January 8, 2008

Born on this date
Happy 73rd birthday, Elvis Presley!

120 years ago
1888

Born on this date
Matt Moore. U.K.-born U.S. actor. Mr. Moore and his brothers Tom, Owen, and Joe, and sister Mary, natives of Ireland, emigrated to the United States in 1896, and all went on to successful careers in movies. Matt appeared in at least 221 films, including The Unholy Three (1925) and Coquette (1929). He died on January 21, 1960, 13 days after his 72nd birthday.

80 years ago
1928

Diplomacy
Amanullah Khan, King of Afghanistan, arrived at Naples and Rome to begin a visit to Europe. He was accompanied by his wife and daughters, the crown prince, and 25 attendants.

30 years ago
1978

Football
CIAU-NCAA
Can-Am Bowl @ Tampa Stadium
U.S.A. 22 Canada 7

On a rainy day at Tampa Stadium, the U.S. defeated Canada in the first Can-Am Bowl, a game played mainly under Canadian rules. The American team was composed of players from smaller schools, while the Canadian team was composed of players from the Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union. The U.S. lineup included future Canadian Football League players such as Larry Key, Bruce Threadgill, and Ben Zambiasi. Current University of Alberta Golden Bears head coach Jerry Friesen was among the Canadian university players. Others included future Hall of Famer Joe Poplawski, and punting great Bob Cameron, then the quarterback for Acadia University. Former Hamilton Tiger-Cats' assistant coach Jack Zilly was head coach of the American squad, and former CFL all-star quarterback Don Jonas was one of his assistants. The CIAU coaching staff was headed by Western Ontario's Darwin Semotiuk, who had just won his second straight Vanier Cup. His assistants were Bob Vespaziani (Acadia); Frank Smith (British Columbia); and Bruce Coulter (Bishop's).

25 years ago
1983

World events
British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher began a 4-day surprise visit to Port Stanley, capital of the Falkland Islands, to "pay tribute to those who liberated the islands." Argentina's foreign minister, still smarting from losing the war over the islands in 1982, denounced Mrs. Thatcher's visit as an act of "provocation and arrogance."

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Maneater--Daryl Hall and John Oates (4th week at #1)

10 years ago
1998

Crime
The Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski, pleaded guilty in Sacramento Federal Court to all U.S. charges against him in connection with killing and maiming people with bombs sent through the mail. He accepted an unconditional sentence of life in prison with no parole and gave up his right to appeal.