Happy Monday everyone, here's my Top 5 for April 30, 2012 from Len Berman at www.ThatsSports.com.
1. Quick Hits
- A tough blow for the Chicago Bulls and the NBA. Derrick Rose tore his left ACL in the Bulls Saturday win over Philadelphia. Rose is obviously done for the playoffs.
- Lesson number 12-zillion why you should never bet on sports. Memphis (a 5 1/2 point favorite) at home led the Clippers by 27 points with 2:12 remaining in the third quarter. The Clippers won the game 99-98.
- Lesson number 12-zillion and one why you should never bet on sports. Orlando, without star Dwight Howard, was a 9 1/2 point underdog on the road in Indianapolis. The Magic won the game outright, 81-77.
- Then again a Kentucky woman bet 10-cents online and won a Pick 6 at a New Mexico racetrack. She won $63,000.
- Perseverance. After eight years, 164 tournaments and two playoff loses, 35-year-old Jason Dufner claimed his first PGA tour victory in New Orleans on the second playoff hole against Ernie Els.
2. On Second Thought
When the Knicks played their last home game, some fans were chanting "Beat the heat." Talk about a pipe dream. The Knicks weren't only beaten in game one 100-67, they were thoroughly dismantled. Knicks stars Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony finished a combined 5-22 shooting. In fact LeBron James outscored the entire Knicks starting five which scored exactly nine baskets the entire game. On top of that, the Knicks lost one of their few solid defenders, rookie Iman Shumpert to a torn ACL. 11 years ago yesterday, the Knicks won their last playoff game. Lord knows when they'll win their next.
3. Issues
The Detroit Tigers have placed outfielder Delmon Young on the restricted list. This follows his arrest in New York after getting into a fight on the street which reportedly featured an anti-semitic rant from Young. This isn't his first nomination for the "hall of shame." In 2006 he struck out looking in the minor leagues, didn't like the call, and after getting ejected he tossed his bat hitting the umpire in the chest. Young was suspended 50 games for that episode. We'll see where the chips fall with this one.
4. Kiddie Corps
It was a great weekend for kids. Nineteen-year-old Bryce Harper became the youngest player in the majors when he made his Washington Nationals debut Saturday in Los Angeles in left field. He went 1-3 with an RBI double. The Dodgers won the game when Matt Kemp hit his 11th homer in the 10th inning. On the other coast, Chris Kreider, playing in just his 6th NHL game, scored the game winner for the Rangers over Washington. Kreider led Boston College to the NCAA championship this year. How is that possible? How does a kid skate right out of college and into the pros? Isn't there some kind of adjustment period? This could really turn into a great fairy tale. He's the first NCAA champion to ever jump into the NHL playoffs. So yes, he'd be the first in history to win an NCAA title and a Stanley Cup the same year. And today's his birthday. Happy 21st Chris!
5. Moose Skowron
1930-2012
Another pillar of those Yankee championship teams is gone. Moose Skowron won four rings along side Mickey Mantle, then went to the Dodgers in 1963 and won another one. The old line "they're not booing, they're yelling M-O-O-S-E" was the first time I heard that. I got to meet Moose after he retired and I thought he was just a great guy. And think about the fact, five rings: highest salary $37,000. His crew cut wasn't the only thing ancient about those times.
Happy Birthday: Two-time NBA champ (we always accentuate the positive, right?) Isiah Thomas. 51.
Bonus Birthday: Singer Willie Nelson. 79.
Today in Sports: While Mets pitcher David Cone argues a call at first base, two Braves score. 1990.
Bonus Event: This is a momentous day in history, and hardly anyone notices. George Washington takes the oath of office on Wall Street in New York City becoming the first president of the United States. I wonder if all the cable channels gave it fair and balanced coverage? 1789.
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