TGIF everyone here's my Top 5 for February 22, 2013 from Len Berman at www.ThatsSports.com.
1. Quick Hits
- Oscar Pistorious is granted bail by the judge in South Africa.
- In a seven player NBA deal, Orlando sends J.J. Redick to Milwaukee.
- And the hottest team in the NBA? That would be the champion Miami heat: It's now nine straight wins.
- Bye Bye. #1 Rory McIlroy and #2 Tiger Woods are both bounced in the first round of the World Match Play Championship in Tucson.
2. Rule Change
Was it the dumbest rule in NFL history? As featured last Thanksgiving, Detroit Lions Coach Jim Schwartz threw a challenge flag for a bad call. Since the play was a Houston touchdown, it was not reviewable and the Lions were penalized for throwing the flag. What's worse, since there was a penalty, according to NFL rules the play couldn't be reviewed. Huh? You can see the play here. If this was keeping you awake at nights, you can now sleep tight. The NFL is changing the dopey rule for next season. The idea will be to get the call correct on the field. Wow, who knew?
3. A Few Votes Short
I guess America wasn't too stoked up about the concept of making the Monday after the Super Bowl a national holiday. Somebody petitioned the White House with the idea; their goal was 100,000 signatures by tomorrow. At last check they were about 82,000 votes shy. Any other holiday/sports related schemes on your mind?
4. Friday eMailbag
When I asked on Facebook at "Len Berman's Top 5," If Danica Patrick winning the Daytona 500 would be considered the greatest women's sports accomplishment of all time, G.G. wrote: "Let her drive on the Long Island Expressway; that will be the test of a champion."
And from S.H. "An accomplishment, sure, but the greatest? Please... how about track and field, tennis, or any other sport that doesn't depend on machinery?"
We talked a lot about nicknames this week. F.C. wondered why, "No one wrote Leo "The Lip" Durocher?"
Editor's Note: Surely one of the great nicknames. Unfortunately as time goes by, fewer and fewer fans remember Durocher. He was once part of the national conversation. As a kid at the planetarium, I recall the guide describing a constellation that had two extra stars, she said "That's Leo Durocher arguing with the umpire."
Last week we had some facetious 2013 Mets slogans like "At least we're not the Marlins." R.P. came up with one for the Yankees, "Come to Yankee Stadium where EVERY day is Old Timers' Day."
5. Spanning the World
This week's Spanning the World highlight poses a challenge for those yahoos who yell "In the Hole!" when somebody hits a golf shot. It's from Campbell University in North Carolina. Let's hear someone yell "In the Hole" after every shot!
Spanning the World airs monthly on NBC's Today Show. Next up: Monday in the 9:00 a.m. hour.
Happy Birthday: Dr. J, NBA legend Julius Erving. 63.
Bonus Birthday: The great voice of Saturday Night Live, and the original voice of Spanning the World, Don Pardo. 95. And a shout out to the Father of our Country, George Washington was born on this date in 1732.
Today in Sports: Do you believe in miracles? The U.S. shocks Russia 4-3 in hockey at the Lake Placid Winter Olympics. 1980.
Bonus Event: Frank Woolworth opened his first "Five Cent Store" in Utica, New York. 1879.
Fun Fact: The Top 5 was opened yesterday in China, India and Australia but not in South Dakota, Idaho, or Alabama.
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