Sports Fact of the Day 11/3-11/6/2008

Nov. 3:
11/3/1992:
The New York Yankees make a brilliant trade with Cincinnati, acquiring Paul O'Neill in exchange for Roberto Kelly. After not hitting above .276 in six seasons with the Reds, O'Neill will never hit below .300 in his first six seasons with the Yankees. In the six-year period from 1995 to 2000, he'll average 105 RBIs per season while earning kudos for his firebrand style of play and resolute approach to the game. Hard-to-please Yankees owner George Steinbrenner once dubbed O'Neill his "warrior," a tribute that resonates with fans and the media for the balance of his career.

Birthdays:
Roy Emerson b. 1936
Larry Holmes b. 1949
Phil Simms b. 1955
Karch Kiraly b. 1960
Armando Benitez b. 1972

1993:
Greg Maddux became the first pitcher since Sandy Koufax to win the National League Cy Young Award in consecutive years.

"Tom Seaver had Steve Carlton, and Jim Palmer had Catfish Hunter, but Maddux has no peers. No pitcher has been this much better than his contemporaries since Los Angeles Dodgers great Sandy Koufax, whose reign concluded with his retirement in 1966, the year Maddux was born." -Tom Verducci, May 1, 1995

Packers Fact:
Cecil Isbell, who became a prolific passer in the early 1940s was the top rusher for the Packers' 1939 NFL champs. He gained 407 yards on the ground that year.

Nov. 4:
11/4/2001:
As New York City recovers from the destruction of the World Trade Center and the loss of over 2,800 lives, the festival atmosphere of the annual NYC Marathon helps to buoy spirits as over 30,000 runners traverse all five boroughs of the unbowed metropolis. Despite monitoring the discovery of anthrax in some recently delivered local mail, indefatigable New York mayor Rudy Giuliani fires off the starting cannon on Staten Island. Tesfaye Jifar of Ethiopia wins the men's race in 2:07.43 and Margaret Okayo of Kenya wins the women's race in 2:24.21-both setting new time standards for the 32-year-old event.

Birthdays:
Dick Groat b. 1930
Steve Mariucci b. 1955
Eric Karros b. 1967
Carlos Baerga b. 1968
Orlando Pace b. 1975

1996:
Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees received all 28 first-place votes and won unanimous selection of the American League's Rookie of the Year award.

"The Yankees are hoping Jeter is a young Ripken or Larkin, an all-around shortstop with a sizzling bat to match his solid glove. ... Jeter is long and lean (6-foot, 3-inches, 185 pounds), with the body of an NBA two-guard and the raw athletic ability to play any position. He just happened to choose shortstop." -Gerry Callahan, May 6, 1996

Packers Fact:
The Packers won three consecutive league titles from 1929 to 1931, then again from 1965 to 1967. No other teams have won three consecutive league championships.

Nov. 5:
11/5/1988:
After bouncing all over town (the Olympia, Cobo Arena and the Silverdome) since arriving in Detroit in 1957 from Fort Wayne, Indiana, the Detroit Pistons finally open their own building tonight and it's a beauty-the Palace of Auburn Hills. With a pinkish exterior, lavender interior and 22,000 seats, it's soon recognized as the NBA's most sylish arena. In tonight's debut game, the Pistons defeat the expansion Charlotte Hornets, 94-85. Ensconced in their new digs and embracing a bruising style of play embodied by Bill Laimbeer, Rick Mahom and Dennis Rodman, the self-styled "Motor City Bad Boys" will go on to win back-to-back NBA Titles in 1989 and '90.

Birthdays:
Bill Walton b. 1952
Javy Lopez b. 1970
Johnny Damon b. 1973
Alexei Yashin b. 1973
Jerry Stackhouse b. 1974

1927:
Walter Hagen won the PGA Championship 1 up over Joe Turnesa at the Cedar Crest Country Club in Dallas, Texas. The triumph hwas Hagen's fourth PGA Championship in a row.

"It was perhaps inevitable that his outsized personality would overwhelm his considerable achievements. So many golfers have had their moments since he, so many years ago, changed the game from a rich man's pastime to a national craze. But make no mistake, "the Haig" could play golf." -Ron Fimrite, June 19, 1989

Packers Fact:
End Don Hutson joined the Packers in 1935. By the next year, he was the NFL's top pass catcher. He went on to lead the league 8 times in 10 seasons from 1936 to 1945.

Nov. 6:
11/6/2004:
Trailing Oklahoma State, 35-7, the Texas Longhorns explode for 49 unanswered points to win, 56-35, at Darrell Royal Stadium in Austin. Cedric Benson scores five touchdowns to fuel the greatest comeback victory in 111 years of Texas football. Vince Young throws a five-yard TD pass to Bo Scaife with only three seconds left in the first half to jump-start the Longhorns' uphill road to victory. They'll win the rest of their games, including a 38-37 victory over Michigan in the Rose Bowl, finishing 11-1 and earning a No. 5 national ranking.

Birthdays:
Ray Perkins b. 1941
John Candelaria b. 1953
Erik Kramer b. 1964
Pat Tillman b. 1976
Lamar Odom b. 1979

1987:
The 5-foot, 3-inch Washington Bullets rookie guard Muggsy Bogues played in his first professional basketball game, becoming the shortest player in NBA history.

"Curiosity seekers will hunch forward in their seats, cute-aholics will swoon, Centers will jokingly adjust their kneepads, and large guards prone to posting up will lick their chops. Ninth-graders will instantly identify." -Hank Hersch, July 20, 1987

Packers Fact:

Scooter McLean resigned as the Packers' head coach after a 1-10-1 season in 1958, paving the way for Vince Lombardi's arrival.