Sports Fact of the Day 5/14-5/17/2008

May 14:
5/14/1987:
Montreal Canadiens agitator Claude Lemieux's pregame ritual of shooting a puck into the opposition's unguarded net following warm-ups precipitates a wild brawl at the Forum when the Philadelphia Flyers take umbrage. Enforcer Ed "Boxcar" Hospodar begins pummeling Lemieux, and soon several other fights break out with the game officials still in their dressing room. The unseemly spectacle lasts more than 10 minutes, but no penalties are assessed because the action took place before the game; however, the NHL will heavily fine all the participants. Inspired by standing up for their "turf," the Flyers win the game that follows, 4-3, clinching this series and advancing to the Stanley Cup finals.

Birthdays:
Gump Worsley b. 1929
Tony Perez b. 1942
Dick Tidrow b. 1947
Dennis Martinez b. 1955
Pooh Richardson b. 1966

1967:
Mickey Mantle became the sixth slugger in baseball history to hit 500 career home runs when he drove a pitch from Baltimore's Stu Miller into the rightfield bleachers at Yankee Stadium.

"He could run with the speed of a jackrabbit, he could throw strikes to home plate from deep in the outfield; a switch-hitter, he could blast a ball farther than any man who ever lived. He was Elmer the Great, Frank Merriwell and a blond Li'l Abner rolled into one." -Gerald Holland, March 4, 1957

Packers Fact:
Rookies Tony Moll and Jason Spitz started at guard for the Packers on Kickoff Weekend in 2006. Before that, the last NFL team to start two rookies at guard in a season opener was Cincinnati in 1996.

May 15:
5/15/1970:
For the second game in a row, a Mets pitcher hurls a one-hitter as New York blanks Philadelphia, 4-1, at Connie Mack Stadium. Two days ago, Gary Gentry shut out the Cubs on just one hit, an Ernie Banks single in the eighth inning. Tonight, there's considerably less suspense as Tom Seaver is nicked for a single by rookie catcher Mike Compton in the third inning, one of only 18 hits he'll get in his whole career. The Mets win again by a 4-0 score. Tom Terrific will go on to post another brilliant campaign, leading the league in strikeouts (283) and ERA (2.82), but the Mets will fail to duplicate their "miracle" season of 1969, finishing third in the NL East.

Birthdays:
Don Nelson b. 1940
George Brett b. 1953
John Smoltz b. 1967
Emmitt Smith b. 1969
Ray Lewis b. 1975

1976:
The Detroit Tigers rookie pitching sensation Mark "The Bird" Fidrych made his first major league start.

"He talked to the baseball! You could see him standing out there on the mound, holding that ball before him and actually speaking to it, as if he were Hamlet addressing poor Yorick's skull. Who, in the name of Walter Johnson, had ever done that before?" -Ron Fimrite, April 11, 1977

Packers Fact:
The Packers beat Detroit, 31-24, in Week 3 of 2006 season to give Mike McCarthy his first victory as a head coach.

May 16:
5/16/1953:
Chicago White Sox manager Paul Richards strikes gold at Yankee Stadium when he uses left-hand-hitting pitcher Tommy Byrne to pinch-hit for right-hand-hitting position player Vern Stephens with two outs in the ninth inning and the bases loaded, trailing the Yankees, 3-1. Byrne connects for a grand-slam homer off Ewell Blackwell and the ChiSox escape with an unlikely 5-3 victory. Yankee starter Vic Raschi had entered the ninth with a two-hit shutout before it all fell apart. As for Byrne, a former Yankee, he'll be sold to the Washington Senators less than a month from now.

Birthdays:
Billy Martin b. 1928
Jack Morris b. 1955
Joan Benoit Samuelson b. 1957
Thurman Thomas b. 1966
Gabriela Sabatini b. 1970

1971:
Marty Liquori held off a hard-charging Jim Ryun on the last turn and won a dramatic mile race at Philadelphia's Franklin Field.

"The Dream Mile was suddenly the Super Mile, an event, one reporter informed his readers, of no less consequence than Frazier vs. Ali or Namath vs. Baltimore. Others viewed it as a rematch of David and Goliath, with perhaps just a dash of the Titanic once more steaming toward the iceberg." -Pat Putnam, May 24, 1971

Packers Fact:
The Packers started three rookies on Kickoff Weekend in 2006 (guards Tony Moll and Jason Spitz and linebackers A.J. Hawk). The last time they had three first-year players in the lineup on Kickoff Weekend was in 1988 (wide receiver Sterline Sharpe, defensive end Shawn Patterson, and safety Chuck Cecil).

May 17:
5/17/1992:
Betsy King sets a passel of women's golf records as she completes a four-day tour de force at the Mazda LPGA Chmpaionship at Betheseda, Maryland. With her final-round 66 today, King shoots a 17-under-par 267, the lowest four-round total in LPGA history. By shooting 68-66-67-66, she becomes the first player ever to shoot four rounds under 70 at a women's major championship. Her 17-under total is the lowest ever posted in a women's major, and her 11-stroke margin of victory sets a new record for the LPGA Championship. She hits all but 11 greens in regulation and cards only two bogeys during the entire tournament.

Birthdays:
Cool Papa Bell b. 1903
Earl Morrall b. 1934
Tony Roche b. 1945
Sugar Ray Leonard b. 1956
Danny Manning b. 1966


1992:
The Chicago Bulls superstar Michael Jordan was named the Most Valuable Player of the National Basketball Association for a second straight season.

"Why do we love Michael Jordan? For the same reasons we love Peter Pan. Because he can fly. Someday Tinker Bell herself will sprinkle him with fairy dust, and he will waft on over the basket and up into the wires and lights like a raptor soaring into the clouds." -Rick Telander, November 17, 1986

Packers Fact:
Noah Herron had 106 yards in 20 carriers in the Packers 23-20 loss to the Rams in week 5 of 2006, recording his first career 100-yard rushing day.