Historically Speaking: 10-27-09

Haven't really gathered my thoughts yet regarding the ass pounding the Chiefs took at home against the Chargers. Meantime, here's an interesting read regarding Head Coach Todd Haley's thoughts on the game, the distraction, an approach to the bye week. Also, Joe Posnanski has some thoughts on Larry Johnson.

* Today in 1968, the 19th Olympic Games closed in Mexico City, Mexico. You know, as opposed to Mexico City, Tibet.

* Some New York Islanders notes: It today in 1973 when the Islanders beat the New York Rangers for the first time. They did so by a 3-2 margin on home ice. In a home win on this date six seasons later, the Islanders scored two goals in six seconds, and a third within a minute against the visiting Chicago Blackhawks. Seventy-nine was also the first of four consecutive years in which the Islanders won the Stanley Cup.

* Several World Series were wrapped up today: On this date in 1985, Kansas City Royal Bret Saberhagen tossed a five hitter to give the Royals an 11-0 game seven win over St. Louis. One year later, the Mets sealed the deal over the Boston Red Sox, four games to three. It was 1991 when the Braves and Twins went extra innings in a game seven, giving Minnesota their first championship in four years. Five years later the Yankees collected their first Series win in 18 seasons, a game-six victory over Atlanta. And in 2002, the Anaheim Angels, also in a game seven, defeated the San Francisco Giants.

* Couple of NFL franchise-relocations notes from this day in history: Today in 1995 the contract to finalize the move of the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore was signed, and the following year, Bud Adams announced that the Houston Oilers would play one more season in Texas before moving to Nashville, Tennessee.

* Today in 2002, Emmitt Smith became the NFL's all-time leading rusher in his 193rd game. Noteworthy marks on the day included his new rushing mark of 16, 743 yards, as well as his 150th career touchdown.

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



...one-time Cleveland Cavalier guard World B. Free, who, in 1984, watched teammate Cliff Robinson drill a three-point shot as time expired, giving the Cavs a 114-112 overtime win against Detroit. Free said, "That shot was so good, for a moment I thought I took it."
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So Long, Grangerfords and Shepherdsons; Welcome the Middlebrooks, Smiths

Regardless of the fact that the House of Georges newsroom teems with dozens of scoop-hungry reporters, we're not going to spend much time covering the still-unfolding details of the Plaxico Burress case. We do, however, want some reader input on one item in particular.

When Burress finally made it to a hospital, he gave the staff at New York-Cornell the fake name of "Harris Smith."

He certainly was not the first to attempt this gem of shenanigans.

This ancient piece of news shows one T.P. Harty claiming third place in the 1915 Pennant A.C. open novice road run. Turns out Harty entered the race as "M. Oelrichs", but was discovered by the shrewdness of George Mathews, chairman of the registration committee, and subsequently disqualified.

More recently, Tennessee State fired its track coach (Stanford Strong in 1999) for running two redshirt athletes under fake names.

Then there was everybody's favorite lil' "Spidey," Andre Rison, who, upon being arrested for participating in a Chiefs training camp bar fight in River Falls, Wisconsin, gave authorities the name Brock Middlebrook.

The most famous, perhaps, would be Mike Vick calling himself "Ron Mexico" when he sought treatment for herpes at a health clinic a few years back. This story has a few more fellas who've done something similar, like Evander Holyfield calling himself Evan Fields when he allegedly tried to buy testosterone and HGH from a Florida clinic.

And finally the Giants wide receiver opts for Harris Smith.

Do tell, then, readers. Using the handy poll on the right, let us know which fake name is your favorite.
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