Happy Wednesday everyone, here's my Top 5 for March 24, 2010 from Len Berman at www.ThatsSports.com.
1. Quick Hits
* The Mets finally got some good news. Shortstop Jose Reyes is expected back in camp today. He is allowed to resume baseball activities after his thyroid scare. Maybe that's why I saw owner Fred Wilpon smiling in a restaurant the other night.
* Paul Hewitt of Georgia Tech is said to be the front-runner for the St. John's basketball coaching job.
* They'll unpave paradise and put up a football stadium? Dodgers owner Frank McCourt wants to bring an NFL franchise to LA and have it play in the Dodger Stadium parking lot.
* A 17-year old autistic teenager in Chicago has reportedly filled out a perfect NCAA tournament bracket thus far, 48-0.
2. Not So Sudden Death
Surprise, surprise. The NFL finally smartened up and changed the playoff overtime rule. From now on, a team can't win the toss and kick a cheap field goal. They can still do it, but they won't win the game. The other team will get the ball. That's the way it should be. They should have also changed it for the regular season, but we'll take what we can get. Now if only the NFL can fix their dopey replay rule. Replay is supposed to fix "obvious" mistakes. If it ain't obvious in 30 seconds or less, play on!
3. The Sports Calendar
Friday promises to be an interesting day in the sports world. It's the day Gilbert Arenas of the Washington Wizards gets sentenced. Prosecutors want to throw him in jail for 3 months for having guns in the locker room. Also on Friday, Alex Rodriguez will talk to federal authorities about his treatment by a controversial Canadian doctor. Another open case involves Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. When will he be questioned in his alleged sexual assault? By the way, there are 4 NCAA games Friday as well. There is some actual sports on the sports calendar.
4. Group Ownership
With the Golden State Warriors for sale, Matt H. tweeted me @LenBermanSports suggesting,"Lets make Golden State 'America's Team' with every American contributing $1. We'll see what does better, the Warriors or the USA."
Wow, what a loaded suggestion. How would we judge the success of an NBA team vis a vis a country? And your math is off, just a tad Matt. $1 dollar per American adds up to around $308 million. Supposedly the Warriors will go for over $400 million. Just think if they had actually won something in the last 35 years?
5. The New Jersey Nots
As the Nets charge toward basketball infamy, fewest wins in a season, things are getting a little testy in the Meadowlands. It seems a fan was sitting in the stands Monday night with a bag over his head, and Nets CEO Brett Yormark got into a shouting match with the guy. Hey Brett, at least the guy showed up!
A reminder that tonight's Nets game will feature Nets Jewish Family Night. If the team had a sense of humor, the halftime show would be a live bris. But that's just me.
Happy Birthday: Colts quarterback Peyton Manning. 34.
Bonus Birthday: "This one time at band camp." American Pie actress Alyson Hannigan. 36.
Today in Sports: Benny "Kid" Paret is pummeled by Emile Griffith in a welterweight championship fight at Madison Square Garden. Paret died 10 days later. 1962.
Bonus Event: Believe it or not there were talent shows on the air before American Idol. Major Bowes' Original Amateur Hour debuted on the NBC Radio Network. 1935.