Sports Fact & Book Rec of the Day 9/30/2009

9/30/1992:
Former Mets teammates Frank Viola of the Red Sox and David Cone of the Blue Jays hook up at SkyDome and stage a classic as Viola prevails, 1-0, after taking a no-hitter into the ninth inning. Devon White breaks up the no-no with a single leading off the ninth, but after a sacrifice bunt Viola gets Joe Carter and Dave Winfield to complete his stylish one-hit shutout. Cone is almost as good, allowing only four hits over eight innings. John Valentin's fourth-inning homer for Boston is the only run of the game.

Birthdays:
Robin Roberts b. 1926
Johnny Podres b. 1932
Jamal Anderson b. 1972
Martina Hingis b . 1980
Dominique Moceanu b. 1981

Packers Fact:
Defensive end Reggie White's 198 career sacks does not include another 23.5 sacks that he accumulated while playing in the United States Football League in 1984 and 1985.

OFF WITH HER HEAD

Following the spectacular debut of Ahab’s Wife, Sena Jeter Naslund takes as her subject Marie Antoinette, a pretty girl who held the fate of nations in her hands. Though there is no groundbreaking research here, it is a fascinating story beautifully told through the eyes of the girl-queen herself. The intimate life of royalty is always fascinating, and it is seldom so thoroughly and erotically portrayed as it is here. Publishers Weekly starred review.

ABUNDANCE: A NOVEL OF MARIE ANTOINETTE, by Sena Jeter Naslund (Harper Perennial, 2007)