Historically Speaking: 1-15-09

Blah, blah, blah-blah-blah, science books. Blah, blah, blah-blah-blah, French I took.

Mornin', HoGsters. It's time to get a little learn on. We've got a few historical tidbits for you, those of the sporting variety anyway, and a few documented words that someone, at some time or another, said. So grab a sharpened number two, a note pad, and your thinking cap. Today's lesson is but a click away.

* It was the crisp year of 1892 when, in Springfield, MA, the Triangle newspaper printed Dr. James Naismith's rules of basketball.

* In 1957, the Brooklyn Dodgers signed a three-year lease for the historic Ebbets Field.

* Ten years later, the first National Football League Super Bowl was played between the Kansas City Chiefs and Vince Lombardi's Green Bay Packers. The Wisconsin clan won handily, 35-10 in front of a non-sellout crowd, in a game televised both on CBS and NBC.

* The following year, Bill Masterson of the Minnesota North Stars became the first NHL casualty. He died two days after suffering a brain injury in a game versus the Oakland Seals. Find out more about the trophy named for him here.

* Ten years after Masterson's death, the NFL played its first indoor Super Bowl, a contest that took place in the New Orleans Superdome. The contestants included the Denver Broncos and the Dallas Cowboys, and the latter defeated the former, 27-10.

* And, in extra-tidbitty news, in 2002, a record seven minority players took part in an NHL game between the Edmonton Oilers and the St. Louis Blues. Among the skaters were Mike Grier, Anson Carter, Jamal Mayers, Fred Brathwaite, Sean Brown, Bryce Salvador, and (House of) Georges Laraque.

Finally, your Sports Illustrated quote of the day comes from the mouth of...

San Francisco Giants manager Felipe Alou.



He was asked, circa 2005, if catcher A.J. Piersynski (who had been released in the off-season) was more offensive-minded than new catcher Mike Matheny. Alou responded, "Yes, he offended everyone."