Happy Thursday everyone, here's my Top 5 for August 25, 2011 from Len Berman at www.ThatsSports.com.
1. Quick Hits
- Orioles pitching great Mike Flanagan is found dead outside his Maryland home. He was 59. There are reports it was a suicide.
- More proof that the Colts are worried about Peyton Manning. They have lured quarterback Kerry Collins out of retirement.
- The champion San Francisco Giants have claimed San Diego Padres closer Heath Bell off waivers. But it doesn't necessarily mean that Bell will wind up on the Giants.
- Danica Patrick is expected to announce her 2012 move to NASCAR today at a news conference in Scottsdale.
2. Finger-Gate
So, did struggling Yankees pitcher A.J. Burnett secretly shoot his manager the bird when he was taken out of the game? Here's the picture evidence. It looks incriminating. Of course an athlete giving the finger is nothing new. How old? In this 1886 team photo of the Boston Beaneaters, Hall of Fame pitcher "Old Hoss" Radbourn does it to the camera. He's the guy in the back row on the far left. He may have been the first to ever get caught. So if that's what Burnett was actually doing, give him credit for subtlety. Another Yankee pitcher named Jack McDowell was just slightly more obvious when he left the mound.
3. Practice, Practice, Practice
Here's final proof that the Dodgers may have clinched the MDF award for 2011, Most Dysfunctional Franchise. Top 5 subscriber Jay R. sent along an L.A. Times column in which Dodgers season ticket holders were surveyed. They were asked to rate the performance of announcer Vin Scully in areas such as knowledge of baseball, accuracy of calls, storytelling ability and style. I'm guessing after 62 years the kid might grade out pretty well.
4. Eyewitless News
And you think the Jets had a problem with a sexy sideline reporter? That's nothing compared to what happened after a Costa Rican soccer match. The reporter asked the player for his autograph, but she wanted it on her tush. The player gave her a kiss instead, on her facial cheek.
5. Grab Your Popcorn
You guys had lots to say when I mentioned last week that The Natural was my favorite sports movie. (I provided a link to the final scene.) A bunch of you agreed. Michael L. wrote, "That clip from The Natural should be marked NSFW. You can't watch it without getting chills and maybe a little choked up. That probably looks weird to anyone walking by your cubicle." All in all, including Facebook at "Len Berman's Top 5," you picked over a dozen other movies. Getting the most votes was Pride of the Yankees. The other top vote getters were Field of Dreams and Hoosiers. And why am I not surprised that you also mentioned Slap Shot and Caddyshack? And I'll leave the final word to Top 5 subscriber and movie reviewer Jeffrey Lyons. "Greatest sports movies? Jim Thorpe, All-American, The Natural, North Dallas 40, Eight Men Out, Major League and its sequel, and towering over all of them, Field of Dreams." If you build it, he will come.
Happy Birthday: Hall of Fame reliever Rollie Fingers. 65.
Bonus Birthday: James Bond himself, Sean Connery. 81. (Regis Philbin is much younger. 80.)
Today in Sports: The A's Mark McGwire hits his first Major League homer. 1986*.
Bonus Event: Puerto Rico becomes a U.S. Commonwealth. 1952.
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