TGIF everyone here's my Top 5 for August 10, 2012 from Len Berman at www.ThatsSports.com.
1. Quick Hits
- Reports have Dwight Howard heading from Orlando to the Lakers in a 4-team deal also involving Philadelphia and Denver.
- Usain Bolt goes double/double, winning the 100 and 200 meter gold for the second straight Olympics.
- The U.S. women's soccer team pulls a golden three-peat beating Japan 2-1.
- American Ashton Eaton wins the decathlon.
- The U.S. leads the medal count and is pulling away from second place China.
- Swede Carl Pettersson is the first round leader at the PGA Championship with a 6-under-66. Tiger Woods is three back.
- Here we go again. The NHL will lockout its players if there's no contract by September 15.
2. A Knockout
We were looking in all the wrong places wondering where's the next great American boxer coming from? We forgot to check the ladies locker room. 17-year-old Claressa Shields took home the gold yesterday in the middleweight division beating a Russian opponent 16 years her senior. Claressa shuffled and danced and even stuck her tongue out at her opponent as she ducked punches. Perhaps the birth of the female Muhammad Ali?
3. Close, but No Cigar
Following up yesterday's discussion of pouting athletes on the medals stand who didn't win gold, the London Daily Mail put out this photo essay. I guess there's an easy explanation for why athletes are unhappy with silver. According to Jerry Seinfeld, a silver medal means, "of all the losers, you're the #1 loser."
4. Friday eMailbag
Top 5 subscriber R.K. has a theory why American fortunes have crash-landed in boxing, "Athletes would rather do MMA. There's much more variety, makes use of a broader skill set, and gives more control of what they get to do, all of which, believe it or not, makes it more intellectual. And since there's more emphasis on body blows and submission holds, I think it is viewed as safer... and it's new school."
Pros or amateurs in the Olympics? P.M. writes, "The Olympics should be open to all comers, let the best athletes win."
As for Dutch judo bronze medalist Edith Bosch who "beat up" the drunk who threw a bottle before the 100 meter dash, K.F. writes, "It's a good thing that didn't happen in the U.S. A swarm of lawyers would have descended on the drunk offering to help him sue Bosch and the IOC."
And the Olympics have taken over the universe. J.S. writes, "U.S. gets Gold, sticking the Mars landing. WOW!!"
5. Spanning the World
This week's Spanning the World highlight comes from last nights NFL exhibition game. Arizona wasn't playing in the game, but try telling that to the replacement official.
Spanning the World airs monthly on NBC's Today Show. Next up: Wednesday, August 29 in the 8:30 a.m. half hour.
Happy Birthday: Former heavyweight champ Riddick Bowe. 45.
Bonus Birthday: Actress Angie Harmon. 40.
Today in Sports: Pete Rose gets career hit number 3,631 breaking Stan Musial's National League record. 1981.
Bonus Event: Smile! Allen Funt's Candid Camera debuts on TV. 1948.
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