Happy Monday everyone, here's my Top 5 for November 9, 2009 from
www.LenBermanSports.com.
1. Quick Hits
World Series euphoria turns to football depression in New York as
the Giants lose their 4th straight game. San Diego beat them 21-20.
The Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints remain the only
unbeaten teams in the NFL. 8-0.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, wearing their old ugly orange uniforms,
win their first game beating Green Bay 38-28.
Who knew? Colts quarterback Peyton Manning became the first to throw
for 40,000 yards in a decade.
As of today, every single Major League pitcher has had at least 4
days rest.
2. Parade Cleanup
How sad, nobody got pied at the Yankees victory celebration. The
ceremony was just too "buttoned up." I was hoping somebody, anybody,
would say or do something dopey. That's what these things are for.
As for office workers who threw confidential financial statements out
the window along the parade route, I don't think some yahoo screaming
in his Yankee jacket was really going to make use of them. I remember
one parade when I was stationed at City Hall, and while I was on the
air a piece of paper wafted down and I caught it. I ad libbed "this
just in." It was somebody's bank statement.
3. Numbers Game
Let's talk math. The baseball industry is crowing over this year's
World Series ratings. 19.4 million people on average watched the
Series. Upon further review, that's a drop of 20% from the 1996
Yankees World Championship, even though U.S. population grew by 15%
during that period. Conversely, football ratings are booming this
year. Pick your baseball rationale. Late World Series games? Steroids?
Salaries? And if baseball does nothing, what will the numbers look
like 13 years from now?
4. Open Mic
Viewers watching the end of the Richmond/Villanova game got an
unexpected treat. As Richmond blew a last second fieldgoal, somebody
announced loud and clear "what a bum, end this f***ing game." It
wasn't one of the broadcasters. They're not quite sure who said it.
My favorite all time end-of-game sportscasting moment came during a
high school football game in Texas. When the "home team" lost on a
kickoff return, the announcer complained on the air "I'm sick, I want
to throw up."
5. Monday Musings
Home court advantage? When the Knicks lost to Cleveland Friday night
at the Garden, the biggest cheers were for LeBron James and some of
the champion Yankees in attendance. Where's the love for the home
team?
-----
Did you see what Dolphins linebacker Jason Taylor said when comparing
Giants fans to Jets fans? "There's a little more class on the Giants
side and some Jets fans take the 'cl' out of class."
Ouch.
-----
Which comes first, the return of the NFL to Los Angeles or pro
basketball to New York?
-----
Pitchers and catchers report in 100 days.
Happy Birthday: Rest, schmest. Cardinals Hall of Fame pitching great
Bob Gibson. 74.
Bonus Birthday: Green with envy. The Incredible Hulk actor Lou
Ferrigno. 58.
Today in Sports: The PGA eliminated its "Caucasians Only" rule. What
took 'em so long? 1961.
Bonus Event: At our fraternity house at Syracuse the lights went out.
We though it might be the whole street. Turned out it was the entire
Northeast! 1965.