Happy Thursday everyone, here's my Top 5 for April 22, 2010 from Len Berman at www.ThatsSports.com.
1. Quick Hits
* Ben Roethlisberger gets suspended from 4 to 6 games for his conduct. If he sits for 6, it will cost him close to $3 million in salary. The Steelers are said to be entertaining trade offers for him.
* The three day NFL draft starts tonight. Damn, why so short?
* The rich get richer. The Yankees have now won 6 straight and sport the best record in baseball, 11-3. Their 5th starter, Phil Hughes, took a no-hitter into the 8th in Oakland last night. 5th starter! Most teams would be happy with a good 3rd starter.
* If you're scoring at home, Barack Obama has played golf 32 times since taking office. George W. played 24 rounds his entire presidency.
2. Feel the Draft
My apologies, I don't get all worked up over the NFL draft. I know it'll be televised by 2 sports networks, replete with a red carpet. I was asked to appear on a Jacksonville radio station in one of those mock drafts. I would have made the Jets pick. Luckily I had a previous engagement. Here's a draft story for you. I was sitting with the fans at the NFL draft in 1979 when the Giants drafted Phil Simms. And all those "draft experts" heartily booed. 'Nuff said.
3. The More Things Change.....
Tiger Woods announced he'll play in some more tournaments yesterday. So the question becomes, what has changed exactly? His pouting interview after finishing 4th in the Masters was his typical ungracious self. And remember he had said how he felt a special entitlement, and that was wrong? So the other night at a concert in Orlando, he hung out backstage, you know, just like the little people. Just a thought. If his wife divorces him then he can screw around all he wants. In other words, it'll be business as usual for the world's greatest golfer.
4. Censorship?
A scathing New York Observer piece reports there's turmoil at Newsday because the sports department has been told to be less critical. Veteran sportswriter Wally Matthews up and quit. As a result, it's a "kinder gentler" sports section. No cheap shots. Newsday is owned by the Dolans, the same people who have done such a wonderful job running the Knicks and Rangers. But I'm sure that's just a coincidence.
5. Cookie Tossing
God I love my subscribers. When I mentioned the Phillies fan dubbed "Pukemon" who vomited on an 11 year old girl in the stands, Ira L. left me a message on Facebook at "Len Berman's Top 5." "I bet his middle name is Ralph."
I love regurgitating what my subscribers write.
Happy Birthday: Toronto and Yankees World Series champion pitcher Jimmy Key. 49.
Bonus Birthday: You can't handle the truth! Actor Jack Nicholson. 73.
Today in Sports: Tom Seaver ties the record (since broken) by striking out 19 Padres in one game. 1970.
Bonus Event: On that same day, H. Ross Perot is said to have lost $450-million in the stock market. 1970.
And a suggestion from subscriber Ken F. "Remind your readers why they might want to read your Top 5 on your web site www.ThatsSports.com so they don't miss the illustrations and other features."
Thanks Ken!