TGIF everyone here's my Top 5 for November 30, 2012 from Len Berman at www.ThatsSports.com.
1. Quick Hits
- WFAN Radio reports that third baseman David Wright and the Mets have agreed to the largest contract in Mets history, eight years, $138 million.
- Mariano Rivera and the Yankees agreed to a one-year, $10 million deal plus incentives according to reports.
- Thursday Night Football: Atlanta goes to 11-1 beating New Orleans 23-13 as the Falcons pick off Drew Brees five times.
- Louisville beat Rutgers 20-17 to gain a BCS Bowl bid.
- San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich sent home his top four players to rest before the Spurs lost in Miami 105-100. NBA Commissioner David Stern called it "unacceptable" and said sanctions will be forthcoming.
- Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo has been suspended two games for his role in a brawl the other night with the Brooklyn Nets.
- You like me, you really like me. NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is voted by the fans the most popular driver for the 10th straight year.
2. The Wright Stuff
At last a happy recap at Citifield, as longtime Mets announcer Bob Murphy used to call it. David Wright belongs on the Mets. He's a good kid who's gone about everything the right way. And he's the face of a franchise that needs a good image. So good for Wright, good for the Mets and good for their fans as it shows the Mets do have a few dollars left in the kitty. It's a win-win-win situation.
3. Fan Fare
Things have gotten so noisy it seems impossible to ignore the fans. Jets linebacker Bart Scott had to be lectured to by coach Rex Ryan after ripping the fans who were excoriating the Jets as they left the field at halftime Thanksgiving night. Scott had told the New York Daily News, "The person yelling at you probably was picked last in dodgeball all through high school. So do you care about the opinion of them? No." Funny line Bart, but those dodgeball dropouts are paying your salary. Then there's Cleveland Indians president Mark Shapiro. He said if the only reason for fans coming to games was to see the Indians win, "Don't Come." I'm sure that had sports owners cringing all over the world. Winning? Is that what sports has come to? What ever happened to the old fashioned virtues of parking, concessions and personal seat licenses?
4. Friday eMailbag
With the Jets crash landing on Thanksgiving night, L.E. writes, "After watching that performance, they should change their names to the NY Jokes. They've become a three ring circus with Johnson, Tannenbaum and Ryan (owner, general manager and coach) the stars of each ring."
When I wrote on Facebook at "Len Berman's Top 5," "No more complaints about the high cost of sports tickets. You can get a ticket to Sunday's Jets game for just $18 on StubHub." I.L. responded, " But what if someone wants to go to a football game?"
And Top 5 subscriber F.C. writes, "The $24.99 parking pass is 28 percent higher than a ticket, maybe the Jets should play in the parking lot, save the sad fans a few $ and fireman Ed can stay in his car for safety."
P.G. likes the notion of Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds being banned from Cooperstown. He writes: "Actually, it will complete the Hall's Triple Crown of Irrelevance if they refuse the all-time Home Run Champ and most Cy Young awards, to go along with most career hits (Pete Rose) not being inducted."
And a weather note from E.S. "The National Weather Service should have named hurricane Sandy, A-Rod instead. It wouldn't have hit anything."
5. Spanning the World
This week's Spanning the World highlight comes from Ecuador. Here's a tip. Next time you parachute into a soccer stadium, make sure to avoid hitting the players. And nobody got hurt!
Spanning the World airs monthly on NBC's Today Show. Next up: Friday, December 28 in the 8:30 a.m. half hour.
Happy Birthday: Bo knows birthdays. Former baseball and football star Bo Jackson 50.
Bonus Birthday: Rocker Billy Idol. 57.
Today in Sports: Floyd Patterson knocked out Archie Moore in the 5th round to win the heavyweight championship. 1956.
Bonus Event: Luci and Desi tied the knot. 1940.
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