Sports Fact and Book Rec of the Day 8/11/2007

8/11/1984:
Sebastian Coe of Great Britain becomes the first man to win two Olympic gold medals in the 1500 meters with a dominating performance at Los Angeles. Taking the lead for good with 200 meters remaining, Coe wins by a comfortable margin in 3:32.53, a new Olympic record and almost six seconds faster than his 1980 winning time in Moscow. He'll also earn a silver medal in the 800 meters here, duplicating his runner-up finish in that event four years ago.

Birthdays:
Bill Monbouquette b. 1936
Vada Pinson b. 1938
Bill Munson b. 1941
Otis Taylor b. 1942
Craig Ehlo b. 1961

WEIRD SCIENCE

David Hahn gave a whole new meaning to “nuclear family.” He was always a curious kid—mixing concoctions and building things. But curiosity nearly killed the cat and the other 40,000 residents of Hahn’s suburban-Detroit neighborhood when the nuclear reactor that young David managed to build in the family’s tool shed actually worked. Bumbling federal agents, a dysfunctional family, and a juvenile mad scientist collide in Silverstein’s suspenseful, shocking read.

THE RADIOACTIVE BOY SCOUT: THE FRIGHTENING TRUE STORY OF A WHIZ KID AND HIS HOMEMADE NUCLEAR REACTOR, by Ken Silverstein (Villard, 2005)