Happy Monday everyone, here's my Top 5 for August 6, 2012 from Len Berman at www.ThatsSports.com.
1. Quick Hits
- Jamaica's Usain Bolt won the 100 meters in an Olympic record 9.63 seconds.
- The Blade Runner, South Africa's Oscar Pistorious running on artificial legs is out of the 400m after finishing last in his semifinal heat.
- Brit Andy Murray beats Roger Federer in straight sets at Wimbledon to win Olympic tennis gold.
- Picture perfect. In case you missed the Reuters photograph of the full moon over London.
- 29-year-old Garrett Reid, the son of Eagles coach Andy Reid, was found dead at Eagles camp. Police say "nothing suspicious."
- The NFL exhibition season began last night as the Saints beat the Cardinals 17-10 in the Hall of Fame game.
- A fan was killed by lightning last night and nine others were injured after the weather-shortened Pennsylvania 400 NASCAR race at Pocono Raceway.
2. Matrons
You can't prepare for everything. They worry about terrorists, drug cheats and lord knows what else at the Olympics, but they can't do anything about the most common sports annoyance... drunk fans. One of them nearly caused havoc with the signature 100m race yesterday in London. He threw a plastic bottle that landed right behind the runners in the starting blocks. You can see the bottle land in this video. The incident didn't affect the race, as police arrested the guy who had been yelling at Usain Bolt moments earlier. But here's the good part. Turns out the fan was sitting next to a Dutch judo bronze medalist, Edith Bosch, who tweeted that she beat the fan after he threw the bottle. When we went to the movies as kids, there were matrons who would roam the theater to keep the peace. That's what we need at sports events. Let's hire a bunch of Edith Bosch's to patrol the stands. Or maybe sell less beer at the ballpark.
3. Pro or Con
It's an ongoing argument. Should pros be allowed in the Olympics? Or should the games be for amateurs who don't get their chance at professional glory? For example you'll never have another Miracle on Ice, not with the NHL stars playing Olympic hockey. Then again, if you watched the tennis yesterday and saw Andy Murray take home the gold in his own country, you might feel differently. Would you really have wanted to watch a bunch of amateur tennis players fighting for gold?
4. Rules, Rules, Rules
Did you hear the one about the guy who got in trouble for sleeping with his wife? Sprinter Kim Collins got booted off the St. Kitts and Nevis Olympic team because he left the Athlete's Village and spent time with his wife at a local hotel. An angry Collins tweeted, "'Even men in prison get their wives to visit." Serves the guy right for being faithful, what's wrong with him?
5. Objective Reporting
You know how it goes. Announcers aren't supposed to use "we" when talking about a country at the Olympics. They're supposed to be somewhat objective. So check out the BBC when their home-countryman Mo Farah won the 10,000 meters. Now about that "no cheering the press box" rule.
Happy Birthday: Former pitcher Andy Messersmith, a key figure in the downfall of the reserve clause. 67.
Bonus Birthday: Geri Halliwell (Ginger Spice). 40.
Today in Sports: One down, 510 to go. Cy Young pitches and wins in his Major League debut for the Cleveland Spiders. 1890.
Bonus Event: 19-year old Gertrude Ederle becomes the first woman to swim the English Channel. 1926.
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