Lovie Lee Smith (born (1958-05-08)May 8, 1958) is the head coach of the Chicago Bears professional football team of the NFL. Smith has been to the Super Bowl twice, as the defensive coordinator for the 2001 St. Louis Rams and as the head coach for the Chicago Bears in 2006.

Lovie Smith was born in Gladewater and raised in Big Sandy, Texas. He was named after his great aunt, Lavana. During Smith's high school career in Big Sandy, he earned all-state honors for three years as a defensive end and linebacker. His team won three consecutive state championships in 1973-75, including a 0–0 tie in 1974 versus Celina High School of legendary coach G. A. Moore. In 1975, Big Sandy had one of the most dominant seasons in high school football history, as the defense allowed only 15 points (11 shutouts) all season, while the offense, featuring eventual Miami Dolphins running back David Overstreet, scored a then-national record 824 points.

Smith played college football at University of Tulsa under head coach John Cooper. He was a two-time All-American at linebacker and safety. After graduation he immediately pursued a coaching career. He was hired as defensive coordinator at his hometown high school in 1980. A year later he left to coach at Cascia Hall Preparatory School in Tulsa. By 1983, he began coaching linebackers on the college level, first at his alma mater Tulsa (1983–86), and then at University of Wisconsin–Madison (1987), Arizona State University (1988–91), and the University of Kentucky (1992). He also served as defensive backs coach at the University of Tennessee (1993–94), and Ohio State University (1995).

Jamael Orondé "Rondé" Barber (born April 7, 1975) is an American football cornerback/safety for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Buccaneers in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He played college football at Virginia.

Barber attended Cave Spring High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and was a standout in football, wrestling, and track. In football, he was a three time All-District selection. In track, he won the national title in the 55-meter hurdles as a senior.

Drafted in the third round pick of the 1997 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers out of the University of Virginia. His brother Tiki was also drafted the same year, but went a round earlier than Ronde to the New York Giants. In his first season with the Bucs, Barber was unable to force his way into the lineup and played little, making a rare appearance in one game in the 1997 season (he did earn the nickel back job in the playoffs). However, Barber had clearly made an impression on the then Bucs Head Coach Tony Dungy, and in his second season Barber started nine games, recording 81 tackles, 3 sacks, and 2 interceptions. On November 25, 2007, he took the record from Donnie Abraham for the most interceptions in Buccaneers team history by catching his 32nd against the Washington Redskins. He is the longest-tenured member of the team. He is the active leader in consecutive starts for a non-kicker, and is tied with London Fletcher for consecutive games played for a non-kicker.

"The Man" is a slang phrase that may refer to the government or to some other authority in a position of power. In addition to this derogatory connotation, it may also serve as a term of respect and praise.

The phrase "the Man is keeping me down" is commonly used to describe oppression. The phrase "stick it to the Man" encourages resistance to authority, and essentially means "fight back" or "resist", either openly or via sabotage.

The earliest recorded use^{[citation needed]} of the term "the Man" in the American sense dates back to a letter written by a young Alexander Hamilton in September 1772, when he was 15. In a letter to his father James Hamilton, published in the Royal Dutch-American Gazette, he described the response of the Dutch governor of St. Croix to a hurricane that raked that island on August 31, 1772. "Our General has issued several very salutary and humane regulations and both in his publick and private measures, has shewn himself the Man." ^{[dubious – discuss]} In the Southern U.S. states, the phrase came to be applied to any man or any group in a position of authority, or to authority in the abstract. From about the 1950s the phrase was also an underworld code word for police, the warden of a prison or other law enforcement or penal authorities.

Devin Hester (born November 4, 1982) is an American football wide receiver and return specialist for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He played college football at the University of Miami, where he became the first person in the university’s recent history to play in all three phases of American football (offense, defense, special teams). Hester was drafted in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He quickly made an impact as a kick returner, and later became one of the team's starting wide receivers. Hester holds the NFL record for most all-time kick and punt return touchdowns.

Devin Hester was born to Juanita Brown and Lenorris Hester, Sr. in Riviera Beach, Florida. His parents separated when he was a toddler. Before he became a teenager, his mother was severely injured in a car accident, while his father died of cancer two years later. His step-father, Derrick Brown, and brother, Lenorris, Jr., helped Hester escape his depression and rebuild his life by introducing him to football. He soon returned to his normal life and began to excel in sports and academics.

Skip Bayless (born John Bayless II on December 4, 1951) is a sports journalist and television personality. Bayless regularly appears on ESPN2's ESPN First Take and its afternoon show 1st and 10. Bayless previously wrote regular columns for ESPN.com and its "Page 2" section. He is perhaps best known for his strong opinions and sometimes controversial stances on professional athletes.

Bayless was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The first child of John and Levita Bayless, he was named John Edward Bayless II on his birth certificate, but his father immediately began calling him Skip or Skipper. The name stuck, and Skip Bayless was never called John by his parents. He eventually had his name legally changed to Skip. His brother is the chef, restaurateur and TV personality Rick Bayless.

Bayless as a junior, along with Jerry Waugh, Jim Hill, and Tony Robinson led Junior Varsity (JV)'s Northwest Classen High School basketball team.

Bayless averaged 1.4 points per game as a senior playing basketball at Northwest Classen High School.