Sports Fact of the Day 1/26-1/30/2009

1/26/1937:
Perennial first team All-Star defenseman Eddie Shore of the Boston Bruins suffers a broken back when he's checked against the end boards in a game against the New York Rangers at Boston Garden. Shore will miss the rest of this season but put a stop to any talk of retirement by returning with a vengeance next season to win his fourth Hart Trophy (NHL MVP), still a record for defensemen. Topping off his career in his last full season, 1938-29, he will lead the Bruins to a Stanley Cup title.

Birthdays:
Bob Uecker b. 1935
Jack Youngblood b. 1950
Brian Doyle b. 1955
Wayne Gretzky b. 1961
Vince Carter b. 1977

Packers Fact:
Brandon Jackson's college career best was a 182-yard rushing effort against Oklahoma State in 2006.

1/27/1962:
Peter Snell of New Zealand breaks the world record for the mile run on a grass track in Wellington, New Zealand. His time of 3:54.4 betters the mark set by Herb Elliott of Australia in 1958 by one-tenth of a second. Snell's record time will last until November of 1964, when he'll lower his own standard to 3:54.1.

Birthdays:
Franke Albert b. 1920
John Lowenstein b. 1947
Billy "White Shoes" Johnson b. 1952
Cris Collinsworth b. 1959
Marat Safin b. 1980

Packers Fact:
Defensive end Aaron Kampman led the NFC with 15.5 sacks in 2006. San Diego defensive end Shawne Merriman was the only NFL player to drop opposing quarterbacks more times that season. He had 17 sacks.

1/28/1943:
The Chicago Blackhawks' brother act of center Max Bentley and left wing Doug Bentley go positively wild against the New York Rangers in a 10-1 romp at Chicago Stadium. Max (4-3-7) ties the single-game NHL scoring record of seven set by Carl Liscombe of Detroit earlier this season. Doug (2-4-6) isn't far behind his younger brother. All four of Max's goals come in a seven-goal third-period onslaught, and Doug gets an assist on each marker against helpless Ranger goalie Bill Beveridge. Doug will lead the NHL in scoring this season; Max will lead in scoring in 1946 and '47. Both will become members of the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Birthdays:
Pete Runnels b. 1928
Colin Campbell b. 1953
Tony Delk b. 1947
Jermaine Dye b. 1974
Daunte Culpepper b. 1977

Packers Fact:
The Packers selected 11 players in the seven-round draft in 2007. Nine of those players made the team at the start of the season, with the other two (wide receiver David Dlowney and right end Clark Harris) on the practice squad.

1/29/2007:
Last year's Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro loses his eight-month battle for life when owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson determine there is simply too much pain from several different medical problems in play to ask the gallant colt to continue his ordeal following career-ending fractures in his right rear leg during the 2006 Preakness. Barbaro is put down in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, where he had been receiving round-the-clock treatment by Dr. Dean Richardson at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center.

Birthdays:
Greg Louganis b. 1960
Steve Sax b. 1960
Andre Reed b. 1964
Dominik Hasek b. 165
Sean Burke b. 1967

Packers Fact:
End Aaron Kampman's 113 tackles in 2006 were the most by a defensive lineman in Packers' history. End Ezra Johnson (1983) held the previous mark of 107 stops.

1/30/1977:
Tom Watson wins his second tournament in a row and sets his second consecutive course record, romping to a five-stroke victory in the San Diego Open at the Torrey Pines Golf Club. Helped by a hole-in-one in the first round, Watson shoots a 19-under-par 269 on the scenic seaside layout, easily besting John Schroeder and Larry Nelson. Last week, Watson won the Bing Crosby National Pro-Am at Pebble Beach with a 14-under-par total. Superseding Jack Nicklaus as the best player in the game, he'll go on to lead the PGA earnings list and will be named Player of the Year the next four years running.

Birthdays:
Walt Dropo b. 1923
Davey Johnson b. 1943
Curtis Strange b. 1955
Payne Stewart b. 1957
Jalen Rose b. 1973

Packers Fact:
Wide receiver James Jones finished his hcollege career at San Jose State in 2006 ranked third on the school's all-time l ist with 126 receptions.