TGIF everyone, here's my Top 5 for September 3, 2010 from Len Berman at www.ThatsSports.com.
1. Quick Hits
* Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will meet with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell today. He hopes to have his 6 game suspension reduced.
* Ohio State, Miami and USC all post wins in college football.
* Game of the night. The Phillies score 9 in the 7th and beat Colorado 12-11. Philly is now 2 games out of first.
* Word is that Alex Rodriguez has fired his mega-agent Scott Boras.
* The New York Post reports that contrary to what you've heard, Tiger Woods is not moving into an apartment in lower Manhattan.
2. Playing For Real
Sad how fast the NFL exhibition season flies by. It's now kaput. You don't have to pay regular season prices any more to see scrubs trying to make the team. You can now go back to worrying about how you're going to pay for your personal seat licenses. You're feeling better, right?
3. Bleeding Dodger Red
Say it ain't so. The L.A. Dodgers, one of the most glamorous sports franchises, are deeply in debt. Word is banks won't loan them any more money and payroll slashing is the name of the game. Is it any wonder that they let Manny Ramirez waltz away to save some bucks? The Dodgers counter that they're committed to winning, but actions speak louder than words. When Frank McCourt bought the team in 2004, the Dodgers had the 7th highest payroll. They've now slipped to 12th.
4. Friday eMailbag
T.R. doesn't think that Manny Ramirez leaving the Dodgers had anything to do with the contentious McCourt divorce. "First the PED suspension, followed by so-so production. His attitude has been lousy, and that coupled with his injury, then getting himself thrown out arguing a strike call on the very first pitch he saw (with the bases loaded, no less), made it an easy decision for the Dodgers to save $4 million and send him packing."
B.L. is intrigued by Ramirez joining the White Sox. "I cannot wait to see "Manny being Manny" playing for "Ozzie being Ozzie!" Should be worth the price of admission!"
Editor's note: In any language.
As for sumo wrestlers in Japan being given iPads since their fingers are too fat for cellphones, A.T. emails: "The only problem with giving iPads to sumo wrestlers instead of cellphones is that you can't make a phone call on an iPad. But it's a nice gesture."
Editor's note: Oh, now you're going to go all technical on me?
And when I mentioned Mamie van Doren, the actress and former Playboy model, and she then emailed me, I mused about maybe writing something about Christie Brinkley? J.M. wrote at Facebook at "Len Berman's Top 5, "I say you write about Bill Gates. Maybe he'll float you a few shekels."
Editor's Note: Much better idea.
5. Spanning The World
They're at it again. This week's Spanning the World highlight comes from that Icelandic soccer team called Stjarnan. You've seen them before with some creative goal celebrations. This one is the "human toilet." Stay classy Stjarnan!
In case you forgot, here's their "Gone Fishin'" goal celebration.
Happy Birthday: The "Flying Tomato," snowboarder Shaun White. 24.
Bonus Birthday: Actor Charlie Sheen. 45.
Today in Sports: Japan's Sadaharu Oh hit his 756th homer, "surpassing" Hank Aaron's total of 755. 1977.
Bonus Event: The Gregorian Calendar was introduced in England. September 3rd through 13th were eliminated that year. One myth has citizens rioting to "get their 11 days back." 1752.
My brand new kids book, The 25 Greatest Baseball Players Of All Time, will officially be released Tuesday. It's in some bookstores now, and it's in stock at Amazon. It's great for the "kid" in your life who loves baseball.
Enjoy the Labor Day holiday everyone!