Sports Fact of the Day 8/14-8/31/2008

Aug. 14:
8/14/1977:
Lanny Wadkins defeats Gene Littler on the third hole of sudden death to win the PGA championship at Pebble Beach. It's a crushing defeat for the veteran Littler, who dissipates a five-stroke lead on the back nine by carding five bogeys and finishes with a 76. Wadkins shoots a 2-under-par 70, helped by a pair of eagles on the front nine, to force a playoff and wins the title with a par putt on the third extra hole. Wadkins is deferential and almost apologetic in victory over the vanquished Littler, 20 years his senior. This proves to be his only major championship.

Birthdays:
Earl Weaver b. 1930
John Brodie b. 1935
Debbie Meyer b. 1952
Magic Johnson b. 1959
Wayne Chrebet b. 1973

1986:
Pete Rose collected the final hit of his career. It was his 4,256th hit, more than any other baseball player in history.

"It wasn't so much the record-busting that made Rose such an appealing national icon; it was the sheer gusto with which he played the game, the belly-sliding, glove-banging intensity he brought to the ballpark every day." -Ron Fimrite, September 19, 1994

Packers Fact:
In 2002, the Packers moved up in the first round by making a draft-day trade with Seattle. They took future Pro Bowl wide receiver Javon Walker with what was originally the Seahawks' slot (number 20 overall).

Aug. 15:
8/15/1970:
The Big Bopper, Lee May, hits two homers and drives in all five runs as the Reds beat the Phillies, 5-4, in 14 innings at brand-new Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati. The muscular first baseman has a two-run homer in the 2nd inning, an RBI groundout in the 6th, a solo homer to tie the contest in the 9th and a game-winning single in the 14th. Enjoying a magical year, the Reds improve to an awesome 80-41 record with the victory, en route to their first National League pennant since 1961.

Birthdays:
Lionel Taylor b. 1936
Ivan Boldirev b. 1949
Craig MacTavish b. 1958
Scott Brosius b. 1966
Yancey Thigpen b. 1969

1999:
Tiger Woods held off a late charge by Sergio Garcia and won the PGA Championship at Medinah Country Club in Illinois.

"Woods' one-stroke victory, with an 11-under 277, put an exclamation point on a century of golf and launched a rivalry that should propel the game into a new era. Forget Nicklaus and Palmer; Woods, 23, and Garcia, 19, have the star quality of Newman and Redford." -Alan Shipnuck, August 23, 1999

Packers Fact:
After going a dismal 1-10 in 1958, the Packers opened Vince Lombardi's tenure as coach with three consecutive victories. A five-game losing streak took the squad out of title contention, but Green Bay rallied to win its last four games that year.

Aug. 16:
At the Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Ian Thorpe of Australia wins the 200-meter freestyle in 1:44.71, barely edging Pieter van den Hoogenband of the Netherlands and Michael Phelps of the United States. Today's come-from-behind victory allows Thorpe to turn the tables on van den Hoogenband, who upset him in this event at the 2000 Games in Sydney-Thorpe's only loss in the 200 meters in eight years. Van den Hoogenband seemed poised to repeat his Sydney triumph, leading most of the way, but Thorpe puts on a finishing kick over the last 50 meters to win by a narrow margin.

Birthdays:
Frank Gifford b. 1930
Tony Trabert b. 1930
Ron Yary b. 1946
Christian Okoye b. 1961
Ben Coates b. 1969

1921:
Illness forced French tennis star Suzanne Legien to forfeit her match to Molla Mallory in the second round of the U.S. Open tournament. It was Lenglen's only loss in the seven years between 1919 and her retirement in 1926.

"Tennis had had its beautiful women before Lenglen … but it is nevertheless safe to say that Lenglen, in the liberated style of her play - full of acrobatic, even balletic leaps and lunges - her dress and her life, introduced sex to tennis, and vice versa." -Sarah Pileggi, September 13, 1982

Packers Fact:
Elijah Pitts is the Packers running back who had 2 rushing touchdowns in Super Bowl I.

Aug. 17:
8/17/1985:
Four Irish milers combine to set a four-mile relay world record on the Belfield track in Dublin. Spurred to optimum performances by several "rabbits" on a so-called "B" team of runners, the four principals-Eamonn Coghlan (4:00.2), Marcus O'Sullivan (3:55.3), Frank O'Mara (3:56.6) and anchor Ray Flynn (3:56.98)-combine to produce a time of 15:49.08. To this day, the gracious Coghlan is fond of recalling how he was "the slowest one of the bunch".

Birthdays:
Boog Powell b. 1941
Guillermo Vilas b. 1952
Christian Laettner b. 1969
Jim Courier b. 1970
Jorge Posada b. 1971

Aug. 18:
8/18/1958:
Floyd Patterson makes his third successful defense of his heavyweight title by dominating unbeaten challenger Roy Harris over 12 brutal rounds at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles. Harris, who had been knocked down four times and lost almost every round, fails to answer the bell for the 13th round of a scheduled 15-rounder. He refuses to play it safe, plunging back into the fray for more punishment after each knockdown instead of laying back to marshal his resources. Only when his manager, along with his father, prevails upon him to abandon his vainglorious ambition to upset Patterson is the fight mercifully concluded.

Birthdays:
Roberto Clemente b. 1934
Rafer Johnson b. 1935
Matt Snell b. 1941
Bobby Higginson b. 1970
Jeremy Shockey b. 1980

1992:
Basketball star Larry Bird retired after 13 seasons with the Boston Celtics. Bird had led Boston to three NBA titles and earned three straight league MVP awards.

"When you thumb through basketball history to find the one player who could score, rebound, pass, play defense, lead a team and … see the court better than all others, your finger stops first at Robertson … continues past Havlicek … past Magic even, and comes to rest at Larry Bird." -John Papanek, November 9, 1981

Packers Fact:
Halfback Paul Hornung led Vince Lombardi's first squad in 1959 by rushing for 681 yards and scoring 94 points.

Aug. 19:
8/19/1945:
Byron Nelson's remarkable streak of winning 11 consecutive golf tournaments ends at the Memphis Open when Fred Haas Jr. becomes the first amateur to win on the Tour in nine years, beating a field of top-flight pros by five strokes. Haas, the son of a club pro and a former Walker Cup star, fires a final-round 68 after posting a course record 64 yesterday. Nelson is never really in contention, finishing six strokes behind, but he'll go on to win an all-time record 19 tournaments in 1945 with an average score per round of 68.33, also an all-time best.

Birthdays:
Bill Shoemaker b. 1931
Anthony Munoz b. 1958
Rocky Pierce b. 1959
Morten Andersen b. 1960
Mary Jo Fernandez b. 1971

1951:
Eddie Gaedel, who was 3'7" tall and 65 pounds, became the smallest man ever to play pro baseball when St. Louis Browns owner Bill Veeck hired him to pinch-hit. Gaedel walked on four pitches in his only turn at bat in the major leagues.

"Veeck has fashioned a career out of defying the customs, conventions and crustaceans of baseball. To Veeck, baseball is not an ultraconstitutional mission, a crusade, a holy jousting for men's minds and souls, but simply an exhilarating way to make a living." -William Barry Furlong, July 4, 1960

Packers Fact:
The Packers selected future Pro Football Hall of Fame back Tony Canadeo in the ninth round of the 1941 draft.

Aug. 20:
8/20/1995:
Enjoying a triumphant return to women's tennis after more than two years of recovery following the on-court stabbing she suffered in Germany, Monica Seles wins the du Maurier Canadian Open in Toronto. Seles crushes Amanda Coetzer of South Africa, 6-0, 6-1, in less than an hour, her fifth consecutive straight-set rout in this event. It's her 33rd tournament victory (including 8 majors), and all the distinctive attributes of her game-lethal ground strokes and an air of pixie charm-are displayed for an appreciative audience that cheers her every move.

Birthdays:
Sihugo Green b. 1933
Graig Nettles b. 1944
Mark Langston b. 1960
Duffy Waldorf b. 1962
Todd Helton b. 1973

1967:
Clocked in a time of 17:50.2, 14-year-old swimmer Debbie Meyer set the 1,500-meter freestyle world record.

"While her classmates worried about boyfriends and fraternity pins, Meyer thought about her early-morning workouts. For Meyer, the world was divided into swimmers and nonswimmers rather than boys and girls. She had a strong sense of herself as an athlete, a good athlete, and that was enough." -Janice Kaplan, July 4, 1977

Packers Fact:
Rookie wide receiver Boyd Dowler caught 32 passes for Vince Lombardi's first squad in 1959. That was a team-best that year.

Aug. 21:
8/21/1985:
In Zurich, Switzerland, Mary Decker Slaney runs the mile in a record 4:16.71, holding off Romanian Maricica Puica and Zola Budd of Great Britain. It's the first time all three competitors have raced against each other since the 3000-meter final in last year's L.A. Olympics, won by Puica after Decker Slaney collided with Budd and fell off the track onto the infield grass.

Birthdays:
Toe Blake b. 1912
Wilt Chamberlain b. 1936
Archie Griffin b. 1954
John Wetteland b. 1966
Craig Counsell b. 1970

1931:
The New York Yankees slugger Babe Ruth became the first player in baseball history to hit 600 career home runs when he connected off Browns' pitcher George Blaeholder in the third inning of a Yankees 11-7 victory at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis.

"When Ruth-his big head cocked, his matchstick legs together, his pigeon toes turned in, his great club of a bat lashing the air-drove a ball out of the park, nobody could say that was faked. People who saw Ruth hit a home run never forgot it." -Gerald Holland, December 21, 1959

Packers Fact:
The Packers found future Pro Football Hall of Fame offensive lineman, center Jim Ringo, in the seventh round of the 1953 draft.

Aug. 22:
8/22/1998:
Paul Molitor drops a buntn single down the third-base line with two outs in the ninth inning off Dennis Eckersley to drive in the winning run as the Minnesota Twins beat the Boston Red Sox, 4-3, at the Metrodome. It's the final big-league campaign for both veterans, Molitor having played most of his career with Milwaukee and Eckersley enjoying his greatest success with Oakland. On January 6, 2004, these two stars become forever linked when they're both elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility.

Birthdays:
Carl Yastrzemski b. 1939
Bill Parcells b. 1941
Diana Nyad b. 1949
Paul Molitor b. 1956
Mats Wilander b. 1964

1984:
Clocked in a time of 10.76 seconds, Evelyn Ashford set a women's 100-meter dash world record in Zurich, Switzerland.

"She is graceful, gentle, modest and soft-spoken. Even when she runs, no unseemly haste is apparent in her movements. She appears less to run than to flow fast. The ferocious intensity shows only in the results." -Sarah Pileggi, September 21, 1981

Packers Fact:
Pro Football Hall of Fame tackle Forrest Gregg coached the Packers for four seasons beginning in 1984. He resigned in January of 1988 to become the coach at his alma mater Southern Methodist.

Aug. 23:
After being part of the Pittsburgh Steelers' victory in Super Bowl XL and confirming his plans to retire, running back Jerome Bettis was asked if his decision was irrevocable. He quickly replied: "It's official-like the referee's whistle."

Birthdays:
Sonny Jurgenson b. 1934
Nancy Richey b. 1942
Julio Frnaco b. 1958
Rik Smits b. 1966
Kobe Bryant b. 1978

1973:
Ilie Nastase attains the No. 1 ranking in men's tennis.

"He is a nonpareil showman, an utterly exasperating gamesman, a pouting, crying genius with a racket in his hand and a curse on his lips. He is a magnificent enfant terrible any self-respecting sport would be glad to call its own." -Curry Kirkpatrick, October 16, 1972

Packers Fact:
The Packers found their starting quarterback of the late 1980 and the early 1990s in the 10th round of the 1987 draft: Don Majkowski.

Aug. 24:
8/24/1919:
In his first start for the Cleveland Indians after being let go by the Red Sox, left-hander Ray Caldwell pitches a four-hitter at League Park, beating the Philadelphia Athletics, 2-1. In the ninth inning, a tremendous thunderclap breaks over the stadium and Caldwell is struck by lightning and knocked to the ground. Not only does he recover to complete this game, but he'll go on to pitch a no-hitter against the Yankees next month at the Polo Grounds. Next season, Caldwell will have his finest year, winning 20 games and helping the Tribe win their first American League pennant and World Series championship.

Birthdays:
Mike Shanahan b. 1952
Cal Ripken Jr. b. 1960
Reggie Miller b. 1965
Tim Salmon b. 1968
Rafael Furcal b. 1980

Aug. 25:
8/25/1930:
Max Baer batters Frankie Campbell senseless in the fifth round of their heavyweight bout at Recreation Park in San Francisco. Campbell, future baseball star Dolph Camilli's older brother, is badly hurt but manages to stay upright by grabbing the ropes while Baer rains blow after blow on his head. The bout is finally stopped by referee Toby Irwin, but it's too late for Campbell-he dies several hours later of a cerebral concussion. Baer is shaken up by the fight's fatal outcome and loses four of his next six outings before winning the world heavyweight championship in 1934.

Birthdays:
Althea Gibson b. 1927
Rollie Fingers b. 1946
Albert Belle b. 1966
Cornelius Bennett b. 1966
Doug Glanville b. 1970

1968:
Harness racing driver Stanley Dancer rode Nevele Pride to victory at the Hambletonian.

"This was the big one that had eluded Dancer in eight previous tries, and he wasted no time showing everyone that this one was his, breezing straight heats, wire-to-wire. After the first turn of the first heat, his only worry was how to get Nevele Pride out of the winner's circle before he killed somebody." -Pat Putnam, September 2, 1968

Packers Fact:
In 1935, Alabama end Don Hutson signed contracts with both the Packers and the NFL's Brooklyn Dodgers. League president Joe Carr awarded him to Green Bay because that contract had an earlier postmark-by 17 minutes!

Aug. 26:
8/26/2001:
Tiger Woods defeats Jim Furyk on the seventh hole of a sudden death playoff to win the World Series of Golf at the Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. It's Woods' third straight victory in this event and sixth in a row in the state of Ohio, counting three consecutive wins at the Memorial. A brilliant wedge shot sets him up for a short birdie putt at the decisive hole after each player had missed numerous opportunities to end the match earlier. The lengthy affair is the longest playoff on the PGA Tour in 10 years and marks the sixth time Woods has won a tourney in sudden death.

Birthdays:
Billy DeMars b. 1925
Tom Heinsohn b. 1934
Swede Savage b. 1946
Donnie Shell b. 1952
Ricky Bottalico b. 1969

1987:
Julie Krone rode Tiger Higgins to victory at Monmouth Park and became the second woman jockey to post 1,000 career wins.

"It seems that Krone is a munchkin from Oz, and that may be an apt comparison. The 24-year-old jockey is 4 foot, 10 ½ inches tall and weighs 100 pounds, and the thought-and sight-of her guiding half-ton thoroughbreds across Monmouth's finish line certainly has an otherworldly quality to it." -Gina Maranto, August 24, 1987

Packers Fact:
The Packers haven't had the top overall pick in the draft (entering 2007) since 1959. They choose Iowa quarterback Randy Duncan number-one overall that year.

Aug. 27:
8/27/1988:
Alysheba, ridden by Chris McCarron, comes from far behind to overtake Bet Twice and win the $500,000-added Iselin Handicap at Monmouth Park in New Jersey. Alysheba, son of Alydar, evens his record against Bet Wice at four wins apiece in eight lifetime meetings with his victory in the mile-and-an-eighth test. It was Bet Twice who denied Alysheba the Triple Crown last year in the Belmont. Alysheba will go on to win the Woodward, the Metropolitan Cup and the Breeders' Cup Classic this fall, finishing with seven wins in nine outings to earn Horse of the Year honors.

Birthdays:
Nikki Pilic b. 1939
Buddy Bell b. 1951
Bernhard Langer b. 1957
Adam Oates b. 1962
Jim Thome b. 1970

2000:
Cynthia Cooper led the Houston Cornets to a fourth straight WNBA title, and retired after the game having won her fourth straight Finals MVP award.

"Cooper [is] a 5'10" shooting guard with a knack for shredding defenses and making clutch plays. Though she spent all but the last four years of it in obscurity, her career has been one of the most decorated in sports; two NCAA titles (with USC), two Olympic medals (a gold and a bronze), four WNBA championships and two regular-season MVP awards." -Kelli Anderson, September 4, 2000

Packers Fact:
Despite having retired in 1945, end Don Hutson still held 10 NFL records entering 2006.

Aug. 28:
8/28/2005:
Pitcher Christopher Garia (16) can only watch as Michael Memea rounds the bases after hitting a home run over the center field fence at Lamade Stadium in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, giving Hawaii a 7-6 victory over defending champion Curacaco and the Little League World Series title. Hawaii rallied from a three-run deficit in the sixth and final inning of regulation play to force only the second extra-inning championship game since the inception of the LLWS in 1947.

Birthdays:
Andy Bathgate b. 1932
Lou Piniella b. 1943
Ron Guidry b. 1950
Joel Youngblood b. 1951
Janet Evans b. 2971

1954:
Twenty-four-year-old Arnold Palmer overcame a two-hole deficit and his own inconsistency to win the U.S. Amateur golf championship in Detroit.

"Palmer is a puzzling golfer to assess. Throughout the tournament, he would play four or five holes in a row with great authority. Then he would erase the impression that he is a finished shot maker by smothering a drive or bumbling unsurely with an explosion shot." -Herbert Warren Wind, September 6, 1954

Packers Fact:
Brent Fullwood came off the bench to run for 118 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 45-3 rout of the Patriots in 1988.

Aug. 29:
8/29/2004:
Leading the Olympic marathon at the 22-mile mark in Athens, Vanderlei de Lima of Brazil loses valuable time when he's run off the course by a crazed spectator and finishes third behind Stefano Baldini of Italy and Meb Keflezighi of the United States. The oddball character who disturbed the race is arrested. Identified as a defrocked priest and religious zealot from Ireland, he had pulled other stunts like this in the past, but it's no solace for Lima. His appeals to the Olympic Review Board fall on deaf ears and he must settle for the crowd's empathy and a bronze medal.

Birthdays:
Wyomia Tyus b. 1945
Bob Beamon b. 1946
Jerry Bailey b. 1957
Pierre Turgeon b. 1969
Roy Oswalt b. 1977

1977:
Lou Brock of the St. Louis Cardinals swiped a pair of bases in a game at San Diego and brought his career total to 893 stolen bases, surpassing Ty Cobb as the alltime leader.

"When he gingerly leads off [first base] a few strides, his eyes fastened on the pitcher, his hands fiddling with his waistband, one senses what a force he is. He creates tension everywhere, on the field and in the stands. Something is about to happen." -Ron Fimrite, August 22, 1977

Packers Fact:
End Don Hutson revolutionized the passing game in the NFL with his route running. But he also was a world-class sprinter who could run the 100-yard dash in 9.5 seconds.

Aug. 30:
8/30/1992:
Bobby Bonilla, mired in a season-long funk that results in only 19 homers, 70 RBIs and a .249 BA after signing a five-year, $29 million free agent contract with the Mets, authors one memorable at bat to momentarily silence the Shea Stadium boo-birds. Bonilla cracks a two-out, three-run, game-ending home run off Cincinnati closer Rob Dibble to give the Mets a 4-3 win over the Reds in a nationally televised Sunday night game featuring throw-back uniforms. Dibble is obviously not comfortable in the old-style garb, walking two men before surrendering Bonilla's clutch blast. As Bonilla rounds the bases, an infuriated Dibble storms off the mound and rips his retro jersey to shreds.

Birthdays:
Ted Williams b. 1918
Coy Bacon b. 1942
Jean-Claude Killy b. 1943
Tug McGraw b. 1944
Robert Parish b. 1953

1991:
Mike Powell broke Bob Beamon's long jump record with a leap of 29 feet, 4 ½ inches at the world track and field championships in Tokyo.

"Powell broke the sand in the vicinity of the nine-meter marker, swung right and burst from the pit thrusting his arms with what seemed righteous anger. Then for 30 seconds he nervously wandered around the infield to await the measurement." -Kenny Moore, September 9, 1991

Packers Fact:
De'Mond Parker gained 113 of his 184 rushing yards as a rookie in a 35-19 victory over the Bears in December of 1999.

Aug. 31:
8/31/1983:
American sprinter Edwin Moses betters his own world record in the 400-meter hurdles at a track meet in Koblenz, West German. Moses is timed in 47.02 seconds, 0.11 seconds faster than his previous standard set three years ago in Milan, Italy. Celebrating his 28th birthday, Moses wins his 85th consecutive 400-meter hurdles event, the longest uninterrupted run of success in track history. He'll extend his streak to 122 races before being beaten in 1987.

Birthdays:
Jim Finks b. 1927
Jean Beliveau b. 1931
Frank Robinson b. 1935
Edwin Moses b. 1955
Hideo Nomo b. 1968