Sports Then and Now

In the NFL there are certain uniform numbers that have special meaning and status. Thanks to Jim Brown, O.J. Simpson, Franco Harris and others, number 32 was synonymous with great running backs for many years. The number 88 has a place of honor in the wide receiver room of the Dallas Cowboys and even outside of Dallas has been worn by many all-time greats. But the number that is probably most associated with a position and greatness is the number 12. There are currently six Hall of Fame quarterbacks who wore the number 12 during their playing days. That number will certainly grow once Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers take their rightful spots in the Hall of Fame in the next few years.

In honor of December 12 (12/12), we have ranked the top 12 quarterbacks who have worn the number 12 during their career.

1. Tom Brady

Widely regarded as the greatest quarterback in NFL history, Tom Brady redefined excellence with his longevity, success, and leadership. Over 23 seasons with the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Brady captured seven Super Bowl titles, more than any other player or franchise. He holds numerous records, including career passing yards, touchdowns, and playoff wins. Brady’s ability to excel in clutch situations and adapt to different systems made him the gold standard for quarterback play.

2. Roger Staubach

“Captain America” Roger Staubach was a cornerstone of the Dallas Cowboys during the 1970s, leading the team to two Super Bowl titles and six NFC Championship appearances. Known for his scrambling ability and poise under pressure, Staubach was a model of consistency and competitiveness. A Hall of Famer, he remains one of the most beloved players in Cowboys history.

The Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York will add two hard hitting legends from by-gone eras with the selection of Dick Allen and Dave Parker by the Classic Baseball Era Committee.

Most baseball fans of the 1960s and 1970s have been questioning the exclusion of these two perennial All-Stars from the Hall of Fame for many years, especially considering some of the players who have earned induction in recent years.

Both Allen and Parker were bathed in controversy during their time in MLB, which is likely among the reasons that it took so long following the end of their careers for them to make it into the Hall of Fame.

Below is a brief look at the careers of these two new Hall of Famers.

Dick Allen – One of the most feared and influential hitters of his era, Allen played 15 seasons in Major League Baseball (1963–1977). Known for his immense power and unconventional batting stance, Allen broke into the majors with the Philadelphia Phillies, winning the National League Rookie of the Year Award in 1964 after hitting .318 with 29 home runs and 91 RBIs. His ability to hit towering home runs made him a consistent offensive force, while his versatility allowed him to excel at multiple positions, including third base, first base, and the outfield. Allen’s time with the Phillies was highlighted by his offensive dominance, but he also endured racial tensions and scrutiny from fans and the media during a tumultuous era in the sport.

Allen’s best seasons came in the early 1970s after joining the Chicago White Sox. In 1972, he delivered one of the most remarkable campaigns in baseball history, winning the American League MVP award. That season, he hit .308 with 37 home runs, 113 RBIs, and led the league in on-base percentage (.420), slugging percentage (.603), and walks (99). Allen’s contributions almost single-handedly turned the White Sox into contenders, earning him widespread respect as one of the game’s most intimidating sluggers. Despite his exceptional talent, Allen’s career was marked by frequent clashes with management and the media, which often overshadowed his on-field achievements.

Retirement is weird, isn’t it? You’ve spent years dreaming about all this free time, and now that it’s here, you’re staring at your coffee cup thinking, Well… now what? You’re not alone in feeling this way. It’s a big adjustment! But here’s the good news: picking up a hobby can shake up your routine in the best possible way. Let’s chat about why hobbies matter and how to find one that makes you feel good. Really good.

The Benefits of Finding a New Hobby

Engaging Your Brain and Boosting Your Mood

Here’s the thing—your brain loves to be busy. Not work busy like spreadsheets or deadlines, but the fun, creative kind of busy. Learning something new keeps your mind sharp and gives you this little rush of accomplishment. It’s like a reward for simply trying. Painting, knitting, playing chess, even baking sourdough—these things aren’t just time fillers. They’re brain ticklers.

Have you ever tried something like Crown Green bowling? It’s relaxing but sneaky-good for focus too. And, I mean, getting yourself some proper crown green bowling supplies just feels like an official commitment to fun. Plus, it’s a great excuse to be outside, which always helps lighten the mood. Fresh air = free therapy.

Making New Friends Without the Awkward Small Talk

Listen, we’re all grown-ups here, and are we making friends as adults? Hard. But hobbies make it so much easier. You’re not stuck in one of those situations where everyone’s staring at their phones or trying to come up with “interesting” things to say. You’re all just… doing the thing. Whether it’s a pottery class or a walking club, hobbies create a space for real connections without all the pressure. And the best part? You’re bonding over something you both enjoy, which means way fewer awkward pauses.

Only a few cricketers are part of the common lexicon, but Sir Donald Bradman is among them. He cemented his immortal status decades ago with performances that were a century ahead of his time, and possibly more. 

Widely considered one of history’s greatest cricketers, Bradman is still something players talk about today. He’s often on the walls of clubhouses, and someone that young people aspire to be like throughout their training. 

The Birth Of A Legend

Bradman was born on August 27 1908 in Cootamundra, New South Wales. A summer baby, he began playing small-town cricket as a boy. 

Interestingly, his ascent to greatness had inauspicious beginnings. During his youth, he enjoyed throwing a golf ball against a water tank (presumably to pass the long hours). Later, he started using a cricket stump, honing his skills for hours on long, hot evenings, until he’d perfected his technique and gotten it just right. 

Amazingly, this unusual movement trained in his brain his later exceptional skills as a cricketer. He seemed to understand how to swing a bat better than anyone else, simply because of how hard he had made the activity growing up. 

An Unrivalled Record

Bradman took this finesse into professional cricket, achieving a batting average of over 99 in Test cricket, still unmatched to this day. In fact, his achievements were so extraordinary that you have to look to other sports to find comparisons. Roger Federer, Michael Schumacher, and Lionel Messi’s achievements all seem to pale in comparison to what Bradman was able to achieve. 

Over his 52-match career, he managed to score an astonishing 6,996 runs which included over 29 centuries. He also managed to do all of this when cricket helmets and other protective gear was minimal. Coaching was virtually non-existent, so nearly all of the skills he displayed on the pitch were natural instinct playing out. 

Bradman was most prolific during the 1930s and 1940s, enjoying the sport for a long time. Soldiers would read of his exploits and listen to them on the radio during the war, underscoring his abilities and popularity. 

Professional football has a long and storied history as part of our American Thanksgiving tradition. Many of the greatest players and best teams in NFL history have made their mark on this holiday and thus become part of families across the country during this time of fellowship and giving thanks.

While many of the players who have shined on Thanksgiving Day were familiar faces and established stars of the game, there also have been a number of players whose one shining moment as a professional football player occurred on the big stage of Turkey Day.

One such player was former Dallas Cowboys backup quarterback Jason Garrett. Before serving as head coach of the Cowboys between 2010 and 2019, he was likely best remembered by most football fans for his nearly flawless performance in place of starting quarterback Troy Aikman on Thanksgiving Day in 1994.

In only his second career start, Garrett passed for 311 yards and two touchdowns to help Dallas defeat the Green Bay Packers 42-31.

However, while Garrett’s performance was impressive, it was arguably not the best or most memorable performance by a Dallas backup quarterback on Thanksgiving Day.

That honor would belong to a rookie quarterback from Abilene Christian who two decades before Garrett’s Thanksgiving performance made a lasting impression on the football world with a memorable Thanksgiving Day show of his own.

In the mid-1970s, the rivalry between the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins was emerging as one of the most interesting in all of professional sports.

Thanks to the contrast between Washington’s spirited head coach George Allen and the stoic leader of the Cowboys Tom Landry, the rivalry had gained steam and by 1974 was among the most anticipated battles on the NFL calendar.

When the two squads squared off on Thanksgiving Day in 1974 it provided a perfect venue for the renewal of this special rivalry. Playing on national television in an era before video games and cable television provided people with other entertainment options, the late afternoon battle between the Cowboys and Redskins was truly America’s afternoon dessert following the traditional Thanksgiving meal.

After a record eight straight playoff appearances, the Dallas Cowboys had struggled during the 1974 campaign. They opened the season with a 1-4 record and entered Thanksgiving Day with a 6-5 mark and clinging to very slim playoff hopes. With games remaining against Cleveland and Oakland, they were potentially looking at their first losing season since 1964.

Top-tier athletes are always in pursuit of novel ways to whet their skills, build endurance, and put in top performances. Pushing your body to and beyond its limits is practiced more and more by athletes. Take Dean Karnazes, for example, who claims to have never felt his muscles cramp or seize up – not even running 100 miles. Most people’s bodies build up the acidity in their muscles because they have reached their lactate threshold, causing their bodies to stop in their tracks. But Karnazes biggest obstacle is said to be his mind- proving the human body is capable of so much more than we have ever thought possible. The question is how to train your body to push harder and do better. There are a few lesser-known ways that help an athlete push beyond the limits to win that extra inch. From pushing the brain to perfecting unwinding, let’s take a deeper look at some unconventional means which can make all the difference. 

Brain Health: The Hidden Powerhouse

Athletic performance isn’t just about physical strength; it is about mental agility, focus, and decision-making. A sharp mind can make the difference between winning and losing, yet brain health is often overlooked.

Neuroplasticity and Skill Development

Neuroplasticity is really important in the course of learning new techniques in athletes or other game situations; the brain has the capability to change, develop new connections, and reorganize. Challenging the brain with activities such as puzzles or strategy games will enhance this process and improve hand-eye coordination and reaction times. Simple practices – like solving riddles – might spark neuroplasticity and maintain the adaptiveness and resilience of one’s brain.