Top 5 Sports Stories

Happy Thursday everyone, here's my Top 5 for September 2, 2010 from Len Berman at

1. Quick Hits

* Andy Roddick is ousted from the Open in the 2nd round in 4 sets by Serbia's Janko Tipsarevic. Roddick railed against a foot fault called against him, but he didn't threaten to ram his racket down the throat of the lineswoman. * Victoria Azarenka of Belarus collapsed during her match in the heat and was forced to withdraw. She later blamed a concussion that she suffered in a fall before the match. * Reds rookie pitcher Aroldis Chapman, the Cuban defector, hit 103.9 on the radar gun last night. The Tigers' Joel Zumaya holds the unofficial record at 104.6. * Talk about locking the barn door too late. The PGA changes the rule that barred Jim Furyk from playing last week because he was late for a pro-am. Nothing like making up rules as you go along. * Yesterday I wrote about Mamie van Doren, and she emailed me. Hmmm...maybe I'll write something about Christie Brinkley today.
2. Manny Being Manny
Manny Ramirez has turned into one of those Barry Bonds/Alex Rodriguez type of players. Loved, or at least liked, by home team fans. Despised by everyone else. Manny made his White Sox debut yesterday going 1-3 with a bloop single as Chicago won again. He didn't trim his hair... yet. A couple of emails from Top 5 subscribers. Bob G. slams his egotism. "This guy hits a towering shot and he stands there watching it like a tourist rather than busting his buns to run the bases!" Rich R. blasted his pulling a "Sammy Sosa" during his White Sox news conference. "What was Manny doing with that asinine 'press conference' with a translator? We all know he speaks English. Is he nuts?" And don't get me started on how he's turned his back on his old High School in Washington Heights, New York.
3. Trick Shots
With Roger Federer hitting the "shot of the tournament" the other night with his "tweener," there are those who still think this is Roger's "shot of the year." It came during the filming of a Gillette commercial. Roger himself won't say whether or not it's legit. You can decide for yourself.

4. Bling

Has to be a first. After Dolphins practice the other day, players were crawling around on their hands and knees looking for an earring. Defensive end Kendall Langford said he forgot to take off his jewelry before practice and lost a 2.5 carat diamond earring. Yeah, I'm sure it happened all the time in the days of Bronko Nagurski and Dick Butkus.

5. Typo

A couple of twitter-mates, @AXP112 and @MVNUSID tweeted me @LenBermanSports to tell me about a little twitter gaffe made by the St. Louis Cardinals. Take a look.
I remember a weather guy in Dayton, Ohio years ago who broke himself up when he wanted to say "A warm air mass is on the way," he left out "air" and it sounded on the air like a "warm ass" is headed in our direction.
Run for your lives!

Happy Birthday: Tennis star Jimmy Connors. 58.
Bonus Birthday: Actor Keanu Reeves. 46.

Today in Sports: The tiebreak is used for the first time at the U.S. Open. 1970.
Bonus Event: Vice President Teddy Roosevelt utters the phrase, "Speak softly and carry a big stick." It becomes famous. 1901.

My brand new kids book, The 25 Greatest Baseball Players Of All Time, will officially be released Tuesday. It's in some bookstores now, and it's in stock at It's great for the "kid" in your life who loves baseball.