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Joseph William Namath, nicknamed "Broadway Joe", is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the American Football League and National Football League for 13 seasons. He spent the majority of his career with the New York Jets. He took the Jets to their only Super Bowl win in 1969
Born: May 31, 1943 (age 81 years), Beaver Falls, PA

“When you win, nothing hurts.”

- Joe Namath

“ “Anyone can support a team that is winning – it takes no courage. But to stand behind a team to defend a team when it is down and really needs you, that takes a lot of courage.” ”
— Joe Namath

Thomas Edward Patrick Brady Jr. is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League for 23 seasons. He spent his first 20 seasons with the New England Patriots and was a central contributor to the franchise's dynasty from 2001 to 2019.
Born: August 3, 1977 (age 47 years), San Mateo, CA

“Things don’t correct themselves; you’ve got to go out there and work hard to correct them.”

“ “I think I have a certain respect for people, you know. And I guess a lot of times I expect that respect to go both ways.” ”
— Thomas Edward Patrick Brady Jr.

James William Johnson is an American sports analyst and former football coach. Johnson served as a head football coach on the collegiate level from 1979 to 1988 and in the National Football League for nine seasons.
Born: 1943 (age 81 years), Port Arthur, TX

“ “Treat a person as he is, and he will remain as he is. Treat him as he could be, and he will become what he should be.” ”
— Jimmy Johnson

BUT ONLY ONE PERSON GETS TO SAY HE IS THE FASTEST MAN ON THE PLANET

Usain St. Leo Bolt OJ CD OLY is a retired Jamaican sprinter, widely considered to be the greatest sprinter of all time. He is an eight-time Olympic gold medalist and the world record holder in the 100 metres, 200 metres, and 4 × 100 metres relay.
Born: August 21, 1986 (age 37 years), Sherwood Content, Jamaica
Height: 6′ 5″
Weight: 207 lbs

“ “If you’re the Olympic champion then they have to wait four more years to get you again.” ”
— Usain Bolt (Jamaican Sprinting, 8-time Olympic gold medalist)

Mark Andrew Spitz is an American swimmer and nine-time Olympic champion. He was the most successful athlete at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, winning seven gold medals, each in world-record time.
Born: 1950 (age 74 years), Modesto, CA

“ "If you fail to prepare, you've prepared to fail" ”
— Mark Spitz

Christine Marie Evert, known as Chris Evert Lloyd from 1979 to 1987, is an American former world No. 1 tennis player. Widely considered among the greatest tennis players of all time, Evert won 18 major singles titles, including a record seven French Open titles and a joint-record six US Open titles. 

Born: 1954 (age 69 years), Fort Lauderdale, FL

“ I’ve been in a poor physical shape many times in my career and I’ve had some of my best results. My best performances happened because my mind was in the right place. The mind is definitely stronger than the body. ”
— Chris Evert

They broke the mold when these 2 were done, It was a Great Era for Baseball, you guys are missed and thanks for the memories

Billy Martin managed the New York Yankees; and he won the World Series with them in 1977. Martins famous temper especially with Yankee owner George Steinbrenner resulted in him being fired and rehired 5 separate times. (the last in 1988)

“ "The two of them (Reggie Jackson and George Steinbrenner) deserve each other. One's a born liar; the other's convicted." "The only real way to know you've been fired is when you arrive at the ballpark and find your name has been scratched from the parking list." ." "Some people have a chip on their shoulder. Billy has a whole lumberyard." ”
—

Michael Jeffrey Jordan, also known by his initials MJ, is an American businessman and former professional basketball player. He played fifteen seasons in the National Basketball Association between 1984 and 2003, winning six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls.

Born: February 17, 1963 (age 61 years), Cumberland Hospital

Jordan played college basketball with the North Carolina Tar Heels. As a freshman, he was a member of the Tar Heels' national championship team in 1982. Jordan joined the Bulls in 1984 as the third overall draft pick

“ "I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games and Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and I missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed." ”
— Michael Jordan

James Thomas Anthony Valvano, nicknamed Jimmy V, was an American college basketball player, coach, and broadcaster. While the head coach at NC State, his team won the 1983 NCAA Division I men's basketball title against improbable odds

Valvano is also remembered for an inspirational and memorable speech delivered at the 1993 ESPY Awards while terminally ill with cancer. Valvano implored the audience to laugh, think, and cry each day, He gave the speech less than two months before his death

Born: March 10, 1946, Queens, New York, NY

Died: April 28, 1993 (age 47 years), Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC

“ "I asked a ref if he could give me a technical foul for thinking bad things about him. He said, of course not. I said, well, I think you stink. And he gave me a technical. You can't trust em." ”
— Jim Valvano

Bill Walton dies at 71: 'Truly one of a kind' Basketball Hall of Famer succumbs to cancer Walton was a two-time NBA champion, MVP and Hall of Famer
Born on Nov. 5, 1952 in La Mesa, California Bill Walton, who was one of the best college basketball players ever, won the 1978 NBA MVP award and two NBA championships with the Portland Trail Blazers and Boston Celtics

“ "In basketball, you can be the greatest individual player in the world and still lose every game, because a team will always beat an individual.” ”
— Bill Walton

Wayne Douglas Gretzky CC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. He played 20 seasons in the National Hockey League for four teams from 1979 to 1999, retiring at the age of 38. 

Born: January 26, 1961 (age 63 years), Brantford, Canada

“ YOU MISS 100% OF THE SHOTS YOU DON’T TAKE. ”
— Wayne Douglas Gretzky

Born: 1953 (age 70 years), Glen Dale, WV

Hall of fame induction: 1999

George Howard Brett is an American former professional baseball third baseman who played 21 seasons in Major League Baseball for the Kansas City Royals. Brett's 3,154 career hits are second most by any third baseman in major league history and rank 18th all-time. 

“ "I could have played baseball another year, but I would have been playing for the money, but baseball deserves better than that." ”
— George Brett

Leslie Townes "Bob" Hope was a British-born American comedian, centenarian, actor, entertainer and producer with a career that spanned nearly 80 years and achievements in vaudeville, network radio, television, and USO Tours. He appeared in more than 70 short and feature films.

Born: May 29, 1903, Eltham, London, United Kingdom

Died: July 27, 2003 (age 100 years), Toluca Lake, Los Angeles, CA

“ But Bob Hope Was Know Best in Horse Racing Circles When He said The Race Track Is “A place where the windows clean the people.” ”
— Bob Hope

“ Henry "Henny" Youngman was a British-born American comedian and musician famous for his mastery of the "one-liner Died: February 24, 1998 (age 91 years) ”
— Henny Youngman

“ My horse's jockey was hitting the horse. The horse turns around and says "Why are you hitting me, there is nobody behind us!" ”
— Abraham Lincoln

“ Some pearls of wisdom to think about when wagering on the Kentucky derby. ”
— Churchill Downs

Arnold Jacob "Red" Auerbach was an American professional basketball coach and executive. He served as a head coach in the National Basketball Association, most notably with the Boston Celtics.

Born: September 20, 1917, Brooklyn, New York, NY

Died: October 28, 2006 (age 89 years), Washington, D.C.

Coaching career: 1940–1966

“ Basketball is like war in that offensive weapons are developed first, and it always takes a while for the defense to catch up. Red Auerbach ”
— Arnold Jacob

William Ben Hogan (August 13, 1912 – July 25, 1997) was an American professional golfer who is generally considered to be one of the greatest players in the history of the game. Hogan's early years as a pro were very difficult; he went broke more than once. He did not win his first tournament (as an individual) until March 1940, when he won three consecutive events in North Carolina at age 27.  Although it took a decade for Hogan to secure his first victory, his wife Valerie believed in him, and this helped see him through the tough years.

“ As you walk down the fairway of life you must smell the roses, for you only get to play one round. ”
— Ben Hogan

James A. Calhoun, as men's basketball coach for 14 seasons, Calhoun brought Northeastern to the national forefront and established Husky basketball as a New England powerhouse. Five NCAA Tournament appearances in six years, between 1981 and 1986, and in the process just as many ECAC North Atlantic Titles, have been the work of Calhoun, the winningest coach in Northeastern basketball history with 250 wins and five 20-win seasons.

“ "Basketball doesn’t care what color your skin is. It doesn’t care what language you speak or what religion you practice. It doesn’t care if you’re big or small, fast or slow. It just asks you to play, to complete, to lose with dignity, to win with humilit ”
— James A. Calhoun

Esther Williams (born August 8, 1921, Inglewood, California, U.S.—died June 6, 2013, Beverly Hills, California) American swimming champion who became one of the most popular and profitable Hollywood movie stars of the 1940s and ’50s. Williams was a teenaged swimming champion who set a record for the 100-metre breaststroke in 1939.

“ Traveling to swimming meets took me beyond my small-town existence, gave me a hint of the exciting world outside of my own home. ”
— Esther Williams

Anthony Dominick Benedetto (August 3, 1926 – July 21, 2023), known professionally as Tony Bennett, was an American jazz and traditional pop singer and sports enthusiast
Born: August 3, 1926, Long Island City, New York, NY
Died: July 21, 2023 (age 96 years), Manhattan, New York, NY

“ I'm not the type of person who likes to look backwards. I've always felt compelled to move forward and I've never been one to dwell in the past. All the people I've met, all the places I've been, and all the things that I've done have simply been part of ”
— Tony Bennett

David Albert DeBusschere (October 16, 1940 – May 14, 2003) was an American professional National Basketball Association (NBA) player and coach .

“ The best teams have chemistry. They communicate with each other and sacrifice personal glory for the common goal. - Dave DeBusschere, former Detroit Pistons head coach. ”
— David Albert DeBusschere

Martin Luther King, Jr. and his siblings played baseball, basketball, and football in their childhood. Perhaps, King did not have any time for sports anymore because In 1963, he told a reporter that he did not have adequate time to indulge in sports. None the less he shined amongst brightest of stars.

“ I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. ”
— Martin Luther King Jr.

Thomas Wade Landry was an American professional football coach, player, and World War II veteran. Regarded as one of the greatest head coaches of all time, he was the first head coach of the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League, a position he held for 29 seasons.
Born: September 11, 1924, Mission, TX
Died: February 12, 2000, Dallas, TX

“ A champion is simply someone who did not give up when they wanted to. ”
— Tom Landry

Widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport, Kobe Bryant won five NBA championships and was an 18-time All-Star.
Just two years separated Jordan’s last NBA championship from Kobe’s first
Born: August 23, 1978, Philadelphia, PA
Died: January 26, 2020, Calabasas, CA

“ Torches never get passed, you’ve got to earn that. ”
— (You Are Missed)

Legendary basketball coach Bob Knight dies at 83
Knight always was a straight shooter who came without a filter

“ When my time on Earth is gone, and my activities here are passed, I want [them] to bury me upside down, and my critics can kiss my ass. ”
— Bob Knight at IU's Senior Day in 1994. Love him or hate him, may he Rest In Peace

Thomas Charles Lasorda was an American professional baseball pitcher and manager

“ In baseball and in business, there are three types of people Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen, and those who wonder what happened. ”
— Tommy Lasorda

William Ben Hogan was an American professional golfer who is generally considered to be one of the greatest players in the history of the game.
Born: August 13, 1912, Stephenville, TX
Died: July 25, 1997 (age 84 years), Fort Worth, TX

“ If you can’t outplay them, outwork them. ”
— Ben Hogan

John Robert Wooden was an American basketball coach. He won Ten NCAA national championships.
Born: October 14, 1910, Hall, IN
Died: June 4, 2010 (age 99 years),

“ A good coach can change a game. A great coach can change a life. ”
— John Wooden

Born: May 12, 1925, The Hill, St. Louis, MO
Died: September 22, 2015

“ It is difficult to make predictions, especially about the future. ‘it ain't over till it's over ”
— Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra

His career was interrupted by military service during World War II and the Korean War.
Born: August 30, 1918, San Diego, CA
Died: July 5, 2002,

“ Baseball is the only field of endeavor where a man can succeed three times out of ten and be considered a good performer. ”
— Ted Williams

Born June 11, 1913, Brooklyn, New York,—died September 3, 1970

Celebrating after the team defeated the Dallas Cowboys to advance to the first Super Bowl, January 1, 1967.

“ Winning isn't everything, but wanting to win is. ”
— Vince Lombardi

“ You win some, lose some, and wreck some ”
— Dale Earnhardt

“ I believe in the impossible because no one else does. ”
— Florence Griffith Joyner

“ He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life. ”
— Muhammad Ali

“ A life of frustration is inevitable for any coach whose main enjoyment is winning. ”
— Chuck noll, Pittsburg Steelers coach