TGIF everyone, here's my Top 5 for March 18, 2011 from Len Berman at ThatsSports.com.
1. Quick Hits
* Louisville gets bounced in the first round of the NCAA basketball tournament. St. John's and Vanderbilt are also upset. There are 16 more games today.
* Proving that his 2 game suspension was a silly slap on the wrist, Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel has asked to sit out 5 games, just like his players who got suspended 5 games for violating NCAA rules.
* Former Yankee manager Joe Torre will attend his first Old-Timers' Game this year at Yankee Stadium.
* Of the 5.9 million who entered ESPN's NCAA bracket competition, only 317 remain perfect after Thursday's games. 5 poor souls went 0-16 yesterday.
2. March Madness
Show of hands. Who had Morehead State beating Louisville and Richmond beating Vanderbilt? Liars. What a moment. The best day Morehead has had since a guy named Phil Simms was their quarterback. And congrats to M.R., M.B., and M.P. By picking Louisville to win it all, you are the first three to be eliminated from the Top 5 NCAA contest. That should count for something. But alas, it doesn't. Like Louisville and Rick Pitino, you're toast.
3. Punch Line
Give Tiger Woods credit. He showed up on Jimmy Fallon's Late Night show the other night. Jimmy thanked him for all the great comedic material that Woods has provided.
And Woods gave an honest appraisal of what he's been up to, "Playing bad golf." Something we all can relate to.
4. Friday eMailbag
M.S. makes an interesting point about NFL players who want a big chunk of revenues guaranteed. "Why don't the players ever offer to share in any losses of the club they play for?"
And J.C. is fed up with the owners. He commented at ThatsSports.com, "What a racket! Not only can the NFL owners have enough money to cancel the 2011 season, the NY Jets are sending bills to the season ticket holders requesting payment for the 2011 season. NICE."
Editor's Note: The Giants are waiting to bill their customers until the lockout ends.
When I mentioned a poll that ranked Derek Jeter as the top New York athlete of all time, M.C. tweeted me @LenBermanSports "The Babe, Yogi, Maris, Mantle, Jackie Robinson, Messier, Esposito, Leetch, Gretzky, Joe Namath, Phil Simms. Just a few others."
And S.H. on Facebook at Len Berman's Top 5, "Best athlete ever in New York?? Reminds me of when John Lennon was asked if Ringo was the best rock drummer in the world - he replied jokingly, 'He's not even the best drummer in the Beatles!'"
Editor's Note: Let me make this as clear as possible. The list begins and ends with Babe Ruth. Period.
And L.H. wants to know if President Obama picking Kansas to win the NCAA tournament for the second year in a row "Is the President's way of trying to butter up middle America?"
Editor's Note: Spoken like a true FOX News viewer.
5. Spanning The World
This week's Spanning the World highlight comes from an NHL game between Vancouver and Minnesota. Cal Clutterbuck of the Minnesota Wild had Alex Burrows all lined up for a big hit, but oops. I guess that's hockey's version of an airball.
And nobody got hurt!
Happy Birthday: Speed skating great (5 gold medals) Bonnie Blair. 47.
Bonus Birthday: Former Miss America, singer, actress Vanessa Williams. 48.
Today in Sports: A milestone. Montreal's Maurice "The Rocket" Richard becomes the first to score 50 goals in a season. He did it in the 50th and last game of the season. 1945.
Bonus Event: You have the right to remain silent. So says the Supreme Court. Miranda Rights. 1963.
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