Here are some of the people in the sports world celebrating birthdays on July 12:

Paul Silas

Age: 69

Profession: Retired NBA Player / Former NBA Head Coach

Best Known For: Paul Silas was a two-time NBA All-Star while playing from 1964 to 1980 with the St. Louis Hawks, Phoenix Suns, Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets and Seattle SuperSonics. A talented forward, Silas was named to All-NBA Defensive teams five times. He was a member of three teams that won the NBA title: Boston in 1974 and 1976, and Seattle in 1979. After retiring as a player, Silas served as head coach for the San Diego Clippers, Charlotte Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers and Charlotte Bobcats, whom he coached in the 2011-12 NBA season.

Rick Hendrick

Age: 63

Profession: NASCAR Team Owner

Best Known For: As founder of the Hendrick Automotive Group, Rick Hendrick owns Hendrick Motorsports, which has tallied 202 NASCAR Cup wins since 1984. Terry Labonte, Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson have collectively won 10 Cup points titles while driving for Hendrick. Gordon, Johnson, Kasey Kahne and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. all currently drive for Hendrick.

Mario Soto

Age: 56

Profession: Retired MLB Player

Best Known For: A three-time All-Star pitcher, Mario Soto amassed 100 wins while pitching for the Cincinnati Reds from 1977 to 1988. Soto was suspended for five games twice during the 1984 season — once for shoving third base umpire Steve Rippley during a disputed home run call and second for throwing a ball at the Atlanta Braves’ Claudell Washington at close range during a bench-clearing brawl.

Julio César Chávez

Age: 50

Profession: Retired Boxer

Best Known For: For years considered among the greatest pound-for-pound boxers in the world, Julio César Chávez won six boxing titles in three weight classes — super featherweight, lightweight and light welterweight — during a career that lasted from 1980 to 2005. He was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2011. Chávez’ career record was 107-6-2.

Brock Lesnar

Age: 35

Profession: Professional Wrestler/ Retired UFC Fighter

Best Known For: A heavyweight wrestling champion in college at Minnesota in 2000, Brock Lesnar has gone on to become a three-time champion of World Wrestling Entertainment and an Ultimate Fighting Championship title-holder. In addition to his wrestling and fighting careers, Lesnar tried out for the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings in 2004.

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