Sports Fact & Book Rec of the Day 4/11-4/14/2009

4/11/1970:
Giants center fielder Willie Mays makes one of his signature catches in a nationally televised game against Cincinnati at Candlestick Park. In the third inning, Mays scales the right center field fence and collides with right fielder Bobby Bonds while making a sensational grab of a bid by Bobby Tolan for extra bases. The peerless 38-year-old holds on to the ball but tumbles to the warning track, where he remains for several minutes. Finally, none the worse for wear, he gets up and stays in the game, going one-for-four, as the Giants beat the Reds, 2-1.

Birthdays:
Micheal Ray Richardson b. 1955
Bret Saberhagen b. 1964
Jason Varitek b. 1972
Trot Nixon b. 1974
Kelvim Escobar b. 1976

Packers Fact:
Running back DeShawn Wynn played college football at Southeastern Conference school Florida.

4/12/1981:
Sean O'Grady of Oklahoma City captures teh WBA lightweight championship with a unanimous 15-round decision over previously unbeaten title holder Hilmer Kenty of Detroit at Bally's Casino in Atlantic City. O'Grady (now 75-2 with 65 KOs) scores two knockdowns with punishing right-hand leads and an unrelenting body attack to hand Kenty his first loss in 20 pro fights. Overshadowing the bout is word from Las Vegas that the legendary Brown Bomber, Joe Louis, passed away earlier this afternoon. He was 66.

Birthdays:
Joe Lapchick b. 1900
Johnny Antonelli b. 1930
Mike Garrett b. 1944
Mike Macfarlane b. 1964
Adam Graves b. 1968

4/13/1988:
Charles Barkley caps off an outstanding game with a three-point basket at the buzzer in overtime to give the Philadelphia 76ers a 98-97 victory over the Washington Bullets at the Spectrum. Sir Charles has 38 points and 20 rebounds to lead the Sixers, who trailed 47-30 at the half after they scored only 11 points in the second quarter. Mike Gminski has 19 points, and Mo Cheeks adds 14 for Philly.

Birthdays:
Flash Hollett b. 1912
Bob Devaney b. 1915
Davis Love III b. 1964
Bo Outlaw b. 1971
Baron Davis b. 1979

Packers Fact:
The Packers turned over the ball 33 times in 2006 and took it away from their opponents 33 times. Their turnover margin of zero was a big improvement over a minus-24 mark in 2005.

4/14/1996:
After upbraiding teammate Nick Van Exel only days ago for bumping a referee and proclaiming, "This just can never happen," Lakers guard Magic Johnson is ejected from a game against Phoenix for protesting a call - and bumping the referee. While videotape clearly shows the contact to be inadvertent, Johnson will receive a three-game suspension and a $10,000 fine. By comparison, Van Exel had gone berserk last week and received a seven-game suspension for his more flagrant actions and failure to leave the court in a timely manner.

Birthdays:
Pete Rose b. 1941
Cynthia Cooper b. 1963
David Justice b. 1966
Greg Maddux b. 1966
Steve Chiasson b. 1967

Packers Fact:
Rookie running back DeShawn Wynn scored his first career touchdown in 2007 against the New York Giants. Wynn had scoring runs of 6 and 38 yards in the Packers' 35-13 romp.

CHICK LIT

This collection of short stories, culled from more than 18 years of writing, sparkles with wise, tender insights into relationships and, for the most part, women from many angles: young mothers, newly divorced, married, single. Jennifer Weiner gets better and better, following Good in Bed (2002), Little Earthquakes (2006), and other successes. People says, “Fans will savor Weiner’s confidential tone and salty wit.”

THE GUY NOT TAKEN, by Jennifer Weiner (Washington Square Press, 2007)

TIME TRAVEL

Prepare yourself for a whimsical journey into space and time and Einstein’s brain, courtesy of a curious and thoughtful student. The nameless young woman has the opportunity to interview Einstein long after his death and record his thoughts on the ethics of nuclear physics, the uses of science, how basketballs bounce, and other matters. Charming and thought-provoking. (Carrière wrote the screenplays for Belle du Jour and The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie.) Booklist starred review.

PLEASE, MR. EINSTEIN, by Jean-Claude Carrière; translated from the French by John Brownjohn (Vintage Books, 2007)

HERE, FIDO

The Metropolitan “curated” this splendid collection of our canine friends in art from every country, clime, period, and style. And it comes with engaging accompanying texts by Shakespeare, Edith Wharton, and many others. Pair this with the companion volume, 2005’s Catnip: Artful Felines from The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

THE ARTFUL DOG: CANINES FROM THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART, by The Metropolitan Museum of Art (Chronicle Books, 2006)

MASTERPIECES FROM THE KITCHENAward-winning cook and author Eileen Lo brings her Cantonese grandmother’s wisdom and kitchen magic to you. This winning book offers recipes for everything from simple, perfect rice to complex masterpieces such as won ton. The side stories about a bygone culture (bound feet, raising silkworms) are a delight on their own.

MY GRANDMOTHER’S CHINESE KITCHEN: 100 FAMILY RECIPES AND LIFE LESSONS, by Eileen Yin-Fei Lo (Penguin Press, 2006)

REEL LIFE

A FAMOUS NAME IN FILMS

William Fox was born Wilhelm Fried in 1879 to Hungarian immigrants. Working in New York’s garment industry, by 1904 he’d saved enough money to buy a penny arcade, which he later converted into a movie theater. From there he expanded into film production and distribution, and by 1929 his company was worth $200 million. Then the stock market crashed. In just two days, Fox Studio’s stock dropped from $119 a share to $1. Fox was forced to sell his stake in the company, but the studio kept his name, and in May 1935 it merged with 20th Century Pictures to become 20th Century Fox.

FRED ROGERS TOOK A MORNING SWIM EVERY DAY IN THE NUDE.

HAPPY EASTER!

SHOW ME THE BUNNY!

• In pre-Christian times, the rabbit was viewed as nature’s most fertile animal and therefore became a symbol of spring.

• Its first mention as an Easter symbol appears in 16th-century German writings.

• In the 1800s Germans produced the first edible Easter bunnies, which were made of pastry and sugar.

• Around that same time, German settlers brought the Easter bunny (known as Oschter Haws) to the New World. Children were told that if they were good, Oschter Haws would leave them colored eggs in a nest.

BLOND HAIR IS THE FINEST; BLACK HAIR IS THE COARSEST.

WORDPLAY

NEW DEFINITIONS (FROM THE WASHINGTON POST)

Counterfeiter: a craftsman who installs fake kitchen cabinets
Derange: where de buffalo roam
Heroes: how a man moves a boat through the water
Subdued: a guy who, like, you know, works on one of those, like, submarines
Baloney: where your shin is located
Relief: what trees do in the spring

KEANU REEVES IS REPORTEDLY AFRAID OF THE DARK.

A RANDOM ORIGIN

MAIL-ORDER CATALOGS

In September 1871 a British major named F. B. McCrea founded the Army & Navy Cooperative in London. His goal: to supply goods to military personnel at the lowest possible price. McCrea’s first catalog was issued in February 1872 . . . six months before an American named Aaron Montgomery Ward put his first catalog in the mail.

METEOROLOGISTS’ DEFINITION FOR DRIZZLE: NO MORE THAN 14 DROPS PER SQUARE FOOT PER SECOND.

On Peace, Pentagon's Different Take On:

permanent pre-hostility ........... peace

violence peace ..................... limited armed conflict

Pentagon definitions

On Look Out Below!:

The sermon this morning: "Jesus Walks on the Water."

The sermon tonight: "Searching for Jesus."

in a church bulletin

On Um, We'd Love To If We Knew What To Do

AFTER FIRST UNDER ON, DO RIDING WITH CIVILITY.

sign in a Shanghai, China, subway

On Sportscasters Who Maybe Should Learn Their Times Tables Better:

Kobe [Bryant] needs to concentrate on getting eight points a quarter. You do that, that's 24 points right there.

Lakers broadcaster Mychal Thompson (thanks to Scott Messer)

ON THIS DAY

CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL, YOSHINO, JAPAN

In parks and temple gardens all over the country, the Japanese delight in the blooming of the cherry blossoms. Purists and connoisseurs head to Yoshino, where tens of thousands of century-old cherry trees blanket Yoshino Mountain and a festival celebrates them every April 11-12.

BERMUDA ISLANDS

BERMUDA

Though most people think of Bermuda as a single island, it is actually a territory of 138 islands, but it is the 21-square-mile main island where resorts cater to travelers and most of the population lives.

SAFARI LODGES

KENYA

In unspoiled Kenyan preserves, guests can stay in luxury at private lodges while reveling in spellbinding views and the freedom to see exotic wild game. This one, the Sanctuary at Ol Lentille, was developed with participation of the local Masai people and the African Wildlife Foundation.