Happy Tuesday everyone, here's my Top 5 for March 19, 2013 from Len Berman at www.ThatsSports.com.
1. Quick Hits
- Miami beat Boston 105-103 for their 23rd straight win. Only the '71-'72 Lakers had a longer streak, 33.
- It's Puerto Rico against the Dominican Republic tonight in San Francisco in the championship game of the World Baseball Classic.
- The Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens may not be able to host the traditional Thursday night season opener because of a conflict with the Baltimore Orioles. They share parking lots.
- The NCAA basketball tournament begins tonight in Dayton with North Carolina A&T playing 15-20 Liberty, and St. Mary's playing Middle Tennessee.
2. Power Couple
Tiger Woods and skier Lindsey Vonn took to Twitter and Facebook to tell the world they're dating. Now don't be so cynical and say "who cares?" You have to admit the genre of sports couples is kind of interesting. Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi have made it work. For my money the "biggest" sports marriage was Babe Didrikson, the greatest female athlete ever, and pro wrestler George Zaharias. Actually Babe and anyone in sports would be #1, much like Hank Aaron and Tommy Aaron are the record holders for homers by brothers.
3. Fan Protest
Soccer fans in England have come up with a unique protest. Blackburn is owned by an Indian poultry concern, and their fans are not happy with the team's results, so the other day they released a chicken on the field. Judging from the cheers/boos, the fans clearly like the chicken better than security. It recalls a long forgotten Spanning the World highlight. Fans of a South American soccer team were so unhappy with the team's timid play, they released chickens at the team's practice. And much to no one's surprise, fights broke out between the players and the fans.
4. Chicks Dig the Long Ball
So you think of HGH and you think NBA right? Turns out they are reportedly close to an agreement for HGH testing in basketball. They've got it in baseball. But how about the one sport where the big beefy guys really need to get tested? Supposedly the NFL and players are also closing in on a deal, but if it falls apart, you'll have to wonder, "What are the NFL players afraid of?"
5. White Smoke
Last week I mused about which sports happenings might cause white smoke to rise? I had items like shorter baseball games and Bill Belichick cracking jokes at his news conference on my list. Here's what you came up with.
*J.S. When every pitch, strikeout, walk and home run do NOT have a sponsor.
*B.L. When the Cubs win the World Series.
*R.R. When the Los Angeles media sees that the Lakers are an average team, not idols.
*J.B. Don't you really think there is enough "blowing smoke" in sports now?
*P.C. When players start looking happy to play a game they are getting paid millions to play.
*L.S. When an active male athlete comes out as gay. Not that the church would approve it.
Happy Birthday: Dodgers star pitcher Clayton Kershaw. 25.
Bonus Birthday: Actor Bruce Willis. 58.
Today in Sports: Brought to you in living color. Middleweight Joey Giardello knocked out Willie Troy in the 7th round at Madison Square Garden. The first boxing match televised in color. 1954.
Bonus Event: Here we go. The Nevada state legislature legalizes gambling. 1931.
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