Happy Wednesday everyone, here's my Top 5 for April 3, 2013 from Len Berman at www.ThatsSports.com.
1. Quick Hits
- Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish loses his perfect game with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning when Marwin Gonzalez of Houston singles right between Darvish's legs. Texas won 7-0.
- In the NHL, Buffalo ended Pittsburgh 15 game winning streak 4-1.
- Carmelo Anthony scored 50 points in the Knicks 102-90 win over Miami. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade sat out for the Heat with injuries.
- The Women's Final Four will feature U-Conn vs. Notre Dame and Louisville vs. California.
- Former Oklahoma and New England Patriots coach Chuck Fairbanks dies at the age of 79.
2. Cooked Rice
ESPN released a tape that shows why Rutgers basketball coach Mike Rice was suspended for three games last December and fined $50 thousand. A college basketball coach firing basketballs at the heads of players and verbally abusing them. It looks like Rice got off easy. There was universal outrage including New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. His spokesman said "Christie is obviously deeply disturbed by the conduct displayed and strongly condemns this behavior. It's not the type of leadership we should be showing our young people and clearly there are questions about this behavior that need to be answered by the leaders at Rutgers University."
I'll be shocked if there isn't additional fallout.
3. Competition
Look out Scott Boras. The king of sports agents just took a hit. One of his star clients, Robinson Cano of the Yankees, has bailed on him. Cano will be the first client of a sports marketing and representation firm founded by Jay-Z. The guess is that Jay-Z will become a major player in the sports field and give up his small share in the Brooklyn Nets. For the moment, Boras probably isn't quivering. He reportedly had close to $300 million in baseball contracts in 2012. If he earns a typical fee of 4 per cent... well, you can do the math.
4. Chuck Fairbanks
1933-2013
When I got to Boston as a sportscaster Chuck Fairbanks was the coach of the New England Patriots. You might recall the 1976 playoffs. The Patriots were the best team in football only to lose to Oakland on a controversial roughing the passer call. Once, during lunch at training camp, I sat down across from Fairbanks as he played with a bunch of salt and pepper shakers. He said he was trying to figure out a blocking scheme against the 3-4 defense which he brought to the NFL. Obviously I was of little help. Under his watch the wishbone offense was born at Oklahoma. Quite an innovator. And he turned the Patriots from a laughingstock to a serious franchise. He certainly left his mark both on the college and pro game.
5. Hubba Bubba
Golf carts all look the same right? Not anymore. Check out Bubba Watson's new hovercraft. Who says golf is boring?
Happy Birthday: 1954 Rookie of the Year and two-time World Series champ outfielder Wally Moon. 83.
Bonus Birthday: Alec Baldwin. 55.
Today in Sports: 14-year old Freddy Adu becomes the youngest pro soccer player to appear in a game for D.C. United. 2004.
Bonus Event: Off and running. They started the Pony Express. 1860.
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