Sports Fact and Book Rec of the Day 8/5/2007

8/5/2004:
In a final tuneup before heading to Athens, the U.S. Olympic women's basketball team defeats a contingent of WNBA All-Stars, 74-58, in New York City. Lisa Leslie, Tamika Catchings and Tina Thompson lead the Olympians to a rather easy victory before over 6,000 fans at Radio City Music Hall, which is pinch-hitting for Madison Square Garden (then playing host to the Republican Convention). Team USA will win eight straight games in Greece, winning the gold medal over Australia in the final round.

Birthdays:
Roman Gabriel b. 1940
Patrick Ewing b. 1962
Otis Thorpe b. 1962
John Olerud b. 1968
Mark Mulder b. 1977


“A cupful of Casablanca, a dollop of Isak Dinesen, a pinch of Indiana Jones.”—USA Today

“Breathtaking...packed with daring exploits and sinister intrigues, with larger-than-life characters and exotic locales.”—Orlando Sentinel

“You finish this book almost out of breath.”—The New York Times

The Cataract Café is the Nile’s answer to Rick’s. It’s the brink of World War II, and everybody comes here, bringing romance, intrigue, and adventure. A glamorous, engrossing, old-fashioned yarn.

A CAFÉ ON THE NILE, by Bartle Bull (Caroll & Graf Publishers, 1999)