The Big Orange Guy's Top 5 – June 16, 2010

Columns, Top Story

Big Orange GuyLooks like the Top 5 went from Red to Orange. I know that typically, the Top 5 rank something sports-wise from one through five. However, the column is under new management. Therefore, each week as I see something that catches my eye that will be the Top 5. Maybe the Top 5 plays of the week, or the Top 5 Moments to Remember will be a column soon. This week, five stories caught my eye and they are my Top 5 of the week; Bad Timing for Bad Hands, Beginnings, Guts, Home Sweet Home and Forgive and Forget.

Bad Timing for Bad Hands – The worst pair of hands in the world, as everyone knows by now belongs to England’s goalie Robert Green. We have all seen the goal. Actually, 34.6 million of us in America and in the England saw that goal. We have all seen Green play the 25-yard shot by Clint Dempsey into what has been called “the softest goal in World Cup history”. Stopping here for a second, did anyone else hear that the British network broadcasting the game, ITV, cut to a Hyundai commercial as the UK scores their goal. Ouch. Someone is getting fired.

We in America have seen our share of blunders in sports. We have seen the ball roll through Buckner’s legs one thousand times. We all know the name Steve Bartman. Do people remember Tony Romo not being able to hold onto a field goal attempt, or Sean Landeta’s complete whiff of a punt against the Bears? Bill Buckner was eventually welcomed back to the Red Sox family. Sean Landeta’s career went on for well over a decade. Tony Romo still has a job in Dallas. I am sure Steve Bartman is somewhere finally living in obscurity. I can only hope that Robert Green has a second chance to show why he was chosen as England’s number one goalkeeper.

In any case, let’s hope that Green does not meet the fate of Andres Escobar. Do not remember him? Cup. In America, soccer may not be our top sport or even in our Top 5. However, it is in mine and Robert Green is story number 1.

Beginnings – We all know the first week that Stephen Strasburg had with the Nationals. He was named National League Player of the Week in his first week in the majors. He is 2-0, allowing three runs with 22 strikeouts and only five walks. However the other debut in my Top 5 is of Daniel Nava. On the first pitch of his first at-bat in the major leagues, Nava hit a grand slam. He is the fourth person in MLB history to do so (Bill Duggleby in 1898, Jeremy Hermida in 2005, and Kevin Kouzmanoff in 2006) to hit a grand slam on the first pitch he ever saw in the major leagues.

Why is Nava in my Top 5? When someone does something that has only happened three times before in the history of the major leagues, it deserves to be noted. Yes, over the next few years we will all know Stephen Strasburg. However, many of you may not remember Daniel Nava and his major league debut. In fact, it may not even make the Top 5 stories of June for Major League Baseball. However, it is my Top 5 of the week and Daniel Nava is story number 2.

Guts – There are people who hate doing anything alone. Imagine spending months alone, attempting to break a world record. Abby Sunderland, 16 years old, was attempting to be the youngest person to sail around the world alone. A few days ago, her family lost satellite contact with her as the mast of her sailboat was damaged. No one knew if Abby’s boat was still afloat. No one knew if she was healthy, or even alive. She set out on January 23 from California and was lost somewhere in the Indian Ocean.

I don’t know about you. When I was 16, I was barely thinking about world records. I was thinking about 11th grade, actually becoming a senior and a variety of other things that none of you want to read about. Abby, was trying to break the record that her brother once had, and had been broken twice. After some issues, she gave up on breaking the record in April but still wanted to complete her journey around the globe.
Abby has been rescued and is safe. A French fishing vessel rescued her. Taking a look at her blog, it is easy to see that Abby is grateful for her rescue and a very courageous person. In the weeks upcoming, you will see Abby’s story told in print and probably a movie. I am not yet tired of hearing about Abby Sunderland, and that is why her story is in my Top 5.

Home Sweet Home – July 1 is approaching fast. Those NBA free agents of 2010 have been well known for awhile. Lebron, Bosh, Wade and Johnson were considered the head of the class. That list just got shorter as Dwayne Wade announced he will return to Miami and that he will recruit a top player to come to Miami and join him. He has already talked to Chris Bosh and spoke to Johnson at an event this week.

First of all, it is known that the Heat can offer Wade more money than any other team in the league. He is staying with his team for _____ (fill in the blank, Pride? Money? Potential Championships?). For whatever his reason is, the landscape of the upcoming free agency has changed. For the first free agent to show his hand and to let the rest of the NBA that Dwayne Wade is not for sale, he has made my Top 5.

Forgive and Forget – According to ESPN The Magazine, a poll of 100 players have voted Jim Joyce the major league’s best umpire. As we all know, it was Joyce who cost Armando Galarraga the 21st perfect game in major league history. Although calling the runner safe, numerous replays have shown Joyce’s call to be incorrect. Fifty three of the one hundred surveyed indicated that Joyce was the top, leading number two, Tim McClelland by 19 votes. The survey was taken after the blown call and it shows that that the players had no hard feelings against Joyce. In the same survey, only 13 players voted to overturn Joyce’s call and therefore giving Galarraga a perfect game.

People will always remember Jim Joyce for the missed call. He took history away from Galarraga and from all of us. However, for the players having the ability to forgive and forget the blown call, Jom Joyce being ranked the top umpire in the major leagues makes my Top 5.