Monday, April 10, 2006

Spotlight
If the number of viewers who watch the Super Bowl is any indication, football has overtaken baseball as America's most popular spectator sport. Pro football was inaugurated in 1892, when William "Pudge" Heffelfinger was paid $500 for helping the Allegheny Athletic Association beat the Pittsburgh Athletic Club. Two football hall-of-famers celebrate their birthdays today: Emmy-winning football announcer John Madden (70) coached the Oakland Raiders, and has the highest winning percentage of any NFL coach. Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Mel Blount (58) was named to the 75th Anniversary All-Time Team.

Quote
"Self-praise is for losers. Be a winner. Stand for something. Always have class, and be humble." – John Madden

Word of the day
punt: a kick where the ball is dropped from the hands and kicked before touching ground (© )

Today's News

• immigration: rivals the economy on list of Americans' concerns (story)
• Democrats: hopes are high for US election year due to Republican missteps (story)
• Alzheimer's: high-risk people may be protected by vitamins E and C plus ibuprofen (story)

Today's History

• ASPCA: was founded by Henry Bergh (1866)
• Emiliano Zapata: Mexican revolutionary leader with the battle cry of "land and liberty" was killed by soldiers (1919)
• The Beatles: Paul McCartney announced the group's disbandment (1970)

Today's Birthdays

• Joseph Pulitzer: journalist and newspaper publisher who endowed the Pulitzer Prize (1847-1911)
• Paul Theroux: travel writer, The Mosquito Coast (65)
• Haley Joel Osment: actor, The Sixth Sense, Pay It Forward (18)