Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Spotlight
Happy birthday to Kobe Bryant, the basketball superstar who turns 28 today. Guard for the LA Lakers, Bryant graduated from high school straight into the NBA, making a short stop with the Charlotte Hornets, before moving to the Lakers. He and Shaquille O'Neal made a formidable duo, leading their team to championships three years running, 2000-2002. In a game against the Toronto Raptors, Bryant scored 81 points, making his the second highest score in a single game, after Wilt Chamberlain's 100 points scored in 1962.

Quote
"What I'm doing right now, I'm chasing perfection. " – Kobe Bryant

Today in History

• William Wallace: Scottish nationalist was executed (1305)
• Rudolph Valentino: death of silent screen sex symbol at age 31 caused mass hysterical mourning (1926)
• world wars: Japan declared war on Germany (1914), Germany and USSR signed nonaggression pact (1939)

Today's Birthdays

• Gene Kelly: dancer/actor/singer, Singin' in the Rain, The Three Musketeers, Brigadoon (1912-1996)
• Shelley Long: Diane on Cheers (57)
• River Phoenix: actor, My Own Private Idaho (1970-1993)

Word of the Day
 clink -- [Scot] cash, money   (© )