Happy Monday everyone, here's my Top 5 for September 14, 2009 from www.LenBermanSports.com
1. Quick Hits
Brett who? OK, Favre did win in Minnesota yesterday, but so did his rookie replacement with the Jets in impressive fashion, Mark Sanchez.
Roger Federer guns for his 6th straight U.S. Open title today against Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina. Federer's between the legs winner to set up match point last night against Novak Djokovic was simply incredible. He called it the greatest shot he ever hit.
Kim Clijsters won the women's title last night.
Tiger Woods won the BWM Championship by a ridiculous 8 shots.
The Mets are officially eliminated from playoff contention when they are beaten in Philly by their former pitcher Pedro Martinez.
Tennis great Jack Kramer dies at the age of 88.
2. The Captain
#2 on your scorecard, #1 in your heart. As I watched Derek Jeter set the Yankees all time hit record Friday night I thought about how remarkable it was. First the names who have worn pinstripes. Ruth, Gehrig, Joe D., the Mick. But even moreso how Jeter has lived for 14 years under the biggest media spotlight and has never ever had a blip. Almost every other big superstar has had some failing, or misstep. Not Derek. OK, George Steinbrenner once tweaked him for staying out late. But he took that moment and turned it into a credit card commercial. He has loving parents, a gorgeous girlfriend and all the money in the world. And Lou Gehrig was considered the luckiest man on the face of the earth?
3. Not so Serene-uh
Serena Williams went off the deep end the other night after being called for a foot fault in her semifinal match with Kim Clijsters. She yelled at the lineswoman "I'm going to shove the ball down your f**** throat." It was her second code violation of the match which cost her a point. And since it came on match point, the match was over. You can debate all you want whether it was really a foot fault, or if it should have been called at that point in the match. But the truth is Serena was the second best player on the court that night. Maybe that's why she flipped out.
P.S. She was fined $10-thousand, so she only got to take home $340-thousand for making the singles semifinals.
P.P.S. She has yet to apologize to the line judge or the fans.
4. Monday Musings
So as not to leave you hanging. San Diego Charger Shawne Merriman will not be charged for choking his girlfriend.
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The New York Times says Major League Baseball will not punish Alex Rodriguez for using performance enhancing drugs.
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Was it really necessary for Michael Jordan in his Hall of Fame speech to "pile on" against those he had vanquished?
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Will this be the dullest September in Major League baseball? Where are the pennant races?
5. Its War!
The South African sports minister says it'll be "World War III" if Caster Semenya is banned from competition. I don't know about you, but if there is another world wide conflict I'm thinking it might be sparked by oil, nuclear weapons, or rogue nations. Not a "gender challenged" athlete.
Happy Birthday: Peripatetic coach, currently in Charlotte, Larry Brown. 69.
Bonus Birthday: Actress/dancer/singer Joey Heatherton. 65.
Today in Sports: The first recorded hole in one by Tom Morris, Jr. at the British Open. He went on to win the championship at the age of 17. 1868.
Bonus Event: A major day in the annals of Spanning the World bloopers. Francis Scott Key writes the Star Spangled Banner. 1814.