Sports Fact & Book Rec of the Day 2/7-2/9/2010

2/7/1972:
Seventeen-year-old high school student Chris Evert embarrasses Billie Jean King, 6-1, 6-0, in the finals of a clay court tournament in Evert's hometown of Fort Lauderdale. King has her service broken six straight times and has no response to Evert's withering ground strokes, especially her two-hander off the backhand side-a revolutionary stroke at the time. sitting courtside is her father and coach, Jim Evert, as she gives further notice (after her run to the U.S. Open semis last fall) that she'll be a major force in women's tennis.

Birthdays:
Dan Quisenberry b. 1953
Carney Lansford b. 1957
Rick Neuheisel b. 1961
Juwan Howard b. 1973
Steve Nash b. 1974

2/8/1965:
Two hours after scoring 48 points to lead the Aggies to a 91-62 victory over Denver on their home court, Utah State's Wayne Estes stops by the side of the road with two friends to see if they can be of any help at the site of a traffic accident. Unaware that a high-voltage wire had been dislodged by the car crash, the All-American basketball star walks right into the lethal electrical current and is killed instantly. He had just gone over 2,000 career points in tonight's game, averaging 33.7 points during his senior year.

Birthdays:
Joe Black b. 1924
Clete Boyer b. 1937
Marques Johnson b. 1956
Dino Ciccarelli b. 1960
Alonzo Mourning b. 1970

Packers Fact:
On February 8, 1936, the NFL held its first draft of college football players. The Packers' initial selection was Russ Letlow, a guard from San Francisco. He was the seventh choice overall.

2/9/1940:
Heavyweight champion Joe Louis defends his title with a 15-round split decision over Chilean challenger Arturo Godoy at Madison Square Garden, a result met with boos and catcalls as the fighters leave the ring. Godoy's aggressiveness and pell-mell onrushing style won approval from the crowd of 15,000 fans and at least one of the judges. In a shocking contrast of viewpoints, two judges (including referee Arthur Donovan) score the bout 10-4-1 for Louis; the other judge, veteran boxing ringsider Tommy Shortell, scores it 1-5 for Godoy. A rematch is quickly arranged, and Louis is more businesslike four months from now at Yankee Stadium, dispatching Godoy in eight rounds.

Birthdays:
Dit Clapper b. 1907
Phil Ford b. 1956
Mookie Wilson b. 1956
Vladimir Guerrero b. 1976
Jameer Nelson b. 1982

Packers Fact:
Three of the Packers' 11 starters on offense made the Pro Bowl in February of 2008: quarterback Brett Favre (he missed the game because of injury), wide receiver Donald Driver, and tackle Chad Clifton.


http://www.talkingpets.org/

Talking Pets
Choose the appropriate background and accessories and let one of these virtual pets deliver your message for you. It might go down easier coming from Fido or Fluffy, and if the recipient wants to kill the messenger, all they have to do is hit Delete.


http://negse.com/negser/

Bed Head
The site is in Japanese, but you'll be able to navigate it easily enough. For the past eight years, webmaster Negse has photographed himself upon waking to show what a good (or bad) night's sleep has done to his hair. Voice your opinion by rating each picture and then check out his top ten best-rated mornings.


http://www.verysmallobjects.com/

Tiny Things
Welcome to the world of onlifrags and neliparts - very small objects no bigger than 8 x 8 x 25 millimeters in size. Some were once living objects, like dead bugs or dried herbs (and are classified under the onli- designation), but most are man-made and originally parts of larger objects. At this site you can see dozens of classified tiny objects, learn how to name them scientifically according to the webmaster's system of classification, and submit your own finds to the site.

YOU, ME, AND HYPERBOLE

The inner lives of cartoon characters, adolescents who laugh too much, a boy’s obsession in a pitch-black attic, a master builder of miniatures, the village that makes a duplicate of itself—you get all this and plenty of other fantastic products of Steven Millhauser’s dazzlingly crafty mind. In a time of fine storytellers, Millhauser is one of the liveliest and cleverest of them.

DANGEROUS LAUGHTER: THIRTEEN STORIES, by Steven Millhauser (Knopf, 2008)

A GOOD DAY FOR A POEM

“This is the moment when bliss is what you glimpse / from the corner of your eye, as you drive past,” writes Robert Hass in his poem “September, Inverness.” The San Francisco poet has been embellishing paper with his verse since the days when he sat at the feet of the great Beat poets, learning his craft from them and many others. His latest book shows a writer at the height of his powers, catching the eternal in the fleeting moment. Reading Hass will both lighten and deepen your day.

TIME AND MATERIALS: POEMS 1997–2005, by Robert Hass (Ecco, 2007)

LEINENKUGEL’S CREAMY DARK LAGER

Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Co., Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin

A red brunette topped by wispy foam, with a moderate roast malt aroma and a hint of caramel. Light to medium body with a terrific hop bitterness that balances the background malt. Overall impression: a very refreshing, tasty dark lager with just enough complexity to invite into a session of conversation amongst friends. Well done, with few American competitors; winner of a Silver medal at the 2008 Great American Beer Festival in the American-style Dark Lager category.

THUNDERHEAD IPA

Pyramid Breweries, Portland, Oregon

We all know Portland, Oregon, is responsible for some of the finest ales in the country. This IPA is no exception. Pale amber in color, the bountifully hoppy pale showcases Pacific Northwest grown hops. Happily, they never completely dominate a biscuity caramel malt. The result is a beer that goes down in dangerously smooth fashion, ending with a crisp, dry hop residue. A delicious IPA by anyone’s standards.

BEER FACT

Thunderhead IPA is an American-style India pale ale brewed with Pacific Northwest hop varieties like Columbus and Tomahawk. According to Pyramid Brewery, it is best paired with fish, barbecue, and all things hot and spicy.

OMMEGEDDON’S FARMHOUSE ALE

Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown, New York

A dose of Brettanomyces yeast lends a wild-fruit, earthen complexity and horsey character. Enjoyed relatively young, the brew’s overall character is gentle, poetic, and soft-spoken. An intriguing wintergreen hop emerges. Floral and reminiscent of the Belgian witbier style, yet peculiarly unique. A nice foamy lace collects on the glass. Refreshing—and devilishly deceiving at 8%.

From the BrewerY:

“Dryness and funkiness begat the name of Ommegeddon—for the time when the forces of light and dark battle for world dominion. It’s time for you to pick your side.”