Happy Tuesday everyone, here's my Top 5 for October 9, 2012 from Len Berman at www.ThatsSports.com.
1. Quick Hits
- Fit to be tied: The Orioles/Yankees and Cardinals/Nats series are now tied 1-1.
- Monday night football: Houston goes to 5-0 after beating the Jets 23-17. Tim Tebow delivered a long pass on the money that was promptly dropped by newly signed Jason Hill.
- Sentencing today for Jerry Sandusky in the Penn State child sex abuse scandal.
- Former Lions great, 77-year-old Alex Karras, who later became an actor and sportscaster is in failing health. He suffers from dementia and now has kidney failure.
2. Disorderly Conduct
Of all places Kansas City? I thought Midwest sports fans supported their teams in a sportsmanlike way, no matter what. Perhaps not quite like Australia, where they never boo at sports events. But Chiefs fans cheered when their own quarterback Matt Cassel was knocked out of the game with a head injury. Fans there aren't in love with Cassel, but cheering an injury? Chiefs tackle Eric Winston scolded fans saying, "It's 100 percent sickening... I've never been more embarrassed in my life to play football than at that moment right there... We are not gladiators and this is not the Roman Colosseum. This is a game." Check out the unedited version. It's one of the better locker room moments I've seen. Good for you Eric Winston.
3. A Kiss Is But a Kiss
Only in baseball. All the hand wringing over Tigers pitcher Al Alburquerque kissing the ball after fielding a comebacker on the mound before throwing to first base. The A's called it "unprofessional." They have an on-line poll in Michigan, which of course backs their pitcher although the majority of respondents voted "It's no big deal and is overblown." One voter commented "Detroit needs a reason to have something to cheer or be happy about! It's not like Al gave the A's dugout the finger!" True. But how come these shows of emotion become such a big deal in baseball? I think I have the answer. Baseball is the only sport that when you're on offense the other team has the ball. And a high hard one could be coming your way in a heartbeat.
4. You Go Girl
The women's Olympic downhill champ, Lindsey Vonn, wants to ski with the boys. She wants to take on the men in a World Cup race next month at Lake Louise, Canada. As usual there are all sorts of technicalities, but it would be fun to watch. There aren't many sports where women and men can go head to head on an equal basis. Downhill skiing just may be the one.
5. What a Twit
Ohio State's third string quarterback Cardale Jones was suspended for the Buckeyes game last Saturday night against Nebraska. His offense? He tweeted "Why should we have to go to class if we came here to play FOOTBALL, we ain't come to play SCHOOL classes are POINTLESS." Two questions, would he have been suspended if he were the starting quarterback? And what was wrong with his tweet, spelling football, school and pointless with all caps?
Happy Birthday: Golf Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam. 42.
Bonus Birthday: Ozzy's wife, Sharon Osbourne. 60.
Today in Sports: The Cincinnati Reds won the World Series which was forever known as the "Black Sox Scandal." 1919.
Bonus Event: The debut of the ill-fated The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers on Fox. 1986.
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