Sports Fact of the Day 7/9-7/18/2008

July 9:
7/9/1989:
After firittering away a four-stroke lead on the back nine, Paul Azinger holes out a 40-foot chip shot on the 72nd hole to win the Greater Hartford Open by one shot over Wayne Levi. Azinger, who also won here in 1987, sets a new course record for the Players Club of Cromwell, Connecticut, shooting a 17-under-par 267. Azinger missed the fairway with his drive on the final hole and his approach shot landed on a hilly slope off the green. Using his pitching wedge, he rolls his next shot right into the cup, earning his fifth career PGA title and the winner's check of $180,000.

Birthdays:
Jim Pollard b. 1922
Red Kelly b. 1927
Mike Riordan b. 1945
Willie Wilson b. 1955
Trent Green b. 1970

1960:
Rafer Johnson won the AAU national championship and set a decathlon record of 8,683 points.

"Johnson is a rare concentrate of some old Sunday school virtues: tolerance, humility and godliness. ... Johnson's kind of tolerance is not the diluted brand that sells so cheaply around the world these days, good only among people who already think alike. His is the real thing." -Coles Phinizy, January 5, 1959

Packers Fact:
The Packers played the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day every year from 1951-1963. The Packers won three of the 13 games, all of which were played in Detroit.

July 10:
7/10/1982:
Larry Parrish ties the major league record for grand-slam homers in a seven-day period with his third jackpot wallop in a week, sparking the Texas Rangers to a 6-5 win over the Detroit Tigers at Arlington Stadium. On July 4 Parrish hit a grand slam against Oakland, and on July 7 he connected with the bases loaded against Boston. He ties Lou Gehrig (1931) and Jim Northrup (1968) in this exclusive category.

Birthdays:
Jake LaMotta b . 1921
Arthur Ashe b. 1943
Virginia Wade b. 1945
Chico Resch b. 1948
Andre Dawson b. 1954

1999:
The United States women's soccer team won the World Cup by defeating China on penalty kicks to win a dramatic final match.

"The Women's World Cup was competition at its most vibrant, and the final took your breath away. It fused two often-ignored elements of America sports, women and soccer, into one transformative moment and held a nation in thrall. What will forever be remembered about the match at the Rose Bowl is the intensity and spirit with which the American and Chinese women played. The U.S. team, with its spellbinding victory, reminded us of the highest purpose of sport: to inspire." Michael Bamberger, December 20, 1999

Packers Fact:
From 1996 to 2005, only the Denver Broncos (at 28-10) won more games in the opening month of the season than the Packers (who won 24 of 38 games).

July 11:
7/11/1982:
Italy wins its third World Cup soccer championship, but first in 44 years, by defeating West Germany, 3-1, in the finals at Madrid. Three goals in a 25-minute span of the second half by Paolo Rossi, Marco Tardelli and Alessandro Altobelli break open a close game, and 40-year-old goalie Dino Zoff preserves the lead. Finishing the competition unbeaten (4-0-3), Italy captures the world's most coveted sports trophy for the first time since winning back-to-back titles in 1934 andn '38.

Birthdays:
Bob Allison b. 1934
Lou Hudson b. 1944
Leon Spinks b. 1953
Al MacInnis b. 1963
Rod Strickland b. 1966

1980:
Dale Earnhardt took the checkered flag at the Nashville 420 en route to winning his first NASCAR driving championship.

"Earnhardt is one of the best things to happen to stock-car racing in years and, as with Petty, Baker and Benny Parsons and all the good old gang, you're going to flat love him when you get to know him. Earnhardt is nicely tousled, with a clear, untroubled brow and a great grip on life." -Bob Ottum, July 14, 1980

Packers Fact:
The Packers entered the 2006 season with an all-time record of 640-506-36. Only the Chicago Bears had more all-time victories (671).

July 12:
7/12/1994:
With ominous winds of an impending player strike permeating the festive occasion of the midsummer classic, major league baseball stages a thrilling All-Star game at Pittsburgh. With the American League leading 7-5 in the last of the ninth inning, Fred McGriff hits a pinch two-run homer to tie the game. One inning later, Moises Alou doubles home Tony Gwynn and the National League wins, 8-7. Exactly one month later, the players will go on strike over the issue of a "salary cap" on their wage-earning potential, a financial control mechanism sought by the owners. The rest of this season, including the World Series and part of next season, will be wiped out by the rancorous dispute, which creates fan disenchantment that will take years to subside.

Ron Fairly b. 1938
Paul Silas b. 1943
Gilles Meloche b. 1950
Julio Cesar Chavez b. 1962
Kristi Yamaguchi b. 1971

1996:
Cigar won the Citation Challenge at Chicago's Arlington Park for his 16th straight victory, tying Citation's modern record for most consecutive victories.

"Cigar built his streak on nine racetracks, and he won at distances from one mile to the classic mile and a quarter. In those 16 races he ran a total of 30,140 yards, earned $8,819,815, won both on the lead and from off the pace, twice carried the top weight of 130 pounds, and defeated 28 Grade 1 winners." -William Nack, August 19, 1996

Packers Fact:
In 1966, the Packers sent end Ron Kramer to Detroit in exchange for the Lions' first-round pick (the ninth choice overall). The Packers got fullback Jim Grabowski with the selection.

July 13:
7/13/1980:
Undaunted by triple-digit temperatures, Amy Alcott blisters the course at the Richland Country Club in Nashville to win the U.S. Women's Open by nine strokes over runner-up Hollis Stacy. Alcott's four-round score of 280 sets a new record for the event, bettering the 284 totals posted by Louise Suggs in 1952 and Jerilyn Britz last year. It's her 12th win on the LPGA Tour and her second major.

Birthdays:
Jack Kemp b. 1935
Stu Lantz b. 1946
David Thompson b. 1954
Michael Spinks b. 1956
Spud Webb b. 1963

July 14:
7/14/1973:
Playing in a steady rain, Tom Weiskopf of Columbus, Ohio, shoots a 2-under-par 70 in the final round of the British Open at Troon, Scotland, to win his only major championship by three strokes over Neil Coles of Great Britain and American Johnny Miller. It's the fourth tournament win of the year for Weiskopf, and his four-round total of 12-under-par 276 ties Arnold Palmer's British Open record set in 1962, also at Troon.

Birthdays:
Rosey Grier b. 1932
Lee Elder b. 1934
Robin Ventura b. 1967
Erick Dampier b. 1974
Tim Hudson b. 1975

1970:
The National League won the All-Star Game when Pete Rose scored the winning run in the 12th inning after a collision with catcher Ray Fosse.

"Rose thundered head-on into Fosse and sent him crashing backward as he crossed the plate with the winning run. But Fosse had done all that he could, and he suddenly was saluted as a gallant fallen warrior. He was left with a bruised shoulder-and instant fame." -Sandy Treadwell, August 3, 1970

Packers Fact:
The Packers won their first Thanksgiving Day game, 19-0, while hosting the Hammond Pros on November 29, 1923.

July 15:
7/15/1952:
Capping a six-run rally with non outs in the last of the ninth inning, shortstop Eddie Joost of the Philadelphia Athletics hits a walk-off grand-slam homer off Satchel Paige to give the A's a 7-6 victory over the St. Louis Browns in the opener of a twin bill at Shibe Park. Working in relief, Paige can't get anyone out, allowing hits to George Kell, Joe Astroth and Allie Clark before Joost's timely blast. Joost will homer again in the nightcap as the A's complete the sweep with an 11-3 rout behind Bobo Newsom.

Birthdays:
Donn Clendenon b. 1935
Alex Karras b. 1935
John Stallworth b. 1952
Barry Melrose b. 1956
Sammy Winder b. 1959

1990:
Betsy King won the U.S. Women's Open golf championship for a second straight year when Patty Sheehan blew a nine-stroke lead on the final day.

"Sheehan's face in defeat was unforgettable. A 10-year tour veteran, she teed off on Sunday morning in bright red shorts and a tricolor shirt, but golf clothes are her version of camouflage. Her narrow, ascetic face is better suited to an Amish bonnet than a golf visor. She smiles as if it hurts, and maybe it does." -John Garrity, July 23, 1990

Packers Fact:
In 1974, the Packers traded away five draft choices, including two first-rounders and two second-rounders, for one player, Los Angeles Rams quarterback John Hadl.

July 16:
7/16/2005:
Unbeaten 26-year-old Jermain Taylor captures the undisputed world middleweight championship by upsetting 40-year-old Bernard Hopkins on a 12-round split decision at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. It's Hopkins' first loss in 12 years, ending his string of 20 straight successful title defenses. The closeness of the decision begs a rematch in December, won by Taylor in another 12-round decision, this time unanimously.

Birthdays:
Joey Giardello b. 1930
Margaret Smith Court b. 1942
Miguel Indurain b. 1964
Claude Lemieux b. 1965
Barry Sanders b. 1968

1941:
Joe DiMaggio of the New York Yankees extended his major league record hitting streak to 56 straight games.

"For the fans there was no escape from the magnetic force that drew them to their radios to hear the news announcer report the grim news of war in Europe and then, at some point in the program, add, 'and Joe DiMaggio got his hit today.'" -Dave Anderson, July 17, 1961

Packers Fact:
The Packers played in the Chicago College All-Star Game-a preseason game each year from 1934 to 1976 (except 1974) pitting the defending NFL champions against a team of college stars-eight times. Green Bay won six of them.

July 17:
7/17/1961:
On the same day that baseball Commissioner Ford Frick issues a strict edict stating that Babe Ruth's record of 60 home runs in one season must be broken in 154 games or not at all, Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle both have home runs washed away by a rainout in Baltimore. After the Yankees win the opener of a twi-night twin bill, 5-0, with Mantle hitting his 33rd homer of the year, the skies open up in the fifth inning of the nightcap as the Yankees lead, 4-1. When the contest is called off, Maris loses what would have been his 36th homer and Mantle his 34th. Maris will end up with 59 homers in 154 games, finally passing Ruth with his 61st homer in the 162nd and final game of the season. Mantle will wind up with 54 HRs.

Birthdays:
Lou Boudreau b. 1917
Johnny "Red" Kerr b. 1932
Daryle Lamonica b. 1941
Connie Hawkins b. 1942
Calbert Cheaney b. 1971

1966:
Clocked in a time of 3:51.3, Jim Ryun, the 19-year-old freshman from the University of Kansas, became the first American to hold the mile record since 1934.

"It was Ryun alone, leaving the others hopelessly straggling. As the stadium filled with noise, Ryun seemed to get stronger and stronger. In the homestretch he was still gathering speed, and he drove across the finish line as forcefully as if he were trying to break his way through a brick wall." -Anita Verschoth, July 25, 1966

Packers Fact:
In 1981, the Packers traded wide receiver Aundra Thompson and several draft choices to the Chargers for the man who had led the NFL in receiving yards the previous season, Wide receiver John Jefferson.

July 18:
7/18/1995:
Fabio Casartelli of Italy, a gold medalist in the 1992 Olympics, is killed during the Tour de France when he loses control of his bike on a steeply descending curve in the Pyrenees and crashes into a concrete barrier. Casartelli, 24, was not wearing a helmet on the hot afternoon, not an uncommon practice on the European cycling circuit, which does not enforce any mandatory headgear rules. Casartelli is only the third fatality in the history of the Tour de France, staging its 82nd running since 1903. It will be a historic yet somewhat mournful occurrence when Miguel Indurain of Spain becomes the first man ever to win five consecutive Tours when the race ends this weekend in Paris.

Birthdays:
Joe Torre b. 1940
Nick Faldo b. 1957
Dan O'Brien b. 1966
Anfernee Hardaway b. 1972
Torii Hunter b. 1975

1970:
In a game against the Montreal Expos, Willie Mays of the San Francisco Giants stroked an 0-and-2 pitch into the hole between short and third for his 3,000th career hit.

"It was hardly an appropriate hit for the occasion, taking everything about Willie Mays into consideration, being neat and solid rather than spectacular and dramatic. But it was No, 3000-and then he promptly collected No. 3,001, which is really what Willie Mays is all about." -Roy Blount Jr., July 27, 1970

Packers Fact:
End Billy Howton amassed 1,231 receiving yards in 1952. Through 2005, he was the only rookie in club history to reach the 1,000-yard mark.