Sports Fact & Book Rec of the Day 3/24/2009

3/24/1979:

Triple Crown hopeful Spectacular Bid, ridden by Ron Franklin, runs away from the field in the Flamingo Stakes at Hialeah, winning by 12 lengths over seven overmatched rivals. It's the Bid's second quality win in the Sunshine State after winning the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale three weeks ago. He'll win the Kentucky Derby and Preakness without too much trouble but will come a cropper in the mile-and-a-half Belmont Stakes, where he loses his chance for a Triple Crown by placing third behind the surprising winner, Coastal.

Birthdays:

Alex Olmedo b. 1936

Pat Bradley b. 1951

Peyton Manning b. 1976

T.J. Ford b. 1983

Chris Bosh b. 1984

Packers Fact:

The Packers drafted wide receiver James Jones in the third round in 2007. He was the 78th overall choice.

FINDING YOURSELF

Henry Louis Gates Jr., chair of African and African-American Studies at Harvard, writes about helping Oprah Winfrey trace her genealogy and about why the search should be undertaken by every African American, though it may be a process beset by difficulties. This inspirational and groundbreaking piece of research offers a guide to DNA testing and how to gather online, oral, and written documentation.

FINDING OPRAH’S ROOTS: FINDING YOUR OWN, by Henry Louis Gates Jr. (Crown, 2007)

On But We Heard Someone Ratted Out the Mole:

More than 600 guinea pigs were "liberated" in a raid. The activists conducted painstaking research - helped by a mole at the DVLA.

from The Guardian (UK)

WORDPLAY

REAL CAR NAMES FROM ASIA YOU’RE UNLIKELY TO SEE IN AMERICA

• Toyota Deliboy
• Honda Life Dunk
• Nissan Sunny California
• Isuzu Elf Van
• Suzuki Cappuccino
• Mitsubishi Lettuce
• Toyota Urban Supporter
• Daihatsu Naked
• Honda Today Humming
• Toyota Synus
• Suzuki Mighty Boy
• Isuzu Begin Funk Box

DURING THE DEPRESSION, 44% OF ALL U.S. BANKS FAILED.

TRAVELER IN THE KNOW

Whether touring downtown or out in the neighborhoods, when you’re in Chicago you’ll want to sample the hot dogs, the snack food that fires up the locals. Pile the dawgs high with dill pickle, mustard, chopped onion, relish and more, but don’t risk ridicule by asking for ketchup.