TGIF everyone, here's my Top 5 for May 6, 2011 from Len Berman at www.ThatsSports.com.
1. Quick Hits
* Tomorrow is the 137th running of the Kentucky Derby. Talk about a wide open race.
* Last week's winner of the Citizenship Award, Lakers forward Ron Artest, has been suspended for tonight's game with Dallas because of his clothesline hit on J.J. Barea.
* After 22 years, Gary Williams is retiring as Maryland basketball coach. He's 66.
* The hottest athlete of the year? Tennis player Novak Djokovic. He's now 29-0, the best start to a tennis season since Ivan Lendl in 1986. John McEnroe holds the record, starting 42-0 in 1984.
2. I'm Fired
I report, you decide. Donald Trump was supposed to drive the pace-car for the Indy 500. Of course it made no sense. And even less sense when he got involved with the president's birth certificate. Well, Trump has now excused himself from the honor saying it's "inappropriate" since he may be running for president. Oh. He also said he didn't have time to practice. Yeah, he probably doesn't drive much.
3. Quote of the Week
Apropos of nothing, I offer you this courtesy of Top 5 subscriber Gary A., which actually made me LOL, which isn't easy to do.
"The trouble with quotes over the Internet is you never know if they are genuine."
- Abraham Lincoln
4. Friday eMailbag
Not everyone considers Walter O'Malley a villain for moving the Dodgers from Brooklyn. A.F. writes, "I think O'Malley gets a bum rap -- he was trying to build up Brooklyn but Robert Moses the 'city builder' never approved anything since Brooklyn did not fit into his 'vision.'"
As for the story about writers Pete Hamill and Jack Newfield voting O'Malley the third worst human being behind Hitler and Stalin, two subscribers offered up a different twist. "A guy with only two bullets left is holding Hitler, Stalin and O'Malley at gunpoint. What to do? Put both bullets into O'Malley."
Editor's Note: This is a rough crowd.
In response to the videos of players eluding tags at home plate, subscriber J.G. writes, "The original 'flip over the catcher' was done by George Mason High School (Falls Church, VA) player Jimmy Piscopo who did it in 2006. J.G. even includes a link to the video.
Editor's Note: Wow, swapping videos on the Top 5. This social media stuff may finally catch on.
5. Spanning The World
This week's Spanning The World highlight is actually a commercial, but I still like the video. If features a pinata and a 105 mph fastball. It's always fun to see stuff smashed to bits, right?
Happy Birthday: The Say Hey Kid himself, Willie Mays. 80.
Bonus Birthday: Actor George Clooney, the big 5-0.
Today in Sports: One down, 713 to go. The Babe hits his first home run for the Red Sox against the Yankees at the Polo Grounds. 1915.
Bonus Event: Dr. Roger Bannister broke the four-minute mile. Featured in my New York Times best-seller, The Greatest Moments in Sports. I contend he's the only athlete to spend the morning studying in the library, before setting a world record. 1954.
Thanks to Craig Carton for yesterday's interview on WFAN radio. Listen here.
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