Historically Speaking: 1-14-09

In yet another, soon-to-be-ignored-on-a-regular-basis House of Georges feature...
On this day in sports history:

* Alex Smart of the Montreal Canadiens became the first NHLer to score a hat trick in his first game in 1943.

* In 1954, Joe DiMaggio married Marilyn Monroe.

* Those wily '72 Dolphins completed their "perfect season."

* Catfish Hunter and Billy Williams were elected to baseball's Hall of Fame in 1987.

* Two years later, Bobby Knight notched victory number 500.

And your Sports Illustrated quote of they day comes from...

...the mouth of former Vancouver Canucks coach Harry Neale who, circa 1980, said "Last season we couldn't win at home, and this season we can't win on the road. My failure as a coach is that I can't think of anyplace else to play."