Sports Fact and Book Rec of the Day 11/14/2007

11/14/1997:
In only the eighth quadruple overtime game in NBA history (and first in 10 years), the Phoenix Suns outlast the Portland Trail Blazers, 140-139, at the Rose Garden. Danny Manning scores 35 points and Jason Kidd has 16 assists for the Suns, who get two free throws from Rex Chapman in the closing seconds to finally clinch the game after 20 minutes of additional play. J.R. Rider, Arvydas Sabonis and Brian Grant combine for 100 Portland points.

Birthdays:
Jimmy Piersall b. 1929
Jack Sikma b. 1955
Curt Schilling b. 1966
Dana Stubblefield b. 1970
Lawyer Milloy b. 1973

QUIRKY HISTORIES

Life has gotten better for most Americans in the past 50 years. Our salaries are up; crime is down; diseases are better fought; and more comforts are available to more people. So why the long faces? Why aren’t we happier, and why do many people believe that things are getting worse? Easterbrook, a New Republic editor and Atlantic Monthly contributor, explains why in witty and wise terms—creating what The New York Times calls “a compelling case for good cheer.”

THE PROGRESS PARADOX, by Gregg Easterbrook (Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2004)