Happy Wednesday everyone, here's my Top 5 for December 19, 2012 from Len Berman at www.ThatsSports.com.
1. Quick Hits
- The Jets show Mark Sanchez the bench as Greg McElroy will start Sunday against San Diego.
- Dallas defensive lineman Josh Brent has been banned from the Dallas Cowboys sideline for the remainder of the year. He showed up last Sunday after being charged with intoxication manslaughter in the car crash that killed teammate Jerry Brown.
- Former Mets pitcher R.A. Dickey apologized for using the Mets holiday party to vent his frustrations over his contract negotiations.
- New Oakland shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima from Japan says he signed with the A's because GM Billy Beane is "extremely sexy and cool." He does know that was Brad Pitt playing him in the movie, right?
2. What's the Point?
Tim Tebow comes to the biggest media market and there's zero Tebowing. None. And now he may actually be miffed. According to a report on CBSSports.com Tebow feels that the Jets misled him. He believed he would start at quarterback if something happened with Sanchez, and guess what? He's been passed over. Whether or not he's really peeved the question still needs to be asked for the umpteenth time, why exactly did the Jets bring him to New York? If you can figure that one out go ahead and Tebow or salsa or whatever. You've earned the right.
3. Coach Speak
Coaches often take the easy way out. Vanilla. Don't say or do anything that causes a ripple. Then there's Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim. Perhaps it's his senior status or the fact that he's not running for anything. But he shot a bullseye the other day not discussing his 900th career win, but gun control.
4. Museum of Modern Sports Art
Yesterday I mentioned a new sculpture in a Paris art museum. It commemorates an infamous moment in French sporting history when Zinedine Zidane headbutted Marco Materazzi of Italy in the 2006 World Cup. I wondered what American sports moments would you commemorate? You guys quickly filled-up the non-existent "Great" Moments in Sports Museum.
Yankee fan (Red Sox hater) C.P. Buckner, Bucky, and Boone.
S.B. and J.G. Mike Tyson biting Evander Holyfield's ear.
F.C. Holyfield's ear, and just his ear.
D.S. The home run that went over the wall after it bounced off Jose Canseco's head.
J.V. Jeffrey Maier's '96 ALCS interfering catch.
R.T. As a Jets fan and season ticket holder who is absolutely disgusted I would suggest a statue of the Sanchez/Moore "Butt Fumble" on Thanksgiving night.
R.M. Juan Marichal clocking Johnny Roseboro in the noggin with a bat and Pedro Martinez tackling Don Zimmer.
I.T. Knicks Coach Jeff Van Gundy clinging to Alonzo Mourning's ankle during a bench-clearing brawl in the 1998 NBA playoffs.
N.R. Mighty Casey striking out in Mudville.
Now wouldn't this be a great exhibition? It would put wax museums to shame!
5. Top 5 of 2012
So I asked you the Top 5 stories of 2012. And guess what? You came up with a whole lot more than five stories. In fact in response to my Top 5 and on Facebook at "Len Berman's Top 5," you had 25 different stories. The biggest vote getters: LeBron James winning his first title, Michael Phelps setting the all-time Olympics medal record, the Giants beating the Patriots again in the Super Bowl, Lance Armstrong disgraced, and Penn State (Jerry Sandusky and the death of Joe Paterno).
Credit Top 5 subscriber S.D. with the uplifting story of the year. The Top 5 moment of the year is when the high school track girl stopped and helped her opponent who fell. That's when Ohio schoolgirl Meghan Vogel stopped to help a fallen opponent across the finish line. Tough to beat this!
Happy Birthday: Detroit Tiger Hall of Famer Al Kaline. 78.
Bonus Birthday: Actor Jake Gyllenhaal. 32.
Today in Sports: 10 years ago today, Godzilla. Hideki Matsui agrees to a three-year $21 million contract with the Yankees. 2002.
Bonus Event: Benjamin Franklin began publishing Poor Richard's Almanack. 1732.
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