Happy Tuesday everyone, here's my Top 5 for June 19, 2012 from Len Berman at www.ThatsSports.com.
1. Quick Hits
- Roger Clemens is found not guilty of lying to Congress about steroids.
- The jury in the trial of former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky could begin deliberations as early as Thursday.
- Game 4 of the NBA Finals is tonight in Miami with the Heat leading Oklahoma City 2-1.
- Mets knuckleballer R.A. Dickey pitches his second consecutive one-hitter, this time against Baltimore.
- Iron Mike hits the Great White Way. Mike Tyson is bringing his one-man show to Broadway for six nights only beginning July 31. He'll be directed by Spike Lee.
2. The Rocket Skates
And another swing and a miss. Roger Clemens is not guilty. It doesn't mean he's innocent, just that the government didn't prove its case. How could they, they put half the jurors to sleep. Bottom line the government needs to get out of the "chasing athletes" business. After basically whiffing on Barry Bonds they chose not to bring charges against Lance Armstrong. And now Clemens. Three strikes you're out. So let's stop wasting taxpayer money on this stuff. By the way, Clemens is still guilty in the court of public opinion, and his Hall of Fame induction will undoubtedly be put on hold.
3. Not So Appealing
New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma had his appeal heard by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Vilma has been suspended for a season in the Saints bounty scandal. After about an hour Vilma left the hearing and his attorney called it a "sham." Vilma denies any involvement in the scandal and said "I don't know how I can get a fair process when he (Goodell) is the judge, jury and executioner." The NFL then invited a group of reporters to see some of the evidence. You have to assume this is now headed to court which I'm guessing will be hard for Vilma to win.
4. Stirring the Pot
Last week, I wrote about the suburban Philadelphia teacher/school board member who wants to ban football because it's too dangerous. I didn't expect you to take that lying down.
From D.S. While we're at it, let's also ban wrestling, baseball (or at least use a sponge ball to eliminate the risk of batters or fielders getting injured by the ball). C'mon Len! This is almost as bad a proposal as Bloomberg's 16 oz. soda ban for kids. Sometimes you gotta take a step back and realize the left wing loons can't be allowed to impose their will.
C.P. I already told my wife that my newborn son will NOT play football. However, I still put a stuffed baseball in his left hand. I figure teams can always use a left-handed reliever, and you can make a good long career with that.
H.K. Kids are exposed to risks today far more serious than football. Just do your day job, lady. Bad teachers are dangerous, too.
J.B. Wouldn't the better solution be to EDUCATE the coaches and students about the harms, work to find a better solution in better helmets and safer plays rather than wrap our kids up in a bubble and continue to lead them down the path to joining the ranks of obese people in the fattest nation in the world?
5. Grandpa
It turns out Muhammad Ali's grandson got bar mitzvahed several weeks back in Philadelphia. Ali's daughter Khaliah married a Jewish man and the champ was on hand when his grandson was called to the Torah. It's not difficult to imagine Ali as a Jewish grandfather: Plotz over buttermilk, sing like a Heeb.
Happy Birthday: Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki. 34.
Bonus Birthday: Body Heat actress Kathleen Turner. 58.
Today in Sports: Tiger Woods wins the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach by 15 shots, the biggest margin of victory for any Major. 2000.
Bonus Event: A grocery store manager from Pennsylvania, Angelo Spagnolo scored 66 on the famed par-3 island green at Sawgrass. His total of 257 for the round wins the title of America's Worst Avid Golfer. 1985.
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