Happy Monday everyone, here's my Top 5 for August 8, 2011 from Len Berman at www.ThatsSports.com.
1. Quick Hits
- The Red Sox regain first place with a dramatic 10th inning 3-2 win over the Yankees Sunday night at Fenway.
- Adam Scott wins the Bridgestone Invitational with Tiger Woods' fired caddie, Steve Williams. Woods finished tied for 37th, 18 shots back.
- Never on a Sunday. The Colorado Rockies lose for the 16th consecutive Sunday.
2. Seen but Not Heard?
Fascinating stuff with caddie Steve Williams. After getting dumped by Tiger Woods, he carried Adam Scott's bag, and Scott won yesterday's tournament. That's the short version. Here's the juicy part. As Scott triumphantly walked up the 18th fairway, fans chanted Williams' name. Has that ever happened before? Afterwards, Williams talked to CBS, something caddies rarely do, and declared it the "best win I've ever had." That seemed to annoy some of the other golfers. Some wondered who "won" the tournament exactly, Williams or Scott? Williams (and the fans) were clearly taking a swipe at Woods. On the one hand, it all appeared unseemly. On the other, in the supposedly genteel world of golf, it was fun to see a food fight for a change.
3. Testing 1-2-3
The NFL will now test for HGH. It's part of the new deal with the players. You know they're using it in football and baseball, and baseball tests minor leaguers. But finally, a major league sport will test. Hoorah. At first it was reported that a player could be tested once a year in the off season, but the NFL now says up to six times. Not perfect, but certainly a big step forward. But then something called deer-antler spray comes out of nowhere. Baseball players have been warned not to use it. They spray the stuff under their tongues. It has the same effect as steroids. It's always something.
4. Wave Goodbye
I seem to have struck a nerve when I wrote about the wave last week. The Texas Rangers have facetiously banned it. I'm in favor of getting rid of the facetious part. As for you guys:
*Bob P. writes, "It's is long past the time to wave goodbye to the wave. It was fun for, maybe, one year, at the most...1986. That's it. Nothing says bush league fans in any sport more than doing the wave."
*Doug H. "I am always shocked when I sometimes see it at Fenway or Yankee Stadium... I thought at least true fans of those teams would be too into the games to bother with such stuff."
*Rachel M. "There is a no wave section in Yankee Stadium, it's called Section 203 of the Bleachers. The Bleacher Creatures banned the wave decades ago."
By the way, I've met the guy who claims he invented the wave at a University of Washington football game in 1981 It may or may not be true, but I think he's proud of it.
5. Happy Anniversary
The Top 5 is three years old today. It began with the Beijing Olympics. In that very first Top 5, here were a couple of items.
*Green Bay Packer star Brett Favre is un-retiring and will most likely be traded. The Jets are one of two teams he could be traded to.
*Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James says he would consider playing in Europe if offered $50 million a year. (So would I).
I guess things haven't changed much. Thanks for subscribing everyone. And as always, if you know anyone who might enjoy receiving the Top 5 let me know.
Happy Birthday: The great Roger Federer. 30.
Bonus Birthday: The great Dustin Hoffman. 74.
Today in Sports: Wade Boggs gets his 3,000th hit. Previously he was the only one to reach that milestone with a home run before you know who. 1999.
Bonus Event: Britain's Great Train Robbery. It netted thieves $7 million and lotsa jail time. 1963.
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