Happy Wednesday everyone, here's my Top 5 for November 30, 2011 from Len Berman at www.ThatsSports.com.
1. Quick Hits
- Bobby Valentine will be the next manager of the Boston Red Sox.
- The Jacksonville Jaguars fired long-time coach Jack Del Rio. The Jags are 3-8.
- How often do you see a Duke basketball team get blown out? Final score: Ohio State 85 Duke 63.
- The New Jersey Nets are said to be working on a trade to acquire Orlando Magic star center Dwight Howard.
2. Bobby V.
If you're a regular Top 5 reader its no surprise to you that I'm thrilled that Bobby Valentine will be the new Red Sox manager. That should inject an extra dose of fun into the Yankees/Red Sox wars. Bobby is a unique personality. He's not everyone's cup of tea, but they don't come more knowledgeable than Bobby and he's a winner. But best of all he's a colorful character and we can use a few more of those in the dugout these days.
3. Jumping the Gun?
Can we please wait for all the facts? While Syracuse Chancellor Nancy Cantor is standing by her coach, others are calling for Jim Boeheim's head. One of the callers is Rev. Robert Hoatson, president of Road to Recovery, a group that supports victims of sexual abuse. He said, "These boys were members of the basketball program. Jim Boeheim's responsibility is to oversee that program, and the children were not safe on his watch." OK, I'm partial to Boeheim. I think he's done a remarkable job at my alma mater. If he knew for sure that sexual abuse was taking place then he should be fired. The truth is, we may never know the truth. I have one question. While Nancy Cantor is supporting Boeheim why did she throw Bernie Fine overboard before all the facts are known? At last check he still hasn't been charged with anything.
4. 5 Strikes Yer Out
Detroit Lions star Ndamukong Suh was suspended two games without pay for stomping on Green Bay's Evan Dietrich-Smith. He's appealing. It's his fifth on-field violation. Suh has already been fined three times for late hits on quarterbacks and this is only his second year in the league. Between his fines and suspended pay, he'd be out over $200,000. Has the league gotten his attention yet?
5. Off Off Broadway
Move over Hugh Jackman. Here's Mike Tyson singing "The Girl From Ipanema." You can't make this up. Iron Mike was on a Brazilian TV show and he showed his musical side. Go to the 3:15 mark and enjoy Mike's vocal stylization.
Spanning the World airs tomorrow on NBC's Today Show in the 8:30 am half hour.
Happy Birthday: Bo knows birthdays. Former baseball/football player Bo Jackson. 49.
Bonus Birthdays: Mark Twain (1835) and Winston Churchill (1874) were both born on this date. Who knew? And so was Dick Clark. 82.
Today in Sports: 21-year-old Floyd Patterson wins the heavyweight title knocking out Archie Moore in the fifth round becoming the youngest (at the time) heavyweight champ. 1956.
Bonus Event: Luci married Desi. 1940.