Sports Fact and Book Rec of the Day 9/26/2007

9/26/1974:
The Houston Aeros of the WHA defeat the St. Louis Blues of the NHL, 5-4, in the first exhibition game ever played between the rival leagues. Don Larway scores twice for the Aeros, including the game winner with just over six minutes left. Rich Preston, Andre Hinse and Poul Popiel also score for Houston, the defending WHA (Avco Cup) champions, who delight nearly 8,000 fans at the Sam Houston Coliseum by gaining a modicum of respect for their three-year-old league against NHL competition.

Birthdays:
Bobby Shantz b. 1925
Dave Casper b. 1951
Craig Heyward b.1966
Craig Janney b. 1967
Serena Williams b. 1981

INVESTIGATIVE NONFICTION

Here is a memoir that fans of murder mystery novels will devour. Bell, an Australian journalist, became interested in poison when she learned that her grandfather poisoned two of his sons. Her story deftly intertwines details about famous historical and literary poisonings, information about poisons and how they work, and her dark family history. A creepy, but utterly engrossing tale.

POISON: A HISTORY AND A FAMILY MEMOIR, by Gail Bell (St. Martin’s Press, 2002)