Sports Fact and Book Rec of the Day 11/26/2007

11/26/1999:
Detroit center iceman Steve Yzerman delights the home crowd at Joe Louis Arena by becoming the 11th player in NHL history to score 600 goals as the Red Wings beat Edmonton, 4-2. Yzerman, in his 17th year with the Wings, scores on a power play in the first period. A premier setup man who recorded his 900th assist just last week, he joins Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Marcel Dionne and Mark Messier as the only players in history with 600 goals and 900 assists.

Birthdays:
Lefty Gomez b. 1909
Harry Carson b. 1953
Chuck Finley b. 1962
Mario Elie b. 1963
Shawn Kemp b. 1969


Cunningham’s debut novel comes with lavish praise from the likes of writers such as Robert Olen Butler. No wonder. The coming-of-age story set in a northern California mining town in the 19th century boasts beautiful writing, memorable imagery, an intriguing philosophical thread, and a strong story. It’s gritty and intense at the same time as it soars. A fine novel by a promising writer.

THE GREEN AGE OF ASHER WITHEROW, by M. Allen Cunningham (Unbridled Books, 2004)