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Connecting over the Cube: Jacob Dixon Helps Ryan Fitzpatrick Master Rubik’s Cube

Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld
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Jacob Dixon and Brady Fitzpatrick

Jacob Dixon and Brady Fitzpatrick playing one last game together before the Fitzpatrick family moved from Bellaire.

Every year, NFL quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who was previously with the Texans and is now with the Jets, tries to master a hobby on his “off-season bucket last.” For example, he’s become proficient at woodworking, Spanish and writing computer programs. This year, his goal was to figure out the Rubik’s Cube. 

Fitzpatrick tried to learn from the Internet but it didn’t work out for him. So he asked kids, like his 13-year-old Bellaire neighbor Jacob Dixon, for help. 

Last week, Jacob, who plays on Bellaire Little League, was quoted in this Wall Street Journal article about how he helped Fitzpatrick figure out the Rubik’s Cube.

According to the story, after following Jacob’s hand-written “cheat sheet” instructions and lots of practice, Fitzpatrick can now solve the cube in about 90 seconds. But his 8-year-old son, Brady, can still solve it even quicker.

It wasn’t unusual that Fitzpatrick would be spotted in the neighborhood, throwing footballs with the kids on the block. According to Jacob's mom, Lee Anne Dixon, he would sometimes yell out math problems and only throw the football to the kid who solved the problem correctly.

Last football season, Fitzpatrick was featured in our Buzz About Town column with a group of Pin Oak Middle School sixth-grade boys before their first mixer. Check it out here. 

“Valerie Street misses the Fitzpatricks,” said Lee Anne, “And the whole community wishes him well as he assumes the starting QB role for the New York Jets.” 

Read the article on the Wall Street Journal here and check out our recent story on the Bellaire Little League champs, including Jacob. 

We wish Ryan Fitzpatrick the very best of luck with the New York Jets. (Except when they play The Texans Nov. 22!) 

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