Let's start with the Detroit Tigers. The good news is they're off to a terrific 5-0 start, having so far out-scored their opponents by a whopping 28 runs.
The bad news is -- the Kansas City Royals in the same division are also 5-0. Remember last year? Pundits said the Tigers had the "best starting rotation in baseball", sluggers galore, and were a shoo-in to reach the post season. Indeed they did, only to be broomed out of the playoffs by Baltimore. In the end, guess who wound up going to the World Series? Yep, the very same KC.
The moral of the story? Wake me up in October and we'll all see who's who.
The Detroit Red Wings have reached the post-season for a record 24th straight year. Impressive? Sure. Any record is noteworthy. But making the playoffs in the NHL is a watered down stat. Fully half the teams in the league qualify for the post-season every year. A squad has to be pretty bad NOT to make it.
The good news is -- when it comes to the annual chase for Lord Stanley's cup, anything can happen. Top seeds can, and have been bounced early. Lesser teams like the Wings can get hot and roll to the Cup. The NHL playoffs are a total crapshoot, so Detroit has as good a chance as anybody else.
The bad news? The Wings can't seem to figure out who their goalie is. Everybody they throw in can be brilliant one day and get lit up like a pinball machine the next. Few would doubt that brilliant goaltending is a must to get far in the NHL playoffs. They will be tested -- severely. We'll see.....
When it comes to the Detroit Pistons, good news is tough to come by. It appears they're going to finish about 30 games behind in the Eastern Conference (it would be 35 in the West) and any delusions about making the playoffs have long since been quashed.
The really bad news? The few players they have with any talent are nearing the ends of their contracts. Given the first opportunity, chances are these guys will look to go somewhere else to play for a contender. The Pistons and their hype machine can spin things all they want, but if you think they're bad now, wait a couple years. It's likely going to get even worse.
For what it's worth, the good news is -- the season is almost mercifully over for the woeful Pistons.
Idle thought: Given an 82 game regular season, you have to be bad -- REALLY bad -- to finish 30 games behind.
Last but not least are the Detroit Lions. The good news is -- like the Red Wings -- the Lions have a 24 year playoff streak of their own that remains intact.
The bad news is -- that's how long it's been since they last won a playoff game.
Good news. The Lions de-thugged themselves somewhat when Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley left town to play elsewhere.
More good news. The NFL draft is approaching and we all know the Lions "braintrust" will select either "can't miss" players, or "diamonds in the rough", that somehow all the other teams overlooked. How will we know this? Because the club and its ever-faithful local media will tell us so. It happens every year.
The really good news? Spring has sprung and the next thing you know, Honolulu blue and silver koolaid stands will start popping up everywhere in southeastern Michigan. Powerful stuff, that brew. Some have been addicted to it for over 50 years. They have to have their fix. Sadly, few ever find their way out of the madness that goes along with thinking every year is going to be THE year. The dream of the Lions getting to the Super Bowl, much less winning it, is kind of like thinking the Loch Ness monster will be reeled in by a fisherman any day now. Or Bigfoot will parachute into Washington DC and announce he's running for President next year. Now THAT would be an interesting development. Given the current field of wannabes -- he might not be a bad choice -- but I digress.
Nevertheless, when it comes to the Lions, there's always bad news. Good grief, over a half century and counting of futility and bumbling is ample evidence that only the hardest of hard core Hono BS koolaiders could ignore. Then again, it's their time, money and fantasies. If they want to keep chasing rainbows looking for a pot of gold at the end -- more power to them. The world is a big place and it needs all kinds. After all, who would doubt successful people would be much less so if their legions of loyal, brainwashed droids ever became self-aware and realized they'd been conned all along?
In sum, depending on how one wishes to look at it -- perhaps there is good news for the Lions. The hopelessly addicted koolaiders will no doubt line up for their fixes once again this fall.
But the bad news can also be summed up in six scant words.
It's still the Lions.
Remember?
Hello?
Sunday, April 12, 2015
Saturday, April 11, 2015
The Masters, wine, and Jordan Spieth
I love the Masters. Always have, but some of this reverence and awe stuff has its limits.
Maybe it's cool to keep galleries far away from some greens so Augusta National can show off their flower gardens instead of letting the cha-ching paying fans get an up close look at the putting action. Or maybe not.
Name any other sporting contest and the paying public in attendance are free, even encouraged, to make as much noise as possible. DEE-FENSE!!. At the Masters, speaking in hushed tones continues to be in order. Even the announcers, who as talking heads would rant and rave over a spectacular shot at any other golf tournament, are quite subdued. Instead of "Holy Ben Hogan, that shot was INCREDIBLE", they're much more likely to murmur "Well played". Such is the aura that continues to surround the Masters, and maybe that's not such a bad thing. After all, the thought of Dick Vitale or your average Latino soccer announcer handling such duties certainly gives reason for pause. We'd likely cringe at a young golfer being called a "diaper dandy", or a futbol play-by-play man screaming, "GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL, when a golfer sank a putt. That could get old quickly. Given a choice, hushed tones seem preferable.
There is also the legend of the course itself. In order to be proficient as a player, one has to be patient, take it slowly, and gradually learn the nuances over the years before one can hope to become a worthy competitor.
One word. BS.
Augusta National is like fine wine, they say. One is supposed to savor it, sniff the aroma, ever-so slowly sip it and let one's palate fully appreciate the ecstasy of such a magnificent blend stimulating one's senses.
Then again, what's the difference between a 200 year old bottle of French burgundy and a half gallon of Mad Dog? Pretty much the price. Chug either one and you'll be on your knees worshipping the porcelain god in about 30 minutes begging for forgiveness. It's wine, and will your headache in the morning be any different depending on which variety you chose the night before? Likely not.
Nevertheless, Augusta National at the Masters certainly poses its own unique challenges to the players. Lightning fast greens, some with contours bordering on the ridiculous. It's supposed to take time and years of experience playing this course for any participant to fully grasp the complexities of it. They have to "mature", like the above-mentioned fine wine. So sayeth the people that continue to speaketh in hushed tones.
But there's a major flaw in their holier-than-thou logic. If it takes so much experience, how could some 21 year old kid named Tiger come along in 1997 and blister the course to the tune of 18 under par, still a record, in his first go-round at Augusta National as a pro? He wound up winning that Masters by a whopping 12 shot margin. Also still a record.
This year another 21 year old is shooting the lights out. Enter Jordan Spieth. Though barely old enough to legally imbibe with riesling or rice wine, god help him, Spieth torched the venerable course with an opening round 64. Eight under par. Impressive indeed.
Sure, there were those that said one-hit wonders at the Masters are a dime a dozen. History is full of them, and Spieth would be another. But then he came out in the second round and chalked up a 66, another 6 under, to sit atop the leaderboard at 14 under par. A full five strokes ahead of the nearest competitor. Equally impressive.
Will the pressure of the Masters get to him on the weekend causing him to choke? Maybe, but maybe not either. Though he hasn't won a Major yet, he's still only 21 and, in fact, tied for second last year at the very same Masters. It should also be noted Spieth is currently ranked #4 in the world.
Since November of last year, Spieth has won a tournament in Australia where he shot a final round course record of 63, then followed it up by winning an event in Florida, also setting another record by posting a score of 26 under par.
As recently as March 15, Spieth won the Valspar Open. The following week he was runner-up at the Valero Texas Open. Seven days later he lost in a sudden death playoff at the Shell Houston Open.
Spieth has either been winning or knocking on the door for the last several months. And now he showed up at Augusta and has posted a tournament record 14 under par after two rounds.
What will happen on the weekend is anybody's guess. Young Jordan could choke up and fold under the enormous pressure. Or he could continue his stellar play and shatter Eldrick's 18 under mark at the Masters. Hey, if Tiger could do it at 21, who's to say somebody else can't come along and do the same?
Methinks it will be somewhere in between. Spieth has been there, done that enough already, where his collar isn't likely to get tight.
But the powers that be at Augusta likely aren't too fond of having their hallowed course brought to its knees either by another young whippersnapper.
Look for them to toughen up the course any way they can. There's not much they can do with the water hazards, bunkers, and Rae's Creek. They are what they are. Even moving the tee boxes back a bit would have little effect. But tweaking the pin placements and mowing the greens down to turn them from already fast into putting on glass is certainly within their power to do, and I'll just betcha they will.
This might get very interesting before it's over.
I dare say watching the final two rounds of the Masters beats the hell out of chugging a bottle of merlot, or was that strawberry hill? Doesn't matter. Yours truly tried that once many moons ago. It didn't work out well then either.....
Maybe it's cool to keep galleries far away from some greens so Augusta National can show off their flower gardens instead of letting the cha-ching paying fans get an up close look at the putting action. Or maybe not.
Name any other sporting contest and the paying public in attendance are free, even encouraged, to make as much noise as possible. DEE-FENSE!!. At the Masters, speaking in hushed tones continues to be in order. Even the announcers, who as talking heads would rant and rave over a spectacular shot at any other golf tournament, are quite subdued. Instead of "Holy Ben Hogan, that shot was INCREDIBLE", they're much more likely to murmur "Well played". Such is the aura that continues to surround the Masters, and maybe that's not such a bad thing. After all, the thought of Dick Vitale or your average Latino soccer announcer handling such duties certainly gives reason for pause. We'd likely cringe at a young golfer being called a "diaper dandy", or a futbol play-by-play man screaming, "GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL, when a golfer sank a putt. That could get old quickly. Given a choice, hushed tones seem preferable.
There is also the legend of the course itself. In order to be proficient as a player, one has to be patient, take it slowly, and gradually learn the nuances over the years before one can hope to become a worthy competitor.
One word. BS.
Augusta National is like fine wine, they say. One is supposed to savor it, sniff the aroma, ever-so slowly sip it and let one's palate fully appreciate the ecstasy of such a magnificent blend stimulating one's senses.
Then again, what's the difference between a 200 year old bottle of French burgundy and a half gallon of Mad Dog? Pretty much the price. Chug either one and you'll be on your knees worshipping the porcelain god in about 30 minutes begging for forgiveness. It's wine, and will your headache in the morning be any different depending on which variety you chose the night before? Likely not.
Nevertheless, Augusta National at the Masters certainly poses its own unique challenges to the players. Lightning fast greens, some with contours bordering on the ridiculous. It's supposed to take time and years of experience playing this course for any participant to fully grasp the complexities of it. They have to "mature", like the above-mentioned fine wine. So sayeth the people that continue to speaketh in hushed tones.
But there's a major flaw in their holier-than-thou logic. If it takes so much experience, how could some 21 year old kid named Tiger come along in 1997 and blister the course to the tune of 18 under par, still a record, in his first go-round at Augusta National as a pro? He wound up winning that Masters by a whopping 12 shot margin. Also still a record.
This year another 21 year old is shooting the lights out. Enter Jordan Spieth. Though barely old enough to legally imbibe with riesling or rice wine, god help him, Spieth torched the venerable course with an opening round 64. Eight under par. Impressive indeed.
Sure, there were those that said one-hit wonders at the Masters are a dime a dozen. History is full of them, and Spieth would be another. But then he came out in the second round and chalked up a 66, another 6 under, to sit atop the leaderboard at 14 under par. A full five strokes ahead of the nearest competitor. Equally impressive.
Will the pressure of the Masters get to him on the weekend causing him to choke? Maybe, but maybe not either. Though he hasn't won a Major yet, he's still only 21 and, in fact, tied for second last year at the very same Masters. It should also be noted Spieth is currently ranked #4 in the world.
Since November of last year, Spieth has won a tournament in Australia where he shot a final round course record of 63, then followed it up by winning an event in Florida, also setting another record by posting a score of 26 under par.
As recently as March 15, Spieth won the Valspar Open. The following week he was runner-up at the Valero Texas Open. Seven days later he lost in a sudden death playoff at the Shell Houston Open.
Spieth has either been winning or knocking on the door for the last several months. And now he showed up at Augusta and has posted a tournament record 14 under par after two rounds.
What will happen on the weekend is anybody's guess. Young Jordan could choke up and fold under the enormous pressure. Or he could continue his stellar play and shatter Eldrick's 18 under mark at the Masters. Hey, if Tiger could do it at 21, who's to say somebody else can't come along and do the same?
Methinks it will be somewhere in between. Spieth has been there, done that enough already, where his collar isn't likely to get tight.
But the powers that be at Augusta likely aren't too fond of having their hallowed course brought to its knees either by another young whippersnapper.
Look for them to toughen up the course any way they can. There's not much they can do with the water hazards, bunkers, and Rae's Creek. They are what they are. Even moving the tee boxes back a bit would have little effect. But tweaking the pin placements and mowing the greens down to turn them from already fast into putting on glass is certainly within their power to do, and I'll just betcha they will.
This might get very interesting before it's over.
I dare say watching the final two rounds of the Masters beats the hell out of chugging a bottle of merlot, or was that strawberry hill? Doesn't matter. Yours truly tried that once many moons ago. It didn't work out well then either.....
Thursday, April 9, 2015
Tiger Woods and a matter of class
Opinions vary on how or why a person is perceived to have "class". In all walks of life, some people seem to have it while others don't. There are those that just exuded it like, say, Sean Connery and the late Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Others like, say, Mike Tyson and the ever-present Judge Judy -- maybe not so much.
So is one born with class? Acquire it through proper upbringing? Is it later teachable through such things as proper tutoring? Nobody seems to know for sure, but the rule of thumb is -- we know it when we see it, however it came about. And it's getting increasingly rare in all the above-mentioned various walks of life. True class is indeed on the endangered species list.
For the sake of argument, let's assume class is a matter of DNA. Either your parents' genes came together correctly to create it in you or they didn't. If this theory is true and one is born with no class, it's like "stupid". There just ain't no fixin' it. A recent political analogy comes to mind. Something about putting lipstick on a pig. One can dress such things up all they want, teach them amazing tricks, and spin reality for years attempting to make them appear as something else. Yet stupid will always be stupid and a pig will always be a pig. This is not a matter of fault, but the DNA is what it is.
Which brings me to the Masters and Tiger Woods. This is not to suggest Eldrick is stupid by any means, though it could be argued his behavior has been boarish, or is that boorish at times over the years? No, this is about class and/or the lack thereof.
Between golf fans, the media, and even/especially the players themselves, few would question the Masters tournament is a very special event. From the always magnificently groomed course at Augusta National, to the elite field that is allowed to participate, to the prestige and "immortality" that comes with winning a green jacket, to the accommodations for the participants, to the TV sponsors they will allow, and all the way down to the uniform dress code for caddies -- everything is in its proper place. The entire event radiates waves of class every year.
Love them or hate them for some of the stances the good folks at Augusta have taken over the years -- and one is certainly free to tune in or tune out -- decorum and gentlemanly behavior on the course remain paramount on their list. Though the public never gets to see the mysterious members of Augusta National while the tournament is taking place, make no mistake. They are watching as well.
And right now, after this year's opening round, they are likely not too pleased with the behavior of one Eldrick Tont Woods.
Yours truly watched Thursday's opening round action on ESPN along with millions of other folks. Tiger featured some of his usual antics. A horrible shot followed by a miraculous one to save par. After another duffer stroke, Tiger almost, but not quite, threw a club again. He flailed about on the course with mighty, if awkward swings, only to see 40 other players put him in their rear view mirror before the round was over. This was no doubt frustrating for the former King.
But class is class, and Woods once again showed he has none. On at least two occasions, he was clearly seen as yelling, "Goddammit" after yet another errant shot. Sure, the TV folks at the 4-letter network turned down the mikes and muted such utterances when the "live" (actually a few seconds tape-delayed) action and replays were shown. But it happened. These days few would question that live mikes and cameras everywhere have led to trouble for many others that got caught saying such things. Whether it's right or wrong to closely monitor participants in such a way is open to debate, but the audio and visual folks don't miss much these days. We just don't get to hear or see some of the juicy stuff, unless it suits the media for another "sensational" story.
And Tiger's on-course profanity likely didn't sit well with the powers that be at Augusta National. Nor should it. This is supposed to be about gentlemanly play -- gosh darn it.
So if yours truly was Billy Payne, the Chairman at Augusta National, here's what I would have done....
Send an official down to the course to inform Woods after the completion of his round that his presence was required in Butler Cabin.
Once there, Payne should have told Woods the following:
"Though your recent play certainly doesn't warrant it, as a former champion we extended an invitation to you to participate in our tournament this year. However, we find your language on the course to be deplorable and unacceptable by the standards we maintain here at Augusta National."
Woods may well have responded, "I understand and apologize, but it was in the heat of the moment and....."
Payne. "Did you ever see the movie Animal House?"
"Yes, those crazy frat boys, and funny stuff, but what's that got to do with....?"
"Good. Then you understand. You are now on double secret probation. If we see or hear one more foul word come out of your mouth on Friday, your round of golf will be immediately terminated at that point and you will be promptly ushered off the course for conduct unbecoming of our hallowed tournament. Further, a meeting will be quickly held to determine whether we decide to invite you back in the future. Bylaws and past rules of eligibility can be changed. We will not tolerate any such crude and classless language again, from you or anybody else. And don't even think about throwing a club. That will get you an automatic lifetime ban before you can even get to the airport on your way out of town. Any questions?"
"Um, no. Got it."
"Excellent. Good luck and have a nice second round. With a few breaks you might even make the cut. In a way we hope you get to hang around for the weekend. Your press conferences are a never-ending source of amusement amongst the members."
"You think I'm funny somehow?"
"Yes and no. On the course, we take such things very seriously. But after you won your first championship here and got to select the menu for the champions dinner the following year, you ordered cheeseburgers as the entree. That, with a bevy of world class chefs at your disposal. They were insulted and outraged, but the rest of the membership has chuckled over it ever since. Some people have class, and some never will, regardless of how much money they have."
So is one born with class? Acquire it through proper upbringing? Is it later teachable through such things as proper tutoring? Nobody seems to know for sure, but the rule of thumb is -- we know it when we see it, however it came about. And it's getting increasingly rare in all the above-mentioned various walks of life. True class is indeed on the endangered species list.
For the sake of argument, let's assume class is a matter of DNA. Either your parents' genes came together correctly to create it in you or they didn't. If this theory is true and one is born with no class, it's like "stupid". There just ain't no fixin' it. A recent political analogy comes to mind. Something about putting lipstick on a pig. One can dress such things up all they want, teach them amazing tricks, and spin reality for years attempting to make them appear as something else. Yet stupid will always be stupid and a pig will always be a pig. This is not a matter of fault, but the DNA is what it is.
Which brings me to the Masters and Tiger Woods. This is not to suggest Eldrick is stupid by any means, though it could be argued his behavior has been boarish, or is that boorish at times over the years? No, this is about class and/or the lack thereof.
Between golf fans, the media, and even/especially the players themselves, few would question the Masters tournament is a very special event. From the always magnificently groomed course at Augusta National, to the elite field that is allowed to participate, to the prestige and "immortality" that comes with winning a green jacket, to the accommodations for the participants, to the TV sponsors they will allow, and all the way down to the uniform dress code for caddies -- everything is in its proper place. The entire event radiates waves of class every year.
Love them or hate them for some of the stances the good folks at Augusta have taken over the years -- and one is certainly free to tune in or tune out -- decorum and gentlemanly behavior on the course remain paramount on their list. Though the public never gets to see the mysterious members of Augusta National while the tournament is taking place, make no mistake. They are watching as well.
And right now, after this year's opening round, they are likely not too pleased with the behavior of one Eldrick Tont Woods.
Yours truly watched Thursday's opening round action on ESPN along with millions of other folks. Tiger featured some of his usual antics. A horrible shot followed by a miraculous one to save par. After another duffer stroke, Tiger almost, but not quite, threw a club again. He flailed about on the course with mighty, if awkward swings, only to see 40 other players put him in their rear view mirror before the round was over. This was no doubt frustrating for the former King.
But class is class, and Woods once again showed he has none. On at least two occasions, he was clearly seen as yelling, "Goddammit" after yet another errant shot. Sure, the TV folks at the 4-letter network turned down the mikes and muted such utterances when the "live" (actually a few seconds tape-delayed) action and replays were shown. But it happened. These days few would question that live mikes and cameras everywhere have led to trouble for many others that got caught saying such things. Whether it's right or wrong to closely monitor participants in such a way is open to debate, but the audio and visual folks don't miss much these days. We just don't get to hear or see some of the juicy stuff, unless it suits the media for another "sensational" story.
And Tiger's on-course profanity likely didn't sit well with the powers that be at Augusta National. Nor should it. This is supposed to be about gentlemanly play -- gosh darn it.
So if yours truly was Billy Payne, the Chairman at Augusta National, here's what I would have done....
Send an official down to the course to inform Woods after the completion of his round that his presence was required in Butler Cabin.
Once there, Payne should have told Woods the following:
"Though your recent play certainly doesn't warrant it, as a former champion we extended an invitation to you to participate in our tournament this year. However, we find your language on the course to be deplorable and unacceptable by the standards we maintain here at Augusta National."
Woods may well have responded, "I understand and apologize, but it was in the heat of the moment and....."
Payne. "Did you ever see the movie Animal House?"
"Yes, those crazy frat boys, and funny stuff, but what's that got to do with....?"
"Good. Then you understand. You are now on double secret probation. If we see or hear one more foul word come out of your mouth on Friday, your round of golf will be immediately terminated at that point and you will be promptly ushered off the course for conduct unbecoming of our hallowed tournament. Further, a meeting will be quickly held to determine whether we decide to invite you back in the future. Bylaws and past rules of eligibility can be changed. We will not tolerate any such crude and classless language again, from you or anybody else. And don't even think about throwing a club. That will get you an automatic lifetime ban before you can even get to the airport on your way out of town. Any questions?"
"Um, no. Got it."
"Excellent. Good luck and have a nice second round. With a few breaks you might even make the cut. In a way we hope you get to hang around for the weekend. Your press conferences are a never-ending source of amusement amongst the members."
"You think I'm funny somehow?"
"Yes and no. On the course, we take such things very seriously. But after you won your first championship here and got to select the menu for the champions dinner the following year, you ordered cheeseburgers as the entree. That, with a bevy of world class chefs at your disposal. They were insulted and outraged, but the rest of the membership has chuckled over it ever since. Some people have class, and some never will, regardless of how much money they have."
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Golden Bear and Golden Boy
In my previous post, kudos were given to Jack Nicklaus for his hole-in-one at Augusta National, albeit it only in the Par 3 contest. The Golden Bear had thrilled the gallery, fellow players, and fans the world over once again.
Yet despite a magnificent career, there is no doubt that the Golden Bear's best golf has come and gone. He is more a "persona emeritus" at the Masters these days rather than a legitimate competitor. In fact, even though he's a 6-time past champion, and hence eligible to enter the current tournament, Nicklaus understands he would have ZERO chance of winning, and such a scenario might well turn out to be embarrassing. The younger guns on the tour would beat his brains out -- and he knows it. He walked away when the time was right, with dignity and his head held high.
The Golden Bear has been happily married to the same woman since forever, with nary a hint of scandal, was the ultimate pro on and off the course, and remains the all-time Major Championship winner. Would anybody seriously question Jack Nicklaus has been a model of class since he burst onto the golf scene over a half century ago? It could also be added that Nicklaus isn't exactly hurting for money either. Through various enterprises, he has scads of it.
Conversely, there is the Golden Boy. No, not Oscar De La Hoya, the former boxer, but rather golf's current version of same. Enter one Eldrick Tont Woods, sometimes referred to as Tiger.
To his credit, once upon a time ETW put together arguably the most dominant decade ever seen in professional golf. From the late 1990s to about the time a guy named Obama was gearing up for his first Presidential run back in 2008, Woods was phenomenal.
Not only was he winning everything in sight and far and away considered the best golfer in the world, there were many times wagerers would take Tiger over the entire field in any given tournament. At the time, it was astounding. Further, it was almost a given ETW would easily surpass Jack's record of 18 Major championships.
And then the wheels feel off.
Exposed as a serial adulterer, his fairy tale marriage blew up in his face and, inexplicably, for a man that appeared to be physically chiseled from granite, a rash of injuries, real or exaggerated, began taking their toll as well. It's difficult to imagine how or why a man in such great shape playing a game that merely involves strolling around lush golf courses and hitting a golf ball for a living would be susceptible to such maladies. But that's the way it worked out.
In hindsight, the decline of Tiger as a golfer began in 2008. At that point, he was only 32 years old, normally the prime of a golfer's career, and indeed won a Major tournament that year. But the fall was coming and he hasn't won a Major since. Seven years and 28 chances have gone by, and now Woods is 39. Yes, he won a tournament here and there in the interim, but his dominant era was over.
Most recently, the last two tournaments Eldrick played in resulted in a missed cut (by a lot) and an outright quit in the middle. Even Woods himself admitted his game stunk.
But Golden Boys die hard. Especially when the media keeps hyping the possibility of a miraculous comeback and legions of groupies remain steadfast in the admiration of their hero. This works for aging rock bands, but they don't have any competition when they take the stage. The PGA Tour is a little bit different.
How far has Woods fallen? He's currently ranked #111 in the world. Of course he was going to play the Masters. He's had nothing better to do than prepare himself for that one tournament over the last couple months he's been on "sabbatical". Basically, it's now or never time for him to make a statement.
But given this year's field at the Masters consists of 99 players, which is typically the most elite field of any tournament -- it could be argued that Woods is the worst of the bunch. In other words, 12 guys that are ranked ahead of him around the world got snubbed, while ETW got in.
How it will play out is anybody's guess. Eldrick might thunder down the back nine on Sunday afternoon enroute to his glorious 15th Major title.
Or, he could be the duffer we've seen of late, miss the cut by a bunch, and his fabled red shirt never makes it out of his locker for a Sunday he doesn't get to play on. Again.
One thing is certain. The viewing public will be bombarded with Tiger's every move and shot during the first two rounds. Replays, commentary, and analysis ad nauseum. Do we really need to see Woods eating a banana while other action is happening elsewhere on the course? But we likely will.
How do I know this? Because it's already started even before the tournament has gotten underway.
Just ETW showing up at Augusta National has been cause to sound the trumpets amongst the media and the hordes of hangers-on. All hail. His Highness has once again graced us with his presence. They want him to be back. They NEED him to be back. Their world just isn't right UNLESS he comes back.
Here's hoping His Highness doesn't literally translate to his golf scores on Thursday and Friday, though it's entirely possible. His once renowned "fear factor" is little more than a hope and a prayer these days -- and the other guys know it.
That messy little $100 million divorce settlement dust-up notwithstanding, ETW has scads of money too. Such sources are sometimes loosely referred to as "endorsements".
But there's a difference between a Golden Bear and a Golden Boy.
One never tarnishes.......
Yet despite a magnificent career, there is no doubt that the Golden Bear's best golf has come and gone. He is more a "persona emeritus" at the Masters these days rather than a legitimate competitor. In fact, even though he's a 6-time past champion, and hence eligible to enter the current tournament, Nicklaus understands he would have ZERO chance of winning, and such a scenario might well turn out to be embarrassing. The younger guns on the tour would beat his brains out -- and he knows it. He walked away when the time was right, with dignity and his head held high.
The Golden Bear has been happily married to the same woman since forever, with nary a hint of scandal, was the ultimate pro on and off the course, and remains the all-time Major Championship winner. Would anybody seriously question Jack Nicklaus has been a model of class since he burst onto the golf scene over a half century ago? It could also be added that Nicklaus isn't exactly hurting for money either. Through various enterprises, he has scads of it.
Conversely, there is the Golden Boy. No, not Oscar De La Hoya, the former boxer, but rather golf's current version of same. Enter one Eldrick Tont Woods, sometimes referred to as Tiger.
To his credit, once upon a time ETW put together arguably the most dominant decade ever seen in professional golf. From the late 1990s to about the time a guy named Obama was gearing up for his first Presidential run back in 2008, Woods was phenomenal.
Not only was he winning everything in sight and far and away considered the best golfer in the world, there were many times wagerers would take Tiger over the entire field in any given tournament. At the time, it was astounding. Further, it was almost a given ETW would easily surpass Jack's record of 18 Major championships.
And then the wheels feel off.
Exposed as a serial adulterer, his fairy tale marriage blew up in his face and, inexplicably, for a man that appeared to be physically chiseled from granite, a rash of injuries, real or exaggerated, began taking their toll as well. It's difficult to imagine how or why a man in such great shape playing a game that merely involves strolling around lush golf courses and hitting a golf ball for a living would be susceptible to such maladies. But that's the way it worked out.
In hindsight, the decline of Tiger as a golfer began in 2008. At that point, he was only 32 years old, normally the prime of a golfer's career, and indeed won a Major tournament that year. But the fall was coming and he hasn't won a Major since. Seven years and 28 chances have gone by, and now Woods is 39. Yes, he won a tournament here and there in the interim, but his dominant era was over.
Most recently, the last two tournaments Eldrick played in resulted in a missed cut (by a lot) and an outright quit in the middle. Even Woods himself admitted his game stunk.
But Golden Boys die hard. Especially when the media keeps hyping the possibility of a miraculous comeback and legions of groupies remain steadfast in the admiration of their hero. This works for aging rock bands, but they don't have any competition when they take the stage. The PGA Tour is a little bit different.
How far has Woods fallen? He's currently ranked #111 in the world. Of course he was going to play the Masters. He's had nothing better to do than prepare himself for that one tournament over the last couple months he's been on "sabbatical". Basically, it's now or never time for him to make a statement.
But given this year's field at the Masters consists of 99 players, which is typically the most elite field of any tournament -- it could be argued that Woods is the worst of the bunch. In other words, 12 guys that are ranked ahead of him around the world got snubbed, while ETW got in.
How it will play out is anybody's guess. Eldrick might thunder down the back nine on Sunday afternoon enroute to his glorious 15th Major title.
Or, he could be the duffer we've seen of late, miss the cut by a bunch, and his fabled red shirt never makes it out of his locker for a Sunday he doesn't get to play on. Again.
One thing is certain. The viewing public will be bombarded with Tiger's every move and shot during the first two rounds. Replays, commentary, and analysis ad nauseum. Do we really need to see Woods eating a banana while other action is happening elsewhere on the course? But we likely will.
How do I know this? Because it's already started even before the tournament has gotten underway.
Just ETW showing up at Augusta National has been cause to sound the trumpets amongst the media and the hordes of hangers-on. All hail. His Highness has once again graced us with his presence. They want him to be back. They NEED him to be back. Their world just isn't right UNLESS he comes back.
Here's hoping His Highness doesn't literally translate to his golf scores on Thursday and Friday, though it's entirely possible. His once renowned "fear factor" is little more than a hope and a prayer these days -- and the other guys know it.
That messy little $100 million divorce settlement dust-up notwithstanding, ETW has scads of money too. Such sources are sometimes loosely referred to as "endorsements".
But there's a difference between a Golden Bear and a Golden Boy.
One never tarnishes.......
Jack Nicklaus and his hole-in-one
One of the coolest things yours truly has seen in a long time in the wide wide world of sports was provided by Jack Nicklaus yesterday. In the Par 3 contest preceding the Masters, the Golden Bear had a hole-in one.
Sure, the 4th hole was only 135 yards, and three other players would ace it on the same day. But 135 isn't exactly a putt-putt hole either. It's a legitimate par 3. Regardless, seeing Jack pull it off was a special moment indeed.
Though the records are unclear, Nicklaus is generally credited with roughly 20 holes-in-one in various competitions, and who knows how many more aces he may have racked up over the thousands of rounds of leisurely play and practice over the years?
But this was his first of any sort at Augusta National. And at the, shall we say, rather mature age of 75. Given Nicklaus first turned pro way back in 1962, when a guy named JFK occupied the White House, one could fairly say it was a long time coming.
Naturally, fans around the green were begging for the ball. That would be quite the souvenir. But who could blame Jack if he wanted to keep it? His only hole-in-one ball ever at Augusta will likely find a spot in his massive career trophy case, and well it should.
Afterwards, Nicklaus could be seen fraternizing with the fans and autographing everything they put in front of him.
Bravo, Jack. You still got game -- and class -- after all these years.
Sure, the 4th hole was only 135 yards, and three other players would ace it on the same day. But 135 isn't exactly a putt-putt hole either. It's a legitimate par 3. Regardless, seeing Jack pull it off was a special moment indeed.
Though the records are unclear, Nicklaus is generally credited with roughly 20 holes-in-one in various competitions, and who knows how many more aces he may have racked up over the thousands of rounds of leisurely play and practice over the years?
But this was his first of any sort at Augusta National. And at the, shall we say, rather mature age of 75. Given Nicklaus first turned pro way back in 1962, when a guy named JFK occupied the White House, one could fairly say it was a long time coming.
Naturally, fans around the green were begging for the ball. That would be quite the souvenir. But who could blame Jack if he wanted to keep it? His only hole-in-one ball ever at Augusta will likely find a spot in his massive career trophy case, and well it should.
Afterwards, Nicklaus could be seen fraternizing with the fans and autographing everything they put in front of him.
Bravo, Jack. You still got game -- and class -- after all these years.
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
UConn rah and Notre Dame boo/hiss
I know a certain editor that isn't exactly fond of Notre Dame, but he can't come out and say it publicly. However, yours truly, being the loose cannon he is, has no problem with it.
Hail, Hail, the Bo Schembechler credo when it comes to those pesky Irish. To wit -- the hell with Notre Dame. So there.
I need nitwit bearded, red-headed leprechauns jumping around like I need more mosquitoes on a hot summer night.
I'm supposed to shed a tear over "winning one for the Gipper"? Shut up. That was about as heart-rendering as watching the last episode of M.A.S.H. or All in the Family. Over is over, and everybody knew it was coming anyway -- so why cry about it?
Former Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz once came to where I worked to give a motivational speech. "Work together as a team, strive for greater achievements, and there is no limit to the possibilities", he said, amongst other things. The young guys and girls were enthralled. We "vets" looked at each other and snickered. Easy for this guy to say, because he probably got 20-30 grand to make such a speech. Give him about 30 days working on the floor of the shop doing a REAL job while management was harassing him the whole way for no apparent reason other than to feed their own bully egos, and dear Lou likely would have seen things differently. Who did this clown think he was kidding? He may have got an Augusta National membership with such BS, and remains a talking head on TV, but Holtz has always been just that. Talk, while expecting others to do the heavy liftting.
You never could pay me enough to go see the movie "Rudy". Just more Notre Dame tear-jerker propaganda. Did I mention shut up?
Shiny gold helmets are tackier than a bad Krylon paint job. Nuff said.
Even their fight song is hypocritical. "Raise her gold and blue and cheer with voices true". So why do they break out the "hallowed" green jerseys when they're about to play a big game? Are they blue or are they green? What's up with that?
Finally, some justice. UConn just knocked off Notre Dame to win yet another national championship in ladies' hoops, and I loved every second of it.
Put that in your kelly green high heels and smoke it, Miss Muffett. Turns out, you were second-class citizens all along. It just took Geno and his Bambinos to once again put you in your place on the biggest stage of your sport.
Did I mention I wasn't overly fond of Notre Dame? Four leaf clovers are for fools to think noteworthy and I wouldn't feed Lucky Charms to the squirrels out back, let alone my dogs.
And the most obvious of all, which I've mentioned before. What's up with Notre Dame calling itself the Fighting Irish when the original Notre Dame is a cathedral in Paris, France? Don't they even know where their roots are?
R.I.P. Bo. Yeah, you were arrogant yourself and not so hot when it came to big games either, but I got your back when it comes to the South Benders.
Hell with em......
Hail, Hail, the Bo Schembechler credo when it comes to those pesky Irish. To wit -- the hell with Notre Dame. So there.
I need nitwit bearded, red-headed leprechauns jumping around like I need more mosquitoes on a hot summer night.
I'm supposed to shed a tear over "winning one for the Gipper"? Shut up. That was about as heart-rendering as watching the last episode of M.A.S.H. or All in the Family. Over is over, and everybody knew it was coming anyway -- so why cry about it?
Former Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz once came to where I worked to give a motivational speech. "Work together as a team, strive for greater achievements, and there is no limit to the possibilities", he said, amongst other things. The young guys and girls were enthralled. We "vets" looked at each other and snickered. Easy for this guy to say, because he probably got 20-30 grand to make such a speech. Give him about 30 days working on the floor of the shop doing a REAL job while management was harassing him the whole way for no apparent reason other than to feed their own bully egos, and dear Lou likely would have seen things differently. Who did this clown think he was kidding? He may have got an Augusta National membership with such BS, and remains a talking head on TV, but Holtz has always been just that. Talk, while expecting others to do the heavy liftting.
You never could pay me enough to go see the movie "Rudy". Just more Notre Dame tear-jerker propaganda. Did I mention shut up?
Shiny gold helmets are tackier than a bad Krylon paint job. Nuff said.
Even their fight song is hypocritical. "Raise her gold and blue and cheer with voices true". So why do they break out the "hallowed" green jerseys when they're about to play a big game? Are they blue or are they green? What's up with that?
Finally, some justice. UConn just knocked off Notre Dame to win yet another national championship in ladies' hoops, and I loved every second of it.
Put that in your kelly green high heels and smoke it, Miss Muffett. Turns out, you were second-class citizens all along. It just took Geno and his Bambinos to once again put you in your place on the biggest stage of your sport.
Did I mention I wasn't overly fond of Notre Dame? Four leaf clovers are for fools to think noteworthy and I wouldn't feed Lucky Charms to the squirrels out back, let alone my dogs.
And the most obvious of all, which I've mentioned before. What's up with Notre Dame calling itself the Fighting Irish when the original Notre Dame is a cathedral in Paris, France? Don't they even know where their roots are?
R.I.P. Bo. Yeah, you were arrogant yourself and not so hot when it came to big games either, but I got your back when it comes to the South Benders.
Hell with em......
The Mild Mild West
Notice how things have worked out lately in the world of sports? It's like schools and teams west of the Mississippi have become second-class citizens in the upper echelons of athletics. Consider:
The NCAA men's Final Four in the hoops championship. Duke played Michigan State and Wisconsin squared off against Kentucky. Three from the eastern time zone and one from the central. The easternmost of them all -- Duke -- would go on to become champions. Nobody from west of the Mississippi even made it to the Big Dance.
Same with the ladies' Final Four. UConn played Maryland and Notre Dame had it out with South Carolina. All four cities that are home to these universities reside in the eastern time zone. As we know, UConn, the easternmost school, won the championship by thumping Notre Dame, the westernmost of the quartet, in the Finals. Nary a central, mountain, or pacific time zoner could qualify for this particular prom either.
Go back and recall the Super Bowl. The farthest east NFL team (Patriots) defeated the farthest west team (Seahawks).
Before that, it was the Ohio State Buckeyes of the eastern time zone trashing the far western Oregon Ducks in the college football championship.
No doubt about it, 2015 has been a good year so far for the east when it comes to championships. With the NHL and NBA playoffs coming up soon, it could conceivably even be a seasonal sweep. Few would doubt the NHL playoffs are a crap shoot, perhaps rivaled only by Major League Baseball in their unpredictability. Anybody can get hot -- or lucky -- and wind up hoisting Lord Stanley's Cup. In the end, there will be one team from the "east" and another from the "west" slugging it out in a 7 game series. A coin flip, at best.
In the NBA, there's no doubt the Western Conference is vastly superior overall to the East from top to bottom, but only one Wild Wester will survive their brutal playoff rodeo to advance to the Finals. Once there, they might well meet -- the Cleveland Cavaliers. It is noted the Atlanta Hawks have a far superior record but, after a slow start, Lebron and Company have finally gelled and have been on a roll. Bet your kids or their college funds against Cleveland's version of the KKK (the King, Kyrie, and Kevin) at your own peril.
Last year was quite the opposite. The San Fran Giants won the World Series, the San Antonio Spurs the NBA championship, the LA Kings the Stanley Cup, and the Seahawks hoisted the Vince Lombardi trophy as Super Bowl champs. Of course, those pesky UConn Huskies from the east had a pretty good year themselves, seeing as how they won both the mens and ladies college hoops titles, but overall 2014 was the year of the West.
Funny how that works out sometimes. Know what's really confusing? The politics of it all. The northeast, which is "right" on the map, typically leans left. Most of the western states, which are "left" on the map, normally lean right.
And if you're a sports fanatic and ever figure out how THAT works, you should quit whatever job you currently have and move to Las Vegas -- or Atlantic City. Be it west or east, they have a spot for you.
I believe the correct term is "bookie".
The NCAA men's Final Four in the hoops championship. Duke played Michigan State and Wisconsin squared off against Kentucky. Three from the eastern time zone and one from the central. The easternmost of them all -- Duke -- would go on to become champions. Nobody from west of the Mississippi even made it to the Big Dance.
Same with the ladies' Final Four. UConn played Maryland and Notre Dame had it out with South Carolina. All four cities that are home to these universities reside in the eastern time zone. As we know, UConn, the easternmost school, won the championship by thumping Notre Dame, the westernmost of the quartet, in the Finals. Nary a central, mountain, or pacific time zoner could qualify for this particular prom either.
Go back and recall the Super Bowl. The farthest east NFL team (Patriots) defeated the farthest west team (Seahawks).
Before that, it was the Ohio State Buckeyes of the eastern time zone trashing the far western Oregon Ducks in the college football championship.
No doubt about it, 2015 has been a good year so far for the east when it comes to championships. With the NHL and NBA playoffs coming up soon, it could conceivably even be a seasonal sweep. Few would doubt the NHL playoffs are a crap shoot, perhaps rivaled only by Major League Baseball in their unpredictability. Anybody can get hot -- or lucky -- and wind up hoisting Lord Stanley's Cup. In the end, there will be one team from the "east" and another from the "west" slugging it out in a 7 game series. A coin flip, at best.
In the NBA, there's no doubt the Western Conference is vastly superior overall to the East from top to bottom, but only one Wild Wester will survive their brutal playoff rodeo to advance to the Finals. Once there, they might well meet -- the Cleveland Cavaliers. It is noted the Atlanta Hawks have a far superior record but, after a slow start, Lebron and Company have finally gelled and have been on a roll. Bet your kids or their college funds against Cleveland's version of the KKK (the King, Kyrie, and Kevin) at your own peril.
Last year was quite the opposite. The San Fran Giants won the World Series, the San Antonio Spurs the NBA championship, the LA Kings the Stanley Cup, and the Seahawks hoisted the Vince Lombardi trophy as Super Bowl champs. Of course, those pesky UConn Huskies from the east had a pretty good year themselves, seeing as how they won both the mens and ladies college hoops titles, but overall 2014 was the year of the West.
Funny how that works out sometimes. Know what's really confusing? The politics of it all. The northeast, which is "right" on the map, typically leans left. Most of the western states, which are "left" on the map, normally lean right.
And if you're a sports fanatic and ever figure out how THAT works, you should quit whatever job you currently have and move to Las Vegas -- or Atlantic City. Be it west or east, they have a spot for you.
I believe the correct term is "bookie".
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