Happy Monday everyone, here's my Top 5 for March 12, 2012 from Len Berman at www.ThatsSports.com.
1. Quick Hits
- The brackets are set for the NCAA basketball tournament. As expected Kentucky is the overall #1 seed. Syracuse, North Carolina and Michigan State are the other #1s.
- Peyton Manning could select a new team as early as tomorrow when free agent signings are permitted.
- The Manning dominoes: The Jets extended quarterback Mark Sanchez's contract by three more years. The Washington Redskins traded up to get the #2 pick in the draft.
- The Tiger Woods saga continues. He walked off the course during the final round yesterday at Doral with an Achilles injury. Justin Rose won the tournament by one shot over Bubba Watson.
- I like the Harvard vs. Vanderbilt matchup on Thursday. Vanderbilt bills itself as the "Harvard of the South." Do Vandy grads really put that on their resume?
2. Bracketology
Now that the brackets are set for the NCAA tournament, the experts are claiming this is a "down year" in college basketball. What exactly does that mean? That there are no "great teams?" Teams probably can't be great because the superstars are "one and done." But you can have good veteran teams with very good but not great players. They're the teams who could make some noise in this tournament. Players that have worked together for more than two semesters. So even if it's a "down year," expect the usual assortment of upsets and buzzer beaters. In other words, madness as usual.
3. Sanchise
Since they "can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with." There you have it. The Jets couldn't get Peyton Manning, so they had to send out a bunch of signals. They had to show Mark Sanchez he's their man, and they had to tell those disgruntled locker room types to "get over it." It's Sanchez's team, deal with it.
4. Try Try Again
With the Washington Redskins giving away the draft-day candy store to get the #2 pick in the NFL draft and a top flight quarterback, at least give owner Dan Snyder credit. He's spent a boatload over the years and has nothing to show for it, but at least he's trying. There are plenty of fans in and out of football who wouldn't mind having Snyder as their team's owner, for better or for worse.
5. Sounds of the Game
The New York Times came up with a goodie, some audio clips from the Mets first spring training game 50 years ago this past weekend. Just click "play" under the newspaper page. Great to hear the voices of Howard Cosell, Gil Hodges and Lindsey Nelson. Enjoy!
Happy Birthday: The Straw Man, Darryl Strawberry. 50.
Bonus Birthday: Singer/Actress Liza Minnelli. 66.
Today in Sports: Larry Bird scored 60 points, a Celtics team record, as Boston beat Atlanta 126-115. 1985.
Bonus Event: Thin Mints! The Girl Scouts are founded, one hundred years ago today. 1912.
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