First off, the December 1980 issue may have been packed with important info and features, like a story about What Men Fantasize About Sex, however it's also noteworthy in that back in 1980 it was an actual 'December Christmas' issue (something that would go away over time to save costs as it melded into a 'Man of the Year Dec/Jan issue). And who could have imagined back then that Robert Redford would maintain his star power all the way into 2016? However,the big news wasn't the centerfold (which is maybe why the photo shoot seemed a little lackluster)....the main event for December was a nude photo spread of NFL quarterback Dan Pastorini. "Football's Superstar Shows Why He's Sought After Off The Field, Too"who showed skin and pushed copies off the magazine racks across the country. Interestingly enough, many straight male football fans bought the magazine to add to their collections. Born into a family that owned an Italian restaurant, Dan excelled in high school in both football and baseball and was drafted in 1968 by the New York Mets who saw him as a potential shortstop. Pastorini, however, chose to go to college, moving to the University of Santa Clara, south of San Francisco Bay. He was the Houston Oilers #1 choice in the 1971 draft. After quarterbacking for the Oilers, the 6'3" Pastorini then moved on to the Oakland Raiders, the L.A. Rams, and the Philadelphia Eagles. During these years he developed a reputation for high living; sports cars, parties, cigars,and of course beautiful women. In 1972 he married British pin-up actress, June Wilkinson. Pastorini was known as a tough quarterback throughout his career. From 1971 through 1979, Pastorini missed only five regular season games, playing through the pain of broken ribs and even a punctured lung at times. He was the first player to wear the now ubiquitous "flack jacket" under his uniform to protect broken ribs.
