Sports Birthdays for September 3 — Jennie Finch and More
Here are some of the people in the sports world celebrating birthdays on September 3:
Dick Motta
Age: 81
Profession: Former NBA Head Coach
Best Known For: Winner of the 1978 NBA title as head coach of the Washington Bullets, Dick Motta helmed the Chicago Bulls (1968-1977), Bullets (1977-1980) and Dallas Mavericks (1980-1987). He won the NBA Coach of the Year Award in 1971. Motta is often erroneously given credit for the phrase ‘ The opera ain’t over ’til the fat lady sings.’ It was actually San Antonio sportswriter Dan Cook from whom Motta borrowed the saying.
Luis Gonzalez
Age: 45
Profession: Retired MLB Player
Best Known For: A five-time All-Star outfielder, Luis Gonzalez played for the Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers, Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Dodgers and Florida Marlins from 1990 to 2008. Gonzalez’s run-scoring, bloop single off Mariano Rivera in the ninth inning of Game 7 of the 2001 World Series gave Arizona its only MLB title.
Damon Stoudamire
Age: 39
Profession: Retired NBA Player
Best Known For: The 1996 Rookie of the Year, point guard Damon Stoudamire played for the Toronto Raptors, Portland Trail Blazers, Memphis Grizzlies and San Antonio Spurs from 1995 to 2008. He averaged 13.4 points and 6.1 assists per game during his career. In 1995, Stoudamire was named an All-American while in college at Arizona.
Jennie Finch
Age: 32
Profession: Retired Softball Player
Best Known For: A former Olympian, Jennie Finch is among the best women’s softball pitchers of all-time. While in college at Arizona, Finch won an NCAA-record 60 decisions in a row. Finch was a member of the US women’s softball team that won the gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens and the silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Sydney. Finch is married to former MLB pitcher Casey Daigle, with whom she has two children.
Shaun White
Age: 26
Profession: Extreme Sports Athlete
Best Known For: Shaun White is a two-time Olympic gold medalist who won the halfpipe snowboarding event at both the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics. White has also won 17 Winter X Games gold medals and five X Games medals in the vert skateboarding competition.