Super Bowl at 41.- Producer
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Eli Manning was born on 3 January 1981 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. He is a producer and actor, known for Capital One College Bowl (2021), Chad Powers and The Simpsons (1989). He has been married to Abigal McGrew since 19 April 2008. They have four children.- Actor
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Until the start of the 2008 Season, Brett Favre was the Green Bay Packers' starting Quarterback since joining the team in 1992. He joins Joe Montana in being the only players to win back-to-back MVP awards. Favre led the Packers to three consecutive playoff appearances (for the first time since the 1960s) including a Superbowl win in 1996. Raised in Kiln, Mississippi, Favre was both a baseball and a football star, lettering in both sports. On July 14, 1996, Favre married long-time girlfriend Deanna Tynes after a 12-year courtship.- Richard J. Butkus, "Dick", was born in Chicago, Illinois, December 9, 1942. He graduated from the University of Illinois where he was a two time All- American line backer. A first round draft pick of the Chicago Bears, Dick played for them from 1965-1973, and was named All-Pro linebacker seven times. Mr. Butkus was elected into the NFL "Football Hall of Fame" at Canton, Ohio. Many football gurus consider Dick Butkus the finest linebacker in the history of football.
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Marino was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and attended the University of Pittsburgh, where he became the most prolific and celebrated passer in Pitt Panther history and a first-round draft pick for Don Shula of the Dolphins. Marino has established a record number of records on the All-Time Quarterback list, does charity work, and created the Dan Marino Foundation to benefit the youth charities of South Florida.- Actor
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Tall, charismatic ex-star quarterback for the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers football team. During the 1970s, Bradshaw led the Steelers to four Super Bowl wins over six seasons, and was noted Super Bowl MVP on two occasions. After retiring in 1983, he became a key media commentator on NFL football, and has worked for both the CBS and FOX networks.
Has cropped up in minor roles in three Burt Reynolds movies, Hooper (1978), Smokey and the Bandit II (1980) and The Cannonball Run (1981).- Drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers as the heir apparent to Tommy Maddox, Ben Rothelisberger wound up taking the NFL by storm in the 2004 season. When Maddox went down with an injury in Pittsburgh's 2nd week loss of 2004 to the Baltimore Ravens, Rothelisberger was elevated to starting quarterback, and the Steelers' season was never the same. Nicknamed Big Ben due to an imposing build that was unusual for quarterbacks, Rothelisberger won in his first official start in week three of 2004, and won again in week four. He and the Steelers kept winning in subsequent games, and suddenly the Steelers, a year removed from a poor 2003 season, were becoming an AFC force.
It was during the 2004 Halloween weekend that Rothelisberger officially "arrived" when Pittsburgh hosted the defending Superbowl champion New England Patriots, who had compiled an NFL-record 21 consecutive victories. This streak came crashing to a half as Rothelisberger led the Steelers to a 34-20 triumph, giving Pittsburgh the edge in the AFC. The following Sunday Rothelisberger handed the visiting Philidelphia Eagles a 27-3 pounding, the Eagles' first loss of the year and which led to the infamous Terrell Owens-Donovan McNabb sideline incident. Now Pittsburgh was listed a Superbowl contender, and opposing defenses were forced to pay far more attention to Rothelisberger than they could ever have anticipated. Big Ben began to be tested more as the 2004 season wound down, notably in a dramatic shootout with the Eli Manning-led New York Giants, but Rothelisberger continued to triumph, and led the Steelers to a spectacular 15-1 2004 season.
Entering the playoffs, however, Rothelisberger was now a target of opposing defensive schemes, and facing the New York Jets Rothelisberger committed several ill-fated plays, notably a pair of 4th-quarter interceptions. But two botched New York Jet field goal tries allowed Rothelisberger to lead the Steelers to a field goal triumph, and left Big Ben with a 16-0 record as a starter. His winning streak, however, came to an end in the AFC Championship Game to the revenge-minded New England Patriots, who picked off Rothelisberger three times; a 2nd-quarter pick was returned by Rodney Harison for a back-breaking touchdown. Rothelisberger threw two touchdown passes but could not overcome the Superbowl-bound Patriots in a 41-27 drilling of the Steelers.
It was his first career loss as a pro, and his second loss would come some nine months later in a suspenseful 23-20 loss to the Patriots. He would bounce back, leading the Steelers to a 11-5 record in 2005. As a wild card, the Steelers went on to defeat the division champion Cincinatti Bengals, heavily-favored Indianapolis Colts, and the re-energized Denver Broncos to earn a berth in Super Bowl XL against the Seattle Seahawks.
Although he struggled in the Super Bowl, Ben was able to do just enough to help the Steelers to their first NFL championship since the 1979 season. At age 23, he became the youngest quarterback to lead his team to a Super Bowl win.
However, the celebration was short-lived as Rothlisberger was seriously injured in a near-fatal off-season motorcycle accident, to which he was not wearing a helmet. He was able to recover and now shows no signs of injury. - Producer
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Aaron Rodgers was born on 2 December 1983 in Chico, California, USA. He is a producer and actor, known for The Office (2005), Work Horses and Key and Peele (2012).- Producer
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Colin Kaepernick was born on 3 November 1987 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. He is a producer and writer, known for Colin in Black & White (2021), Killing County (2023) and 2018 Nike Commercial Starring Colin Kaepernick (2018).- Actor
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Hall of Fame wide receiver and three-time Super Bowl champion Jerry Rice is widely regarded as the best wide receiver to ever play in the National Football League, and arguably the greatest player of all time. During his 15-year career with the San Francisco 49ers, Rice won three Super Bowls (Super Bowl XXIII ('88), Super Bowl XXIV ('89) and SB XXIX ('94)) and one Super Bowl MVP. He enjoyed three seasons with the Oakland Raiders, including a Super Bowl appearance and one season with the Seattle Seahawks before retiring in 2005. Rice was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in January 2010, his first year of eligibility.
Rice's meticulous preparation and work ethic during his 20-year NFL career became legendary. He holds 36 NFL records - a record in itself. Has scored the most touchdowns in NFL history (208) and holds virtually every significant career receiving record, including receptions (1,549), yards receiving (22,895), all-purpose yards (23,546), touchdown receptions (197) and consecutive games with at least one catch (274).
After his retirement, Rice's celebrity grew beyond the football field. He finished second in the second season of the ABC hit reality show Dancing with the Stars, led his team to victory on the golf course against other NFL legends on Big Break NFL Puerto Rico and has appeared on numerous other television shows. He has extensive broadcasting experience including as an analyst for ESPN, NBC and is a contributor on 95.7 The Game FM radio in the Bay Area. He co-authored the New York Times Bestseller, Super Bowl 50: 50 years 50 Moments as well as, America's Game: The NFL at 100 with Randy O. Williams and published by Harper Collins.
This success off the field and renowned work ethic has appealed Rice to numerous corporations, including NIKE, Mitchell & Ness and Panini, where he is working as a brand ambassador and spokesperson. He is also an Honorary Chairman for the San Francisco 49ers Foundation, whose mission is to educate and empower Bay Area youth.
In 2020, Rice and his family launched G.O.A.T. Fuel, a privately held lifestyle brand that empowers individual and collective greatness. G.O.A.T. stands for "Greatest of All Time", a nickname that has been widely used when describing Rice. G.O.A.T. Fuel promotes the unstoppable strength of a hopeful mindset through energy infused products, content and experiences.
Born in Crawford, Mississippi, Rice did not start playing football until he was a sophomore in high school. He was not recruited by many major college football programs and attended Mississippi Valley State University, public, historically black university and Division I-AA school. As a senior, he broke NCAA records for receptions, yards and touchdowns and acquired the nickname "World" because there wasn't a ball in the world he couldn't catch. He was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006.
Rice was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers and Hall of Fame coach Bill Walsh as the 16th overall pick in the 1985 NFL Draft. During his career, Rice was selected to the Pro Bowl a record 13 times, won the NFL Most Valuable Player Award in 1987 and was Super Bowl MVP in Super Bowl XXIII. In 1999, he was ranked No. 2 in The Sporting News' list of 100 Greatest Football Players - the highest-ranked active player and receiver - and in 2010, was voted the No. 1 player in the NFL Network's The Top 100: NFL's Greatest Players. In 2019, he was voted Greatest Player in NFL History by USA Today Sports and was also named to the NFL's All Time Team.
Rice resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, Latisha, and has four children.- Actor
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Jerry Stackhouse was born on 5 November 1974 in Kinston, North Carolina, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Arli$$ (1996), House Blend (2020) and Against All Odds (2006). He has been married to Ramira Marks since 24 December 2000. They have three children.- Actor
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Jeff Gordon was born in 1971 in Vallejo, California, just miles away from the Speedway in Sonoma. He started racing with Go-Carts and Sprint Cars and worked his way up to the NASCAR's Busch Series and then landed a few races in 1992. Gordon's first NASCAR race came when NASCAR Legend Richard Petty was going through his last. Gordon learned quickly and won his first NASCAR Championship in 1995, barely beating out Dale Earnhardt in the Points Standings. Since his Debut in 1992, Gordon has won 3 NASCAR Championships and 55 Races, clearly shooting past Lee Petty and Rusty Wallace in the All-Time Wins Category. Jeff Gordon is seen as one of NASCAR's best and brightest young stars.
In 2005, Gordon suffered his worst season since his rookie year in 1993. Gordon missed out for the Chase for the Nextel Cup, and finishes 11th in points, and finishing outside the top 10 in points since he finished 14th in his rookie year of 1993. Jeff did win 4 races this year. Those races were Daytona, Martinsville, Talladega, and the other Martinsville race. No one saw Gordon's bad season coming, after winning his 3rd Daytona 500, and winning 3 of the first 9 races of the season. After the 3rd win at Talladega, he went 16 races without a top 5 finish, a very uncharacteristic Gordon. Gordon had a crew chief swap when the 10 race Chase began, when Robbie Loomis left the team, and 26 year old Steve Letarte took over. Jeff did manage to get back on track somewhat, and won at Martinsville later in the year, and finished 2nd, 14th, and 9th in the 3 last 3 races following the long overdue visit to victory lane. Jeff at the end of 2005 has a total of 70 career wins.In 2004, Jeff Gordon finished 3rd place in NASCAR Nextel Cup points, behind Kurt Busch, and teammate Jimmie Johnson. Jeff racked up 5 wins that season, bringing his career total to 66. Those 5 wins were at Talladega, California, Martinsville, Daytona, and the other Martinsvile race. In 2003, he became the first driver in Winston Cup history to host Saturday Night Live.
At the end of the 2002 racing season, Jeff ended up in 4th place in the NASCAR Winston Cup points standings. In 2002, Jeff and teammate Jimmie Johnson competed and won in the Race of Champions in Grand Canaria, Spain. In 2001, he became the first driver to win at Kansas Speedway and he won it again in 2002 becoming the only driver to win at Kansas. At the end of the 2002 racing season, Jeff has racked up 61 Winston Cup races. His 3 wins in 2002 were at Bristol, Darlington, and Kansas. He also had 3 poles. As of 2003, Jeff continues to co-own the # 48 race team of Jimmie Johnson. Has won 4 Winston Cup Championships: 1995, 1997, 1998, and 2001 becoming the youngest driver to win than many. With his first championship in 1995, Jeff became the youngest driver at the age of 24 to win a Winston Cup title.
In 1998, he tied a record by winning 13 races in a same season and by winning 4 races in a row. Won 2 Daytona 500s in 1997 and 1999. Became the youngest driver to win the Daytona 500. Won 3 Brickyard 400s including the inaugural one in 1994 and his second one in 1998 and his 3rd one in 2001 making him the first driver to win it more than twice.- Jimmie Johnson was born on 17 September 1975 in El Cajon, California, USA. He is an actor, known for Herbie Fully Loaded (2005), Superstore (2015) and Blaze and the Monster Machines (2014). He has been married to Chandra Janway since 10 December 2004. They have two children.
- Being just a "regular guy" and partying with his friends are two things that Dale Earnhardt, Jr., driver of the #8 Budweiser, likes to do when he has time off from his NASCAR racing schedule.
Outgoing and fond of being out in public, another of his favorite things to do is to hang out with his friends at the local Wal-Mart store. Doing these types of things, the up and coming star of the NASCAR Winston Cup Circuit can relax and feel like just a normal every day type person for awhile.
Dale Jr. (also affectionately called "Little E") has his own Club House of sorts where he and his friends can get together and can party down. Their place is called "Club E" and it's located in the basement of Junior's house, which incidentally is located on his dad's property in the state of North Carolina. Dale claims that it's the only place to be and that "Club E" is decked to the hilt with a big screen television, speakers as high as the ceiling and plenty of refrigeration for the main ingredient of any Dale Jr. party - the beer!
Though it would seem that because of who his daddy is, Dale Jr. would have been popular in high school, that wasn't how it was. He hung out with a small group of friends who pretty much hung tight and away from the so called "in crowd". Needless to say, his popularity status has since changed and all of the recognition he now gets, still catches him off-guard at times. Though he has many fans, he doesn't see himself as anyone "special" though he doesn't mind all the attention he gets from the girls now!
Being the son of the infamous driver of the #3 Goodwrench Chevy, one might think that that Little E would have had an advantage when it come to pursuing a career in NASCAR Racing. Instead of having things handed to him, he got there by starting at the bottom and proving himself all the way up through the ranks to the Winston Cup Circuit.
After high school Dale Earnhardt Jr. went to college and earned a two year automotive degree, after which he was hired to work as a mechanic in his father's Chevy dealership where he made only a little over $15,000 a year. At the age of 17, Dale Jr. began racing in the street stock division at Concord Speedway. It was two seasons later that he moved up into the NASCAR Late Model Stock Division, where he would compete for three seasons. Proving himself by capturing 12 Bud poles in the Late Model Stock Division, Dale Earnhardt Jr. showed himself and everyone else that he was ready to go to the NASCAR Busch Grand Nationals, which he did in 1996. By the start of the 2000 season Dale Jr. was ready to move up to the NASCAR Winston Cup Series and to pursue the title of Rookie of the Year.
Little E is a force to be reckoned with on the racetrack and he has showed that he has what it takes to be a winner. Though his father is a seven time Winston Cup Champion, Dale Jr. has done twice what his father has never done, and that is to win the Busch title!
Fun loving and a party animal off the track, when he straps himself into his race car on Sundays, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is all business. Though unlike his father in a lot of ways, when it comes to racing, Dale Jr. shows that he can be every bit as aggressive of a driver as his dad is.
Before he was the face of NASCAR's new generation, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was very proud of his skills as an oil changer at his father's car dealership in North Carolina.
His career began meekly, as he and brother Kerry sold a go-kart for $500 so that they could buy an old Monte Carlo racecar for $200. Legend has it that Junior later sold that car to current Busch Series driver Hank Parker Jr.
Earnhardt Jr. took his first green flag at the Concord Speedway in the street stock division at the age of 17. He garnered three feature victories from 1994-96.
Just two years later, Earnhardt Jr. dominated the Busch Series, winning 13 races and two series championships in 1998-99. His first title in 1998 made him the first third-generation NASCAR champion, joining father Dale Sr. and grandfather Ralph. His maternal grandfather, Robert Gee, was a well-known NASCAR fabricator and mechanic.
Junior wasted no time making an impact in NASCAR's elite series when he entered in 2000. He won at Texas in his 12th career start and at Richmond in his 16th start. He also became the first rookie to win NASCAR's all-star race at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
It also didn't take long for Junior to become the unofficial poster boy of the sport. He's appeared on countless magazine covers, numerous television talk shows and was the focus of two MTV documentaries: "Cribs" and "True Life, I'm a Race Car Driver."
Junior is also a co-owner of "Chance 2 Motorsports," a Busch Series race team. - Kyle Busch was born on 2 May 1985 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. He is an actor, known for Logan Lucky (2017), NASCAR on ESPN (2007) and I Am NASCAR (2021). He has been married to Samantha Sarcinella since 31 December 2010. They have one child.
- Brad Keselowski was born on 12 February 1984 in Rochester Hills, Michigan, USA. He is an actor, known for Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! (2015), Logan Lucky (2017) and NASCAR on ESPN (2007). He has been married to Paige Keselowski since 11 February 2017. They have three children.
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Joey Logano is a celebrated Nascar racing driver and winner of 2015 Daytona 500. As of this writing Joey is the lead of the final practice 62nd Daytona 500 scheduled race on February 16, 2020. Joey Logano began his racing career at the age of 6 in 1996. His first win was the Eastern Grand National Championship in the Jr. Stock Car Division in 1997. At age 10 Logan's family relocated to Georgia and he started stocking up win after win in many racing venues.- Actor
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The King of stock car racing, Richard Petty retired from NASCAR competition after the 1992 season. During his storied career, he won 200 Winston Cup race (a feat that will never be equaled), seven Winston Cup championships (tied by Dale Earnhardt in 1994), and seven Daytona 500's. His 200th win came in the July 4th, 1984 Firecracker 400 at Daytona, when he beat Cale Yarborough by mere inches with President Ronald Reagan in attendance. Petty remains a fixture on the Winston Cup circuit. He still owns the familiar number 43 STP Pontiac team, and you can still find him signing autographs for his legion of fans. His son, Kyle Petty, is currently a NASCAR Winston Cup series driver.- Actor
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Darrell Waltrip was born on 5 February 1947 in Owensboro, Kentucky, USA. He is an actor, known for Cars (2006), Logan Lucky (2017) and Cars 3 (2017). He has been married to Stevie Waltrip since 15 August 1969. They have two children.- Producer
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Travis Pastrana was born on 8 October 1983 in Annapolis, Maryland, USA. He is a producer and writer, known for Days of My Youth (2014), Action Figures 2 (2018) and Nitro Circus: The Movie (2012). He has been married to Lyn-z Adams Hawkins since 29 October 2011. They have two children.- The only motocross rider in history to have a "perfect season" (2002) which was the 24-moto outdoor national MX series. Ricky Carmichael rode flawlessly and dominated the field by scoring 600 of 600 possible points for the national championship. Also in that season, "RC" won 13 of 16 supercross rounds and was the first rider to ever come back and win a race from last place in both position and points, (DNF'd first SX round at Anaheim). He dethrowned the "King of Supercross" Jeremy McGrath in 2001 for the Supercross and outdoor Motocross titles and shows no signs of giving up his titles anytime soon. Left Team Kawasaki after 10-plus years to join Team Honda as the highest paid rider to date.
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Danica Patrick is the Rookie sensation of the Indy Racing League, driving for Rahal-Letterman racing, which is co-owned by racing legend Bobby Rahal, and Late Show with David Letterman (1993)'s David Letterman. Born in Wisconsin, she currently resides in Arizona. When she isn't racing around the track at speeds up to 200 mph, she enjoys traveling, yoga, and spending time with her family and friends.- Producer
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Michael Strahan was born on 21 November 1971 in Houston, Texas, USA. He is a producer and actor, known for The Lego Ninjago Movie (2017), Charlie's Angels (2019) and Ice Age: Collision Course (2016). He was previously married to Jean Marie Muggli and Wanda Nicole Hutchins.- Producer
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Regarded by many as the greatest player in the history of college football, Tim Tebow was born in the Philippines to Baptist missionaries. Before she became pregnant with him, his mother had contracted amoebic dysentery. During her pregnancy, the medications used to treat the dysentery caused a severe placental abruption, a condition in which the placental lining separates from the uterus. The Tebows decided to carry the baby to term as abortion is against their faith. Tim and his mother appeared in a pro-life commercial funded by evangelical group Focus on the Family during Super Bowl XLIV (2010) which stirred national controversy.
The family returned to the United States when Tim was 3 years old, moving to a farm outside of Jacksonville, FL, where he and his siblings were home-schooled by their mother. Taking advantage of a state law which allowed home-schooled students to compete in high school sports, in 2003, Tim and his mother moved to Ponte Vedra so he would be eligible to play football for Allen D. Nease High School. He was named Player of the Year as a junior (playing his last game that season with a broken fibula), and Mr. Football his senior year after he lead Nease to the Class 4A title. On December 13, 2005, three days after Nease won state, Tebow announced he would be playing for his parents' alma mater, the University of Florida.
To say he dominated at Florida is an understatement. Tebow threw for 9,285 yards and 31 touchdowns, and rushed for 2,947 yards and 57 touchdowns (breaking Emmitt Smith's school record, and Kevin Faulk's SEC record) for 12,232 total offensive yards (breaking Danny Wuerffel's school record). He lead the Gators to 2 SEC titles and 2 NCAA titles, and was the first player ever to rush for at least 20 touchdowns and pass for at least 20 touchdowns in a single season. Among the slew of accolades he received were the Sullivan Award, the Davey O'Brien Award, the Maxwell Award, the Wuerffel Trophy, the Chic Harley Award, the Wooden Cup, the Manning Award, the Campbell Trophy, Touchdown Club of Columbus Quarterback of the Year Award, the AP College Football Player of the Year, the SEC Male Athlete of the Year, and the Heisman Trophy.
However, pundits doubted he had what it took to make it in the NFL, and were shocked when he was taken 25th overall in the 2010 draft by the Denver Broncos. He became a sensation in 2011 when he took the 1-4 Broncos to an 8-8 record and the AFC West title, most of those wins coming in the last minutes. "Tebowing" - a term coined to describe his habit of kneeling on one knee in prayer as he bowed his head and either rested an arm on the opposite bent knee or his elbow on the knee with his fist at his forehead - was aped by celebrities, and inspired a web page which received over 20,000 photos of people "Tebowing". The Broncos beat the then-AFC champ Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the playoffs when Tebow connected with Demaryius Thomas for an 80-yard touchdown on the first play of overtime.
While Broncos fans were sold on Tebow Time, Broncos head coach John Fox and Executive Vice President of Football Operations John Elway were not. After Elway signed Peyton Manning, Tebow was traded to the New York Jets. A disastrous season followed as offensive coordinator Tony Sparano, and head coach Rex Ryan couldn't figure out how to best-utilize him. He was released on April 29, 2013, throwing for 39 yards and rushing for 102 yards for no touchdowns in 12 games.
He signed with the New England Patriots on June 10th. As it carries two quarterbacks, as opposed to most teams, which carry three or four, he had his work cut out for him. In 3 pre-season games, he completed 11-of-30 passes for 145 yards, 2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, rushed for 91 yards, and spent most of those games, literally, running for his life. His performance intensified criticism of his football acumen. He was released on August 31st despite owner Robert Kraft claiming he was rooting for him to make the team. In December, he signed with ESPN to be an analyst on its SEC Network, which launched on his 27th birthday.- Editor
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Height: 6'3 / Weight: 218 / College: Pittsburgh / Hometown: Minneapolis, MN / DOB: August 31, 1983 / Pro Bowl Selection: 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Two-time All-State and prep All-America receiver at Academy of the Holy Angels (Minneapolis, MN), High School Larry Fitzgerald recorded 73 receptions for 1,254 yards (17.2 yard avg.) and 17 TDs as a senior, and had 54 catches for 1,347 yards (24.9 yard avg.) with 12 TDs and 10 consecutive 100-yard receiving games as a junior. Also a three-year defensive starter, playing free safety as a senior and OLB as a junior and sophomore while also lettering twice in basketball and once in track. Fitzgerald studied in the College of Arts and Sciences at Pittsburgh and his father, Larry Sr., played football at Indiana State from 1975-77 and is the sports editor for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. Larry's mother, Carol, passed away in April of 2003 after a seven-year bout with cancer; Larry keeps her driver's license in his wallet next to his own. His younger brother, Marcus, played WR at Marshall from 2004-07 and following the 2013 season, was named to the USA Football All-Fundamentals Teams, one of 26 players (11 offense, 11 defense, 4 special teams) honored for exemplary football techniques for youth players to emulate.
Selected in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft; Larry was the first receiver taken and the third player overall behind QB Eli Manning (San Diego) and Robert Gallery (Oakland). Agreed to new contracts with Arizona on 3/11/08, 8/20/11 and a two-year contract on 2/18/15 that will keep him in a Cardinals uniform through the 2016 season. In his 11 seasons with the Cardinals, has established franchise records for receptions (909), receiving yards (12,151), receiving TDs (89), total TDs (89), 100-yard receiving games (38) and 1,000-yard receiving seasons (six). Has also been voted to the Pro Bowl eight times, including appearances in seven seasons (2007-13).
Originally selected by the Cardinals in the first round (third overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft and has started 168 of the 170 games in which he has appeared. His eight career Pro Bowl selections are tied with Hall of Fame safety Larry Wilson for the most in franchise history. Larry earned MVP honors in the 2008 Pro Bowl, and his eight career TDs represent a Pro Bowl record. Following the 2014 season, he was named the inaugural winner of the Art Rooney NFL sportsmanship Award, presented to an NFL player who demonstrates on the field qualities of great sportsmanship, including fair play, respect for opponents and integrity in competition. Fitzgerald was also selected as the Cardinals nominee for the Salute To Service award in '14. In 2012, was named one of three finalists for the "Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year" Award and was also named the recipient of the 14th Annual Arthur S. Arkush Humanitarian Award by Pro Football Weekly, which is given to the NFL player whose contributions to the community and charitable organizations are especially outstanding.- Jimmy Johnson was born on 16 July 1943 in Port Arthur, Texas, USA. He was an actor, known for The Waterboy (1998), Funny People (2009) and The Shield (2002). He was married to Rhonda Rookmaaker and Linda Kay Cooper. He died on 8 May 2024 in California, USA.
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John Madden was born on 10 April 1936 in Austin, Minnesota, USA. He was an actor, known for The Replacements (2000), Little Giants (1994) and Arli$$ (1996). He was married to Virginia Jo Fields. He died on 28 December 2021 in Pleasanton, California, USA.- Writer
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Cris Collinsworth was born on 27 January 1959 in Dayton, Ohio, USA. He is a writer and producer, known for NBC Sunday Night Football (2006), The NFL on CBS (1956) and The NFL on NBC (1965). He has been married to Holly Collinsworth since 3 June 1989. They have four children.- Actor
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Attended Oakland (Calif.) Technical High School. Named a Super Prep All-American and the San Francisco Chronicle's East Bay Player of the Year in 2003. Was the first three-time All-League First Team selection in school history. Cousin, QB Josh Johnson, was drafted in the fifth round (160th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.- Producer
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Tom Brady was born on August 3, 1977 in San Mateo, California, to Galynn Patricia (Johnson) and Thomas Edward Brady, who owns a financial planning business. His father is of Irish descent and his mother is of Norwegian-Swedish and Polish ancestry. He attended Junipero Serra High School, the same high school which produced Barry Bonds of the SF Giants. He attended the University of Michigan from 1995 to 1999. He was a backup to Brian Griese when the Wolverines went 12-0 and won the national championship in 1997. Brady shared the starting quarterback job with Drew Henson in 1998 and 1999, but managed to compile a 20-5 record over those two years, including a 2-0 record in bowl games. The New England Patriots made him a sixth round draft choice in 2000, the 199th player selected overall in the draft. He spent 2000 as a fourth string quarterback behind Drew Bledsoe, John Friesz and Michael Bishop. In 2001, Brady was elevated to second string quarterback behind Bledsoe as training camp broke. The fortunes for both Brady and the Patriots changed forever on September 23, 2001, as Bledsoe was hit hard by New York Jet linebacker "Mo Lewis", suffering a near life-threatening injury. Brady replaced Bledsoe in the contest, and has started every Patriot game at quarterback since. Bledsoe was never able to regain his starting job, as Brady led the Patriots on an 11-3 run to close the 2001 regular season, then led the Patriots through the playoffs and an improbable 20-17 win over the St. Louis Rams, a 14-point favorite, in Super Bowl XXXVI. After an ordinary 2002 season, Brady skippered the Patriots to one of the greatest seasons in NFL history in 2003. The Patriots began the season 2-2, then won every remaining regular season and playoff game, capped off by a 32-29 win over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII. Brady followed that up with a second consecutive Super Bowl appearance in 2004, as the Patriots once again went 14-2 in the regular season and defeated the Philadelphia Eagles, 24-21 in Super Bowl XXXIX. Brady is 9-0 all-time in the playoffs in his career following Super Bowl XXXIX. In the first two Super Bowls he has played in, Brady was named the Super Bowl MVP, becoming one of only four players in NFL history to win this award more than once. Brady is 48-14 as a starting Patriot quarterback going into the 2005 season. His poise as well as his penchant for playing with incredible cool and precision in big games is drawing comparisons with the great Joe Montana, former SF 49ers quarterback.
Brady is married to model Gisele Bündchen, and the couple has two children. His brother-in-law is baseball player Kevin Youkilis, who is married to Tom's sister, Julie.- Ralph Dale Earnhardt, born April 29, 1951, in Kannapolis, North Carolina, was the son of NASCAR Grand National champion Ralph Earnhardt and his wife Martha. His Winston Cup career started with a bang, winning the Rookie of the Year in 1979 and his first of his championships in 1980, to date the only driver to achieve these feats in consecutive years. Three years later, Dale appeared with other NASCAR drivers and personalities in the Burt Reynolds/Loni Anderson racing comedy "Stroker Ace". Sharp-eyed viewers will notice that the film's climax race used actual race footage from Talladega with close-ups being shot at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Shortly after winning the Daytona 500 on February 15, 1998, he went to film his second and final movie, "BASEketeball". This film star other sports luminaries as well as racing commentator Kenny Mayne. As is the trend in recent years, drivers become car owners. Dale was no exception. For 2001, he expanded his operation to three cars with the addition of Michael Waltrip. Also driving for Dale Earnhardt, Inc., were Steve Park and his son, Ralph Dale Earnhardt, Jr. On February 18, 2001, in the closing laps of the 43rd running of the Daytona 500, Dale ran third behind two of his cars, driven by Waltrip and Dale, Jr. On the last lap, as those cars went on to win 1-2, Dale was killed in a multi-car crash on the 4th turn. In his 22-year career he won 22 poles, 76 races and 7 Championships on NASCAR's premier circuit.
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Urban Meyer was born on 10 July 1964 in Toledo, Ohio, USA. He is a writer and actor, known for WWE Smackdown! (1999), The NFL on CBS (1956) and College GameDay (1986). He has been married to Shelley Mather since 8 July 1989. They have three children.