Happy Thursday everyone, here's my Top 5 for January 20, 2011 from Len Berman at ThatsSports.com.
1. Quick Hits
* The New Jersey Nets say a deal to acquire Denver's Carmelo Anthony is dead.
* Reports say Patriots quarterback Tom Brady played the entire season with a stress fracture in his foot that requires surgery.
* Pitcher Carl Pavano reups with the Minnesota Twins. Despite always being injured when he played in New York, the Yankees had been talking with him.
* Tiger Woods will start his season next week at the Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego.
* Who knew? Today is "National Coffee Break Day." Subscriber Kevin S. wrote a blog about some famous baseball players who made it up to the Major Leagues for a "cup of coffee." Some cool stories.
2. The Birth of Camelot
In 1961 there was a snowstorm in New York City and schools were closed. As a result we were able to watch the inauguration of President Kennedy on television. I always figured the storm was some kind of divine intervention. That a higher authority thought it was important to hear the new President's words and be inspired by them. As for the sports world, JFK created the President's Council on Physical Fitness and named former Oklahoma coaching legend Bud Wilkinson Council Chair. He was a youthful President who played touch football with his family. All things seemed possible that snowy day, 50 years ago today.
3. 20,000 Leagues Over The Sea
Yesterday I mentioned the formation of the professional poker league. I admit, I don't watch poker on TV. People tell me it's a lot of fun, but do I really want to watch a bunch of guys playing cards? And aren't there too many leagues? We need contraction. Why don't they just combine the pro poker league with Major League Eating and call it "boys night out?"
4. The Hit Man
I get approached by charities and PR people all the time to publicize their events. Unfortunately I mostly turn them down, with one notable exception. Me. Hey, it's my Top 5. One of my favorite all time athletes is Don Mattingly. I explain to people that I don't root for teams, that's the journalist in me. But I do root for individuals. Mattingly is one of them. John Havlicek was another. I hope Donnie is a success as Joe Torre's replacement in L.A. A week from tonight he launches "Mattingly Charities" at Mickey Mantle's Restaurant in New York City. Many former New York sports greats will be on hand. And it's my honor to be the host for the evening. If you're interested, here's the info.
5. Outdoor Types
I offer this as a public service to all my "outdoorsy" subscribers. Blow-up sex toys are "not recognized flotation devices." Who says? The police, that's who. It seems that during the recent flooding in Australia, a couple had to be rescued trying to float down a flood-swollen river on two inflatable sex dolls. Turns out the woman lost her doll in rough waters. The man didn't. Draw your own conclusions.
Happy Birthday: White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen. 47.
Bonus Birthday: The second man to walk on the moon, Buzz Aldrin. 81.
Today in Sports: The Game of the Century. In the first nationally televised regular season college basketball game, Houston ended UCLA's 47 game winning streak, 71-69, in the Astrodome. 1968.
Bonus Event: "Ask not what your country can do for you." JFK's inauguration. 1961.
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