Sports Fact & Book Rec of the Day 1/23/2009

1/23/1993:

A bizarre spectacle punctuates tonight's NHL game at the St. Louis Arena, only 54 seconds after the opening face-off. With several fights breaking out all over the ice, Detroit Red Wings goalie Tim Cheveldae sees teammate Bob Probert being roughed up by two members of the St. Louis Blues. Cheveldae skates to Probert's aid, prompting Blues goalie Curtis Joseph to leave his crease as well. Shortly, the two netminders are flailing at each other in full equipment at center ice. Rinkside observers give CuJo the nod in the wild fistic display. The goalies are penalized but allowed to stay in the game, and St. Louis emerges with a 4-3 victory.

Birthdays:

Jerry Kramer b. 1936

Peir Korda b. 1968

Eric Metcalf b. 1968

Alan Embree b. 1970

Julie Foudy b. 1971

Packers Fact:

Before Brandon Jackson in 2007 (the 63rd pick), the highest-drafted running back from Nebraska was Lawrence Phillips, whom the Rams took with the sixth pick in 1996.

THAT’S STYLE

With contributions by Susan Sontag, Irving Penn, Helmut Newton, Annie Leibowitz, Anna Wintour, and others, this handsome volume captures the illustrious scope of Vogue, the world’s most famous fashion magazine, from its beginnings in 1892 to today. The New York Times Book Review called it “substantive and sumptuous.”

IN VOGUE: THE ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF THE WORLD’S MOST FAMOUS FASHION MAGAZINE, by Alberto Oliva and Norberto Angeletti (Rizzoli, 2006)

BATHROOM BRAINTEASER

Kathleen works at a place that carries thousands of products, some very expensive. People take her products without paying for them—as many as they can carry—and then just walk out. All that Kathleen requests of her customers is that they keep their mouths shut.

Where does Kathleen work?

SHH! THE WORD “LISTEN” CONTAINS THE SAME LETTERS AS THE WORD “SILENT.”

RYNEK GLOWNY

KRAKÓW, POLAND

All roads in Kraków lead to the Rynek Glowny, the largest and most authentic medieval market square in Europe. Ringed by Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque facades that belie its 1257 origin, it is dominated at its center by the Sukienneice, or “Cloth Hall,” where stalls now sell folk art, crafts, and kitschy souvenirs.

On answers, not too slick:

Weakest Link host Anne Robinson: What sweet substance made by insects is eaten with yogurt in Greece?

Contestant: Grease.