Sports Birthdays for October 18 — Mike Ditka and More

Here are some of the people in the sports world celebrating birthdays on October 18:

Keith Jackson
Age: 84
Profession: Retired Broadcaster
Best Known For: The most recognized voice on college football games for decades, Keith Jackson delivered homespun play-by-play on ABC-TV for nearly 60 years, calling the World Series, Monday Night Football and the Olympics in addition to NCAA games. His interjections of "Whoa, Nellie" and "Fum-BLE!" are iconic phrases of sports broadcasting.

Forrest Gregg
Age: 79
Profession: Retired NFL Player/ Coach
Best Known For: A nine-time Pro Bowl tackle and one of the greatest offensive linemen ever to play the game, Forrest Gregg played for the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys from 1956 to 1971. He was on the Packers' teams that won NFL titles in 1961, 1962 and 1965, and Super Bowl I and II. Gregg also played for the Cowboys' team that won Super Bowl VI. After retiring as a player, Gregg served as head coach of the Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals and the Packers. He led the Bengals to a berth in Super Bowl XVI. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977 and named to the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team.

Mike Ditka
Age: 73
Profession: Retired NFL Player/ Coach
Best Known For: A five-time Pro Bowl tight end, Mike Ditka played for the
Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys from 1961 to 1972. He was on the Bears' team that won the 1963 NFL Championship and the Cowboys' team that won Super Bowl VI. In 1988, Ditka became the first tight end inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
After retiring as a player, Ditka coached the Bears from 1982 to 1992 and the New Orleans Saints from 1997 to 1999. He was the coach of the Bears' team that won Super Bowl XX. Ditka also had a career as a studio analyst on football broadcasts.

Martina Navratilova
Age: 56
Profession: Retired Tennis Player
Best Known For: One of the greatest women's tennis players of all-time, Martina Navratilova won 167 career singles titles, including 18 Grand Slam singles championships from 1975 to 1999. She also won 31 major women's doubles titles, an all-time record.

Thomas Hearns
Age: 54
Profession: Retired Boxer
Best Known For: Known as 'The Hit Man,' Thomas Hearns was the first boxer in history to win titles in four different divisions. Compiling a lifetime record of 61-5-1 from 1977 to 2006, Hearns most memorable fights were against Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler and Roberto Durán. His 1985 fight against Hagler is considered to be one of the greatest boxing matches of all-time.