Sports Fact & Book Rec of the day 3/23/2012

3/23/2002:
Iowa State University wrestler Cael Sanderson wins his 159th straight match and fourth straight NCAA championship. He also becomes the first collegiate wrestler to secure an undefeated record with a minimum of 100 matches. Sports Illustrated names Sanderson's college career the second most impressive of all time in any college sport, behind that of Ohio State's Jesse Owens, who set four world records in track-and-field in a single hour during the Big 10 championships in 1935. The third of four Sanderson brothers to wrestle at Iowa State, Cael will capture a gold medal in the 2004 Olympics by defeating Eui Jae Moon of South Korea in the finals.

Birthdays:
Roger Bannister b. 1929
Geno Auriemma b. 1954
Moses Malone b. 1954
Jason Kidd b. 1973
Mark Buehrle b. 1979

A LIFE

How do you go from being a suburban New Jersey schoolgirl to a member of a prince’s harem? Jillian Lauren’s memoir tells that story and reflects eloquently on womanhood, coming of age, and what it means to belong. Fascinating and engrossing, and exotic without resorting to cheap thrills.

SOME GIRLS: MY LIFE IN A HAREM, by Jillian Lauren (Plume, 2010)