Sports Fact of the Day 5/2/2008

5/2/1992:

Breaking free from an 18-horse field and scoring a major upset, 17-to-1 shot Lil E. Tee wins the Kentucky Derby by a length over Casual Lies. It’s the first Derby-winning ride for jockey Pat Day, but much of the postrace talk focuses on the highly regarded French-bred colt, Arazi, who goes off as a 1-5 favorite only to falter badly and fade to eighth place. A.P. Indy, who will win the Belmont Stakes next month, must be scratched from this race because of a bruised foot, and Pine Bluff, who will win the Preakness in two weeks, runs fifth here.

 

Birthdays:

Eddie Bressoud b. 1932

Gates Brown b. 1939

Clay Carroll b. 1941

Gerald Irons b. 1947

Jamaal Wilkes b. 1953

 

5/2/1957:

Boxing legend Sugar Ray Robinson knocked out Gene Fullmer in the fifth round and won the world middleweight title.

 

“It became clear that Gene, though drawing manfully on some wellspring of inherent courage, would not be able to rise again in 10 seconds. His powerful legs pumped in the effort, but he had no more control of them than if he had been an infant squirming in his crib.” –Martin Kane, May 13, 1957

 

Packers Fact:

The 2006 season was Brett Favre’s in the NFL. At 17 seasons (including four with the Packers), kicker Jan STenerud was the only more experienced player in club history.