Sports Birthdays for June 24 — J.J. Redick and More

Here are some of the people in the sports world celebrating birthdays on June 24:

Wayne Cashman

Age: 67

Profession: Retired NHL Player

Best Known For: A force on the Boston Bruins’ teams that won the Stanley Cup in both 1970 and 1972, Wayne Cashman was a Bruin for his entire NHL career from 1968 to 1983. A member of the teams that included Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito and Ken Hodge, Cashman often served as the muscle that allowed Orr and Esposito to concentrate on offense. Cashman was an All-Star in 1974 and later served as captain of the Bruins from 1978 to 1983.

John Tortorella

Age: 54

Profession: NHL Head Coach

Best Known For: A Stanley Cup-winning head coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004, John Tortorella currently serves as the head coach of the New York Rangers. His salty language, abrasive tone and direct demeanor make his press conferences among the most entertaining in sports. Tortorella also has been credited with naming the East Coast Hockey League prior to its inception in 1988.

Juli Inkster

Age: 52

Profession: Professional Golfer

Best Known For: A member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, Juli Inkster is among the most successful women’s golfers of all time. Inkster has won 31 LPGA titles, including seven majors. Having won the career Grand Slam for ladies’ golf, Inkster is currently fifth on the LPGA career money list.

Bernie Nicholls

Age: 51

Profession: Retired NHL Player

Best Known For: An underrated hockey talent, Bernie Nicholls played in 1,127 games for the Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers, New Jersey Devils, Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks during a 17-year NHL playing career that lasted from 1981-1999. Nicholls is one of only eight players in NHL history to have scored 70 goals in one season, and one of five to score 150 points or more.

Preki

Age: 49

Profession: Former MLS Player

Best Known For: Once a player for English soccer clubs Everton and Portsmouth, Preki was one of the first great stars in Major League Soccer in the U.S. Playing for the Kansas City Wizards and Miami Fusion, the Serbian-born Preki was a two-time winner of the Major League Soccer MVP Award. He was elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2010.

Gary Suter

Age: 48

Profession: Retired NHL Player

Best Known For: One of the greatest American-born hockey players, Gary Suter was a five-time NHL All-Star in a playing career that stretched from 1985 to 2002. Suter won the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie in 1986, the first American to do so. Suter was a member of the Calgary Flames’ Stanley Cup-winning team in 1989. He finished his career with 844 career points.

Jere Lehtinen

Age: 39

Profession: Retired NHL Player

Best Known For: A three-time winner of the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the NHL’s best defensive forward, Jere Lehtinen was a critical part of the Dallas Stars teams that went to back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals in 1999 and 2000, winning in 1999. A native of Finland, Lehtinen scored 514 points during his 14-year NHL career, all with the Stars.

J.J. Redick

Age : 28

Profession: NBA Player

Best Known For: The all-time leading scorer for the storied Duke University men’s basketball team, J.J. Redick was one of the best college basketball players of the 2000s. Redick was named the AP National Player of the Year in 2006. His No. 4 jersey was retired at Duke’s Cameron Indoor Stadium during the 2007 season. Redick now plays with the NBA’s Orlando Magic, who selected him with the 11th pick of the 2006 NBA Draft.

Phil Hughes

Age: 26

Profession: MLB Pitcher

Best Known For: Phil Hughes is a starting pitcher for the New York Yankees. Hughes made the American League All-Star team in 2010. He finished the year 18-8. Hughes was a member of the Yankees’ team that won the 2009 World Series.

Lionel Messi

Age: 25

Profession: International Soccer Player

Best Known For: A native of Argentina, Lionel Messi is recognized by many experts as the best soccer player in the world. In addition to serving as captain for the Argentina national team, Messi plays for FC Barcelona, one of the best teams in the best soccer league in the world, La Liga. Messi has been a part of five La Liga titles. Messi set the world record with 73 goals in 2011-12, including becoming the first player in UEFA Champions League history to score five goals in one match. He won either the World Player of the Year or the FIFA Ballon d’Or award every year from 2009 to 2011.