Sports Fact and Book Rec of the Day 12/26/2007

KWANZAA
BOXING DAY
12/26/1960:
Led by quarterback Norm Van Brocklin and linebacker Chuck Bednarik, the veteran Philadelphia Eagles barely hold off Vince Lombardi's up-and-comingn Green Bay Packers, 17-13, to win the NFL title at Franklin Field. After the Packers take a 13-10 lead in the fourth quarter, a 58-yard kickoff return by Fred Dean sets up the winning Eagles touchdown. The Packers try to respond, but Bednarik tackles Jim Taylor on theh eight-yard line as time runs out and the Eagles deal Coach Lombardi his only lifetime loss in the postseason.

Birthdays:
Bill Yeoman b. 1927
Norm Ullman b. 1935
Carlton Fisk b. 1947
Susan Butcher b. 1954
Ozzie Smith b. 1954

Did you miss the boat on The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency? The book was published in 2002 to rave reviews, instant bestseller status, and fans eager for more. And Smith obliged, offering in short order five more tales of private detective Precious Ramotswe (“the Miss Marple of Botswana,” according to The New York Times Book Review). Was it too much too soon? No! In the case of Smith, too much is not enough, and the experts promise that the series remains “consistently delightful” (Publishers Weekly). It’s never too late to catch the wave. Dive in and see what all the fuss is about.

THE NO. 1 LADIES’ DETECTIVE AGENCY, by Alexander McCall Smith (Anchor, 2002)