Sports Fact of the Day 3/31-4/13/08

March 31:

3/31/2002:

The Connecticut Lady Huskies complete a perfect season (39-0) by winning the national championship with an 82-70 victory over Oklahoma at the Alamodome in San Antonio. UConn led the nation in several categories such as points scored (87.2 ppg), points allowed (50.7 ppg), three-point shooting percentage (41%) and assists (846 for the season, a new NCAA record). Swin Cash leads the scoring tonight with 20 points, and Ashja Jones adds 19. UConn will go on to win the NCAA crown in 2003 and '04 as well.

Birthdays:

Gordie Howe b. 1928

Miller Barber b. 1931

Bob Pulford b. 1936

Tom Barrasso b. 1965

Pavel Bure b. 1971

1975:

In John Wooden's final game as coach at UCLA, the Bruins defeated the Kentucky Wildcats, 92-85, for their 10^th NCAA basketball championship in 12 years.

"College basketball went off to meet the Wizard of Westwood for the last time. Having arrived in California 27 years ago as something of a scarecrow, Wooden went out like a most uncowardly lion. [He] remained true to his image; he was the kindly Tin Man to the end." -Curry Kirkpatrick, April 7, 1975

Packers Fact:

Mike McCarthy was the quarterbacks coach for Green Bay in 1999 before becoming the offensive coordinator of the New Orleans Saints the next year.

April 1:

4/1/1997:

The San Diego Padres explode for a modern National League Opening Day record of 11 runs in one inning to crush the Mets, 12-5, at Qualcomm Stadium. Trailing 4-0 in the sixth inning, the Padres get back-to-back-to-back homers from Chris Gomez, Rickey Henderson and Quilvio Veras to knock Mets starter Pete Harnisch from the box. They continue the carnage against three New York relievers, with Tony Gwynn and Steve Finley each driving home two runs with timely hits. The major league record for runs in an inning on Opening Day remains 12, set by the 1925 Cleveland Indians.

Birthdays:

Bo Schembechler b. 1929

Ron Perranoski b. 1936

Rusty Staub b. 1944

Norm Van Lier b. 1947

Scott Stevens b. 1964

1995:

In a curious decision, the International Olympic Committee granted provisional recognition to ballroom dancing as a demonstration sport for the upcoming Atlanta Games.

"Detractors point out the bloated size of the modern Summer Games, which will have more than 10,000 in competitors in 1996, and bemoan the prospect of adding ballroom dancing to the party. Let them make room by throwing out synchronized swimming and rhythmic gymnastics, two ridiculous activities." -E.M. Swift, April 24, 1995

April 2:

4/2/2001:

After crawling out of a 22-point hole against Maryland in the Final Four semifinals, Duke leaves nothing to chance tonight, leading comfortably and beating Arizona, 82-72, at the Metrodome in Minneapolis for their third men's basketball national title and first since winning back-to-back crowns in 1991-92. Mike Dunleavy Jr. leads the Blue Devils with 21 points, including five 3-point goals, and Shane Battier adds 18 points and 11 rebounds to win Most Outstanding Player honors.

Birthdays:

Luke Appling b. 1907

Carmen Basilion b. 1927

Dick Radatz b. 1937

Don Sutton b. 1945

Linford Christie b. 1960

1990:

The Las Vegas Runnin' Rebels routed the Duke Blue Devils, 103-73, and won the school's first NCAA basketball championship. UNLV forced Duke into 23 turnovers.

"It was the biggest blowout in the history of the championship game. It was not just that Vegas became the first team to score 100 or more points in the final, or that it won by the largest margin ever. That was mere offense in a game in which the Rebels' defense was the story." -Curry Kirkpatrick, April 9, 1990

Packers Fact:

With Mike McCarthy calling the plays as coordinator, the Saints enjoyed the most prolific offensive period in their history in the early 2000s.

April 3:

4/3/1993:

Trailing 4-2 after two periods, the Main Black Bears score three goals in a 4:35 span of the final session to beat defending national champion Lake Superior State, 5-4, and win the NCAA hockey title at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee. Senior captain Jim Montgomery scores all three goals, assisted on each by freshman and Hobey Baker award winner Paul Kariya, as Maine (42-1-2) completes a dream season and wins its first national crown after losing in the Frozen Four semifinals in 1988, '89 and '91. Montgomery receives the Most Outstanding Player award for the jubilant Bears from Orono, Maine, coached by Shawn Walsh.

Birthdays:

Bernie Parent b. 1945

Pervis Ellison b. 1967

Rodney Hampton b. 1969

Picabo Street b. 1971

Michael Olowokandi b. 1975

1989:

The Michigan Wolverines edged the Seton Hall Pirates, 80-79, and won the NCAA basketball title in Steve Fisher's seventh game as Wolverines' coach.

"In this presidentially decreed era of a kinder, gentler America, it's ironic that a football school would win the national championship in basketball. Furthermore, that university, which gave us Jerry Ford on the gridiron, risked all on the hardwood with an interim coach who looks like Jimmy Carter." -Curry Kirkpatrick, April 10, 1989

April 4:

Driving his managers to distraction or drink, wonderfully talented and fleet-of-foot Mick "the Quick" Rivers was never too keen on expanding his offensive repertoire: "I like to concentrate on my strong points; no sense working on my weaknesses. Why work at stuff I'm no good at?"

Birthdays:

Tris Speaker b. 1888

JoAnne Carner b. 1939

Dale Hawerchuk b. 1963

Scott Rolen b. 1975

Ben Gordon b. 1983

1974:

Henry Aaron of the Atlanta Braves connected off Cincinnati Reds pitchers Jack Billingham for his 714^th career home run, equaling Babe Ruth's alltime record.

"With Henry Aaron it is not only a matter of when he breaks Babe Ruth's home-run record or where he breaks it but how many homers he hits after he consigns 714 to the vault of golden numbers. How many generations will pass before his record is broken." -William Leggett, April 8, 1974

Packers Fact:

Before Mike McCarthy in 2006, the last time the Packers hired a 49ers' assistant as head coach was in 1992. That was Mike Holmgren.

April 5:

4/5/1972:

Parting with outfielder Ken Singleton, first baseman Mike Jorgensen and shortstop Tim Foli, who go on to post a combined 41 years of big-league service, the Mets pay a steep price to obtain Le Grand Orange, Rusty Staub, from the Montreal Expos. Staub will stay with the Mets for four seasons before he's dealt to Detroit for Mickey Lolich. Always a fan favorite, he'll return in 1981 to play five additional seasons with the Mets, primarily as a pinch hitter.

Birthdays:

Doggie Julian b. 1901

Doug Favell b. 1945

Rennie Stennett b. 1951

Brad Van Pelt b. 1951

Ike Hilliard b. 1976

1984:

In a win over Utah, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar of the Los Angeles Lakers sank a sky hook to surpass Wilt Chamberlain as the NBA's alltime leading scorer with 31,421 career points. By the time he retired in 1988, Abdul-Jabbar had scored 38,387 points.

"Breaking Wilt's record validated Abdul-Jabbar with the media, and thus, the public at large. "It seemed like I gained an immediate respect," he says. Nearly every media outlet wanted Kareem's reaction after he set the record, and it came as a surprise-given his disdain for attention-when he accommodated them." -Anthony Cotton, May 28, 1984

April 6:

Martina Hingis defeats Monica Seles, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5), in the finals of the Family Circle Cup at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Seles wins the first five games of the clay-court match and takes the first set before Hingis, the world's top-ranked player, asserts herself the rest of the way. It's the sixth straight tournament victory for the Swiss Miss, encompassing 31 match wins. For Seles, it's another close setback against a top foe. She's now 0-5 against Hingis and Steffi Graf since her return to tennis in 1995 after a macabre on-court stabbing incident in Germany in 1993.

Birthdays:

Ernie Lombardi b. 1908

Spider Lockhart b. 1943

Bert Blyleven b. 1957

Sterling Sharpe b. 1965

Bret Boone b. 1969

April 7:

4/7/1977:

Prevented from playing in their home rink at Chicago Stadium because it had been rented out for a four-night stand of Led Zeppelin concerts, the Chicago Blackhawks are ousted from the Stanley Cup playoffs by the New York Islanders, 2-1, at Nassau Coliseum. Chicago goalie Tony Esposito is magnificent, even earning a standing ovation from the partisan Islander fans. Alas, New York goals by Jude Drouin and Clark Gillies are just enough to allow the Isles to prevail, as they grant No Quarter to the road-weary Blackhawks.

Birthdays:

Bobby Doerr b. 1918

Gail Cogdill b. 1937

Tony Dorsett b. 1954

Ricky Watters b. 1969

Ronde and Tiki Barber b. 1975

1963:

Jack Nicklaus recorded a four-round total of 286 and won his hfirst Masters golf championship. Nicklaus won the prestigious tournament held at Augusta (Ga.) National a record six times during his career.

"Big Jack is fast becoming the mighty man of golf. Masters officials have to get his measurements now for that green winner's coat. The size is 44 regular, and they may as well file it where it will be handy. Jack may earn a few more of those coats in the future." -Alfred Wright, April 15, 1963

Packers Fact:

Mike McCarthy had never been a head coach at any level before taking over the Packers in 2006.

April 8:

Top-ranked and unbeaten (8-0) Johns Hopkins wins its 32^nd straight home lacrosse game with an 11-10 victory in double overtime against second-ranked Duke (11-1) at Homewood Field in Baltimore. Freshman Kevin Huntley's third unassisted goal for the Blue Jays wins it in sudden death. These two teams will advance to the NCAA tournament championship game next month in Philadelphia, and Johns Hopkins will win again, 9-8, to capture its eighth national title.

Birthdays:

Turk Farrell b. 1934

John Havlicek b. 1940

Jim "Catfish" Hunter b. 1946

Gary Carter b. 1954

Ricky Bell b. 1955

1993:

The Green Bay Packers signed the Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro defensive lineman Reggie White to a lucrative free-agent contract.

"White arrived during the off-season as a free agent from Philadelphia. Long acclaimed as the Minister of Defense, White quickly added comparable posts at Treasury (with his four-year, $17 million contract) and Interior (he frequently lines up at tackle)." -Hank Hersch, November 29, 1993

April 9:

4/9/1969:

For the second straight game, the expansion Kansas City Royals get superlative relief pitching and score an extra-inning victory over the Minnesota Twins. Relieved to have big-league baseball back in town after the Athletics bolted for Oakland last year, the home fans see a 12-inning thriller on Opening Day followed by 17 more innings tonight before Lou Piniella's RBI single gives K.C. a 4-3 win. Finally getting a chance after four organizations gave up on him, Piniella will go on to hit .282 and win the AL Rookie of the Year award. After five seasons with the Royals, he'll be traded to the Yankees, where he'll play for 11 years, helping to win four pennants and two world titles for New York.

Birthdays:

Ebbie Goodfellow b. 1907

Paul Arizin b. 1928

Nate Colbert b. 1946

Seve Ballesteros b. 1957

Olaf Kolzig b. 1970

1978:

David Thompson of the Denver Nuggets scored 73 points during a loss against the Detroit Pistons. Thompson scored the third-highest single-game total in NBA history.

"His name is just David Thompson. Mostly, just David. Unlike other paragons of truth, beauty, virtue and the 42-inch vertical leap, there's no snappy nicknames or capitalized initials for headlines' sake. No Dzzlin' Daves or Titanic Thompson. Just David." -Curry Kirkpatrick, November 26, 1973

Packers Fact:

Running backs coach Edgar Bennett played only five seasons in Green Bay (1992-96), but his 3,353 rushing yards still ranked ninth on the club's all-time list entering 2006.

April 10:

4/10/1990:

President George H.W. Bush and Prime Minister Brian Mulroney of Canada hurl simultaneous first pitches at the SkyDome prior to the Blue Jays' home opener against the Texas Rangers. President Bush becomes the first chief executive to throw out the first ball in an Opening Day game outside the United States. In the game that follows, Dave Stieb and three relievers combine on a five-hitter as Toronto edges Texas, 2-1.

Birthdays:

John Madden b. 1936

Don Meredith b. 1938

Bob Watson b. 1946

Mel Blount b. 1948

Neil Smith b. 1966

1971:

The Pittsburgh Pirates slugger Willie Stargell belted three home runs in a game against the Atlanta Braves.

"Every time Pittsburgh's Willie Stargell hits a homer, a customer buying fried chicken at the magic moment in Stargell's carryout restaurant gets his order for free. At the rate the Pirate slugger is bludgeoning opposing pitchers, he is going to be handing out a lot of gratis drumsticks." -Joe Jares, May 3, 1971

April 11:

4/11/1965:

After leading the NHL in goals with 42 during the regular season, Norm Ullman sets a Stanley Cup playoff record by scoring two goals in only five seconds to lead the Detroit Red Wings to a 4-2 win over Chicago and a 3-2 lead in their best-of-seven semifinal series. Ullman's two goals both hug the ice at the Olympia and skid by goalie Glenn Hall, giving Detroit a 3-2 lead late in the second period. Completing a natural hat trick, Ullman closes out the scoring with his third goal of the night with only two minutes left in the game. Red Hay of the Blackhawks held the previous playoff record for two fastest goals (seven seconds), set just last year in a series between these same two teams.

Birthdays:

Michael Ray Richardson b. 1955

Bret Saberhagen b. 1964

Jason Varitek b. 1972

Trot Nixon b. 1974

Kelvim Escobar b. 1976

1961:

The Boston Red Sox rookie outfielder Carl Yastrzemski gets his first major league hit. Yastrzemski was elected to the Hall of Fame after a 23-year career.

"Yastrzemski. It is not an easy name to pronounce, but anyone who has mastered Kluszewski and Mazeroski should be able to make it. It has three syllables, accent on the second. Say Yuh-strem-skee. It is a name worth learning, for Carl Yastrzemski, a rookie with the Red Sox, is going to be a star." -Walter Bingham, April 3, 1961

Packers Fact:

While a quarterback at Notre Dame, assistant coach Tom Clements finished fourth in the balloting for the Heisman Trophy in 1974.

April 12:

4/12/1992:

Fred Couples shoots a 2-under-par 70 in the final round of the Masters in Augusta to win his first major championship by two strokes over Raymond Floyd. Enjoying his finest year as a pro, Couples, a former All-American at the University of Houston, wins his third tournament in six weeks and ascends to the No. 1 ranking in the PGA Tour standings. He'll be named PGA Player of the Year and finish atop the money-earnings list at season's end.

Birthdays:

Joe Lapchick b. 1900

Johnny Antonelli b.1930

Mike Garrett b. 1944

Mike Macfarlane b. 1964

Adam Graves b. 1968

1984:

Pete Rose of the Montreal Expos doubled off Philadelphia pitcher Jerry Koosman and became the first National League batter to amass 4,000 career hits.

"It wasn't so much the record-busting that made Rose such an appealing national icon. It was the sheer gusto with which he played the game, the belly-sliding, glove-banging intensity he brought to the ballpark every day." -Ron Fimrite, September 19, 1994

April 13:

When asked whether scheduling additional practices would tire out his underachieving Boston Braves, Hall of Fame manager Bill McKechnie replied: "We can't be much worse overdoing them than underoing them."

Birthdays:

Flash Hollett b. 1912

Marvin Webster b. 1952

Davis Love III b. 1964

Bo Outlaw b. 1971

Baron Davis b. 1979