Happy Tuesday everyone, here's my Top 5 for January 11, 2011 from Len Berman at ThatsSports.com.
1. Quick Hits
* Auburn wins the BCS Championship over Oregon 22-19.
* Only 341 days until the next Bowl Game.
* One of the AFL greats, Buffalo fullback Cookie Gilchrist, has passed away at the age of 75.
2. BCS Championship Game
Ah college football. A Saturday afternoon on campus, with a hint of fall in the air. And then there was last night in Glendale, Arizona. Ending after midnight (Eastern). At least it was played in a stadium sponsored by a college (University of Phoenix) even if that college is more of an on-line experience than a real rah-rah campus. And the game was entertaining, down to the wire, decided by a field goal. When it was over, Auburn coach Gene Chizik claimed Auburn was the "best team in America." I sorta wondered if they were also one of the highest paid, but hey, that's just me.
3. Sexy Rexy
Nobody needed the Jets win over the Colts more than their coach. All hell would have broken loose if Rex Ryan had lost. Headlines would have blared "Foot In Mouth Disease." But alas he lives for another day to annoy the Patriots. He was asked yesterday what he thought about Pats quarterback Tom Brady going to see the Broadway show Lombardi while the Jets were playing. Ryan answered, "Peyton Manning would have been watching our game." I'm not sure it's smart to attack the Patriots most dangerous weapon, but hey, Ryan may be the most entertaining coach/manager in New York since Casey Stengel. And at least you know what Ryan is talking about.
4. A Moving Experience
Did a Seattle touchdown cause the earth to shake? You be the judge. Here is Marshawn Lynch's electrifying touchdown Saturday from a fan's perspective.
When Lynch crossed the goal line at 4:43 PM PST, there was a tremor on the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network. The only possible explanation is that the crowd at Qwest Field caused an earthquake. No wonder the Seahawks were the only home team to win last weekend.
5. You Betcha
British bookies say the odds are the Beckhams will have a girl. They have three boys on their team right now. Just the fact that Victoria Beckham got pregnant this year (at 6-1 odds), cost one bookmaker 5000 pounds. Hey, you can bet that they'll have twins (or better) at 50-1 odds. Just wondering what personal stories over here would send American fans to their bookies? When will Derek Jeter (or A-Rod) get married? When will Brett Favre just go away? Your turn.
Happy Birthday: Good guy golfer, "Gentle" Ben Crenshaw. 59.
Bonus Birthday: "Chocolate Thunder and backboard breaker supreme. Former NBA star Darryl Dawkins. 54.
Today in Sports: American League owners came up with a gimmick on a trial basis. We still got it. The designated hitter. 1973.
Bonus Event: Amelia Earhart becomes the first person to fly solo the 2,408-mile distance across the Pacific between Honolulu and Oakland, California. 1935.
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