TGIF everyone, here's my Top 5 for August 7, 2009 from LenBermanSports.com.
1. Quick Hits
The Yankees beat the Red Sox for the first time in 9 tries this season, 13-6. They lead Boston by 3 1/2 games.
David Ortiz will face the media tomorrow about his positive steroid test. Perhaps he's one of the few who tested positive because of a supplement.
Today marks the one year anniversary of the Top 5. (See below)
2. One Down Three to Go
OK, it wasn't exactly a pins and needles rivalry game. Muhammad Ali got cheered, David Ortiz got booed, and catcher Jorge Posada painted a #15 on his mask in tribute to the late Thurman Munson, and then proceeded to bat like Munson. 3 hits including a 3-run homer. But here's the bigger headline. You have to wonder if Boston pitcher John Smoltz is done. He continues to pitch like a shell of his former self. The Red Sox will not make it to October if they continue to trot Smoltz out to the mound every 5th day.
3. Taking the Plunge
Calling all brides. They're having a bridal festival at Fenway Park Sunday. While the Red Sox are in New York, future brides can check out Fenway Park as a wedding catering hall. When I was a sportscaster in Boston we wanted to stage a wedding in the bleachers between games of a doubleheader. It was a "Sports Fantasy" request from a viewer. We would have the couple "walking down the aisle" of the bleachers while fans threw peanuts. We ultimately didn't do it. We feared their
wedding might get rained out.
4. Friday Mailbag
A.T. writes about visiting Thurman Munson's grave site in Canton, Ohio. "The red marble stone has Thurman in a Yankee uniform carved into it, his number 15 is carved on the back. Small hedges form a batters box. A bank of flowers is 60' 6" away. By far the most moving grave site I have ever been to."
S.B. is not a fan of the answers given by Mets G.M. Omar Minaya. "If you check Omar Minaya's lineage carefully, I'm sure you'll find that he's related to Joe Biden and Prof. Irwin Corey. The tougher the question, the longer and more tortured the answer. By comparison, Yogi Berra is William F. Buckley.
Editor's Note: I believe t was Buckley who said said: "It ain't over until it's consummated, actualized, and otherwise effectuated."
As for the "Genius of the Week" who assaulted his Monopoly playing partner because she wouldn't sell him Boardwalk and Park Place, N.M. writes: "I would hate to play 'Clue' with him. Mr. Green in the conservatory with a gun...." Editor's Note: I wish I thought of that.
And regarding the anniversary of Lizzie Borden hacking up her parents with an axe, B.B. writes: "Isn't her batting average better then several of the Mets (or is that too much of a hatchet job)?" Editor's Note: My readers are pretty sharp.
5. Happy Anniversary
One year ago today I sent out the first Top 5 to 22 friends and their acquaintances. I raised the possibility of the Yankees missing the playoffs and Brett Favre becoming a Jet. What a seer! In the ensuing 12 months the subscriber list has grown to the thousands, has been written up in various newspapers, and now appears daily in the Huffington Post. My sincere thanks to Alex Rodriguez, Plaxico Burress, Stephon Marbury and the dysfunctional Knicks, steroids, cheaters and the Romanian tennis player who underwent breast reduction surgery to improve her game. I couldn't have done it without you!
Happy Birthday: The perfect game by the imperfect man, former Yankee pitcher Don Larsen. 80.
Bonus Birthday: Oscar winning actress Charlize Theron. 34.
Today in Sports: The Boston Red Sox fine Ted Williams $5-thousand for spitting at fans. 1956.
Bonus Event: The incredibly intelligent and entertaining Top 5 makes its internet debut. 2008.