Happy Tuesday everyone, here's my Top 5 for January 29, 2013 from Len Berman at www.ThatsSports.com.
1. Quick Hits
- It's Media Day at the Super Bowl.
- First fumble of the week: Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco calls the concept of a cold-weather Super Bowl next year, "retarded." He admitted, "I probably shouldn't say that."
- Tiger Woods wins the Farmers Insurance Open by four shots, his 75th PGA victory.
- The Dodgers announce a 25-year, over seven billion dollar deal with Time Warner creating their own TV network starting in 2014.
- NBA champions, the Miami Heat, visit the White House. LeBron James said, "Mom I made it."
- For the first time in over 20 years Michigan is #1 in college basketball.
- Manchester United, according to Forbes, is the first sports team valued at over $3 billion. The Dallas Cowboys are second at $2.1 billion.
2. Media Circus
Well today is that unique day in the annals of "sports journalism." Media Day at the Super Bowl. You know the drill. Everyone and his uncle gets a media credential and nothing serious comes out of it. But think about it. What "scoops" come out on the Tuesday before any NFL game? In fact I've always found football preview stuff to be rather uninteresting. Just once you want to hear a coach or a player say "We're going to attack their middle linebacker, he sucks." It'll never happen. And certainly not at Super Bowl Media Day.
3. Tiger on the Prowl
So what are we to make of Tiger Woods waltzing away with the Farmers Insurance Open? Does this mean his five-year hiatus from winning major golf tournaments is about to end? Even with his drought he clearly drives golf. Do you think CBS would have televised yesterday's abbreviated final round if he weren't playing? After all these year's he's still a compelling figure. And you have to admit if he's in the mix at the Masters or the U.S. Open you might be curious enough to tune in.
4. Home Cooking
Talk about stacking the deck. Myanmar will host the Southeast Asian Games later this year and according to the New York Times, Myanmar promises to dominate the games over countries like Thailand and the Philippines. Huh? It seems the host country can set the agenda, so sports like tennis, table tennis, water polo, gymnastics and badminton are out. What's in? A whole bunch of obscure martial arts including something called chinlone, that athletes from Myanmar are sure to excel in. Apparently a sports event meant to promote unity is causing bad blood instead. Maybe the other countries should try this chinlone stuff. It's described as a combination of sport and dance with no opposing team. Kind of like the Pro Bowl.
5. By the Numbers
Why should they continue the Pro Bowl? Sunday night's Pro Bowl did an overnight rating of 7.7. The 2012 World Series had an average rating of 7.6. Case Closed.
Happy Birthday: Gold medal winning diver Greg Louganis. 53.
Bonus Birthday: Oprah. 59.
Today in Sports: They announced the first class in Cooperstown: Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson and Honus Wagner. What, no Cy Young? 1936.
Bonus Event: Thank goodness they published Edgar Allen Poe's poem on this date, or who knows that we would be calling the Baltimore Ravens. 1845.
I'll have Super Bowl trivia tomorrow morning on the Today Show with Hoda and Kathie Lee in the 10 a.m. hour.
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