TGIF everyone here's my Top 5 for June 8, 2012 from Len Berman at www.ThatsSports.com.
1. Quick Hits
- LeBron James torches the Celtics for 45 points in Boston, as Miami wins Game 6, 98-79 forcing a Game 7 tomorrow night in Miami.
- The French Open women's final will feature Maria Sharapova against Italy's Sara Errani.
- I'll watch that. Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Masters Champ Bubba Watson will play together for the first two rounds of next week's U.S. Open.
- The New England Patriots couldn't find a taker for wide receiver Chad Ochocinco, so they released him.
- Want to buy a ticket for Johan Santana's no-hitter? This is not a joke. The Mets are reprinting and selling tickets at50 apiece, free for season ticket holders.
2. Odd Jobs
The best part about the U.S. Open golf tournament is that it's truly open, anyone can try to qualify. One of those who made it into next week's field is 42-year-old Aussie Anthony Summers. He has had success playing golf overseas, but has never made it to a PGA tour event, until now. And he's had a colorful past to say the least. He worked a couple of years cleaning toilets on weekends at his hometown Sydney Cricket Ground and Sydney Football Stadium. He said it was an easy job. Can't wait to see the headlines if he does well, "Janitor cleans-up at U.S. Open."
3. Distractions!
Caught on video! What is Devils coach Peter DeBoer looking at during the game the other night in L.A.? Two questions. Who gave a porn star front row seats? And had the Devils just gone up by a pair? Oh, stop it.
4. Friday eMailbag
S.A. agrees that pro golfers need to "lighten up." He writes, "I find these prima donna golf professionals a bit too much. They need absolute silence to line up a three foot put while a batter in baseball has to concentrate to the chants of 50,000 fans while he awaits an incoming 95 mph fast ball. Or how about the quarterback who has to call an audible over the roar of 70,000 fans. Give me a break! If you want the money the public brings in to the PGA, you have to take the good with the bad."
When I mentioned Yogi Berra participated in the D-Day invasion in 1944, two Top 5 subscribers, media types Jeffrey Lyons and Mort Fleischner both told me they asked Yogi what that was like? He replied, "A lotta noise... like Opening Day."
Editor's Note: That's our Yogi!
From T.M. "If the Cubs win the World Series, take that Mayan Calendar stuff seriously; it's the end of the World!"
From Top 5 subscriber G.T. quoting a New York Times comment from a "doom and gloom" Mets fan. "Hey, Santana threw a no-hitter for the Mets yesterday."
"Did they win?"
And in light of asterisks and the trainer of I'll Have Another being suspended in California, R.B. asks, "If I'll Have Another wins the Triple Crown does he get an oat next to his name?"
Editor's Note: I vote neigh.
5. Spanning the World
This week's Spanning the World highlight comes from rugby where players love to boast that they don't wear helmets. They don't need them during the game, but the celebration is another story. And somebody got hurt!
Spanning the World airs monthly on NBC's Today Show. Next up: June 28th in the 9:00am hour.
Happy Birthday: Tennis star Kim Clijsters. 29.
Bonus Birthday: Kanye West. 35.
Today in Sports: The Yankees retire the Mick's #7. 1969.
Bonus Event: We all scream for ice cream, first commercially manufactured in New York City. 1786.
A new country. The Top 5 was read in Nigeria this week. And nyet, still not in Russia.
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