Happy Thursday everyone, here's my Top 5 for August 13, 2009 from LenBermanSports.com.
1. Quick Hits
The final major golf tournament is underway, The PGA Championship, at Hazeltine in Chaska, Minnesota.
Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino apologizes for his indiscretion. The truth is if he were a lousy coach he'd be fired. He's not, so he keeps his job... for now.
Pitcher Pedro Martinez returns to baseball for the Phillies with a win at Wrigley.
In a game more crucial to the Mexicans, Mexico beat the U.S. 2-1 in a World Cup soccer qualifier in Mexico City. The U.S. has never won a soccer game in Mexico.
The IOC is meeting in Berlin today and might add two sports to the 2016 Olympics. Golf and rugby are considered the front runners.
2. Hold that Tiger?
So who is betting against Tiger Woods this weekend. Don't. Three solid reasons why he'll win the PGA Championship other than the fact he's the best golfer on the planet. 1) He has 14 majors and needs one to catch up with his buddy Roger Federer who has now pulled ahead of him. 2) Tiger won't go majorless for 2009. That hasn't happened since 2004. 3) His sick 8 iron on Sunday served notice. I have only one question for the PGA Championship, who will finish 2nd?
3. A-pplause
This is not a misprint. Your computer has not crashed. I come to praise Alex Rodriguez, not to bury him. Back in February, in his often nonsensical steroid mea culpa, he vowed to work with Don Hooten in his campaign against steroids. Hooten's son had committed suicide in Texas. It was related to his steroid use while pitching in high school. When I heard A-Rod's vow I figured it was just like lots of other stuff he says. Blah, blah, blah. Guess what. A-Rod has delivered on his promise. He has worked with Hooten and talked with kids around the country about the evils of drugs. It won't make Page 6, but maybe A-Rod has turned the corner.
4. Now We're Talking
There have been some baseball broadcasts tailored specifically to women. You want Spanish? Push the SAP button. And now the BBC is talking down to kids. Just push the red button and your telly will give you announcers who will joke and chat aimed at juveniles. We already have that here in America. We call it ESPN.
5. The Worm
Have you seen a 7-foot tall bronze statue of former basketball wacko Dennis Rodman? A Vermont man bought the "work of art" at a charity auction and told police he never received it. That somebody stole it. This just in. It wasn't really a statue of Rodman, and it's been located. Slow news day in Vermont. (Aren't they all?)