Sports Fact of the Day 12/20-12/24/2008

(The things I've found online indicate the Charminade/Virginia game occurred 12/23, but I typed these as I got them so ...)

Dec. 20-21:
12/20/2003:
Wake Forest outlasts North Carolina, 119-114, in triple overtime at the Dean Dome in Chapel Hill. Eric Williams leads the Demon Deacons with 24 points and scores a basket and two key free throws in the third OT to clinch the victory. Wake Forest gains the upper hand when Tar Heels center Sean May fouls out in the third extra session, opening up the lane for the Deacons to operate more freely. The game marks the ACC debut for new North Carolina head coach Roy Williams, who left Kansas after 15 years to accept the position, and the 119 points allowed by the Tar Heels establish a new UNC record.

Birthdays:
bob Hayes b. 1942
Bill Clement b. 1950
Trent Tucker b. 1959
Rich Gannon b. 1965
Aubrey Huff b. 1976

1954:
Tennis superstar Chris Evert was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

"She grew up down the block from practically all of us - if Chris Evert is not the essential girl next door, you must have lived by a vacant lot. ... She is soft, simple, periwinkles and heather; a composite of Sandra Dee, the Carpenters and, yes, apple pie." -Curry Kirkpatrick, August 30, 1976

Packers Fact:
Fullback Jim Taylor was the top pass catcher for the Packers' team that won Super Bowl I in the 1966 season. He had 41 receptions.

12/21/1963:
Junior forward Bill Bradley pours in 47 points to lead Princeton to a 90-87 overtime victory over Wisconsin in the consolation round of the Kentucky Invitational Holiday Tournament in Lexington. With only one other Princeton player scoring in double figures, Bradly single-handedly leads the Ivy League Tigers over the Big Ten Badgers while setting new tournament scoring records for a single game and two games (77), surpassing marks established by Jerry West of West Virginia in 1959.

Birthdays:
Joe Paterno b. 1926
Chris Evert b. 1954
Florence Griffith Joyner b. 1959
Mike Alstott b. 1973
Karrie Webb b. 1974

Dec. 22:
12/22/1974:
Phil Esposito scores the 500th goal of his career as the Bruins beat Detroit, 5-4, at Boston Garden. Esposito, an immovable force in the slot since his acquisition from Chicago, scores twice on assists by Carol Vadnais to become the sixth player to reach the milestone. He'll win five scoring titles and two MVP awards with Boston, posting an awesome cumulative stat line of 717-873-1,590 in 18 NHL seasons.

Birthdays:
Steve Carlton b. 1944
Steve Garvey b. 1948
Ray Guy b. 1949
Jan Stephenson b. 1951
Ron Greschner b. 1954

1974:
The Boston Bruins defeated the Detroit Red Wings 5-4, and Bruins center Phil Esposito scored the 500th goal of his National Hockey League career.

"The slot is like Central Park after dark. When Esposito stands in that zone for more than one second, he fully expects to stop the butt end of an opponent's stick with his stomach, catch a few fists in his face, get stick-whipped around the ankles." -Mark Mulvoy, April 22, 1974

Packers Fact:
Fullback Jim Taylor ran for more than 1,000 yards five consecutive years from 1960 to 1964, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Dec. 23:
12/23/1982:
It's supposed to be a quick stopover in paradise but instead produces one of college basektball's greaest surprises when top-ranked and unbeaten Virginia, with 7'4" All-American Ralph Sampson, is upset by NAIA member Chaminade, 77-72, in Honolulu. Sophomore center Tony Randolph outscores Sampson, 19-12, and excellent free-throw shooting in the closing moments by the Silverswords enables Chaminads to hold on for the victory. Virginia was returning to the mainland after a tournament in Tokyo, which may have caused a measure of jet lag that impaired their shooting from the floor, but Chaminade played with assurance and simply took the game away from the shocked Cavaliers.

Birthdays:
Dick Weber b. 1929
Paul Hornung b. 1935
Jack Ham b. 1948
Jim Harbaugh b. 1963
Brad Lidge b. 1976

1972:
The Pittsburgh Steelers trailed the Oakland Raiders, 7-6, with 22 seconds remaining in their AFC playoff game when Franco Harris made "The Immaculate Reception" for a miraculous Pittsburgh victory.

"How can anyone insinuate that the Steelers were anything less than deserving of the now-famous Franco Harris miracle, the Terry Bradshaw fourth-down pass that ricocheted from the shoulder of Oakland defensive back Jack Tatum to be gobbled up on a shoestring catch by Franco?" -Myron Cope, August 20, 1973

Packers Fact:
Wide receiver Boyd Dowler was the top pass catcher for the Packers' Super Bowl champs in 1967. He had 54 receptions.

Dec. 24:
12/24/1961:
In an intense defensive struggle that produces a mere 13 points juxtaposed against 12 turnovers by the two teams, the Houston Oilers win their second straight AFL championship with a 10-3 win over the San Diego Chargers at Balboa Stadium. George Blanda connects with Billy Cannon for a 35-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter and adds a 46-yard field goal to account for all of the Houston scoring. After picking off 49 opposition passes in the regular season, the Chargers intercept Blanda six times, only to cough up five turnovers of their own as they lose the championship game to Houston for the second straight year of the new league's short history.

Birthdays:
Bill Dudley b. 1921
Mel Triplett b. 1931
Paul Preessey b. 1958
Winston Moss b. 1965
Kevin Millwood b. 1974

1982:
Tiny Chaminade University upset the No. 1-ranked Virginia Cavaliers, 77-72, in one of the biggest upsets in college basketball history.

"Until recently, Charminade University was beset known, if it was known at all, as the little NAIA school in Honolulu that gave NCAA Division I powers a chance to burnish their suntans, egos and won-lost records on quick trips away from the mainland winter. But that reputation changed forever." -Happy Fine, January 10, 1983

Packers Fact:
Cornerback Herb Adderley (1961 to 1969) ran back 7 of his 48 career interceptions (39 of which came for the Packers) for touchdowns.