Happy Wednesday everyone, here's my Top 5 for November 7, 2012 from Len Berman at www.ThatsSports.com.
1. Quick Hits
- After a marathon NHL negotiating session yesterday, they'll resume talks today.
- Baseball's general managers have begun meeting in Indian Wells, Calif. Expanded use of instant replay may be a topic for discussion.
- Mets outfielder Lucas Duda underwent surgery on his right wrist after breaking it while moving furniture in his California apartment.
2. Election Returns
Many sports people took it on the chin last night. Most prominently Linda McMahon, wife of wrestling honcho Vince, lost her Connecticut senatorial bid. Ditto, the son of former NFL coach George Allen who lost in Virginia. And Connie Mack IV struck out in Florida. But Fred Smith, a former Harlem Globetrotter, won a seat in the Arkansas legislature. And if you were curious what really happened in the swing states yesterday, here are the all-important results. The Top 5 was read 126 times in Florida and 33 times in Ohio. There you have it.
3. The Polls
There were so many polls leading up to yesterday's election, that at least one of them had to be right on the money. There's a purpose for polls. It helps fill newspaper space and gives us something to yak about for a minute or two. That's especially true for sports polls. An anonymous NFL players poll conducted by the Sporting News voted Rex Ryan of the Jets "The Most Overrated." OK, Rex talks too much, but his track record isn't too shabby. Those same players voted Bill Belichick of the Patriots second. Do the players know that Belichick has coached the Pats to 5 Super Bowls? My guess is the players think the players deserve all the credit. But when they fail, you know who gets the blame.
4. Flip Flop
When the NBA instituted a new flopping rule this season, Minnesota's J.J. Barea, one of the leagues best actors said he wasn't going to change: "I'm going to play the same way since I was a kid, so whatever happens, happens." He might reconsider. He, along with Donald Sloan of Cleveland are the first to be cited by the league for flopping. Barea didn't actually fall down. The first offense is a warning, the second a $5,000 fine which escalates after each offense. When the money starts to kick in the howling will begin.
5. Name Game
When I talked about my Top 5 Election Day names starting with El Presidente, former Major League pitcher Dennis Martinez, here's what you came up with.
*P.C. on Facebook at "Len Berman's Top 5," The all-time favorite has to be John Kennedy (former infielder).
*I.S. Tom House (former pitcher).
*R.B. Former Yankee manager "Stump" Merrill.
*W.W. Craig "City" Counsell (former infielder) & Rowland "Elected" Office (former outfielder).
*H.K. I guess Ballot Bob Turley would be a stretch, huh?
Editor's Note: Oy!
Happy Birthday: Former pitcher and current broadcaster Jim Kaat. 74.
Bonus Birthday: Rev. Billy Graham. 94.
Today in Sports: Yankees catcher Elston Howard is the first black American League MVP. 1963.
Bonus Event: FDR wins a fourth term in office defeating Thomas Dewey. 1944.
I'll be on Mad Dog Radio with Chris Russo on SiriusXM Radio today at 4 p.m. Eastern to talk about my new book.
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