Happy Thursday everyone, here's my Top 5 for March 29, 2012 from Len Berman at www.ThatsSports.com.
1. Quick Hits
- The NFL passes a couple of new rules for 2012. See #3 below.
- Nike sued Reebok for putting Tim Tebow's name on Jets jerseys. A backup QB sure causes a fuss. Nike is the official provider of NFL apparel.
- Former Giants running back Brandon Jacobs signs with San Francisco.
- Reports say that the winningest coach in NBA history, Don Nelson, has been elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame.
2. Act Like You've Been There Before
With the circus that constantly surrounds the Jets, it's easy to forget there's another team that plays in the same stadium and they just happen to be the Super Bowl Champs. If there's a blueprint for how to run a classy organization, the Giants are it. And I couldn't be more thrilled that their coach Tom Coughlin is in line to get a nice fat contract extension. From Tom you get no bluster, no grandstanding. Just Super Bowl rings.
3. Good and Bad
The NFL finally caved in. They've had overtime for regular season games since 1974, and since then they've been the only sport where one team could win without the other getting a chance. They've changed that for the playoffs, although it's never come up. Starting next season a team can't win the coin toss, kick a field goal and win in overtime. The other team gets a chance. It should have been that way since the beginning. And as I suspected last week, all turnovers will now be automatically reviewed. Oh joy.
4. Tuna Helper
The notion is certainly intriguing. Bill Parcells coming out of retirement to coach the New Orleans Saints while Sean Payton serves his one year suspension. The 70-year-old Parcells didn't make the Hall of Fame this year and if he comes out of retirement he'd have to wait another five years to become eligible. I have a bunch he'd rather take a ride to Canton, Ohio than New Orleans, but with Tuna ya never know.
5. Moneyball
With the sale of the Los Angeles Dodgers for a shade over $2 billion, it didn't take long for the Yankees to chime in. Team President Randy Levine accurately opined, "If they are worth $2 billion, one can only imagine how high the Yankees value is." Did anyone say $3 billion or more? It recalls that George Steinbrenner cobbled together $10 million to buy the Yankees in 1973. He told intimates that the real number was $8.8 million and it was suspected that he might have put down $100,000 of his own money. Best sports investment ever?
Happy Birthday: Clyde. Walt Frazier. 67.
Bonus Birthday: Model Elle Macpherson. 48.
Today in Sports: A dark day in Baltimore. The Colts sneak out of town and head to Indianapolis. 1984.
Bonus Event: 50 years ago today. Jack Paar signs off the Tonight Show. 1962.
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