TGIF everyone, here's my Top 5 for January 21, 2011 from Len Berman at ThatsSports.com.
1. Quick Hits
* It's the Jets and Steelers, Bears and Packers Sunday. The two winners head to Super Bowl XLV in Dallas.
* The Yankees sign Andruw Jones to be their 4th outfielder.
* #4 seed Venus Williams is forced to retire early in her third round match at the Australian Open. She had injured a muscle in her stomach area during her second round match.
* Andre Agassi is selected for the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
* Enough already. Padraig Harrington is disqualified from a golf tournament in Abu Dhabi when a TV viewer rats him out for his ball moving slightly during the marking process on the green.
2. Quiet Time
Well this week was certainly different from last in the hot air department. The Jets spent last week trash talking. The Patriots countered with foot references. By contrast, this week's news conference could have been held in a library. Very dull by comparison. And very professional. I can hear it now if the Jets lose. "They lacked energy." "They weren't motivated." "They didn't talk enough." Yadda, yadda, yadda.
3. Accidents Waiting to Happen
Breaking news. People drink at sports events. Scientific American published the results of a study that showed, of those fans willing to take breathalyzer tests leaving various baseball and football games, 8% were legally drunk. If you extrapolate that to the typical NFL crowd, there could be 5,000 drunk drivers on the road after a game. Of course it could be higher. The test was only among those willing to be tested. So if you're going to a sports event, two words. Public transportation.
4. Friday eMailbag
Here's an interesting defense of Lance Armstrong submitted by C.A. "What might be best is to realize all the major competitors in the Tour de France were doping which means the playing field was level... and Lance still beat 'em."
Editor's Note: The old "honor among thieves" defense!
Subscriber B.L. has yet to jump on the Jets bandwagon. She's not a fan of quarterback Mark Sanchez. "Say what you may, he is still wet behind the ears and still needs seasoning so lets us not put him in the category with Manning and Brady. He could not shine their shoes."
And J.S. had a good point about the professional poker league. He wrote on Facebook, at "Len Berman's Top 5, "Well at least you can't get in trouble for gambling!"
Editor's Note: Pete Rose would be eligible for their Hall of Fame!
5. Spanning The World
This week's Spanning The World highlight combines skeet shooting with golf. There must be some pretty bored people out there. Fore!
Have a great weekend everyone.
Happy Birthday: The Golden Bear, Jack Nicklaus. 71.
Bonus Birthday: Tenor Placido Domingo. 70.
Today in Sports: The Pittsburgh Steelers win the third of their six Super Bowls, 35-31 over the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XIII. 1979.
Bonus Event: Lorena Bobbitt is found temporarily insane for doing you know what to you know who. 1994.
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