Sports Fact and Book Rec of the Day 11/17/2007

11/17/1998:
Clyde "the Glide" Drexler makes a successful coaching debut for his alma mater, the University of Houston, leading the Cougars to a 71-69 win over Texas before a rare sellout at Hofheinz Pavilion. Gee Gervin (son of Hall of Famer George "the Iceman" Gervin) scores 25 points, including the last seven for the Coogs. Unfortunately, in an attempt to recapture the Phi Slama Jama magic of days gone by, this win will prove to be the highlight of Drexler's coaching career. He'll compile miserable records of 10-17 and 9-22 the next two years, tire of the offcourt demands of the job and quietly resign.

Birthdays:
Bob Mathias b. 1930
Jim Boeheim b. 1944
Tom Seaver b. 1944
Elvin Hayes b. 1945
Mitch Williams b. 1964

QUIRKY FICTION

Marlon Brando wrote a novel? And it’s good? Believe it. Fan-Tan was conceived in 1979 when Brando and Cammell, a film director, together created an elaborate treatment for a film—so elaborate, in fact, that Knopf agreed to publish it. But capricious Brando pulled out at the last minute, and the project didn’t return to Knopf until 25 years later. The book’s plot—about an ageing sea captain and his exploits in 1927 Hong Kong—is only slightly more complicated than the details of its publication. It’s filled with beautiful Chinese women, corrupt sea dogs, dirty dealings, and a fight over a small fortune. Rollicking good fun.

FAN-TAN, by Marlon Brando and Donald Cammell (Knopf, 2005)