Sports Fact of the Day 10/14-10/19/2008

Oct. 14:
10/14/2003:
In the sixth game of the NLCS at Wrigley Field and only five outs from their first pennant since 1945, cruel and almost comical fate derails the snake-bitten Chicago Cubs. An impetuous fan, Steve Bartman, interferes with left fielder Moises Alou's attempt to catch a foul fly ball and this missed putout serves as the springboard for an eight-run rally by the Florida Marlins, who will win this game 8-3, clinch the pennant against the traumatized Cubs tomorrow and ultimately beat the Yankees in the World Series. Bartman's try for a souvenir doesn't account for all eight Florida runds in the decisive inning, but rueful Chicago fans will forever cite that moment as the linchpin of the Cubs' demise.

Birthdays:
John Wood b. 1910
Harry Brecheen b. 1914
Charlie Joyner b. 1947
Beth Daniel b. 1956
Frank Wycheck b. 1971

1990:
The San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana set team records by passing for 476 yards and six touchdowns in a game against Atlanta.

"Where others see chaos and danger after the snap, Montana sees order and opportunity. He has stated baldly that when he is flowing well in a game and has time to throw, he cannot be stopped. The unflappability that sets him free is almost eerie." -Rick Telander, September 19, 1994

Packers Fact:
The Packers set a club record for the fewest sacks allowed in a season in 2004. Green Bay's opponents drops its quarterbacks just 14 times that year.

Oct. 15:
10/15/1975:
Rick Barry returns to the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, Lon Island, for the first time since he played there in 1972 and scores 49 points to lead the NBA champion Golden State Warriors over his former team, the New York Nets, 119-114, in an exhibition game. Barry outduels Julius Erving, the Nets' newest scoring sensation, who pours in 43 points in the defeat. Barry, the only man to lead the NCAA, the ABA and the NBA in scoring, puts on a show for his old fans with 15 field goals, including 3 three-pointers and a near-flawless 16 of 17 from the foul line with his feathery underhanded style.

Birthdays:
John L. Sullivan b. 1858
Mel Harder b. 1909
Bobby Morrow b. 1935
Jim Palmer b. 1945
Joe Klecko b. 1953

1988:
In the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs, the injured Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Kirk Gibson cracked a dramatic pinch-hit home run to win Game 1 of the World Series.

"He knew what he'd done the instant the ball exploded off his bat. He raised his arm and held it aloft until he reached first base [and] then he limped around the bases as if he were straggling home from the Russian front." -Peter Gammons, October 24, 1988

Packers Fact:
After forming their squad in 1919, the Packers mostly played teams from Wisconsin and Upper Michigan before joining the fledgling NFL in 1921.

Oct. 16:
10/16/1983:
Scott McGregor pitches a five-hit shutout and Eddie Murray homers twice, leading the Baltimore Orioles to a 5-0 victory over the Phillies to clinch the World Series title. Orioles pitchers posted a 1.60 ERA during the five games, holding the Phils to a .195 team batting average. For handling the stingy Baltimore pitching staff and hitting .385 (including a double and homer in the final game), veteran catcher Rick Dempsey is named the MVP of the Series.

Birthdays:
Dave DeBusschere b. 1940
Tim McCarver b. 1941
Juan Gonzalez b. 1969
Kordell Stewart b. 1972
Paul Kariya b. 1974

1983:
American golfer Lanny Wadkins hit an 80-yard wedge shot to the pin and then tapped the ball into the hole to clinch a United States victory in the Ryder Cup.

"Wadkins was the perfect guy for an occasion like this: cocky, a gambler, a thriver on pressure. He almost holed the shot, and his teammates swarmed over him as if he'd kicked a winning field goal with no time remaining." -Dan Jenkins, October 24, 1983

Packers Fact:
After scoring a touchdown against the Raiders in 1993, Safety LeRoy Butler started teh famous "Lambeau Leap".

Oct. 17:
10/17/1965:
Spellbinding rookie running back Gale Sayers scores four second-half touchdowns to lead the Chicago Bears to a 45-37 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. After the Vikes go ahead, 37-31, Sayers returns the ensuing kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown with only two minutes left. Following a Dick Butkus interception on the next Vikings drive, Sayers closes out the scoring on a 10-yard run. Earlier, the Kansas Comet had scored on 18- and 25-yard passes from Rudy Bukich. He'll go on to set a new NFL record with 22 touchdowns in one season (since broken) and win the Rookie of the Year award in a landslide.

Birthdays:
Jim Gilliam b. 1928
Evel Knievel b. 1938
Bob Seagren b. 1946
Ernie Els b. 1969
John Rocker b. 1974

1969:
Lew Alcindor, who will later change his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, scored 29 points in his professional basketball debut for the Milwaukee Bucks.

"He will not change the style of the pro game, because Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell have already done that with similar though lesser physical endowments. But he dominates it-every game in which he plays-and the thoughts of rivals before and after they meet him." -Tex Maule, March 9, 1970

Packers Fact:
Dan Devine's first game as coach in 1971 was not successful. Not only did the Packers lose to the Giants 42-40, but Devine also broke his leg when a play spilled over onto the sidelines.

Oct. 18:
10/18/1992:
An innocent mistake produces a major embarrassment for major league baseball before Game 2 of the World Series between the Braves and the Toronto Blue Jays at Atlanta's Fulton County Stadium. The U.S. Marine Corps Color Guard displayed the Canadian flag upside down with the distinctive maple leaf insignia pointed downard during pregame ceremonies. MLB offers profuse apologies to the Canadian government and all baseball fans after the diplomatic snafu. The Blue Jays get the last laugh, rallying in the ninth inning on a home run by Ed Sprague to beat the Braves, 5-4, evening the Series at a game apiece.

Birthdays:
Forrest Gregg b. 1933
Mike Ditka b. 1939
Mel Counts b. 1941
Marina Navratilova b. 1956
Thomas Hearns b. 1958

1968:
The American long jumper Bob Beamon set a world record with a leap of 29 feet, 2-1/2 inches at the Summer Olympic Games in Mexico City.

"When he realized what he had done, Beamon sagged into a neural collapse that suggested to physiologists that he had somehow summoned the superhuman strength that ordinarily comes upon people only in disasters." _Kenny Moore, September 9, 1991

Packers Fact:
The Packers have won more championships than any other NFL team. They've won 12.

Oct. 19:
Being fired as head coach of the Cal. (Berkeley) Golden Bears football team after five disappointing seasons, Joe Kapp put a positive spin on his dismissal: "I'm graduating with my seniors."

Birthdays:
Lionel Hollins b. 1953
Tim Belcher b. 1961
Evander Holyfield b. 1962
Brad Daugherty b. 1965
Keith Foulke b. 1972