TGIF everyone here's my Top 5 for December 21, 2012 from Len Berman at www.ThatsSports.com.
1. Quick Hits
- The NHL canceled all games through January 14. Maybe they should just put everyone out of their misery and scuttle the season.
- Colts coach Chuck Pagano, being treated for leukemia, has been cleared by doctors to return to the sidelines.
- In the NBA, Minnesota ended Oklahoma City's 12 game winning streak, 99-93.
- Maybe try layups next time? Denver goes a record-setting 0-22 from three-point range in their 101-93 loss in Portland.
- Hot Chicago schoolboy basketball prospect Jabari Parker selects Duke.
2. The Oldest Sport
Suzy Favor Hamilton was a middle-distance runner on three U.S. Olympic teams. She didn't win any medals. In fact you probably never heard of her. But now you will. She chose to work under an assumed name as a Las Vegas call girl. Not a great career choice for a married Olympian, a mother of a 7-year-old. She was outed yesterday so she took to twitter to admit her mistake, which she described as "Huge." It also tripled her number of followers on Twitter. That's the way things work in the news world.
3. Another Chance
You remember the Adam Greenberg story. In his Major League Debut with the Cubs in 2005 and was beaned by the first pitch he faced and never made it back. Then an on-line petition got him one at bat with the Miami Marlins last October. He struck out on three pitches from R.A. Dickey. But Adam's baseball career lives. The Baltimore Orioles have signed him to a minor league deal. Cool.
4. Friday eMailbag
K.H. on Facebook at "Len Berman's Top 5," is one unhappy Jets fan. "The team is a MESS. General Manager Mike Tannenbaum has no clue. Our head coach thinks you can win with 'Ground and Pound'. Our owner is a clown and probably caused this Tim Tebow mess. And our QB has regressed to the point where we'd probably be a better team if we had Kellen Clemens as our starting QB!"
P.U. with the unique take on Tim Tebow. "If I were Tebow I'd be just as happy to be fired!"
To cap off this week's discussion of which infamous sports moments would you include as sculptures in a facetious "Great" Moments in Sports Museum.
*H.S. Pete Rose bowling over Ray Fosse in the 1970 All Star Game.
*And 3 from C.P. Latrell Sprewell choking his Golden State coach P.J. Carlesimo. The Miracle at the Meadowlands, Joe Pisarcik fumbles the ball to the Eagles. The Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons brawling in the stands.
And finally from M.S. "GREAT NEWS! Reading the Top 5 on Guam, and since it is already 'tomorrow' here, I can tell you, the Mayans were wrong!"
Editor's Note: Good to know.
5. Spanning the World
This week's Spanning the World highlight comes from a football game in Oakland. One "spectator" refuses to leave the field, despite the chaos around him. Fans in the stands actually booed when an attempt was made to remove the interloper.
Spanning the World airs monthly on NBC's Today Show. Next up: Spanning the Year: Friday, December 28.
Happy Birthday: Tennis great Chris Evert. 58.
Bonus Birthday: Everybody loves Ray Romano. 55.
Today in Sports: In college hoops, Cincinnati beat Bradley 75-73 in seven overtimes, the longest NCAA game. 1981.
Bonus Event: There goes the neighborhood. The Mayflower arrives on Plymouth Rock. 1620.
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