Sports Fact & Book Rec of the Day 2/12-2/13/2009

2/12/1989:
Over 44,000 fans at the Houston Astrodome watch the West run out to an 87-59 halftime lead and coast to a 143-134 victory over the East in the NBA All-Star Game. It's the Karl Malone and John Stockton show for the West as the Mailmam scores 28 points to earn MVP honors and his Utah guard-line teammate has 17 assists. Malone and Dale Ellis of the SuperSonics (27 points) combine to convert 24 of 33 field goal attempts, helping the West shoot 54% for the game.

Birthdays:
Chick Hafey b. 1903
Dom DiMaggio b. 1917
Joe Garagiola b. 1926
Don Stanhouse b. 1951
Chet Lemon b. 1955

Packers Fact:
Tackle Mark Tauscher was the only Packers Kickoff Weekend starter in 2007 who played college football in the state of Wisconson. He played at Wisconsin.

2/13/1999:
Oscar De La Hoya (30-0) barely retains his WBC welterweight title with a 12-round split decision over previously unbeaten (34-1-1) Ike Quartey at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Quartey, formerly the WBA world welterweight champion, presents De La Hoya with a serious test for nine rounds and is leading or tied on all three judges' scorecards at that point. From then on, De La Hoya gains control of the fight and scores a knockdown in the final round to sway the decision in his favor.

Birthdays:
Patty Berg b. 1918
Eddie Robinson b. 1919
Mike Krzyzewski b. 1947
Mats Sundin b. 1971
Randy Moss b. 1977

Packers Fact:
While a junior at Colorado in 2005, Mason Crosby once kicked a 58-yard field goal in a game against Miami.

NATURAL SELECTION AT WORK

You might commemorate today, Charles Darwin’s 200th birthday, by breezing through The Origin of Species. In case you’re in the mood for lighter fare, though, may we recommend this latest in the ever-inspiring series the Darwin Awards, which honors “those who improve our gene pool by inadvertently removing themselves from it.” To give you an idea of what awaits you: The farmer who protected himself from bees by tying a plastic bag over his head; the man who tried to weld a hand grenade to a chain; the homeowner who solved his termite problem by filling his house with natural gas. Endlessly entertaining.

THE DARWIN AWARDS 4: INTELLIGENT DESIGN, by Wendy Northcutt and Christopher M. Kelly (Dutton, 2006)

MYSTERIOUS DOINGS
In this sequel to the excellent Sacred Cut (2005), detectives Nic Costa and Gianni Peroni have been reassigned to Venice after incurring the displeasure of the powers that be in Rome. They will be allowed to return only when they have done the paperwork on the murder of a woman by her glassmaker husband. Once they and their boss, Leo Falcone, are drawn into the labyrinthine lure of Venice and Murano, however, the investigation turns very, very interesting. Rich character studies and beautiful writing are hallmarks of this wonderful crime series. Publishers Weekly starred review.

THE LIZARD’S BITE, by David Hewson (Dell, 2007)

On Duh!

Lawyer: Did you give your ticket to someone?

Witness: Yes.

Lawyer: And do you remember who that person was?

Witness: As I recall, it might have been somebody with a beard.

Lawyer: Do you remember if it was a man or a woman?

actual courtroom testimony

On orgies we'd rather skip:

Bodywatch, a new series, begins with a special at 9 tonight on Channel 2. Tonight's program focuses on stress, exercise, nutrition, and sex with Celtic forward Scott Wedman, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, and Dick Cavett.

from a television listing

A 21-FLUSH SALUTE . . .

TO ABRAHAM LINCOLN, BORN ON THIS DAY IN 1809

Lincoln is one of America’s most beloved historical figures, but that doesn’t mean he had an easy time finding success.

• 1832: He was demoted from captain to private in the militia.
• 1832: He lost his first election to the Illinois legislature.
• 1835: He went bankrupt.
• 1838: He lost a bid for speaker of the Illinois state legislature.
• 1856: He was rejected for nomination as U.S. vice president.
• 1858: He lost a race for the U.S. Senate.
• 1860: He was elected President of the United States.

AMERICANS BURN ABOUT 200 BILLION GALLONS OF FUEL IN THEIR VEHICLES EVERY YEAR.

REEL LIFE

DISCOVERED!

In 1945 photographer David Conover went to the factory of military supplier Radioplane in Van Nuys, California, to take pictures of women involved in the war effort. He was immediately drawn to a blue-eyed 19-year-old named Norma Jean Dougherty, who was making $20 a week spraying glue on aircraft fabric. Dougherty agreed to pose for more pictures, which soon led to professional modeling work. In 1946 she signed a movie contract with Twentieth Century Fox and changed her name to . . . Marilyn Monroe.

IN 1999 RESIDENTS OF MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, ERECTED A 40-FOOT STATUE OF BARBIE.

TRAVELER IN THE KNOW

To see wildlife at its richest, head to Corcovado National Park on the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica—National Geographic called this spot “the most biologically intense place on earth.” Within its broad range of habitats live more than 140 species of mammals from tapirs to ocelots and cougars, 375 species of birds, and 850 kinds of trees.

KRAK DES CHEVALIERS

SYRIA

Sitting alone like a huge battleship on an impenetrable spur above a vast plain, Krak des Chevaliers remains one of the grandest and best-preserved medieval castles in the world. Much of it was built and expanded by the Knights of St. John from 1144 onward.