Sports Birthdays for June 23 — LaDainian Tomlinson and More

Here are some of the people in the sports world celebrating birthdays on June 23:

Art Modell
Age: 87
Profession: Retired NFL Owner
Best Known For: Former NFL executive Art Modell owned the Cleveland Browns’ franchise from 1961 to 1995 and the Baltimore Ravens’ franchise from 1996 to 2004. Modell made the decision to move the Browns from Cleveland to Baltimore for the 1996 season when he was dissatisfied with the facilities of aging Municipal Stadium. In addition to winning an NFL championship with the Browns in 1964, Modell owned the Ravens when they won Super Bowl XXXV. Modell sold the team to Maryland businessman Steve Bisciotti in January of 2004. Art is also the grandson of the late Morris Modell, who founded the sporting goods store chain Modell’s in 1889.

Zinedine Zidane
Age: 40
Profession: Retired Soccer Player
Best Known For: A professional soccer player from 1988 to 2006, Zinedine Zidane of France is one of the best international players of all-time. He is one of only four players to have been FIFA World Player of the Year three or more times (Marta, Ronaldo and Birgit Prinz). Zidane scored two goals for the winning French team in the 1998 World Cup Final against Brazil and captained France to the 2006 World Cup Final against Italy, when he was named the tournament’s most outstanding player. However, Zidane headbutted Italian player Marco Materazzi in the chest in extra time of the final and was sent off as France lost 5–3 in the penalty shootout. Zidane retired after the match.

Kevin Dyson
Age: 37
Profession: Retired NFL Player
Best Known For: A serviceable wide receiver for the Tennessee Oilers / Titans, Carolina Panthers, San Diego Chargers and Washington Redskins during an NFL career that spanned from 1998 to 2005, Kevin Dyson was involved in two of the most memorable plays in Tennessee Titans’ history. In a 2000 Wild Card playoff game against the Buffalo Bills, Dyson caught a lateral pass from Frank Wycheck on a kick-off and returned it for a touchdown to win the game. The play was later dubbed the ‘Music City Miracle.’ In Super Bowl XXXIV against the St. Louis Rams, Dyson was tackled by defender Mike Jones one-yard short of a potential game-tying touchdown as time expired.

Matt Light
Age: 34
Profession: Retired NFL Player
Best Known For: A four-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle from 2001 to 2012, Matt Light of the New England Patriots provided protection for quarterback Tom Brady that led to victories in Super Bowl XXXVI, XXXVIII and XXXIX and five AFC titles. Light was selected to the New England Patriots’ 50th Anniversary Team. He retired in May of 2012.

LaDainian Tomlinson
Age: 33
Profession: Retired NFL Player
Best Known For: Ranking fifth on the NFL’s career yards rushing list with 13,684, LaDainian Tomlinson was among the best running backs in the NFL during a career that stretched from 2001 to 2011. Tomlinson won NFL rushing titles in 2006 and 2007 while with the San Diego Chargers, adding the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award in 2006. He was named to the Pro Bowl five times and finished his career with 162 touchdowns, third to only to Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith. In college at Texas Christian, Tomlinson led the NCAA in rushing twice and won the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s best running back in 2000. He announced his retirement from football on June 18, 2012.