Sports Fact of the Day 6/19-6/26/08

June 19:
6/19/1977:
Powerful White Sox first baseman Lamar Johnson sings the national anthem before a Sunday doubleheader at Comiskey Park and then sparks the ChiSox to a sweep with two homers in the opening game as Chicago takes a pair from Oakland, 2-1 and 5-1, moving into first place in the AL West. Both homers come off Mike Norris of the A's, supporting Wilbur Wood's first win since May of 1976. The left-handed knuckleballer had a long layoff following knee surgery.

Birthdays:
Lou Gehrig b. 1903
Lee Nomellini b. 1924
Shirley Muldowney b. 1940
Doug Mientkiewicz b. 1974
Dirk Nowitzki b. 1978

2000:
Led by their two young superstars, Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, the Los Angeles Lakers won the first of their three straight NBA titles.

"They finally figured it out. It was there on both their faces, the jubilation and relief that came with knowing that they had cracked the safe and learned how championships are won. There were times in their careers when it must have seemed to Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant that the trophy that they wanted so badly was locked in a vault, and that no one would tell them the combination." -Phil Taylor, June 26, 2000

Packers Fact:
Donald Driver surpassed 2,500 career receiving yards at Lambeau Field in 2006. There are only two other NFL players to amass more yards catching passes at the Packers' home. They are Antonio Freeman (3,477) and James Lofton (3,330).

June 20:
6/20/1981:
Alexis Arguello wins the WBC lightweight title by dethroning Jim Watt of Scotland in a 15-round unanimous decision at Wembley Arena in London. Arguello has no trouble coping with Watt's southpaw style, using a considerable height and reach advantage to control the bout. Arguello scores one knockdown and wins the fight 147-143 on all three judges' scorecards. It's his third world title after holding the featherweight and junior lightweight belts earlier in his career.

Birthdays:
Doris Hart b. 1924
Len Dawson b. 1935
Dave Elmendorf b. 1949
MaliVai Washington b. 1969
LaVar Arrington b. 1978

1982:
Tom Watson chipped in from off the green on the 71st hole at Pebble Beach and beat Jack Nicklaus in a dramatic U.S. Open championship.

"Of the many dramatic and championship-twisting shots that were struck and misstruck all last week on the Monterey Peninsula, and in all of the 81 Opens that came before this one, Watson's chip-in at the 17th on Sunday will be remembered for as long as men sew leather patches on the elbows of their tweed jackets." -Dan Jenkins, June 28, 1982

Packers Fact:
Defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila's last name is pronounced "Bah-jah bee-ah-MILL-ah."

June 21:
6/21/2003:
Todd Pratt belts a pinch-hit, walk-off two-run homer in the bottom of the 13th inning to give the Phillies a 6-5 victory over the Red Sox in an interleague classic at the Vet. Each club scored once in teh 12th inning, with Jim Thome's solo homer keeping the Phillies alive until Pratt's game-ending heroics. The Boston defeat spoils a six-for-six day by their shortstop. Nomar Garciaparra, and wastes two homers by his keystone partner, second baseman Todd Walker.

Birthdays:
Howie Morenz b. 1902
Eddie Lopat b. 1918
Rick Sutcliffe b. 1956
Tom Chambers b. 1959
Derrick Coleman b. 1967

1988:
The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Detroit Pistons, 108-105, to win the NBA championship in seven games. The victory made good on coach Pat Riley's promise to become the first team since 1969 to win back-to-back NBA titles.

"There was the champagne-soaked prognosticator himself, old Repeat Riley, laughing, hugging, shaking hands, kissing and being kissed and resting his case, all at the same time. The verdict is in, and you win, Pat. This Laker team belongs with the great ones." -Jack McCallum, July 4, 1988

Packers Fact:
In 2006, Brett Favre reached the 25,000-yard mark for career passing yards at Lambeau Field. The only other NFL quarterback to pass for more yards at a single stadium was John Elway, who passed for 27,889 yards at Denver's Mile High Stadium.

June 22:
6/22/1902:
Brakeman Jack Taylor outlasts Deacon Phillippe in a 19-inning marathon as the Cubs nip the Pirates, 3-2, at the West Side Grounds in Chicago. Catcher Johnny Kling singles in the 19th, steals second and scores the winning run on a single by Bobby Lowe. Not only does each starting pitcher go the full distance, but there are no substitutions of any kind by either team. this lengthy outing is just one of Taylor's extraordinary MLB record 187 consecutive complete games from 1902 to '07. despite this setback, Pittsburgh will go on to an outstanding 103-36 record, winning the National League pennant by a runaway 27-1/2 games.

Birthdays:
Carl Hubbell b. 1903
Davey O'Brien b. 1917
Pete Maravich b. 1947
Clyde Drexler b. 1962
Champ Bailey b. 1978

June 23:
6/23/1969:
Joe Frazier scores an eighth-round TKO over Irish Jerry Quarry at Madison Square Garden to retain his share of the heavyweight title-a murky situation created when Muhammad Ali was stripped of the crown in 1967 for refusing to be drafted into the military. He'll unify the title when he defeats Jimmy Ellis in his next bout and successfully defend it through another four contests (including a challenge by Ali) before losing to George Foreman in 1973.

Birthdays:
Walter Dukes b. 1930
Wilma Rudolph b. 1940
Filbert Bayi b. 1953
Felix Potvin b. 1971
LaDainian Tomlinson b. 1979

1992:
The Cincinnati Reds reliever Rob Dibble recorded his 500th career strikeout in fewer innings-368-than any other pitcher in modern baseball history.

"It's a shame that Rob Dibble has so often been the center of controversy, because his troubles detract fro his achievements as a pitcher. ... Nolan Ryan, Bob Feller, Sandy Koufax and Lee Smith all needed more than 500 innings to strike out 500 batters." -Tim Kurkjian, July 6, 1992

Packers Fact:
Linebacker Abdul Hodge's youth football coaches gave him the nickname "Hitman" for his ability to deliver crunching blows, even against older kids.

June 24:
6/24/1997:
The Seattle Mariners' Randy Johnson sets an American League single-game record for strikeouts by a left-hander, 19, but loses to the Oakland A's, 4-1, at the Kingdome. Johnson surrenders 11 hits, including a double and home run by Mark McGwire, to undermine his overpowering performance. Oddly enough, the only other lefty to strike out 19 in one game, Steve Carlton of St. Louis in 1969, also lost when the Mets beat him, 4-2.

Birthdays:
Larry Foust b. 1928
Billy Casper b. 1931
Sam Jones b. 1933
Wayne Cashman b. 1945
Juli Inkster b. 1960

1960:
American high jumper John Thomas cleared the bar at 7-foot, 2-inches, and broke his own world record at the AAU championships in Bakersfield, Calif.

"He stared impassively at the bar, his arms dangling loosely, his long body relaxed. When he jumped, he was at least two inches over the bar. ... He bent to take off his jumping shoes, and as he knelt he laughed suddenly and joyously and shook his head at the wonder of it all." -Tex Maule, July 4, 1960

Packers Fact:
Brett Favre entered 2006 with a string of 223 consecutive games played. Next on the Packers' active list with 135 was long snapper Rob Davis.

June 25:
Shortstop Lenny Merullo, who played seven years for the Cubs and went on to a long scouting career, was realistic about one of baseball's age-old axioms: A big player has to prove he can't play; a little player has to prove that he can."

Birthdays:
Willie Reed b. 1942
Dell Curry b. 1964
Dikembe Mutombo b. 1966
Aaron Sele b. 1970
Carlos Delgado b. 1972

1969:
The 41-year-old tennis player Pancho Gonzales defeated Charles Pasarell at Wimbledon in the longest tennis match in history. The 112-game match took 5 hours and 12 minutes over two days to complete. Play had been called due to darkness the previous day.

"Gonzales is supposed to be in the twilight of his career, but somehow the sun never quite sets. Like a flame that burns brightest moments before it is extinguished. Gonzales put on an exhibition that rocked the foundations of Wimbledon to its hoary, tradition-bound core." -Kim Chapin, July 7, 1969

Packers Fact:
Linebacker Nick Barnett is nicknamed "Nike Beats" for his ability as a music mixer and DJ.

June 26:
6/26/2002:
The New York Knicks acquire All-Star forward Antonio McDyess from the Denver Nuggets for Marcus Camby, Mark Jackson and Nene Hilario. Despite some impressive stats posted by McDyess in seven NBA seasons (188 ppg and 9 rpg), the deal is a gamble for New York because McDyess played only 10 games last season following surgery on both knees. Those concerns will be realized in a preseason game this fall when McDyess lands awkwardly while grabbing a rebound and seriously reinjures his left knee. He'll never contribute significantly to New York before being traded to Phoenix in 2004.

Birthdays:
Greg LeMond b. 1961
Jerome Kersey b. 1962
Shannon Sharpe b. 1968
Derek Jeter b. 1974
Jason Kendall b. 1974

1972:
Roberto Duran captured his first championship belt with a bloody knockout of former titleholder Ken Buchanan.

"Duran used all but his teeth to rip the lightweight title from the champion. He left Buchanan at the end bent [like] a broken bird wasted by a violent storm. ... War is too remote a word to describe this night, too imprecise for what Duran did to Buchanan. Call it pure assault with intent to maim and disfigure." -Mark Kram, July 10, 1972

Packers Fact:
Donald Driver entered 2006 with a string of 64 consecutive games with at least 1 catch. That was among the top 10 active NFL players that season, but a long way from number one. Indianapolis' Marvin Harrison was at the top with 154 games.