Happy Birthday To The Following Athletes

Today, February 8th, I'd like to wish a Happy Birthday to:

1901 - Janina Spychajowa-Kurkowska, Poland, women's world champion archer
1914 - Bert Haas, baseball player
1920 - Buddy Blattner, baseball player
1921 - Hoot Evers, baseball player
1924 - Joe Black, baseball player
1925 - Raimondo d'Inzeo, It, equestrian (Oly-gold/2 silver/3 bronze-1948-76)
1930 - Catherine Hardy, Carollton Ga, 4x100m runner (Olympic-gold-1952)
1936 - Manohar Hardikar, cricketer (batted in 2 Tests India v WI 1958-59)
1942 - Fritz Peterson, baseball pitcher (NY Yankees)
1943 - Bob Oliver, baseball player
1944 - Bunky Henry, golfer
1947 - Sam Gannon, cricketer (Austr lefty quick, 3 Tests v India 1977-78)
1949 - Scott Allen, USA, skater (Olympic-bronze-1964)
1954 - "Sensational" Sherri Martel, [Russell], New Orl, wrestler (WWF/AWA)
1955 - Jim "the Anvil" Neidhart, wrestler (WWF/WCW/NJPW/CWFI/Calgary)
1959 - Heinz Gunthardt, Switzerland, tennis star
1959 - Irina Kalinina, USSR, springboard diver (Olympic-gold-1980)
1960 - Linda Fratianne, LA Calif, figure skater (Olympic-silver-1980)
1963 - Mohammad Azharuddin, cricketer (elegant Indian batsman 1984-)
1963 - Raleigh MCkenzie, NFL center/guard (Phila Eagles, SD Chargers)
1964 - Dennis Gibson, NFL inside linebacker (SD Chargers)
1965 - Carmen Savy, Brisbane QLD, golfer (1990 Brisbane and District)
1965 - Jim Thornton, NFL tight end (Houston Oilers)
1965 - Lee Knight, CFL full back (Hamilton Tiger Cats)
1965 - Rod Bernstine, NFL running back (Denver Broncos)
1965 - Terry McDaniel, NFL cornerback (Oakland Raiders, LA Raiders)
1968 - Joy Fawcett, Inglewood Calif, soccer defender (Olympics-96)
1968 - Ron Goetz, CFL linebacker (Saskatchewan Roughriders)
1969 - Herb Hohenberger, hockey defenseman (Team Austria 1998)
1970 - Cameron Cuffy, cricketer (St Vincent and WI fast bowler 1994-)
1970 - Alonzo Mourning, NBA center (Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets)
1972 - Adrian Rollins, cricketer (Derbyshire batsman, bro of Robert of Essex)
1972 - Marcus Pollard, NFL tight end (Indianapolis Colts)
1973 - Tom King, Australian 470 class yachter (Olympics-96)
1973 - Michelle Brogan, Australian basketball forward (Olympics-bronze-96)
1973 - Dave Dopek, Bolingbrook Illinois, 200m runner
1973 - Andreas Gliatis, soccer player (NEC)
1976 - Holly Manthei, Edina Minn, soccer midfielder/forward (Olympics-96)
1976 - Jim Parque, Norwalk Calif, baseball pitcher (Olympics-bronze-96)
1978 - Christa Williams, Houston TX, softball pitcher (Olympics-gold-96)

Shaquille O' Neal Travels To Los Angeles For Medical Treatment

Miami Heat center Shaquille O'Neal flew Monday to Los Angeles to seek medical treatment for a hip injury that has sidelined him the past five games.

You know, everyone likes to poke fun at the New York Knicks for what a disgrace they are (including myself), but do people realize that the Miami Heat are far worse than them?

O'Neal's departure two games into a five-game trip is the latest setback for an injury-plagued team that has the worst record in the Eastern Conference at 8-26 and has lost seven games in a row. O'Neal had said Sunday he had hoped to return to the lineup Tuesday at Minnesota.

He bruised his left hip Dec. 22 when he dived for a loose ball and slid into the scorer's table during a win over Utah. He aggravated the injury in a Dec. 26 loss at Philadelphia and hasn't played since.

The hip injury and a sore left knee have contributed to the least productive season of O'Neal's 16-year career. He is averaging 14 points and 7.8 rebounds in 29 games.

Injury layoffs have been common for O'Neal in recent years. He missed 39 games last season, when he underwent left knee surgery. He sat out 21 games during the Heat's 2005-06 championship season because of a sprained ankle and sprained thumb.

The Heat lost O'Neal's backup, Alonzo Mourning, for the season when he tore two knee ligaments in a Dec. 19 loss at Atlanta. Dwyane Wade, Jason Williams and Dorell Wright have all battled injuries recently.