Happy Wednesday everyone, here's my Top 5 for February 9, 2011 from Len Berman at ThatsSports.com.
1. Quick Hits
* With wind chill factors of -11 degrees, the Packers celebrated with their fans at Lambeau field yesterday.
* The NFL keeps scrambling. Now those 400 fans who got screwed out of their Super Bowl seats can choose any future Super Bowl they want to attend. They'll also get free airfare and a hotel.
* In addition to talks with the Knicks, Denver has had discussions with the Lakers about a Carmelo Anthony trade.
2. Title Town
You have to love sports fans. In freezing cold they sold out Lambeau field to celebrate the Packers Super Bowl win yesterday. Tickets cost $5. Of course in the fine tradition of commercialism, they were going for $140 on StubHub. And the team said "a portion" would go to charity. What? Just a portion? And I suppose the concession stands were open. Never too late to soak your loyal fans for every drop.
3. Numbers Game
I guess you are all media savvy. Many had thoughts on the Super Bowl ratings. When I asked what all the non-viewers (the majority) were doing? You answered, they were at Super Bowl parties. Subscriber David S. asked an interesting question. He was wondering about the World Series ratings by comparison. It's really apples and oranges, but let's play anyway. Sunday's overnight was 47.9. The highest composite World Series ratings were 1978 and 1980, both 32. 8. Compare that with an 8.4 rating for the 2010 World Series. Ouch. The Super Bowl on the other hand has had ratings in the 40's every year but one since 1972. But again, apples and oranges. One big game on a cold February day vs. a series of games.
4. You Da Man
Long time readers of the Top 5 know that college coaches who don't "lead by example" are a dime a dozen. If you're going to coach young men, act like an adult. So here's a shout out for Wake Forest baseball coach Tom Walter. He has a freshman outfielder on his team named Kevin Jordan, who happens to be a Yankees draft pick. More important, Kevin needed a kidney transplant, but none of his relatives was a match. Enter coach Walter. He donated his kidney the other day. Can we close the coach of the year balloting?
5. Camera Shy
I've asked this question before, but why is it always A-Rod? Of all people to get caught on camera at the Super Bowl being fed popcorn by Cameron Diaz, it was he.
And according to the Chicago Sun Times he wasn't happy about the "paparazzi moment." He allegedly made FOX promise not to show him anymore. I'm thinking that if you're the highest paid baseball player with a glamorous movie star on your arm, the best way to assure anonymity is to show up at the most watched sports event in history a couple of seats down from a former President. Nobody will notice.
Happy Birthday: The Mookster. Former Met and current Mets coach Mookie Wilson. 55.
Bonus Birthday: I amuse you? Actor Joe Goodfellas Pesci. 68.
Today in Sports: The birth of setters and spikers. Volleyball is invented by a guy named William Morgan. 1895.
Bonus Event: A Harvard tennis player named Dwight Davis establishes a new tournament and coincidentally calls it the Davis Cup. 1900.
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