Happy Wednesday everyone, here's my Top 5 for January 30, 2013 from Len Berman at www.ThatsSports.com.
1. Quick Hits
- Super Bowl Media Day is "juicier than most." (See # 3 below.)
- Alex Rodriguez denies receiving performance enhancing drugs from a Miami clinic.
- A federal judge rules that NCAA football and basketball players can continue with their suit trying to get a cut of TV money.
- Ashley Judd and three-time Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti are separating after 11 years of marriage.
2. A-Fraud
There's only one question that remains about Alex Rodriguez. That after the Miami New Times reported a major South Florida doping operation involving A-Rod and several other players. Rodriquez's people have issued a denial, but since he's admitted steroid use in the past why are we to believe him now? Rodriguez is already out of commission at least half of this season and there are reports that the Yankees are scurrying around trying to figure out a way to void his contract. They probably won't be able to. They couldn't with Jason Giambi, why now? As for that lone remaining question, with one A-Rod headache after another, will he ever play another game in Pinstripes?
3. Media Day
As Super Bowl media days go, this one was rather entertaining. First Sport Illustrated posted a story that Baltimore Ravens star Ray Lewis may have used a banned substance (deer antler velvet spray) to help heal an arm injury. Lewis denied it and said he never tested positive. Then again there's no current test for this stuff. Then there's San Francisco wide receiver Randy Moss. He boasted that he's the "greatest wide receiver of all time." Really? Wasn't there a guy named Jerry Rice who also played for the 49ers? On the Super Bowl winning scoreboard it's currently Rice 3 Moss 0. And who drew the biggest crowd yesterday? Maybe a guest reporter from Inside Edition named Katherine Webb. Of course you probably wouldn't have heard of her if Brent Musburger hadn't gone gaga.
4. Never Ending Story
So today's sports pages will be filled with the following stories. Alex Rodriguez and the Miami drug clinic. Ray Lewis and deer spray. The World Anti-Doping Agency calling the governing body for cycling deceitful. And a Spanish doctor says that athletes from other sports besides cycling used his blood-doping services. On and on and on it goes. Can you blame most sports fans for glazing over?
5. A "Super" Contest
OK, Top Fivers. Here's you chance to win valuable prizes. Actually that's hyperbole. Whoever is closest to picking the correct final score of Sunday's game will win a That's Sports baseball/golf cap. Just email your score in the subject line, for example: Baltimore 27 San Francisco 16.
One entry per person. The Deadline is kickoff. And good luck!
Happy Birthday: Washington Nationals Manager Davey Johnson. 70.
Bonus Birthday: Actor Gene Hackman. 83.
Today in Sports: Willie Mays signs the richest contract in baseball history. A one year deal worth $90,000. 1962.
Bonus Event: 80 years ago today, "Hi-Yo Silver!" The Lone Ranger debuts on the radio. 1933.
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