Historically Speaking: 2-27-09

The weeks are flying by here in late February. It's free-agency time in the NFL, and St. Pat's is almost here, which means the House of Georges is about to turn two. Now, we got off the ground shortly after sites like With Leather and Kissing Suzy Kolber did, and though we're just a smidge behind them in the popularity standings, we still like to think we kick a ton of ass. Speaking of ass-kicking, get out there this weekend, get good and drunk, and break some shit, all in the name of print journalism. Today, the esteemed Rocky Mountain News will quietly close its doors after a fine, fine run of 150 years servicing Denver and the Front Range. The sheek tabloid-style, Pulitzer Prize-winning paper leaves the mile-high city with only The Denver Post in circulation. It also leaves our beloved Cecil out of work. Here's to print journalism, and to Cecil.

* Today in 1908, Major League Baseball introduced the sacrifice-fly rule. It was a short-lived rule, as the league repealed it, re-instated it, then oversaw changes to the rule numerous times prior to its permanent acceptance some 45 years later.

* Four years later, the New York Yankees announced that they would be wearing pinstripes on their uniforms.

* The year was 1959. The event was an NBA game between the Boston Celtics and the Minneapolis Lakers. Highlights included Bob Cousy's (then) record 28 assists, and the final score: a Celtics' victory by the mark of 173-139.

* The United States Olympic Hockey team defeated the USSR 3-2 on their way to gold in 1960.

* Finally, in 1992, Tiger Woods became the youngest PGA golfer in 35 years at the ripe old age of 16.

And your Sports Illustrated quote of the day came from the mouth of...



... former NBA referee Earl Strom, who, in 1982, had this to say about Elvin Hayes breaking the NBA record for career fouls: "I felt like stopping the game and giving him my whistle."