Sports Fact & Book Rec of the Day 9/7-9/8/2009

9/7/2005:

Andre Agassi, 35, battles back from two sets down and a third-set service break to defeat James Blake in a five-set U.S. Open quarterfinal match that doesn't end until after 1:00 A.M. The two Americans, both survivors of much adversity in their careers, enthrall the packed stadium with brilliant shotmaking and a fifth-set tiebreaker to close out the nearly three-hour match. Playing in his last U.S. Open, Agassi will advance to the finals of this event before bowing to Roger Federer.

Birthdays:

Al McGuire b. 1928

Clyde Lovellette b. 1929

Orland Kurtenbach b. 1936

Jason Isringhausen b. 1972

Antonio McDyess b. 1974

Packers Fact:

After his team lost to the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1960 NFL title game, Vince Lombardi never lost another postseason game. That was a string of nine consecutive victories through his final season in Green Bay in 1967.

WHAT’S OUR FUTURE?

In the 1990s Katherine Newman began interviewing and studying black and Latino workers in New York’s service sector. She followed her subjects over a number of years and then wrote this illuminating report on their successes and failures in moving on to better jobs and better lives. A very well-written and thought-provoking assessment.

CHUTES AND LADDERS: NAVIGATING THE LOW-WAGE LABOR MARKET, by Katherine S. Newman (Harvard University Press, 2006)

9/8/1965:

In a promotional stunt cooked up by owner Charles O. Finley, rookie shortstop Bert Campaneris of the Kansas City A's becomes the first major leaguer to play all nine positions in one game. His travels around the diamond are not without adventure. He misplays a fly ball in right field in the sixth inning, allowing a run to score. He also allows a run while pitching in the eighth inning and must leave the game while catching in the ninth after being injured in a jarring home plate collision with Ed Kirkpatrick. He goes hitless at the plate but manages to steal a base and score a run. The Los Angeles Angels, not crazy about being foils for this charade at Municipal Stadium, eventually win the game, 5-3, in 13 innings.

Birthdays:

Lem Barney b. 1945

Rogie Vachon b. 1945

Maurice Cheeks b. 1956

Latrell Sprewell b. 1970

Amani Toomer b. 1974

Packers Fact:

Jim Taylor rushed for more yards than Ahman Green in a Packers' uniform. He is first on the club's all-time list with 8,207 yards. Green is second with 8,162 yards.

MYSTERIES OF PERCEPTION

An accident leaves a Nebraska trucker in a coma. After he regains consciousness, he suffers from a syndrome that, among other things, makes him believe his sister isn’t really his sister. A renowned neurologist is brought in to help and ends up wondering about his own capabilities. And then there’s the anonymous note left on the nightstand . . . and the nurse’s aide who seems to be something else. Richard Powers, a MacArthur Fellow and winner of numerous literary awards, has crafted a beautiful and intriguing novel.

THE ECHO MAKER, by Richard Powers (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2006)