Happy Wednesday everyone, here's my Top 5 for March 16, 2011 from Len Berman at ThatsSports.com.
1. Quick Hits
* Last night's NCAA tournament winners were UNC Asheville and Clemson. There are two more games tonight before the tournament gets into full gear tomorrow.
* NHL General Managers will not recommend a ban on all head shots in an effort to curtail concussions.
* President Obama picks all four #1 seeds to reach the Final Four. I guess he's not a fan of upsets.
2. Legalities
Here's a new one. A veteran NBA ref is suing the AP because of something a writer tweeted during a game. The reporter tweeted that the official, Bill Spooner, promised Minnesota coach Kurt Rambis that he was owed a make-up call, and the ref would make sure he got the two points. So bottom line, social media has created new work for lawyers. That's a win for the legal profession. Not sure what it does for the writer in question.
3. Jeter-ease
I've said before that interviewing Derek Jeter isn't that interesting. As it turns out, he intentionally makes it that way. As he told GQ in a cover story, "A lot of times, when you say things, people will try to turn it into [something else]. Sometimes someone asks you a question, and if you don't comment or dispute what they say, they'll take it as though you agree. I've always been very aware of what I'm saying." It's not a bad thing, it just makes for boring interviews. But name another high profile athlete in the media spotlight who has a "spotless record." They are few and far between.
4. Equal Time?
Subscriber David S. brings up an interesting point. He's not a big fan of the NCAA women's tournament. "I do not know anyone who has any interest in it. My guess is that 99% of the interest comes from team members' families. To me this is another example of political correctness.
Wow. Talk about stirring things up. Your thoughts?
5. March Madness
If you guys are any indication, this year's NCAA basketball tournament will be wilder than ever. In my Top 5 contest, you picked 25 different winners. Ohio State and Duke were named on the most ballots, with Kansas and Pittsburgh right behind. Schools receiving one vote each were Purdue, Temple, Villanova Georgetown and Morehead St. Then again St. Mary's also got a vote and they're not in the tournament, and so did Western Connecticut State. That would be some trick if the WCS Colonials won it all. They play in Division III. Clearly somebody has been doing a little too much dribbling.
Happy Birthday: NBA Slam Dunk contest winner, Blake Griffin of the Clippers. 22.
Bonus Birthday: Hey Laaady! The great Jerry Lewis. 85.
Today in Sports: The Brooklyn Dodgers need some base running help, so they hired former Olympic silver medal winning high hurdler Percy Beard. They went from 4th to 3rd in the National League that year in stolen bases. 1937.
Bonus Event: "Born on a mountain top in Tennessee..." The Ballad of Davy Crockett reaches #1 on the charts. 1955.
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