Sports Fact and Book Rec of the Day 12/10/2007

12/10/2000:
Juan Carlos Ferrero beats Australian Lleyton Hewitt in four sets in Barcelona to clinch Spain's first Davis Cup championship on an indoor clay court surface. On two earlier occasions, 1965 and '67, Spain lost to Australia in the Cup finals on grass Down Under. In a century of competition since the tradition commenced in 1900, Spain becomes the 11th different nation to win the Davis Cup.

Birthdays:
Allie Reynolds b. 1915
Mark Aguirre b. 1959
Paul Assenmacher b. 1960
Rob Blake b. 1969
Joe Mays b. 1975

THRILLERS

“Fabulous.”—Entertainment Weekly

“Clever...sly...wonderful.”—The Washington Post

“Audacious...triumphant entertainment.”—Publishers Weekly

Tiny Tim Cratchit from A Christmas Carol, is all grown-up in this riveting thriller. Timothy becomes an unwitting detective when he crosses paths with a mysterious street urchin and with her help, works to solve a murder. All the gristle and marrow of Victorian London is here with some surprising sweetness too. Mr. Timothy is an extraordinary holiday read.

MR. TIMOTHY, by Louis Bayard (HarperPerennial, 2004)