TGIF everyone, here's my Top 5 for September 18, 2009 from www.LenBermanSports.com
1. Quick Hits
- Double dribble. The lead negotiator for the NBA refs says a lockout of referees is unavoidable. The NBA pres-season begins in 2 weeks.
- Roger Federer was fined $1,500 for cursing at the chair umpire during the U.S. Open final.
- The Cowboys will debut their new stadium Sunday night against the Giants. Since their40-million dollar TV screens were hung too low over the field, there's a chance "do-overs" will be called if they interfere with punts.
2. The Way of the World
How crazy has it become for celebs? A front page New York Times story yesterday talked about Florida Quarterback Tim Tebow. He was approached by a woman at Radio Shack to take a picture. But the instant before her mother snapped the pic, the woman tried to take off her shirt. Give me a break. Is everyone looking for their Michael Phelps gotcha moment? Do athletes have to live like monks in today's society? Kinda sucks.
3. Nailed
Another sign of the times. I feel a twinge of sadness that Lenny Dykstra is putting his 1986 Mets World Series ring on the auction block. Of course he's the one who plunged head-first into his financial mess. Mets fans still feel a special glow about that magical World Series win. In today's sports world everything is up for sale. Even memories.
4. Friday Mailbag
Serena Williams drew much comment. Said M.L. "While I don't condone what Serena did, I'm also VERY sick of the "I'm sorry" society we've created... I'm sorry I did steroids, I'm sorry I staged dogfights, I'm sorry I shot myself in the leg.... I'm actually glad Serena didn't say I'm sorry."
And D.P. wrote: "You'd think Ms. Williams could've at least learned the NAME of the line judge while issuing her various half-hearted apologies?"
Despite his accomplishments and how he's handled the spotlight, not everyone is a Derek Jeter fan. D.S writes: "I have long been annoyed by the absolute love affair the New York and national news media has with him - a love affair that has inflated the perception of how good a player Jeter is.... if he played his entire career in a place like Kansas City or Milwaukee, he would barely register on anyone's radar screen."
The vote was about 50-50 on my proposal that the games should have been canceled back in 2001 after 9/11 and not merely postponed like rainouts. B.G. had a good compromise: "I think those games should've been made up, with all profits donated to the victims and their families."
With runner Caster Semenya reportedly having male and female organs, R.R. writes: "She's already taking up new sports. in fact, she won a mixed tennis tournament last week -- by herself."
And E.M. asks "can she now participate in biathlons?"
Editor's note: Depends on his/her skiing and shooting skills.
5. Fans of the Week
I know you are more used to cynicism than corniness in the Top 5, but my fans of the week are Steve Monforto and his 3-year old daughter Emily. Steve is the Phillies fan who caught a foul ball, gave it to Emily, who threw it back onto the field. Steve then gave her a big hug as the world went "aww." They've since been given autographed baseballs and jerseys. After a week of crappy behavior in tennis and music, we needed a feel good story to end the week. Thanks Steve and Emily.
Happy Birthday: Cyclist Lance Armstrong. 38.
Bonus Birthday: Former teen idol Frankie Avalon. 70.
Today in Sports: Joe Louis knocks out Tami Mauriello in the first round at Yankee Stadium to retain his heavyweight title. 1946.
Bonus Event: A horse raced a locomotive in a 9 mile race in Baltimore, and the horse won! 1830.