Sports Fact & Book Rec of the Day 6/30/2007

6/30/2003:
Unseeeded Australian Mark Philippoussis, healthy again after three knee operations, upsets second seed Andre Agassi in five sets in a round-of-16 match at Wimbledon. Philippoussis serves 46 aces to negate the strongest element of Agassi's game, return of serve, thereby tying a tournament record held by Goran Ivanisevic. He'll reach the final here, only to lost in straight sets to Roger Federer.

Birthdays:
Roy Green b. 1957
Mitch Richmond b. 1965
Garret Anderson b. 1972
Chan Ho Park b. 1973
Michael Phelps b. 1985


The Tsangpo Gorge in Tibet is the deepest river gorge in the world, and its steep drops and raging waters have repelled all attempts to travel its length. Until 2002. In February of that year a team of extreme kayakers, accompanied by Outside writer Peter Heller, arrived to conquer. The story of their battle is epic, and these gladiators find themselves fighting not only nature but also one another and themselves in order to triumph and survive. Heart-pounding action, enthralling history, and meticulous kayaking details. If you’ve been wondering when the next Into Thin Air would arrive, stop waiting. It’s here.

HELL OR HIGH WATER, by Peter Heller (Plume, 2005)