Happy Wednesday everyone, here's my Top 5 for October 17, 2012 from Len Berman at www.ThatsSports.com.
1. Quick Hits
- Detroit beat the Yankees 2-1 and leads three games to zero. The Tigers go for the sweep tonight.
- Game 3 tonight in St. Louis in the NLCS with the series tied at one.
- Panic time in Philly? Eagles coach Andy Reid has fired defensive coordinator Juan Castillo. I guess you have to blame the offense's 17 turnovers on somebody.
- With new Cleveland Browns ownership, President Mike Holmgren is out after the season.
- NHL owners made a new offer, a 50/50 split of revenues.
- Lance Armstrong steps down as chairman of his Livestrong cancer-fighting charity. Nike drops Armstrong as well.
- Beyonce will perform at halftime of the Super Bowl.
2. Labor Pains
There should be a rule in all sports negotiations. A total blackout. Get back to us when the deal is done. Sure yesterday's 50/50 split offer by NHL owners sounds great especially when you consider that the NBA and NFL roughly have that split. But the hockey players were getting 57 percent, so they'd be looking at a 7 percent pay cut. On top of that the offer comes with completing a full season of 82 games. To sort of quote the late great Beano Cook, "haven't we suffered enough?" Please, just let us know when you're ready to drop the puck.
3. Road Field Advantage
Baseball's home field advantage is roughly 54 percent. The four major sports vary from 54 percent to 60 percent (NBA). So how do you explain this postseason in baseball? Through last night 27 games have been played, and the road team has won 16 which means the ROAD team is winning at a clip of over 59 percent. And in the National League it's downright weird. The road team has won 10 of the 13 games played. Feel free to weigh in.
4. Knight Time
For years many of his detractors have wanted to "get a piece" of Bobby Knight. Now they can. He says he wants to fund his grandkids education, so he's selling off all of his stuff. That includes three NCAA Championship rings and an Olympic gold medal. What no sentimentality? So what piece of Knight's personal history would fetch the highest price? Me thinks the chair he flung across the court in 1985. Anybody know what happened to that valuable piece of memorabilia?
5. Ouch!
Final proof that the sports world has gone nuts. Check out this girl's high school soccer highlight from Utah. A knee to the face, really? And where exactly was the referee?
Happy Birthday: The Big Easy, golfer Ernie Els. 43.
Bonus Birthday: Rapper Eminem. 40.
Today in Sports: An earthquake hits San Francisco just as Game 3 of the World Series is about to start. 1989.
Bonus Event: Al Capone is convicted of tax evasion. 1931.
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