Sports Fact and Book Rec of the Day 7/24/2007

7/24/2005:
Texan Lance Armstrong wins his seventh straight Tour de France by nearly five minutes over runner-up Ivan Basso of Italy. Will he go again? Not likely. His immediate goal is to spend more time with his three children, who joined him on the winner's podium. Besides, there are a lot of Americans out there who want him to run for public office.

Birthdays:
Walt Bellamy b. 1939
Julie Krone b. 1963
Karl Malone b. 1963
Barry Bonds b. 1964
Brian Blades b. 1965

EPICS

A rich, ambitious saga that chronicles 50 years in the life of a Norwegian family. The title character is Fred, the feisty and loyal halfbrother of Barnum, who is small and quiet. The brothers’ complicated relationship is the center of a universe around which other dazzling characters swirl. Christensen’s elegant, insightful novel is a bestseller and critical darling in Europe and in America was a Village Voice Book of the Year.

THE HALF BROTHER, by Lars Saabye Christensen (Arcade, 2005)