Top 5 Sports Stories

Happy Thursday everyone, here's my Top 5 for October 1, 2009 from www.LenBermanSports.com.

1. Quick Hits

The Philadelphia Phillies have clinched their third straight NL East title. The Dodgers celebration is put on hold ... again.

In the first of many other shoes to drop, the Indians fire manager Eric Wedge.

Gentlemen start your Zambonis. The NHL regular season begins tonight with four games.

Kaching. According to Forbes, Tiger Woods is now the first billion-dollar athlete when you add together all his winnings, endorsements, etc.

2. Lions and Tigers and Bears

Have you followed the mess at Binghamton? Out of nowhere, Binghamton made it to its first NCAA basketball tournament last March. But now the star of the team has been booted after his arrest for possession and sale of crack cocaine. 5 other players have gotten the heave-ho as well. Basketball teams don't just emerge out of nowhere. They often come from police blotters and other sundry places. The school's athletic director, who has since resigned, called the situation "a zoo." But a local zoo employee took offense to that by writing a letter to the editor of the local paper. She said, "Not one of our tigers has been arrested with cocaine. No otter knocks over old ladies to shoplift condoms. Our bear doesn't have temper tantrums and storm off his exhibit. You won't find any of our lemurs busted for smoking pot. So, please, stop insulting zoos by comparing those criminals to us." Nice.

3. Bobby V

With Bobby Valentine heading to ESPN to be a baseball analyst, M.T. tweeted me @lenbermansports "Bobby V. is headed to Baseball Tonight. I'm noticing a trend...Steve Phillips, Bobby V...Manuel and Minaya better get ready."

Sounds like wishful thinking from a Mets fan. The better question would be how will Bobby Valentine and Steve Phillips mesh? They haven't exactly been exchanging Christmas cards after their years together with the Mets.

4. Look Ma No Hands

Sportsmanship is taking a back seat to health concerns. According to the Boston Herald, NBA players and coaches have been asked to greet each other with fist pounds or chest pumps. Handshakes are out. They could spread swine flu. NCAA volleyball teams have adopted the precaution, so have a couple of New York City high school teams. Maybe athletes should all just bow like the Japanese. No touching!

5. One for the Record Books

Another baseball first. Donna Sachet became the first drag queen to sing the National Anthem at a major league game. She sang, of course, in San Francisco the other night. Nothing quite symbolizes patriotism like a guy stuffed into a dress.

Happy Birthday: Slugger Mark McGwire. 46. Bonus Birthday: Julie "Sound of Music" Andrews. 74.

Today in Sports: The Thrilla in Manila. Muhammad Ali beats Joe Frazier in 15 rounds. 1975. Bonus Event: Johnny Carson hosts his first Tonight Show from New York City. 1962.

 

 

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