Sports Fact and Book Rec of the Day 04/18/2008

4/18/1987:
Light-hitting second baseman Tommy Herr hits the only grand-slam homer of his career in the last of the 10th inning, giving the St. Louis Cardinals a 12-8 victory over the Mets at Busch Stadium. The jackpot wallop off Jesse Orosco caps a perfect night at the plate for Herr, three for three with two walks and six RBIs. He'll be an integral part of the Cards' third pennant-winning club in six years, but several injuries to key performers like Terry Pendleton and Jack Clark will reduce their chances in the World Series, when they lose to the Minnesota Twins in seven games.

Birthdays:
Don Ohl b. 1936
Pete Gogolak b. 1942
Wilber Marshall b. 1962
Rico Brogna b. 1970
Haile Gebrselassie b. 1973

1962:
Bill Russell's 30-point, 44-rebound effort led the Boston Celtics to a 110-107 Game 7 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, giving the Celtics a record fourth straight NBA Championship.

"There was big Bill Russell, their defensive wonder, knocking opposition shots away from the basket with the casual ease of a man swatting flies. There was the Celtic offense, which attacks with the intuition and confidence of a man raiding his own icebox in the dark." -Artie W. Schardt, April 30, 1962

Packers Fact:
Head coach Mike McCarthy played tight end on Baker University's NAIA Division II national runner up squad in 1986.

A TAIL WAGGER

“A very funny valentine . . . Marley & Me tenderly follows its subject from sunrise to sunset . . . with hilarity and affection.”—Janet Maslin, The New York Times

A hyperactive Labrador retriever quickly works his way into the home and hearts of Philadelphia Inquirer columnist John Grogan and his wife. The rest is a history of terrorized pet sitters, a humiliated trainer, a swallowed gold necklace, and other riotous adventures in doggy delinquency.

MARLEY & ME: LIFE AND LOVE WITH THE WORLD’S WORST DOG, by John Grogan (William Morrow, 2005)