STARTING FIVE

1. A Sedition Unlike Any Other

UConn wins a national championship that looks a lot like its 2011 national championship, as Shabazz Napier scolds the NCAA for worrying about academics and SI‘s Pete Thamel scolds Kentucky coach John Calipari for being egotistical, a poor in-game strategist, and not Urban Meyer.

Or maybe Pete was just attempting to inveigle Calipari to take the Laker job (Southern Calipari?). Or spike page views on SI.com.

Napier. Thamel. Apparently, joy is now frowned upon.

2. R.I.P., Roseland Ballroom

The legendary midtown Manhattan concert venue, where this scribe once landed flat on his back after being dropped while crowd-surfing at a Jesus and Mary Chain show, closed its doors for good last night’s Lady Gaga concert.

Roseland opened in 1919 and has hosted everyone from Count Basie to Nirvana. Now the space, which is located directly across 53rd Street from the stage entrance to The Late Show, is being converted to a 59-story apartment building. Why? Because Manhattan is dying.

3. RA Derek

Not to be confused with R.A. Dickey. The UConn resident advisor’s email to his residents goes viral after he strongly urges them to get off his lawn and reminds them that they are cheering for laundry. He’s a buzz kill, but he’s right.

4. R.I.P., Mickey Rooney

Kids, this is the short actor, not the 60 Minutes pundit with the large eyebrows (Andy Rooney), who passed three years ago. Mickey Rooney: 200 films and eight wives. It’s amazing that he lasted until age 93.

5. Bill on Dave

Terrific piece in Grantland by its editor-in-chief on Letterman’s retirement announcement and the late night turf. I love it when Simmons really cares about a topic.

Here’s another well-done retrospective in The New Yorker.

Every day on Twitter someone feels a compulsion to write that Letterman isn’t funny, or hasn’t been funny for years, or has never been funny. At first I’m angry, then slightly annoyed, but ultimately I feel pity for these people. Most of the time I agree, different strokes for different folks. But on this one, if you don’t get why Dave is special, let’s just not be friends.

Reserves

Ping Pong

Searchers hear a ping. Then they don’t hear a ping. Then they hear a ping. Then they don’t. You’re watching CNN…

The Hall

Charter Inductees: Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner

1937:  Tris Speaker, CF; Cy Young, P ; 1938: Grover Cleveland Alexander, P; Eddie Collins, 2B 1939:Nap Lajoie, 2B; Joe Jackson, LF; 1940: Billy Hamilton, OF; Cap Anson, 1B; 1941: Wee Willie Keeler, RF; George Sisler, 1B; 1942: Rogers Hornsby, 2B; Pie Traynor, 3B; 1943: Mickey Cochrane, C; Frankie Frisch, 2B 1944: Ed Walsh, P; Old Hoss Radbourn, P 1945: Lou Gehrig, 1B; Kid Nichols, P 1946: Ed Delahanty, LF; Lefty O’Doul 1947: Pud Galvin, P; John McGraw, INF 1948: Carl Hubbell, P; Addie Joss, P 1949: Harry Heilman, OF/1B; Monte Ward, P/SS 1950: Cool Papa Bell, CF; Jimmie Foxx, 1B 1951: Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown, P; Josh Gibson, C 1952: Paul Waner, RF; Charlie Gehringer, 2B 1953: Mel Ott, RF; Hank Greenberg, 1B 1954: Eddie Plank, P; Dan Brouthers, 1B 1955: “Wahoo” Sam Crawford, OF; John Clarkson, P 1956: Chief Bender, P; Bill Dickey, C 1957: Sam Rice, RF; Joe DiMaggio, CF 1958: Bill Terry, 1B; Heinie Manush, LF 1959: Dizzy Dean, P; Tim Keefe, P 

1960: Gabby Hartnett, C; Mickey Welch, P 1961: Bob Feller, P; Ducky Medwick, LF 1962: Luke Appling, SS; Jesse Burkett, LF 1963 Jackie Robinson, 2B; Zack Wheat, LF 1964: Jake Beckley, 1B; Rube Waddell, P 1965: Ralph Kiner, 1B; Lefty Grove, P 1966: Ted Williams, LF; Smoky Joe Wood, P/OF 1967: Roy Campanella, C; Max Carey, OF 1968: Goose Goslin, LF; Rabbit Maranville, SS 1969: Stan Musial, 1B/OF 1970: Ferris Fain, 1B; Earle Combs, CF 1971: Warren Spahn, P; Yogi Berra, C 1972 Satchel Paige, P; Sandy Koufax, P 1973: Robin Roberts, P; Whitey Ford, P 1974: Mickey Mantle, CF; Eddie Mathews, 3B 1975: Lefty Gomez, P; Hack Wilson, CF 1976: Jack Pfiester, P; Johnny Mize, 1B 1977: Ernie Banks, SS; Mickey Welch, P 1978: Roberto Clemente, RF; Chuck Klein, RF 1979: Willie Mays, CF; Luis Aparicio,  SS 1980: Al Kaline, RF; Enos Slaughter, RF 1981: Bob Gibson, P; Harmon Killebrew, 1B 1982: Hank Aaron, RF; Frank Robinson, OF 1983: Brooks Robinson, 3B, Juan Marichal, P 1984: Hoyt Wilhelm, P; Arky Vaughan, SS 1985: Lou Brock, LF; Pete Browning, OF 1986: Sidd Finch, P 1987: Willie McCovey, 1B, Roger Maris, RF 1988: Willie Stargell, 1B, Catfish Hunter, P 1989: Earl Averill, CF, Billy Williams, LF 1990: Johnny Bench, C, Carl Yastrzemski, LF

1991

Jim Palmer, P; 1965-1984, Baltimore Orioles

The pride of Scottsdale High School (just like noted AP scribe Andy Bagnato) compiled eight 20-win seasons between 1970 and 1978 and no pitcher ever looked better doing so. A six-time All Star, three-time Cy Young Award winner and three-time World Series champ, Palmer finished with a career record of 268-152.

Joe Morgan, 2B; 1963-1984, Cincinnati Reds

Before he became a punch line for sports bloggers, Morgan was the ultimate clutch teammate of his generation. A 10-time All Star and a two-tine National League MVP, in the seasons in which the Big Red Machine won the World Series, Morgan is one of the top two or three second basemen of all time. 2,517 hits, 268 home runs, 689 stolen bases.

Remote Patrol

UConn vs Notre Dame

ESPN 8:30 p.m.

Two men women enter, one man woman leaves. Two teams, 76 games, zero losses thus far this year. Will this be the greatest women’s basketball game of all time? We shall see . Geno is 8-0 all-time in NCGs, but if there were ever a school that knew how to stop streaks, it’s Notre Dame.