Happy Tuesday everyone, here's my Top 5 for June 21, 2011 from Len Berman at www.ThatsSports.com.
1. Quick Hits
- Day one of Wimbledon came and went without any upsets. Rafael Nadal and Venus "ghastly playsuit" Williams (see # 3) both advanced.
- St. Louis Cardinals star Albert Pujols is out 4-6 weeks with a broken forearm.
- With 80-year old Jack McKeon taking over as interim manager, the Florida Marlins lose their record-tying 11th straight game.
- A battle royale is shaping up between Major League baseball and Dodgers owner Frank McCourt. Commissioner Bud Selig has rejected McCourt's TV deal, which throws Dodgers ownership, as well as McCourt's divorce settlement, into chaos.
2. Show Me the Money
Top 5 Subscriber Joel M. makes a great point. "Did you ever notice that when the winning cup is presented at the the U.S. Golf Open, they never present the check as they do at U.S, Tennis Open? In fact, a read of a few articles in the papers also failed even to mention the amount won. Interesting omission, no doubt reflecting a decision made at some high level to emphasize the competition and not the money."
You are correct sir. At the U.S. Open in tennis, fans always ooh and ahh over the check, presented before the cup. And just for the record, Rory McIlroy's take was $1.4 million. Good for the golf folks to deemphasize the cash.
3. Fashionistas
Yesterday, the story was Serena Williams' tie-dyed leggings. Today, we have to deal with Venus Williams' outfit. Rather than my explaining it, check out how she was excoriated by a London tabloid. They've got all the pictures to go with it. A "ghastly playsuit." Ya gotta love the British press.
4. Aussie Aussie Aussie
When I covered the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, I was struck by the Aussies. They love their sports. Go to any sports event and cries of "Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oye Oye Oye" break out spontaneously. And they don't boo. It's just not the sporting thing to do. But here's an Australian sports story that deserves the raspberry. Seven- and eight-year-old girls in a professional kickboxing match in Australia. Seven-year-old Georgina Barton and eight-year-old Jasmine Parr duking it out. The winner gets $100. The match ended in a draw, but it may be the last of its kind. The Queensland government is investigating. They want to regulate combat among kids. Regulate? "Oy Oy Oy!" Just ban it.
5. Thanks Mom
It didn't make "Today in Sports," but it belongs in the Spanning the World hall of fame. Where should we locate that hall exactly? Anyway, at a Staten Island Yankees baseball game on June 21, 2002, a 38-year old mom named Lois Collinson hopped the fence during the game to go argue a call with the ump. Turns out she was a troop mother who lost her cookies, so to speak. She was at the game with her eight-year old daughter and their Brownie troop. Now that's a fine lesson in "leadership."
Happy Birthday: He famously said "Whoop de damn do," when he played for the Nets. He was defending teammate Kenny Anderson for missing practice. Derrick Coleman. 44. (Matching his uniform number, which was retired at Syracuse.)
Bonus Birthday: Kate's husband. Prince William. 29.
Today in Sports: Phillies pitcher Jim Bunning, on Father's Day, pitches a perfect game at Shea Stadium. He becomes the first pitcher to toss a no-hitter in both leagues. 1964.
Bonus Event:Splish Splash. 1958.
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