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Five years ago: At the Beijing Olympics, Michael Phelps began his long march toward eight gold medals by winning the 400-meter individual medley in 4:03.84 -- smashing his own world record. The U.S. women's 400-meter freestyle relay team, anchored by 41-year-old Dara Torres, took the silver behind the Netherlands. Stephanie Rice of Australia won the gold in the women's 400-meter individual medley in a world record time of 4:29.45. Padraig Harrington rallied from three shots behind to win the PGA Championship in Bloomfield Township, Mich. Soul crooner Isaac Hayes, 65, died in Memphis, Tenn.
One year ago: A man in an Afghan army uniform shot and killed three American service members in southern Afghanistan; the Taliban claimed the shooter joined the insurgency after the attack. The Leadership Conference of Women Religious, an American nuns group rebuked by the Vatican, said it would hold talks with the Roman Catholic bishops appointed to overhaul the organization but would not "compromise its mission." The United States won the women's 4x100-meter track relay in a world-record time of 40.82 seconds to give the Americans their first victory in the event since 1996. The Arizona Rattlers won the Arena Bowl with a 72-54 win over the Philadelphia Soul.
Today's birthdays: Actress Rhonda Fleming is 90. Actor-director Tom Laughlin ("Billy Jack") is 82. Singer Ronnie Spector is 70. Actor James Reynolds is 67. Rock singer-musician Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull) is 66. Country musician Gene Johnson (Diamond Rio) is 64. Singer Patti Austin is 63. Actor Daniel Hugh Kelly is 61. Folk singer-songwriter Sam Baker is 59. Actress Rosanna Arquette is 54. Actor Antonio Banderas is 53. Rock musician Jon Farriss (INXS) is 52. Singer Julia Fordham is 51. Journalist-blogger Andrew Sullivan is 50. Singer Neneh Cherry is 49. Singer Aaron Hall is 49. Boxer Riddick Bowe is 46. Rhythm-and-blues singer Lorraine Pearson (Five Star) is 46. Singer-producer Michael Bivins is 45. Actor-writer Justin Theroux is 42. Actress Angie Harmon is 41. Country singer Jennifer Hanson is 40. Actress JoAnna Garcia is 34. Rhythm-and-blues singer Nikki Bratcher (Divine) is 33. Actor Ryan Eggold is 29. Actor Lucas Till is 23.
Thought for today: "There is no adequate defense, except stupidity, against the impact of a new idea." -- Percy Williams Bridgeman, American scientist (1882-1961)
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