TGIF everyone here's my Top 5 for April 6, 2012 from Len Berman at www.ThatsSports.com.
1. Quick Hits
- Lee Westwood is the first round leader of the Masters with a five-under 67. Tiger Woods is five shots back.
- Might Gregg Williams' ban from the NFL be made permanent? Damning audio has surfaced where he instructed his Saints to injure San Francisco 49er players last season
- Nice. Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy says star center Dwight Howard has told management he wants Van Gundy fired.
- It turns out Arkansas football coach Bobby Petrino had a female passenger when he crashed his motorcycle last weekend. Yes, he's married, and his wife wasn't the passenger. Arkansas has put Petrino on paid leave.
- It'll be Boston College against Ferris State (Big Rapids, Michigan) in tomorrow nights final of the Frozen Four in Tampa.
- Toronto beat Cleveland 7-4 in 16 innings, the longest opening day game in Major League history.
- The Mets took batting practice yesterday wearing the late Gary Carter's #8.
2. The Masters
So can we tell anything from the first round? Not a whole lot. Tiger Woods was in pretty good shape until the bogeyed the last two holes. So he's at even par with Rory McIlroy. Those two are said to be the favorites. Phil Mickelson lost a ball and he's eight off the lead. There are 44 golfers at par or better, so gentlemen (not ladies) start your engines.
3. One For the Books
Will this finally be the year that somebody bests Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak? At least it's possible, unlike lots of other marks. A-Rod needs over 130 homers to catch Barry Bonds. Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay is the active leader among pitchers with 66 complete games. He ain't catching Cy Young's 749 any time soon. How about strikeouts? CC Sabathia is 2700 shy of Nolan Ryan. You get the idea. Most records are not made to be broken. But we found one that is. Congratulations to Tigers pitcher Octavio Dotel. Detroit is his 13th Major League Franchise. Nobody has done it better... or at least more.
4. Friday eMailbag
As for "one and done" in college basketball, Top 5 subscriber H.K. writes, "I think the rule should be either they play in college or make themselves available for the draft out of high school. If they choose college, they have to stay at least three years and stay eligible."
Editor's Note: The NFL rule.
When I wrote about meeting Charlie Sheen and Charlie telling me he owns Babe Ruth's 1927 championship ring, R.G. wrote, "I am the owner of Jesse Orosco's glove from the 1986 World Series. (Orosco threw his glove in the air after recording the last out.) Who knew when I acquired it in 1997 that it would be 26 years and counting by now."
From J.F. (Clearly a Phillies fan). "Enjoy opening day, and have a great Halladay!!!!"
And when I had a typo that incorrectly stated that the hefty Cecil Fielder finally stole his first base in 1966 instead of 1996, E.S. wrote, "I think you meant to say that he led off the bag in 1966 and made it to second in 1996."
5. Spanning the World
This week's Spanning the World highlight comes from a soccer game in Madrid. Paulo Jorge collides with a teammate and loses a tooth. When he sees that a second tooth is loose he performs his self-dentistry on the spot and then plays on. Who says soccer players aren't tough?
Spanning the World airs monthly on NBC's Today Show. Next up: Thursday April 26th in the 8:30am half hour.
Happy Birthday: Olympic bronze medal winning figure skater Janet Lynn. 59.
Bonus Birthday: Actor Paul Rudd. 43.
Today in Sports: The first modern Olympic Games began in Athens, Greece. The U.S. was one of 14 nations to attend. 1896.
Bonus Event: So soon? After less than five months of marriage, Carmen Electra filed for divorce from Dennis Rodman. 1999.
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