Sports Fact and Book Rec of the Day 06/18/2008

6/18/1984:
Fuzzy Zoeller rolls in a 68-foot birdie putt on the second hole, and it's a cakewalk from there as he defeats Greg Norman 67 to 75 in an 18-hole playoff for the U.S. Open championship at Winged Foot in Mamaroneck, New York. It's Zoeller's second major title after winning the 1979 Masters, also in a playoff. The eight-stroke margin is the largest ever posted in 23 previous U.S. Open playoffs over the years. Zoeller's 67 today falls just shy of his second-round 66, the lowest score ever posted at Winged Foot in four tournaments of U.S. Open competition (1929, '59, '74 and this year).

Birthdays:
George Mikan b. 1924
Lou Brock b. 1939
Andres Galarraga b. 1961
Sandy Alomar Jr. b. 1966
Luke Jensen b. 1966

1941:
With World War II raging in Europe, Joe Louis retained his heavyweight boxing title with a knockout of Billy Conn at New York's Polo Grounds. Louis, making his 18th defense of the title he had won in 1937, was on the verge of losing his belt to the former light heavyweight champion when he caught Conn with a series of devastating blows in the 13th round.

"There had been 220 years of prizefighting, and there would yet be Marciano and the two Sugar Rays and Ali, but this was it. This was the best it had ever been and ever would be, the 12th and 13th rounds of Louis and Conn...just before the world went to hell." -Frank Deford, June 17, 1985

Packers Fact:
Defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins blocked 3 kicks in 2005 (2 extra points and 1 field goal). That was the most in the NFL that season.

TO A “T”

Megan Nicolay shows how to take the quintessential American garb and turn it into a trendy piece of haute T-couture . . . as well as a halter, tank top, peasant blouse, hat, purse, leg warmers, and scads more, including a “teeny-weeny bikini.” A breezy history and background of the T-shirt is included. Generation T is a great inspiration for that restless, creative do-it-yourselfer in you.

GENERATION T: 108 WAYS TO TRANSFORM A T-SHIRT, by Megan Nicolay (Workman Publishing, 2006)