Happy Wednesday everyone, here's my Top 5 for July 7, 2010 from Len Berman at www.ThatsSports.com.
1. Quick Hits
* LeBron James will make his big announcement tomorrow night on ESPN. He joined Twitter yesterday, and in one day picked up over 200,000 followers.
* Spain faces Germany today in the World Cup semifinals at 2:30pm Eastern. The winner will play Netherlands for the World Cup on Sunday.
* Fired Seton Hall coach Bobby Gonzalez was arrested for shoplifting at a New Jersey mall.
* Wonder how many Rockies fans left last night's game with St. Louis trailing 9-3 in the bottom of the 9th? The Rockies scored 9 in the 9th to win it 12-9.
* South African runner Caster Semenya has been cleared to return to track and field and compete as a woman. This after being sidelined for 11 months for gender testing.
2. Word for Word
When Amar'e Stoudemire was asked why he picked the Knicks he said, "Are you kidding? Who else was desperate enough to offer me $100-million?"
Actually he didn't say that at all. He claimed to love New York City, and New York State. He also said the Knicks are a great organization. After spending many winters in Syracuse, I'd say he comes in shooting 33 percent.
3. Sort of Stars
I love those holier than thou "purists" who declare that Washington's phenom pitcher Stephen Strasburg deserved not be selected to the All Star Game because he would have been taking someone else's rightful spot. Really? What's a rightful spot? Right now fans are voting for the final player selections. The players involved, like the Yankees Nick Swisher, are urging fans to vote on line over and over. Yeah, there's a meaningful All Star selection. Mass. Senator John Kerry has sent out an email urging his peeps to vote for Kevin Youkilis of the Red Sox. Face it. The game is a glorified exhibition/commercial enterprise. The "keepers of the flame" need to get off their high horses.
4. Like a Rolling Stone
Don't invite Mick Jagger to your next game. He's being called the "Angel of Death" at the World Cup. Whoever he shows up to root for, loses. His streak included the U.S. England, Brazil and Argentina. All four flamed out! Gives new meaning to Bob Dylan's song:
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone ?
5. Blind Item
This from the Naked City column in the Boston Herald:
What about the big-league swinger who started hitting them out of the park right after he found a lucky charm: a not-so-attractive one-night-stand he picked up in a road bar?
I'm thinking there might be more than one ballplayer who fits that description, but that's just a wild guess.
Happy Birthday: Virginia basketball star Ralph Sampson. 50.
Bonus Birthday: A Beatle. Ringo Starr. 70.
Today in Sports: Talk about a big name final. Billie Jean King beats Chris Evert 6-0, 7-5 at Wimbledon. 1973.
Bonus Event: Just the facts, ma'am. Jack Webb's Dragnet first appeared on NBC Radio. 1949.