1. Quick Hits
- New NFL coaches: The Chicago Bears hire Marc Trestman. He was the coach of the Montreal Alouettes in the CFL.
- Denver offensive coordinator Mike McCoy is the new coach of the San Diego Chargers.
- Former Yankees reliever Rafael Soriano signs with Washington.
- The favorites cruised at the Australian Open.
2. Francona: The Red Sox Years
Former Red Sox manager Terry Francona has penned a new book with the Boston Globe’s Dan Shaughnessy. In an excerpt released yesterday he wrote the owners of the Red Sox were concerned with image and they didn’t love baseball. And of course they worshiped the bottom line. One example: they didn’t want to play getaway day games before road trips, the night games drew higher TV ratings. In other words, they were no different from lots of owners in sports. Hey, there’s no business like show business.
3. Rabbit Ears
What’s going on in the NBA? Carmelo Anthony of the Knicks was suspended for a game for trying to go after the trash-talking Celtic Kevin Garnett when the game ended. And now a fan in Utah gets the heave-ho for his relentless heckling of Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade. Wade claimed the fan was being abusive to the ref. Either way, what ever happened to “Sticks and stones etc.”? Is everyone being a tad oversensitive these days?
4. Ready, Set, Sue
OK legal eagles this one’s for you. Remember when the San Antonio Spurs were playing in Miami and they sent their best players home before the game? You knew what was coming. Lawsuit! And you have to love the legalese. The Spurs acted “intentionally and surreptitiously.” The fans “suffered economic damages” as a result of paying for premium tickets. The lawyer points out that fans have to pay higher prices for “premium” games. He said “It was like going to Morton’s Steakhouse and paying $63 for porterhouse and they bring out cube steak.” OK, Top Fivers, it’s your turn. Keep in mind if your brief is more than two sentences the delete button awaits.
5. Tweet Tweet
Word is that Yogi Berra may be joining Twitter. One problem. I don’t think Yogi is wordy enough to fill up 140 characters. For example if he tweets “It ain’t over ’til it’s over, It’s deja vu all over again, When you come to a fork in the road…Take it,” he still has 34 characters left over. That leaves just enough room for, “You can observe a lot by watching.”
Happy Birthday: Angels first baseman Albert Pujols. 33.
Bonus Birthday: Model Kate Moss. 39.
Today in Sports: Yankees teammates Mickey Mantle and White Ford are elected the Baseball Hall of Fame 1974.
Bonus Event: Curt Flood files a lawsuit challenging baseball’s reserve clause. 1970.
The next time you need a gift for that young sports fan in your life, check out my books. And if you’d like a personally autographed copy contact the Dolphin Bookshop at 516-767-2650.
