Happy Tuesday everyone, here's my Top 5 for September 28, 2010 from Len Berman at www.ThatsSports.com.
1. Quick Hits
* The Phillies clinch the NL East for the 4th straight year as pitcher Roy Halladay wins his 21st game.
* Da Bears are 3-0 after beating Green Bay 20-17 on Monday Night Football. No other NFC team is 3-0.
* Hall of Fame quarterback and kicker for the Raiders, Bears and Oilers, George Blanda, dies at the age of 83. 40 years ago, at the age of 43, he was leading the Raiders to dramatic wins on a weekly basis.
* A 23-year-old man was convicted of murder for the drunk driving death of promising Angels rookie pitcher Nick Adenhart and two friends. He faces 50 to life when he's sentenced in December.
2. Under-Dog
A quick show of hands. How many of you wanted Michael Vick banned from the NFL for his cruelty to dogs, not to mention his jail sentence? OK, hands down. At the time, I felt if he did the time, he paid for his crime. And now he's come all the way back. He was at the top of his game for the first place Eagles on Sunday. Believe me, I understand the argument about football players being role models for kids, but I feel the same way about Plaxico Burress and Braylon Edwards, if and when he gets punished. You screw up, you pay the price. Deuce.
3. When Your Number Is Up
What a way to go. The millionaire owner of the Segway upright scooter company, 62-year-old Jimi Heselden, died when he drove one of his gizmos off a cliff near his estate in the U.K. Reminds me of running and health guru Jim Fixx, who died jogging. Suddenly, being a couch potato is looking better and better.
4. The Name Game
Tons of people name their kids after sports stars. Mickey Mantle's dad named his kid after Hall of Fame catcher Mickey Cochrane. Hell, Chipper Jones of the Braves loved hitting homers against the Mets so much, he named his son Shea after the stadium! But I saw a guy on Twitter yesterday who may have set a record. He tweeted "My son's name is Peyton Elijah 'Eli' and our last name is Cooper." His son has all three Manning boys in his name. Of course he could have made it simpler by naming his kid after all six of boxer George Foreman's sons. George.
5. Grand Finale
Ted Williams wasn't the only one. (See below) Many others have done it. Joe Pignatano was a backup catcher who started his playing career with Brooklyn in 1957 and finished up with the hapless Mets in their inaugural season of 1962. Joe's final major league at bat? His wife Nancy told me last week he hit into a triple play. Hey, about 40 guys finished up with a homer. Who can match Pignatano's heroics?
Happy Birthday: LPGA Golf hall of famer Se Ri Pak. 33.
Bonus Birthday: French sex kitten Brigitte Bardot. 76.
Today in Sports: Ted Williams homers in his final at bat at Fenway Park. He doesn't tip his cap. 50 years ago today. 1960.
Bonus Event: So what's wrong with that? A woman is arrested for smoking a cigarette in an open car on 5th Avenue in New York City. 1904.
If you're interested in having me sign your copy of The 25 Greatest Baseball Players Of All Time, email me, and we can work out the details.