Historically Speaking: 5-27-09

If you think that photo's old, wait'll I upload the photos of my liver after this weekend. Thing looks like some 18-wheeler tire scrap that's been on the shoulder of the freeway since Carter was in office. I unintentionally drank so much beer between Saturday and Monday, that I still, five days later, cannot figure out what I did Friday night, which must mean it was an insane evening. I've been thinking, though, if we get the extra day off, and we use it to drink, shouldn't we just get Tuesday off as well? Sounds fair. Anyway, we're sort of back in the saddle with a few factoids, after the jump.

* After 48 years of coaching the Chicago Bears, George "Papa Bear" Halas retired today in 1968.

* It was today in 1975 when the Philadelphia Flyers eliminated the Buffalo Sabres for the Stanley Cup championship, four games to two. It was the second consecutive Cup for the Broadstreet Bullies, as they had downed the Boston Bruins in the finals the previous year.

* The year was 1982 when a handful of New Jersey businessmen purchased the Colorado Rockies NHL franchise. The group received permission to relocate the club to New Jersey and become the Devils after the team saw little success in six years as the Rockies, and even less in two years as the Kansas City Scouts.

* Five years later, then New York Yankee Phil Neikro became only the third MLB pitcher in history to log his 700th start. At the time, Don Sutton and Cy Young were the only others, but Steve Carlton, Roger Clemens, Nolan Ryan, Greg Maddux, and Tommy John have all since joined the club.

* In a 1997 game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Chicago Cubs, two inside-the-park home runs are hit within five minutes of each other. Sammy Sosa and Tony Womack contribute the feats as the Cubs beat the Pirates 2-1, and the National League witnesses such a feat for the first time in 21 years.

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



...former New Englad Patriot defensive end Julius Adams, who, in 1977, was asked about whether or not the Oakland Raiders hold. His response: "Every time I rush the passer, I have to tuck my shirt back in."