TGIF everyone, here's my Top 5 for July 30, 2010 from Len Berman at www.ThatsSports.com.
1. Quick Hits
* Houston pitcher Roy Oswalt has been traded to the Phillies.
* Buck Showalter is the new manager of the Baltimore Orioles. He's had previous gigs with the Yankees, Arizona and Texas.
* Washington pitcher Stephen Strasburg is being shut down for a while with his sore shoulder. More on him below.
* Wide receiver Terrell Owens missed his flight for his grand introduction in Cincinnati. Wow, who could have seen that coming?
* Forget LeBron James, people just wearing his Miami jersey aren't even welcome in Cleveland. A fan at an Indians game wearing a James/Heat jersey was booed out of the stadium. He needed a police escort.
* Erik Compton shot a 63 and is the co-leader of the PGA stop in West Virginia. Compton is notable for having undergone two heart transplants.
2. TV Studio
So here's the question. Is a sports stadium a sports arena or a glorified TV studio? Yesterday's front page New York Times story says the game itself is no longer enough. Fans want replays and special apps that only work in the stadium. They can check their smart-phones and see video clips, all sorts of stats, and replays from other games. In other words, that seat you paid for is now a place to watch TV. It appears that's what the younger generation wants. For older fans like me, who don't like all the stadium sounds, and scoreboards that tell us to "make noise," I simply ask, what about the game?
3. War Of Words
Don't you love a good public spat? The other night when Washington phenom pitcher Steven Strasburg was scratched at the last minute, fill-in pitcher Miguel Batista got booed. Batista sympathized with the fans by saying "Imagine if you go to see Miss Universe, then you end up having Miss Iowa.'' Well, Miss Iowa, Katherine Connors, was none too pleased. She countered, "I know I can throw a pitch or two! The question is, can Miguel Batista walk the runway in a swimsuit?" Sad to say Batista wimped out and sent her flowers. Then again, check her out.
We'll see what kind of arm she has. She throws out the first pitch at tonight's Nats game.
4. Friday eMailbag
As for the Mets being one of only two teams without a no-hitter, the Padres being the other, J.M. wrote on Facebook at "Len Berman's Top 5," I found that 19 players who once played for the Mets threw no hitters in their careers."
Editor's Note: If so, that's truly Amazin'.
In regards to that guy in England who always shows up walking behind reporters when they are filing their TV reports, J.B. writes the guy is, "As annoying as the idiots who sit behind home plate jabbering on their cell phones all game and waving at friends on TV. There should be a cell phone ban behind home plate."
Editor's Note: Amen to that.
As for Rick Pitino's extortion trial, where Pitino had sex in a restaurant with a woman, subscriber A.V. asks, "I Wonder if Rick Pitino made a reservation on Open Table?"
D.P. on the trade that didn't happen, in light of Amar'e Stoudemire having Jewish roots, "Oswalt gets traded to Mets, changes his name to 'Roy Vey'"
And subscriber R.B. writes that the Bengals are the perfect team for Terrell Owens, "Since the letter 'I' appears 3 times in Cincinnati."
5. Spanning The World
This week's Spanning the World highlight is a hilarious goal celebration in Iceland. If you like soccer and fishing, this clip is for you. If you like neither, this clip is still for you! Enjoy.
Now that's a celebration that's keeping it "reel." Have a great weekend everyone!
Happy Birthday: Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig. 76.
Bonus Birthday: The Governator. Arnold Schwarzenegger. 63.
Today in Sports: Hall of Famer Willie McCovey makes his debut for the Giants, and goes 4 for 4. 1959.
Bonus Event: Teamsters President Jimmy Hoffa disappeared, never to be found. 1975.
And thanks to all for you kind wishes on the birth of my grandson Eli on Wednesday!