Happy Tuesday everyone, here's my Top 5 for January 25, 2011 from Len Berman at ThatsSports.com.
1. Quick Hits
* The Chicago Bears say quarterback Jay Cutler had a strained MCL, which made his knee unstable.
* Roger Federer has breezed into his 8th straight Australian Open semi-final.
* "Imperfect game" pitcher Armando Galarraga is traded from Detroit to Arizona. He's the guy who should have had a perfect game, but for the blown umpire call at first base on the last "out."
* Because you need to know these things, Christina Aguilera will sing the National Anthem at Super Bowl XLV.
2. Cheap Shots
I was surprised how early in Sunday's game that Bears fans started booing. I kind of thought Chicago fans would be a little more supportive. And I guess fans of "Da Bears" are also thin-skinned. A Chicago car salesman got fired yesterday for wearing a Packers tie to work. What's worse is all the criticism that Bears quarterback Jay Cutler took for sitting out most of the second half with a knee injury. Players on other teams were quick to Tweet their disdain. Even former Blackhawks star Jeremy Roenick Tweeted "He sure is no hockey player." Ouch. It's one thing for talk radio listeners to sound off with nonsense, but now athletes are jumping on the yahoo bandwagon?
3. Have I Got a Guy for You
Loved the Wall Street Journal piece the other day about NBA teams holding various heritage nights as a way to draw fans. The Toronto Raptors, for example, have Filipino Night set for February. This month features Serbian, Jewish and Chinese nights. In fact Jewish and Israeli nights have been very popular when the Sacramento Kings are in town. Omri Casspi, the first Israeli NBA player, plays for them. When he appeared in Washington, fans got free yarmulkes. In other cities, when he plays, they feature kosher food at the hot dog stands. Casspi says he meets lots of kids who got their game tickets as Bar Mitzvah presents, and that he's gotten a lot of marriage proposals. Quite different from the Globetrotters. When they ran into the stands girls would simply give them their phone numbers. No commitment issues.
4. Letters to the Editor
Since so many of you asked, here was the letter I wrote to Sports Illustrated in October of 1969, which they printed. I was commenting on the criticism the late writer Wilfrid Sheed leveled at the NBC post-season baseball announcers. I was a college radio announcer at the time, in Syracuse.
Sirs: That SI carefully dissects TV sportscasting while TV does not criticize the press is an unfortunate paradox of our free-press system. May Wilfrid Sheed be reminded that while a sportswriter has the help of retrospect and his eraser, the sportscaster is not afforded these luxuries. He must think spontaneously and accurately for two to three hours in front of millions, and therefore some things get said that shouldn't.
Len Berman
Syracuse, N.Y.
And as several of you noted: Ah, the days when baseball games lasted two or three hours.
5. CMXC Dollars Just to Park?
And you people complain about New York prices? According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, one parking lot near Cowboys Stadium is charging $990 to park for the Super Bowl. Not sure if it includes free air for your tires. I'm guessing that'll be an extra XXV-cents, like gas stations everywhere.
Happy Birthday: Jets Super Bowl III wide receiver Don Maynard. 76.
Bonus Birthday: 13 time Grammy winner Alicia Keys. 30.
Today in Sports: The Giants won their first Super Bowl, beating Denver 39-20, in Super Bowl XXI. Phil Simms was the MVP. 1987.
Bonus Event: It's an honor just to be nominated. Right. The first Emmy Awards ceremony. 1949.
I guess you guys like contests. Thanks to all who entered my Super Bowl Contest. Guess the winner and final score to win a "Len Berman's That's Sports" hat.
Click here to enter. Only one per customer. Good luck! By the way, the Packers are substantially outnumbering the Steelers so far in the contest.
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