Happy Columbus Day everyone, here's my Top 5 for October 11, 2010 from Len Berman at www.ThatsSports.com.
1. Quick Hits
* The Phillies swept away the Reds.
* Tampa Bay forces a 5th and final game against Texas tomorrow night in St. Petersburg.
* The Giants take a 2 games to 1 lead over the Braves, as Atlanta second baseman Brooks Conrad makes 3 errors.
* Today's Schedule: Game 4, Giants at Atlanta, TBS, 8:30pm Eastern.
* Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn is battling salivary gland cancer. He fears chewing tobacco is the cause.
* And then there were none. The last unbeaten team, Kansas City, is knocked off by Indianapolis, 19-9. It's the first time in 40 years no NFL team has reached 4-0.
* Ladies and gentlemen, the last place Dallas Cowboys.
* Ohio State is now #1 after Alabama was upset by South Carolina.
2. Take The Week Off
The beauty of baseball, for a fan, is that it's played every day. Other than the All Star break in July, from the time spring training games begin in early March until the end of the World Series, perhaps in early November, there's a Major League Game every day. That's 8 months. Except during the time when baseball is at its best, the post-season. The Yankees and Phillies have the week off before their next series. Will the rest be good? Will they lose their momentum? Welcome to the NFL.
3. Picture This
So you heard the one about the married grandpa who likes to chase skirts? Yup, that would be Vikings quarterback Brett Favre who just happens to be playing against the Jets tonight in New Jersey. It's alleged that when he was a Jet he sent phone messages and pictures of his penis to a Jets sideline reporter (female), and Deadspin reports he was also making his move on two female message therapists who worked for the team. (Hey West Side Story fans, When you're a Jet you're a Jet who wants to go all the way.) The NFL says they're looking into it. That should be an interesting investigation. "Uh, Mr. Favre, can you please drop your pants?" I'm guessing Jets fans might have some interesting things to yell at the game tonight. And no wonder this guy can never decide whether to retire. Should I stay home with my wife, a breast cancer survivor, or play in the NFL with their smorgasbord of hotties?
4. Where Were You?
When I mentioned getting out of school too late to see any part of Don Larsen's perfect game in 1956, I loved your stories.
*Marv S. wrote, "I was at the Larsen and David Cone perfect games. Cone's was a bigger thrill for me because our grandchildren were with us for their first games."
*From Morty R., "I made a beeline for the local TV store a block from school. A friend had a transistor radio, heard the Bums were hitless in the 7th, so we bolted our 6th grade class to the amazement of Mrs. Cohen. We saw the last two innings and got suspended the next morning. Was it ever worth it!"
*Dean G. writes, "So help me God... I was in the Army Hospital in Fort Dix, with poison ivy. No one has ever enjoyed poison ivy as much."
Subscriber Bob H. wondered if anyone was at both Larsen's perfect game and Roy Halladay's no-hitter? It turns out former manager Dallas Green was at both. And so was Haddonfield New Jersey barber Mike Fiore. He thinks his Larsen World Series ticket cost $2.25.
5. Mystery Solved
In case you missed the wonderful photograph of Tiger Woods golf shot at the Ryder Cup that hit a photographer, here's the "rest of the story." There's a guy in the background wearing an orange wig, with a Groucho Marx mustache, smoking a cigar. Who is this guy? He became one of my least favorite cliches, "an Internet sensation." A reward was offered for his unmasking. Turns out he's a London investment analyst named Rupesh Shingadia. How crazy had things become? He had developed his own fan club and he had received marriage proposals. Is this final proof that the Internet is the devil's workshop?
Happy Birthday: Golfer Michelle Wie. 21.
Bonus Birthday: Actress Joan Cusack, she of the classic line, "Is everybody gay?" from the movie In & Out. 48.
Today in Sports: The last time the Cleveland Indians won the World Series, beating the Boston Braves in 6 games. 1948.
Bonus Event: "Live from New York..." The Debut of Saturday Night Live. (George Carlin was the host.) 1975.
I'll be on America's Nightly Scoreboard on the FOX Business Channel tomorrow night at 7:30pm.