Queen of Sports

Happy Birthday Kevin Durant!

One of our favorite NBA player, Kevin Durant is celebrating his 22nd birthday today!

Fun Facts About Kevin: He was born in Washington, DC to Wanda and Wayne Pratt, he has one sister Brianna and two brothers Tony and Rayvonne.

Kevin signed his first professional endorsement deal with Upper Deck in May 2007. He was the number 2 overall draft pick in the 2007 NBA Draft by the Seattle SuperSonics. The team has since relocated to Oklahoma City.

Kevin and Minnesota Timberwolves forward Michael Beasley grew up together having a close friendship and remain best friends.

He was named the cover athlete for NBA Elite ’11, he previously appeared on the cover of NCAA March Madness 08.

Kevin is a spokesperson for the Washington D.C. branch of P’Tones Records, a nationwide non-profit after school music program.

Happy Birthday Kevin!

Matt Kemp Celebrates His 26th Birthday!

Los Angeles Dodger Matt Kemp celebrated his 26th birthday last night at Hollywood hot spot Drai’s, a rooftop bar/lounge located at the W Hotel.

Matt’s girlfriend, pop singer Rihanna was in attendance. Check out the picture of Matt’s birthday cake here. It was decorated with Matt’s favorite candy, gummy bears.

Earlier in the evening, Matt’s Dodgers hosted the San Diego Padres. They lost 1 – 3 and the Dodgers were officially eliminated from post-season play.

Matt turns 26 years-old today. Happy Birthday Matt!

Happy Birthday Phil Jackson

Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson is celebrating his 65th birthday today!

Fun Facts About Phil: He was born in Deer Lodge, Montana. Both of his parents, Charles and Elisabeth Jackson were Assemblies of God ministers. In the churches that they served, his father generally preached on Sunday mornings and his mother on Sunday evenings. Phil, his two brothers, and his half-sister grew up in a remote area of Montana in an austere environment, in which no dancing or television was allowed. Jackson did not see his first movie until he was a senior in high school, and went to a dance for the first time in college. Growing up, he assumed he would become a minister.

Phil attended high school and college in North Dakota. He was drafted in the second round of the 1967 NBA draft. He played for the New York Knicks and the New Jersey Nets.

Phil coached the Chicago Bulls for 9 season, where he guided his team to six NBA Championships. After he left the Bulls in 1998, he vowed that he was done with coaching, but after one year off he was ready to return to coaching. He accepted a coaching job with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1999. Phil has won five additional NBA Championships with the Lakers.

Phil has been in a long-term relationship with Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss’ daughter and Laker executive Jeanie Buss. Check out this clip of the beautiful Jeanie interviewing her boyfriend (Coach Jackson) about a game:

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They are such a cute couple!

Happy Birthday Phil!

Happy Birthday Frostee Rucker!

Happy 27th Birthday to one of our favorite NFL players, Cincinnati Bengals defensive end, Frostee Rucker!

Fun Facts About Frostee Rucker: He was born in Tustin, California and attended Tustin High School. He played running back and linebacker and was named All-Golden West League MVP as a Senior in 2000.

Frostee attended the University of Southern California where he was part of the Championship team.

He as selected in the third round of the 2006 draft by the Cincinnati Bengals.

In 2007, Rucker contributed on special teams and situational opportunities on defense. He started the final regular season game against the Miami Dolphins and finished with 5 tackles. In 2008, Rucker started 4 games and played in 11 (both career highs).

This guy has one of the best smiles and biggest personalities in the NFL. We think that Jack in the Box needs to snag him as an endorser for their Chocolate Frosty’s. Match made in heaven!

Check out some footage of Frostee at a charity event:

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Happy Birthday Frostee!

Happy Birthday Fabio Cannavaro!

Happy 37th birthday to Italian soccer player Fabio Cannavaro!

Fun Facts About Fabio: He currently plays for UAE soccer club Al-Ahli Dubai. His younger brother, Paolo, is a defender who currently plays for Napoli. The two brothers played alongside each other at Parma from 2000 until 2002, when Fabio left for Internazionale. Although they are no longer playing together, Fabio has expressed interest in ending his career with Paolo in a Napoli shirt.

Fabio married Daniela Cannavaro on June 17, 1994. The couple has three children, Christian (born 17 July 1999 in Naples), Martina (born December 22nd 2001 in Naples), and Andrea (born 20 October 2004 in Naples).

Happy Birthday Fabio!

Pete Carroll’s Birthday Wish

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Pete Carroll, coach of the Seattle Seahawks, has a birthday coming up on September 15th and he is asking for one thing. He is asking you to join his cause and donate to A Better LA, an organization that hires community outreach workers who improve communities in Los Angeles from the inside out. The organization has made incredible progress, with crime statistics dropping and fear being replaced with hope. Any amount of donation will keep a child safe on the streets of LA, but Carroll is suggesting through his cause that a donation of $24 is made. At the cost of $3.40 children can be kept safe for a day, so for $24 you can keep them safe for a week. Plus, top donors will win prizes such as a VIP experience at Seahawks HQ meeting Carroll, attending practice, and touring the Seahawk facilities, as well as a Pete Carroll signed Seahawks helmet, or Carroll signed NFL football. To donate go here.

Happy Birthday Yao Ming!

Houston Rockets center, Yao Ming is celebrating his 30th birthday today!

Fun Facts About Yao: He is currently the NBA’s tallest player, standing at 7’6″ tall. Yao was born in Shanghai and is one of China’s most well known athletes. Yao has sponsorships with several major companies, and has been the richest celebrity in China for six straight years.

Yao is married to Ye Li, a former player for the China women’s national basketball team who he met when he was 17 years old. It’s been reported that Ye is the only woman he has dated. Their relationship was first made public when they appeared together during the 2004 Olympics closing ceremony, and on August 6, 2007, Yao married Ye in a ceremony attended by close friends and family. On May 21, 2010, the couple’s first child, a daughter, was born in Houston.

In 2004, Yao co-wrote an autobiography with ESPN sports writer Ric Bucher titled Yao: A Life In Two Worlds. In the same year, he was also the subject of a documentary film, The Year of Yao, which focuses on his NBA rookie year. The film is narrated by his friend and former interpreter Colin Pine, who stayed with Yao during Yao’s rookie year, and interpreted for him for three years.

Happy Birthday Yao!

Happy Birthday Mike Comrie!

Happy Birthday to Pittsburgh Penguins hockey player (and newlywed) Mike Comrie! The hockey stud is celebrating his 30th birthday today!

Fun Facts About Mike: His older brother Paul also played professional hockey. Paul played for the Edmonton Oilers just before the team drafted Mike. Hockey runs in the family as their father William (Bill), was signed by the Chicago Blackhawks when he was 16 years old. Mike has two younger half-brothers, Eric and Ty, who are aspiring hockey players.

His father, Bill, and his uncles, Fred and John, are the founders of The Brick furniture company. This is where Mike obtained his nickname, “The Brick”.

In July 2007, Mike started dating actress/singer Hilary Duff. The couple announced their engagement on February 19, 2010. Mike and Hilary married on August 14, 2010 in Santa Barbara, California.

Happy Birthday Mike!

Happy Birthday Matt Barkley!

University of Southern California starting quarterback Matt Barkley is celebrating his 20th birthday today!

Fun Facts About Matt: He was born in Newport Beach, California and went to Mater Dei High School, the same high school that former USC star quarterback Matt Leinart attended.

Matt is a Christian and has been known to play acoustic guitar with his church youth group. His father Les, co-owns an insurance business with his brother in-law. While he was a student at Mater Dei, Matt’s parents started the Monarchs for Marines (M4M) campaign, where hundreds of Mater Dei students, coaches and parents volunteered to landscape and renovate youth areas on nearby Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Matt had a 3.77 GPA in high school and frequently speaks to young students about the importance of staying on top of school work.

During his Christmas holiday in 2008, Matt went with a group of friends and family to help run an orphanage in South Africa.

Matt’s cousin, Robbie Boyer, is a walk-on at USC. Matt has admitted to having a crush on country pop singer Taylor Swift. We think they would make such a cute couple!

Happy Birthday Matt!

Happy Birthday Hank Baskett!

Happy 28th Birthday to Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Hank Baskett!

Fun Facts About Hank: He was born in Clovis, New Mexico. His father, Henry Jr., worked for the Air Force before becoming director of a social service program, and his mother Judy, works as a financial officer at Cannon Air Force Base.

After dating for six months, Hank proposed to girlfriend, Playboy model Kendra Wilkinson at the top of the Space Needle in Seattle. The pair tied the knot on June 27, 2009 at the Playboy mansion. On December 11, 2009, Kendra gave birth to the couples first child, Hank Baskett IV.

Hank co-stars in a spinoff of The Girls Next Door, titled Kendra, which focuses on his wife’s life after leaving the Playboy Mansion and getting engaged to him. The show premiered on June 7, 2009, and had record breaking numbers for E! with 2.6 million viewers.

Happy Birthday Hank!