Sports Fact & Book Rec of the Day 12/11/2008

12/11/1965:
The Philadelphia 76ers (ne Syracuse Nationals) defeat the Cincinnati Royals (ne Rochester Royals), 135-132, in overtime at the Onondaga War Memorial Arena in Syracuse. Over 6,000 fans watch their former hometown team prevail as Wilt Chamberlain leads the Sixers with 38 points and Hal Greer adds 29, including two baskets in the final minute of OT. Oscar Robertson paces the Royals with 33 points and Adrian "Odie" Smith adds 25 as the upstate New York audience gets a brief remembrance of the NBA they helped to nurture in its formative years, but which has now shunted them to the side for greener pastures and larger markets.

Birthdays:
Doc Blanchard b. 1924
Pierre Pilote b. 1931
Moose Vasko b. 1935
Willie McGinest b. 1971
Shareef Abdur-Rahim b. 1976

1993:
The Florida State quarterback Charlie Ward won the Heisman Trophy. He was the first Heisman winner in 35 years not to be selected in the NFL draft. But the New York Knicks picked Ward in the first round of the NBA draft.

"In the year 1993, in the age of Beavis and Butt-head, shock radio, Marky Mark, and brassieres as outerwear, the best athlete in college sports is a former choirboy, vice president of the student body and honor-roll student who is no louder than a convent cat and about as trendy as a firm handshake." -Rick Reilly, December 27, 1993

Packers Fact:
Quarterback Bart Starr was the most valuable player of each of the Packers' victories in Super Bowls I & II.


FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Don’t be turned off by the clunky subtitle: Jay Weinstein, chef, environmentalist, and a contributor to The New York Times and Travel & Leisure, gives us easy ways to think about what and how we eat so that we can savor the earth, honor food producers, and bring social consciousness to the table. With 100 delicious recipes.

THE ETHICAL GOURMET: HOW TO ENJOY GREAT FOOD THAT IS HUMANELY RAISED, SUSTAINABLE, NONENDANGERED, AND THAT REPLENISHES THE EARTH, by Jay Weinstein (Broadway, 2006)