Happy Thursday everyone, here's my Top 5 for December 1, 2011 from Len Berman at www.ThatsSports.com.
1. Quick Hits
- The first lawsuit has been filed against Jerry Sandusky, Penn State University and the Second Mile charity. A man, not part of the original indictment, is seeking at least $400,000 saying he was sexually assaulted more than 100 times by the former assistant football coach.
- Former Oakland Raiders Pro Bowl defensive lineman and Stanford assistant coach Chester McGlockton is dead at the age of 42.
- Bobby Valentine will be introduced as Red Sox manager today.
- That didn't take long. Two days after being fired by the Washington Capitals, Bruce Boudreau takes over the Anaheim Ducks as they fire coach Randy Carlyle.
2. Can't Wait
The new baseball Hall of Fame ballots have been sent out to the baseball writers who do the voting. Former Yankees center fielder Bernie Williams tops the list. I love Bernie. He was a very good player on championship teams. In my mind he's not a Hall of Famer. So let's talk about next year's ballot. Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Sammy Sosa all appear for the first time. Without drugs they are all Hall of Famers. What are they with drugs?
3. Rushing to Judgement
Maybe I'm whistling in the wind, but since we're waiting for all the facts in the Syracuse case. I mused why was Bernie Fine fired, since he hasn't been charged with anything?
*S.I's Jon Heyman Tweeted me @LenBermanSports, "I don't know Bernie Fine, but standards are different for job than jail."
*Top 5 subscriber C. O. writes, "Paterno also did wonderful things for his school yet was immediately exiled and made the criminal. What am I missing?"
*G.S. makes a good point on Twitter, "They might have been able to get away with 'paid admin. leave' absent of PSU scandal, but w/out PSU would this have resurfaced?"
My thoughts. Syracuse must know more than they are letting on, or they overreacted in light of Penn State. The "bombshells" that have come to light are shaky at best. And even though I went to Syracuse, this is not comparable with Penn State... yet. At Penn State you had indictments, arrests and eyewitnesses. None of that at Syracuse... yet. Plus Joe Paterno admitted publicly he "should have done more."
4. In Tim I Trust
I have to admit I'm rooting for Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow to succeed. I guess that's because all the "experts" say he's a crummy quarterback. But of course all he does is win. And then there are those who downplay his "religiousness." I love the fact that he gave his team a pep talk by quoting the Bible. I wonder how many of his teammates had read a good book lately?
5. Skirting the Issue
Did you hear the one about female Olympic boxers wearing skirts? That's the proposal on the table in advance of the London Olympics. The reasoning is they want to distinguish the women boxers from the men. Can't wait to see those full-length female weightlifting gowns.
Happy Birthday: Woody Allen. 76.
Bonus Birthday: The "Merry Mex," golfer Lee Trevino. 72.
Today in Sports: Gee I wonder what we can do with this peach basket? James Naismith creates a game called basketball. 1891.
Bonus Event: Rosa Parks says she's not giving up her seat to some white guy on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. 1955.