Historically Speaking: 3-31-09

It's a fantastic Tuesday here in the US of A. Old No. 7's child has breathed his first breath of non-womb air, and in just a short pile of hours, the first HoGlet will be headed home, where he will undoubtedly rest up, and prepare for the immeasurable amount of insanities Cecil and I will thrust upon him in a few months. It's no secret that the boy will scarcely have uttered his first word before feeling the pressure to craft his first post here inside the House. It may sound like a rough deal, but contracts are contracts. In slightly more realistic murmurings, have a look at some historical facts:

* On this glorious day in 1878, Jack Johnson became the first African-American to hold a heavyweight boxing title.

* The new American League franchise awarded to Seattle chose its nickname in 1968: the Pilots.

* We've got four NCAA men's hoops championships to remember to day: In 1975, UCLA walloped Kentucky 92-55; in '86, Louisville beat Duke 72-69; the following season Indiana edged Syracuse, 74-73; and in 1997, Arizona took Kentucky to overtime and got the win, 84-79.

* The year was 1980 when Larry Holmes took care of Leroy Jones via a TKO in eight rounds in Las vegas to defend his WBC belt. On the same day, Mike Weaver knocked out John Tate in the 15th in Knoxville, claiming the WBA title.

* Oh, and it was a glorious 1998 day when the MLB expansion clubs the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays made their big-league debut.

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



...one-time Tennessee Titans Offensive Coordinator Mike Heimerdinger, who, circa 2004, had this to say about why he hadn't yet become an NFL head-coaching candidate: "They're looking for big names, not long (ones)." (Editor's Note: While I don't usually take the liberty of commenting on quotes, I will here: Could be that ol' 'dinger has been labeled stupid by association.)