Michael Phelps isn't the most imposing athlete around. He is a tall lanky young man standing in at 6'7" in height and weighs barely 200lbs. but the shark toothed, flipper footed young man from Michigan does have something that speaks volume and that is 14 gold medals in two Olympic games.
Since the Bejing Olympics nothing has been fairy tale for Phelps. He was busted by a wandering camera phone that caught the young man doing the lip lock with a bong. It cost him a lengthy suspension and sponsorship deals. All for doing something that most young people in their early 20's do, but Michael Phelps was the most visible 22 year old's after the Summer games.
After having to sit out for an extended period of competition period Phelps did the unthinkable. He lost. He lost in the 200m freestle to Germany's Paul Biedermann. Is Michael Phelps ripe the takening of his international peers. Milorad Cavic thinks so. The young serbian thinks so much of Michael Phelps that he has been patronizing him by offering to buy the US superstar one of the high tech polyurethene body suits produced by Phelps sponsor Speedo's rival Arena. If anyone has a right to patronize Michael Phelps to the press it's Cavic as he lost the 100m butterfly to Phelps at the Bejing Olympics and still rants about how he got to the wall first. Cavic also has every right to want a rematch with Phelps. The wrong way of going about the rematch is to talk down to Michael Phelps in the media. Much like Phelps wake up a sleeping giant with his sponsors and the USOC by puffing some happy wacky tobbaccky, Cavic is doing the same by calling Phelps out.
Phelps has been rarely challenged and the potential for apathy could come into play for Phelps but not now with Cavic's bold statements. No, this is chalkboard motivational material that is the last thing the international field of swimmers needs to give to Michael Phelps. Phelps will now become more focused in his training not that he hasn't been but as a world class athlete only one can expect he will step it up to a higher level. Expect for Phelps to start out with his patented late end rallies towards the wall and stick the pedal to the medal with the rest of the field. Eight gold medals in Bejing might never be duplicated but the motivation of Phelps might be the inspiration he needs to show the world that we have yet to see the best of Michael Phelps. So get those camera phones ready to take some pictures when Michael Phelps gives up blowing a heap of smoke for blowing away the likes of Cavic and the rest of the world's best swimmers. After all, there is not one male swimmer from the 2008 Bejing Olympics who competed against Phelps to wear any gold around their necks.
Right now Mr. Cavic, scoreboard.......Phelps.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Ho Hum the Cubs are in 1st
It starts every spring at Ho Ho Kam Field in Mesa, Arizona and should end up as Ho Hum with a pony league performance in the playoffs. Wait a minute, let's not bad mouth competitive pony league players.
The past two years the Cubs have made the playoffs and they have a 0-6 record. Heck since the Cubs were up 3-1 on eventual World Series Champion Florida Marlins in the year of Steve Bartman the Cubs are 0-9 in the playoffs. If anyone ever wants to bad mouth the Atlanta Braves for their one World Series win during their 14 year stretch of making the playoffs they should just zero in on their loss to the Cubs in the Cubs only playoff series win since, you guessed it 1908. The Padres in "84 were down 0-2 with those fashion statement McDonalds employee uniforms beat up on the Cubs three straight to advance to the World Series only to get blown out by the Tigers.
What is going to make this year any different? I don't know maybe bring in a tattooed father/son duo from the southside of Chicago in to beat up on elderly opponent coaches to maybe squeak out a little bit of pride, heck even the White Sox have won a recent World Series after years of futility. Maybe have Steve Bartman throw out the first pitch in the playoffs to see if the Cubs have any pride but that will probably just snake bite them so bad idea. Maybe bring in a hockey goon to take out the opponents first basemen to give the Cubs an edge on close plays at first with a happy footed fielder. If nothing else just let Carlos Zambrano beat up a gatorade machine, it might take just enough focus away from the opponents to giggle so hard the Cubs score a winning run somewhere in the playoffs.
Any way you size it up, the Cubs chances on the field couldn't get any better than they were in 2008 and to think a new year will bring new luck is tough to swallow.
The past two years the Cubs have made the playoffs and they have a 0-6 record. Heck since the Cubs were up 3-1 on eventual World Series Champion Florida Marlins in the year of Steve Bartman the Cubs are 0-9 in the playoffs. If anyone ever wants to bad mouth the Atlanta Braves for their one World Series win during their 14 year stretch of making the playoffs they should just zero in on their loss to the Cubs in the Cubs only playoff series win since, you guessed it 1908. The Padres in "84 were down 0-2 with those fashion statement McDonalds employee uniforms beat up on the Cubs three straight to advance to the World Series only to get blown out by the Tigers.
What is going to make this year any different? I don't know maybe bring in a tattooed father/son duo from the southside of Chicago in to beat up on elderly opponent coaches to maybe squeak out a little bit of pride, heck even the White Sox have won a recent World Series after years of futility. Maybe have Steve Bartman throw out the first pitch in the playoffs to see if the Cubs have any pride but that will probably just snake bite them so bad idea. Maybe bring in a hockey goon to take out the opponents first basemen to give the Cubs an edge on close plays at first with a happy footed fielder. If nothing else just let Carlos Zambrano beat up a gatorade machine, it might take just enough focus away from the opponents to giggle so hard the Cubs score a winning run somewhere in the playoffs.
Any way you size it up, the Cubs chances on the field couldn't get any better than they were in 2008 and to think a new year will bring new luck is tough to swallow.
NY Hardass wants jail for ex-Giants receiver
Oh boy, another hard ass prosecutor trying to make a name for himself at the expense of the taxpayers. Prosecutor, Robert Morganthau wants jail time for Plaxico Burress. Hey lets lock up the mentally deficient! Give him prison time! Lighten up Mr. Prosecutor, we know you are in the human resource business of sending people to prison at the expense of taxpayers to make a name for yourself while your brethern and probably you too add to your slush fund at the expense of humans. Here is to the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Come on! Plaxico Burress is a knucklehead and he certainly broke a law with regards to bringing firearm into a bar in NY City. I am all for there being penalties but let's not go overboard with PRISON TIME Mr. Tough Guy Morganthau. Plax is a dummy! He was trying to impress his fellow Giant teammates who know he is a knucklehead and the knucklead ends up shooting himself in the leg. What was he trying to do, quick draw the bartender?
I know there are major deficits and most of the problems stem from prosecutors with a single selfish agenda trying to put their best interest in front of the best interest of the people. If Tough Guy Morganthau wants Plax to go to prison it's going to cost the state of NY considerably. First of all the court time, there will be multiple jurors that will have to waste their time in the court room instead of being able to work their regular jobs. Thank you Mr. Prosecutor for not considering the public, the taxpayer, and the ones that pay your salary. Secondly Mr. Prosecutor this will be a considerable court fee as Plaxico is a wealthy young man with the ability to hire a top notch attorny. He will not go away lightly, he will fight your one-man justice agenda and the court will be tied up for some time. Last but not least Mr. Prosecutor if you do send Plaxico away for being a menace to his own leg it's going to cost the taxpayers even more money that could be put away for societal improvements creating jobs instead of housing Mr. Burress.
It's time prosecutors are held liable for their actions and Mr. Morganthau's actions are not in the best interest of the public. Offer a plea bargain to Burress. Give him some time at home to think about his actions with a braclet around his ankel. Give him a healthy fine. Burress is not a saint but sticking him in prison is not going to do society any favors. Although it will help out Mr. Morganthau's career and I am sure 30 million plus New Yorkers don't want what is best for the general public but what is best for Mr. Morganthau.
Come on! Plaxico Burress is a knucklehead and he certainly broke a law with regards to bringing firearm into a bar in NY City. I am all for there being penalties but let's not go overboard with PRISON TIME Mr. Tough Guy Morganthau. Plax is a dummy! He was trying to impress his fellow Giant teammates who know he is a knucklehead and the knucklead ends up shooting himself in the leg. What was he trying to do, quick draw the bartender?
I know there are major deficits and most of the problems stem from prosecutors with a single selfish agenda trying to put their best interest in front of the best interest of the people. If Tough Guy Morganthau wants Plax to go to prison it's going to cost the state of NY considerably. First of all the court time, there will be multiple jurors that will have to waste their time in the court room instead of being able to work their regular jobs. Thank you Mr. Prosecutor for not considering the public, the taxpayer, and the ones that pay your salary. Secondly Mr. Prosecutor this will be a considerable court fee as Plaxico is a wealthy young man with the ability to hire a top notch attorny. He will not go away lightly, he will fight your one-man justice agenda and the court will be tied up for some time. Last but not least Mr. Prosecutor if you do send Plaxico away for being a menace to his own leg it's going to cost the taxpayers even more money that could be put away for societal improvements creating jobs instead of housing Mr. Burress.
It's time prosecutors are held liable for their actions and Mr. Morganthau's actions are not in the best interest of the public. Offer a plea bargain to Burress. Give him some time at home to think about his actions with a braclet around his ankel. Give him a healthy fine. Burress is not a saint but sticking him in prison is not going to do society any favors. Although it will help out Mr. Morganthau's career and I am sure 30 million plus New Yorkers don't want what is best for the general public but what is best for Mr. Morganthau.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
The Toothless Shark
Outside of David Duval the last man to hold the #1 ranking in the world of golf outside of Tiger Woods was "The Shark" Greg Norman. Norman held onto the #1 position for 331 weeks. The likable Aussie always good for an interview with a fine line of clothing with two British Open Championships and a couple of Memorial wins on Jack's course have been a couple of the highlights of his career. Norman has also been quite the Shark in terms of heading up world class golf resorts around the world and course design. As a businessman Norman is a Shark. The reputation was born on the golf course by hustling and betting on everything and anything on the golf course.
Unfortunately this Sunday in July at the age of 54 Norman never quite lived up to his reputation of being a Shark on the tour often coming up just short in the majors. Probably the worse loss was to Bob Tway at the 1986 PGA Championship at Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio after being up by 5 strokes only to falter with a Sunday 76. As a matter of fact Norman has had 31 top ten finishes in the major including his best year of 1986 when he held the lead in all four majors after 54 holes but could only finish off the "tour bait" once, that being at Turnberry in Scotland.
This is just another humbling story of golf. Before Tiger Woods the game has humbled every player. Nicklaus had his down years and right now only Tiger seems to be immune to golf humility as he has won at least two events every year on tour.
Greg Norman golf's biggest moments seems to be snake bitten by the game. He rarely backs off of shots and when he does in the most pressure filled moments he ends up leaving a putt 10 feet short, overhitting a green, slicing one in the woods, and every possible bad shot imaginable under pressure Norman misses. Sunday was just another example at the Sr. British Open. Leading the pack heading into Sunday and with sub par scores popping up everywhere led by Mark McNulty's 6 under 64, the Shark swam home like a regular Tuna with a modest one over 71.
Golf is a funny game. The man compared to Greg Norman the most this past week because he was a senior that put a scare into the young pups at the Open Championship on the big boy tour, Tom Watson. The apple pie faced Alfred E. Newman look-alike from Kanaas finished up 2 strokes behing Norman but in the face of pressure on this Sunday shot a 3 under 67 to close the gap on Norman. Comparatively Watson has 8 major titles to his name compared to Norman's two.
Again, Golf is a very funny game especially when Alfred E. Newman is chewing up the competition while the Shark has a history of being Sunday bait.
Unfortunately this Sunday in July at the age of 54 Norman never quite lived up to his reputation of being a Shark on the tour often coming up just short in the majors. Probably the worse loss was to Bob Tway at the 1986 PGA Championship at Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio after being up by 5 strokes only to falter with a Sunday 76. As a matter of fact Norman has had 31 top ten finishes in the major including his best year of 1986 when he held the lead in all four majors after 54 holes but could only finish off the "tour bait" once, that being at Turnberry in Scotland.
This is just another humbling story of golf. Before Tiger Woods the game has humbled every player. Nicklaus had his down years and right now only Tiger seems to be immune to golf humility as he has won at least two events every year on tour.
Greg Norman golf's biggest moments seems to be snake bitten by the game. He rarely backs off of shots and when he does in the most pressure filled moments he ends up leaving a putt 10 feet short, overhitting a green, slicing one in the woods, and every possible bad shot imaginable under pressure Norman misses. Sunday was just another example at the Sr. British Open. Leading the pack heading into Sunday and with sub par scores popping up everywhere led by Mark McNulty's 6 under 64, the Shark swam home like a regular Tuna with a modest one over 71.
Golf is a funny game. The man compared to Greg Norman the most this past week because he was a senior that put a scare into the young pups at the Open Championship on the big boy tour, Tom Watson. The apple pie faced Alfred E. Newman look-alike from Kanaas finished up 2 strokes behing Norman but in the face of pressure on this Sunday shot a 3 under 67 to close the gap on Norman. Comparatively Watson has 8 major titles to his name compared to Norman's two.
Again, Golf is a very funny game especially when Alfred E. Newman is chewing up the competition while the Shark has a history of being Sunday bait.
Michael Vick, Is he back?
I am very surprised NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is considering allowing Michael Vick back this year. The proposed 4 game suspension appears to be ultra lenient considering Goodell is known for his fast actions such as the year long suspension of PacMan Jones.
Don't get me wrong, I want to see Michael Vick make it back and be a very positive advocate for animal rights and animal care. Vick isn't the only one out there that has caused severe pain to domesticated animals, he is just the highest profile individual.
Michael Vick showed great character for the surviving dogs. He contributed almost a million dollars to clean the dogs up and provide good care for them. That was the first step towards his debt to animals for his condoning of abusive acts on his property with his money and at times his actions. The jail sentence, who cares, didn't do anything for the dogs but it was a hard lesson. The NFL does need to take some action because it is in the best interest of the league. Michael Vick is not a Pro Bowl caliber quarterback and has not been missed on the field but his presence may upset some ticket holders and cause public relations problems. Bad PR is not necessary for the NFL for a guy that probably won't start anyways.
Vick would serve himself best and his future NFL career better by playing a year in the other league, UFL? One year with plenty of snaps and live game speed, not NFL speed but game speed. It's the minor leagues and something most athletes, even Alex Rodruquez had to endure before coming back to MLB. Plus it would be a low pressure season under dimmer . The last thing Michael Vick needs right now is a lot of press in his face.
Fact is before the dog fighting scandal Michael Vick was in jeopardy of losing his starting job in Atlanta to Matt Schaub. The Falcons don't want him back not so much because he has been a PR nightmare but Matt Ryan is better. Quarterback is a premium position and Michael Vick needs to brush up on his abilities first before he is ready to take a snap from an NFL center.
Don't get me wrong, I want to see Michael Vick make it back and be a very positive advocate for animal rights and animal care. Vick isn't the only one out there that has caused severe pain to domesticated animals, he is just the highest profile individual.
Michael Vick showed great character for the surviving dogs. He contributed almost a million dollars to clean the dogs up and provide good care for them. That was the first step towards his debt to animals for his condoning of abusive acts on his property with his money and at times his actions. The jail sentence, who cares, didn't do anything for the dogs but it was a hard lesson. The NFL does need to take some action because it is in the best interest of the league. Michael Vick is not a Pro Bowl caliber quarterback and has not been missed on the field but his presence may upset some ticket holders and cause public relations problems. Bad PR is not necessary for the NFL for a guy that probably won't start anyways.
Vick would serve himself best and his future NFL career better by playing a year in the other league, UFL? One year with plenty of snaps and live game speed, not NFL speed but game speed. It's the minor leagues and something most athletes, even Alex Rodruquez had to endure before coming back to MLB. Plus it would be a low pressure season under dimmer . The last thing Michael Vick needs right now is a lot of press in his face.
Fact is before the dog fighting scandal Michael Vick was in jeopardy of losing his starting job in Atlanta to Matt Schaub. The Falcons don't want him back not so much because he has been a PR nightmare but Matt Ryan is better. Quarterback is a premium position and Michael Vick needs to brush up on his abilities first before he is ready to take a snap from an NFL center.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Top Offseason NBA moves in the Eastern Conference
Ever since a man named Jordan wore #23 for the Chicago Bulls the powers of the NBA have resided far west of the Mississippi with multiple titles in Los Angeles and San Antonio but 2009-10 promises to be different. King James and the Cavaliers upgraded the center position adding experienced muscle in an aging Shaq. Defending Eastern Conference Champs, Orlando Magic added perrenial all-star Vince Carter and boltered their bench with Matt Barnes. The Boston Celtics both one year removed from NBA titles have upgraded their starting line-up and bench in quest of bringing the hardware back to the city that has claimed ownership 17 times.
Shaquille O'Neal is no longer the most dominant offensive force in basketball, that title may very well belong to his new teammate, Lebron James a jazzed up 21st century Karl Malone model. Shaq isn't much of an upgrade on Zydrunas Ilgauskas other than a stronger low post player who can cause problems for eastern rival Dwight Howard. Shaq played especially on the defensive end which he will be called upon to be the anchor blocking shots, rebounding and providing a low post game. The low post game shouldn't be a problem but the other facets he will have to be constantly motivated. The big man can still block shots, play good postion defense as not even the manchild Dwight Howard can move the Big Aristotle down low but the rebounding has always been a problem for O'Neal. For such a massive man he has always been what most would consider an underachiever on the boards. Even if O'Neal does come through with the three attributes that Clevland in counting on in a low post offensive game, rebounding, and blocking shots there is still the enigman, free throws. Lebron isn't much of a free throw shooter although when it came crunch time in the playoffs the King came through with flying colors. If O'Neal wants to win a championship he is going to have to know his role and keep up with his off season conditioning which should be fine if he is passionate about his hobby in the martial arts, so the Diesel might have just one good run left in the old body and what better motivation than wanting to one up his long time rival, Kobe Bryant.
Down south in Orlando they might have lost their best offensive player in Hedo Turkoglu who was the go to guy in crunch time but after the Cleveland series Rashard Lewis showed he is perfectly capable of making the big shots. Turkoglu caused problems with his offense by having a decided height advantage on the perimeter but this is the same advantage Lewis has at 6'10 so having two identical forwards, thus bring in the slasher in Vince Carter who can create shots off the dribble. He is an upgrade to win now over Courtney Lee but down the road this trade should favor the New Jersey Nets down the road. The re-emergence of Jamir Nelson should upgrade the point guard position from the playoffs despite a comendable effort from both an injured Nelson and overachieving Rafer Alston who also took off up north. The Magic did get a big push on the bench with the acquisition of Phoenix castoff Matt Barnes. Barnes is the guy that comes off the bench, rebounds, hits his garbage shots around the rim for a high percentage, and plays hard nose defense and runs the floor extremely well.
Meanwhile in Beantown Danny Ainge got two big Christmas presents early this year. Rasheed Wallace whether starting or coming of the bench will be a big shot in the arm on both offense and defense for the Celtics. Wallace fit in quite well with Detroits team concept and should continue this practice with the Celtics. There was a reason the Spurs put the full court press when courting Sheed. He still has some good years left in him and a sweet low post game and one of the best outside shots for big men in the game. The three gets Sheed into trouble sometimes as he sometimes goes to the well way too often and forgets to rebound. Sheed gives the Celtics another big man to go along with Kevin Garnett, Big Baby Glen Davis and Kendrick Perkins. He will also be an upgrade on nasty over James Posey who brought that edgy play to the Celtics in their 2008 championship season. The bonus baby for the Celtics in the offseason has to be Marquis Daniels. Daniels is a tweener that can bring the ball up the court taking pressure off of Rajon Rondo not that Rondo who's motor never seems to tire. Daniels will bring spark off the bench with his perimeter shooting, slashing style of play that can take most second stringers off the dribble, and when asked upon can be a quality rebounder and he is athletic enough to play tough minutes on defense that will be demanded of him by "Doc" Rivers and team leader Kevin Garnett. The addition of Daniels who can play will strong minutes will make Paul Pierce just on the other side of thirty that much more effective and the Celtics should the beast of the East again and with all probability the Kings of the Court come June.
Prediction: Celtics should be hanging another banner.
Shaquille O'Neal is no longer the most dominant offensive force in basketball, that title may very well belong to his new teammate, Lebron James a jazzed up 21st century Karl Malone model. Shaq isn't much of an upgrade on Zydrunas Ilgauskas other than a stronger low post player who can cause problems for eastern rival Dwight Howard. Shaq played especially on the defensive end which he will be called upon to be the anchor blocking shots, rebounding and providing a low post game. The low post game shouldn't be a problem but the other facets he will have to be constantly motivated. The big man can still block shots, play good postion defense as not even the manchild Dwight Howard can move the Big Aristotle down low but the rebounding has always been a problem for O'Neal. For such a massive man he has always been what most would consider an underachiever on the boards. Even if O'Neal does come through with the three attributes that Clevland in counting on in a low post offensive game, rebounding, and blocking shots there is still the enigman, free throws. Lebron isn't much of a free throw shooter although when it came crunch time in the playoffs the King came through with flying colors. If O'Neal wants to win a championship he is going to have to know his role and keep up with his off season conditioning which should be fine if he is passionate about his hobby in the martial arts, so the Diesel might have just one good run left in the old body and what better motivation than wanting to one up his long time rival, Kobe Bryant.
Down south in Orlando they might have lost their best offensive player in Hedo Turkoglu who was the go to guy in crunch time but after the Cleveland series Rashard Lewis showed he is perfectly capable of making the big shots. Turkoglu caused problems with his offense by having a decided height advantage on the perimeter but this is the same advantage Lewis has at 6'10 so having two identical forwards, thus bring in the slasher in Vince Carter who can create shots off the dribble. He is an upgrade to win now over Courtney Lee but down the road this trade should favor the New Jersey Nets down the road. The re-emergence of Jamir Nelson should upgrade the point guard position from the playoffs despite a comendable effort from both an injured Nelson and overachieving Rafer Alston who also took off up north. The Magic did get a big push on the bench with the acquisition of Phoenix castoff Matt Barnes. Barnes is the guy that comes off the bench, rebounds, hits his garbage shots around the rim for a high percentage, and plays hard nose defense and runs the floor extremely well.
Meanwhile in Beantown Danny Ainge got two big Christmas presents early this year. Rasheed Wallace whether starting or coming of the bench will be a big shot in the arm on both offense and defense for the Celtics. Wallace fit in quite well with Detroits team concept and should continue this practice with the Celtics. There was a reason the Spurs put the full court press when courting Sheed. He still has some good years left in him and a sweet low post game and one of the best outside shots for big men in the game. The three gets Sheed into trouble sometimes as he sometimes goes to the well way too often and forgets to rebound. Sheed gives the Celtics another big man to go along with Kevin Garnett, Big Baby Glen Davis and Kendrick Perkins. He will also be an upgrade on nasty over James Posey who brought that edgy play to the Celtics in their 2008 championship season. The bonus baby for the Celtics in the offseason has to be Marquis Daniels. Daniels is a tweener that can bring the ball up the court taking pressure off of Rajon Rondo not that Rondo who's motor never seems to tire. Daniels will bring spark off the bench with his perimeter shooting, slashing style of play that can take most second stringers off the dribble, and when asked upon can be a quality rebounder and he is athletic enough to play tough minutes on defense that will be demanded of him by "Doc" Rivers and team leader Kevin Garnett. The addition of Daniels who can play will strong minutes will make Paul Pierce just on the other side of thirty that much more effective and the Celtics should the beast of the East again and with all probability the Kings of the Court come June.
Prediction: Celtics should be hanging another banner.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Top Offseason NBA moves in the Western Conference
Since the Chicago Bulls reigned supreme in the 90's the NBA Western Conference has been the dominant conference. Only the Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics won championships since Jordan, Pippen, and the rest of the Bulls dominated the hardwood.
The off season has been full of great pick-ups as the rich get richer led by the defending NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers landing Ron Artest but it came at a considerable cost losing a very athletic role player in local boy Trevor Ariza. The Lakers upgraded considerably with basketball prowess and toughness but did lose a bit in athleticism. Not that the Lakers need anymore strut to their step with a handful of players with NBA championship experience but they will have a new hunger to feed the hulking Artest who despite the years of "bad boy" image hanging over his head from the brawl at the Palace has always shown up to play both ends of the court, especially during the playoffs. In 2006 Ron Ron showed up big time during the playoffs against defending NBA champion when his Kings pushed the San Antonio Spurs until faltering after six hard fought games. This year his Rockets took the eventual champion Lakers to 7 games including two blowout wins after star Yao Ming went down with what could be a career threatening injury. Yao's injury prompted the Rockets not to exercise their option on Artest and gave the Lakers an early Christmas with one of the best defenders in the league and an all aroudn player in the prime of his career who will turn thirty later this year heading into his 11th NBA season. The Lakers might have been a great benefiary of their greatest rivals when Kevin Garnett went down prior to the playoffs with a season ending knee injury as the Celtics crushed the Lakers in the 2008 Finals with suffocating defense and physically beat up on the Lakers. That won't happen with Artest who can bang with the best of them. Just ask Piston fans who had to deal with him in Indiana both on and off the court.
Meanwhile the San Antonio Spurs upgraded their offense trading out Bruce Bowen and role players for a young, more athletic scorer in Richard Jefferson. The Spurs won't miss much on defense with their ever present anchor Tim Duncan swatting shots in the middle and you can expect the well respected Greg Poppovich will have an impact on Jefferson to play tougher defense, rebound like is capable of and provide a scoring punch outside of Duncan, Tony Parker and the all too often injured sixth man Manu Ginoboli. Jefferson prior to his most recent run with the Milwaukee Bucks was scoring twenty a night and often having double double nights pulling down the rebounds also. Last year without Jason Kidd the fun was gone and Jefferson put up below average rebounds probably from lack of interest as the Bucks were never really competitive in the Central Divison or playoff race. Add lack of playoffs and the Milwaukee media which is hardly the national media of New York and Jefferson gets lost because his numbers were not totally lost still providing a scoring punch of just under 20 points per game which the Spurs need along with the extra height and ability to get up and down the court the overachieving Bowen just couldn't provide the Spurs in their first round knockout to fellow Texas rival, Dalls Mavericks.
There have not been a lot of moves in the Western Conference and one player that was ready to sign with the Portland Trailblazers got away in Hedo Turkoglu opting to be a shining star in Toronto aside big man Chris Bosh. This might be the best thing to happen to the Trailblazers. The Blazers are a young team that is playing well together, growing together and becoming a tighter knit team with the continuity they have seen the past couple of season with great draft day picks ups led by big men Greg Oden and LaMarcus Aldridge who provide down low defense and offense while team leader Brandon Roy continues to improve into one of the best in the league. Oden was often injured in his first full season with the Blazers but should the young man child start to take on a healthy habit of playing 70 plus games look out for the Blazers as Oden has shown flashes of brilliance, especially for what he was brought into do, intimidate, block shots, rebound and control the middle. The Blazers are bringing him along slowly but one day he will break out and it could be this offseason.
Other teams to look out for in the west include the aging Dallas Mavericks who were a miss call by the referee in game three against Denver of making their series competitive and the Nuggest themselves. A full season of Chauncey Billups could mean the difference in home court advantage for George Karl's group.
Western Conference Prediction, the healthiest of these four teams wins the west. Phil Jackson will have his toughest competition to date as a handful of teams have the ability to knock off the defending champs but the hungriest player is still in LA and his first name is not Kobe.
The off season has been full of great pick-ups as the rich get richer led by the defending NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers landing Ron Artest but it came at a considerable cost losing a very athletic role player in local boy Trevor Ariza. The Lakers upgraded considerably with basketball prowess and toughness but did lose a bit in athleticism. Not that the Lakers need anymore strut to their step with a handful of players with NBA championship experience but they will have a new hunger to feed the hulking Artest who despite the years of "bad boy" image hanging over his head from the brawl at the Palace has always shown up to play both ends of the court, especially during the playoffs. In 2006 Ron Ron showed up big time during the playoffs against defending NBA champion when his Kings pushed the San Antonio Spurs until faltering after six hard fought games. This year his Rockets took the eventual champion Lakers to 7 games including two blowout wins after star Yao Ming went down with what could be a career threatening injury. Yao's injury prompted the Rockets not to exercise their option on Artest and gave the Lakers an early Christmas with one of the best defenders in the league and an all aroudn player in the prime of his career who will turn thirty later this year heading into his 11th NBA season. The Lakers might have been a great benefiary of their greatest rivals when Kevin Garnett went down prior to the playoffs with a season ending knee injury as the Celtics crushed the Lakers in the 2008 Finals with suffocating defense and physically beat up on the Lakers. That won't happen with Artest who can bang with the best of them. Just ask Piston fans who had to deal with him in Indiana both on and off the court.
Meanwhile the San Antonio Spurs upgraded their offense trading out Bruce Bowen and role players for a young, more athletic scorer in Richard Jefferson. The Spurs won't miss much on defense with their ever present anchor Tim Duncan swatting shots in the middle and you can expect the well respected Greg Poppovich will have an impact on Jefferson to play tougher defense, rebound like is capable of and provide a scoring punch outside of Duncan, Tony Parker and the all too often injured sixth man Manu Ginoboli. Jefferson prior to his most recent run with the Milwaukee Bucks was scoring twenty a night and often having double double nights pulling down the rebounds also. Last year without Jason Kidd the fun was gone and Jefferson put up below average rebounds probably from lack of interest as the Bucks were never really competitive in the Central Divison or playoff race. Add lack of playoffs and the Milwaukee media which is hardly the national media of New York and Jefferson gets lost because his numbers were not totally lost still providing a scoring punch of just under 20 points per game which the Spurs need along with the extra height and ability to get up and down the court the overachieving Bowen just couldn't provide the Spurs in their first round knockout to fellow Texas rival, Dalls Mavericks.
There have not been a lot of moves in the Western Conference and one player that was ready to sign with the Portland Trailblazers got away in Hedo Turkoglu opting to be a shining star in Toronto aside big man Chris Bosh. This might be the best thing to happen to the Trailblazers. The Blazers are a young team that is playing well together, growing together and becoming a tighter knit team with the continuity they have seen the past couple of season with great draft day picks ups led by big men Greg Oden and LaMarcus Aldridge who provide down low defense and offense while team leader Brandon Roy continues to improve into one of the best in the league. Oden was often injured in his first full season with the Blazers but should the young man child start to take on a healthy habit of playing 70 plus games look out for the Blazers as Oden has shown flashes of brilliance, especially for what he was brought into do, intimidate, block shots, rebound and control the middle. The Blazers are bringing him along slowly but one day he will break out and it could be this offseason.
Other teams to look out for in the west include the aging Dallas Mavericks who were a miss call by the referee in game three against Denver of making their series competitive and the Nuggest themselves. A full season of Chauncey Billups could mean the difference in home court advantage for George Karl's group.
Western Conference Prediction, the healthiest of these four teams wins the west. Phil Jackson will have his toughest competition to date as a handful of teams have the ability to knock off the defending champs but the hungriest player is still in LA and his first name is not Kobe.
NBA Age Limit
Tennessee Congressman Steve Cohen has decided he needs to bring his politics into the world of sports. What for? Who is Mr. Cohen? What does he know about the value and product of the NBA?
Since the NBA established the rule on players must be at least nineteen years of age to compete n the NBA notable coaches such as Bobby Knight on the collegiate level have been against the rule claiming coaches recruit mercenary like players that will enroll in school for one year and after the first semester they don't have to attend classes because grades will not be in before the season is complete. Sure this happens and it's a downfall of the system but the NBA has a right to protect the value of their game.
The NBA is a private entity comprised of numerous team owners and a central commissioners office with the responsibility to enhance the value of the game. If the NBA decides no more kids coming straight from high school is bad for the image or product than they have the right to instill their own age limits.
As for Congressman Cohen political offices including legislative, executive, and judicial offices all have pre-requisite age limits before individuals are able to run for office. Sound a bit hypocritical of the congressman to throw stones? More importantly does Mr. Cohen have the background to understand the value of the NBA product?
Since the NBA established the rule on players must be at least nineteen years of age to compete n the NBA notable coaches such as Bobby Knight on the collegiate level have been against the rule claiming coaches recruit mercenary like players that will enroll in school for one year and after the first semester they don't have to attend classes because grades will not be in before the season is complete. Sure this happens and it's a downfall of the system but the NBA has a right to protect the value of their game.
The NBA is a private entity comprised of numerous team owners and a central commissioners office with the responsibility to enhance the value of the game. If the NBA decides no more kids coming straight from high school is bad for the image or product than they have the right to instill their own age limits.
As for Congressman Cohen political offices including legislative, executive, and judicial offices all have pre-requisite age limits before individuals are able to run for office. Sound a bit hypocritical of the congressman to throw stones? More importantly does Mr. Cohen have the background to understand the value of the NBA product?
Sexual Assault
One of the greatest shams of being a public personality like two time Super Bowl winning quarterback who most recently engineered a two minute drill to perfection in winning this past year's bowl is being accused of a crime and being subjected to the humiliation of public opinion. It has always been my belief that one is innocent until proven guilty or at least that is what our hypocritical society and leaders teach the sheep.
Recently Ben Roethlisberger has been accused of sexual assault. What we do not know is the alleged victim could be an upset Browns fan or Cardinal fan that thinks this is the way to get revenge on her team losing. It's fanaticism and it happens as people have been known to get a bit more violent with their team loyalties as exemplified by soccer hooligans and the not-so-kind gentleman who stabbed pro tennis star of yesteryear Monica Seles during a match because she was getting too good and beating his beloved Steffi Graf. Outrageous but it happens.
Furthermore we could just have a case of a scorned woman who wants to have a serious relationship with Big Ben but the young man was more interested in a night of pleasuable exchanges with his female companion and she didn't feel the same way and is now crying to the police for revenge. Maybe we have a case of a "gold digger" who is trying to chase down the riches of Ben's wealth.
There are so many possible scenarios and no truth to any sort of "sexual assault" activity because nothing has been in court yet. No evidence has been submitted and cross examined. No witness have testified or been cross examined. The prosecution has already leaked out the story to the public in hopes of getting an eventual settlement or prosecution win by rallying public opinion against a well paid athlete who most of society envies and only Steeler fans are wholeheartedly ready to protect.
Should this case go to trial how is one to expect "Big Ben" to get a fair trial? News has leaked and no doubt there will be potential jurors on the case that have knowledge of this story considering we are talking about a two time Super Bowl winning quarterback who cannot escape the public eye. The prosecution or police leaking this story to the media should be subjected to a backlash for their routine abuse of the letter of the law yet they are protected by recent laws that place their actions above the law. The prosecutors and police show no objectivity and are strictly focues on furthering their careers at the cost of incriminating others with no regards for innocene. In all fairness to both the defendent and the victim it's humiliating to be involved in this type of news and it jades the possibility of a fair trial.
It would be nice if there were one politician who is an actual leader that would get the balls to start enforcing the law that prohibits the leaking of information on alleged misdemeanors and felonies until they have been fairly examined in a court of law.
Recently Ben Roethlisberger has been accused of sexual assault. What we do not know is the alleged victim could be an upset Browns fan or Cardinal fan that thinks this is the way to get revenge on her team losing. It's fanaticism and it happens as people have been known to get a bit more violent with their team loyalties as exemplified by soccer hooligans and the not-so-kind gentleman who stabbed pro tennis star of yesteryear Monica Seles during a match because she was getting too good and beating his beloved Steffi Graf. Outrageous but it happens.
Furthermore we could just have a case of a scorned woman who wants to have a serious relationship with Big Ben but the young man was more interested in a night of pleasuable exchanges with his female companion and she didn't feel the same way and is now crying to the police for revenge. Maybe we have a case of a "gold digger" who is trying to chase down the riches of Ben's wealth.
There are so many possible scenarios and no truth to any sort of "sexual assault" activity because nothing has been in court yet. No evidence has been submitted and cross examined. No witness have testified or been cross examined. The prosecution has already leaked out the story to the public in hopes of getting an eventual settlement or prosecution win by rallying public opinion against a well paid athlete who most of society envies and only Steeler fans are wholeheartedly ready to protect.
Should this case go to trial how is one to expect "Big Ben" to get a fair trial? News has leaked and no doubt there will be potential jurors on the case that have knowledge of this story considering we are talking about a two time Super Bowl winning quarterback who cannot escape the public eye. The prosecution or police leaking this story to the media should be subjected to a backlash for their routine abuse of the letter of the law yet they are protected by recent laws that place their actions above the law. The prosecutors and police show no objectivity and are strictly focues on furthering their careers at the cost of incriminating others with no regards for innocene. In all fairness to both the defendent and the victim it's humiliating to be involved in this type of news and it jades the possibility of a fair trial.
It would be nice if there were one politician who is an actual leader that would get the balls to start enforcing the law that prohibits the leaking of information on alleged misdemeanors and felonies until they have been fairly examined in a court of law.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
The Greatest 71 hole Champion
Ask any golfer and they will tell you at least one time in their life when they go tired or they had a few skins riding on a big putt and the putt just got away, it went right, the body was tired, the mind was tired, the focus wasn't there and if you could do it all over you would have been more focused and forceful but that is what nerves and fatigue will do to a golfer.
Now consider Tom Watson's situation on 18 at Turnberry on the 72nd hole of the Open Championship. He leads the tournament by 1 a tournament that he hasn't won since 1983 but a tournament he has won 5times. Most of the guys he is playing are 20 years his junior and just entering their prime and blasting the ball off the tee a good 20 yards past the old man. Still "old man Watson" still manages to lead the tournament by one stroke after 71 holes. The old man has managed to come back from deficits three times during the tournament, surving one 6 hole stretch on Friday with five bogey yet still manages to come back and lead the tournament. On the final day when the nerves are the tightest Watson falls behind four different players at various times during the tournament but still comes back on the 71st hole to reclaim the lead.
Unfortunately this is golf the unforgiving game that has no gimmes when you are playing for the Clarret Jug and money. Watson drilled a perfect drive down the right side of the fairway within a 170 yards from the pin. Now the emotions were starting to come to the forefornt. Tom Watson who won the Open Championship the first time he played it in 1975 some 34 years ago and than would go onto win the title more than half of the first nine times he entered the tournament. The tournament was his to win but this tournament was different. No that Watson was 59 but now in an age of high security, terror threats and million dollar tournaments Watson walked up the green almost alone. He had his caddy and he had numerous security officials but where were the hundreds of Scotsman that had followed him up the 18th back in 1975? One of the great traditions in golf derailed by fear. The fear of the unknown. The fear that a hooligan would do something stupid. Maybe the lack fo the traditional crowd the accompanied Watson to his other British Open Championships intensified the nerves. Because what had been a fairy tale for 276 shots would now turn into a nightmare that hopefully will not overshadow one of the all-time great efforts in sports.
The 277th shot of the tournament for the old man from Kansas City hit just a little bit too hard and rolled but a few inches too far then drifted off the back side of the 18th green at Turnberry only to settle just beyond the second cut of grass in the rough.
What to do? After 38 years of professional golf including 112 rounds of British Open Championship golf and five Clarett Jugs to his name who better to make the shot than Tom Watson even if he is less than two months shy of his 60th birthday. The 277th shot of the tournament was probably the toughest decion Watson would have to make. Do you pull the 7 iron and bounce one up the hill from 20 feet away. Do you putt the ball not an easy task from twenty feet away out of the rough up the hill on the second cut of grass than down the green to the hole. Or do you pull out the loft wedge and try to drop one in like he did back in 1982 at Pebble Beach during that year's US Open Championship to beat the greatest of them all, Jack Nicklaus.
Watson decided to putt the ball and he took a good whack at the ball making sure to get it up the hill than shriveled the nerves of tens of thousands of Open Championship fans who were pulling for the old man to knock it tight for an easy 6th title. Not likely the ball rolled and rolled a good nine feet past the pin leaving Watson more than he bargained for. This was unchartered waters for Watson for the first time in the tournament the man who had played thousands of rounds of professional golf including 8 major titles had left himself with a nine foot putt for the championship after being 170 yards out and needing only to get down in three strokes to claim what could be the final chapter of a Hall of Fame career on the 18th hole at Turnberry. The putt was short and to the right, a push familiar to most of us amateurs when we have a mere couple of skins riding on a putt.
No sense rehashing the playoff. There is no debate whether Tom Watson didn't have the nerve to finish because he has finished too many times to doubt he is a bonafide Hall of Fame golfer. No, as good as the game has been for Tom Watson who won his first British Open this his last Open Championship prior to his 60th birthday will have been a cruel one for four and a half holes and for a man pushing 60 playing the Tiger Woods generation 71 holes was enough to put a smile on my face. Thank you Tom Watson.
Now consider Tom Watson's situation on 18 at Turnberry on the 72nd hole of the Open Championship. He leads the tournament by 1 a tournament that he hasn't won since 1983 but a tournament he has won 5times. Most of the guys he is playing are 20 years his junior and just entering their prime and blasting the ball off the tee a good 20 yards past the old man. Still "old man Watson" still manages to lead the tournament by one stroke after 71 holes. The old man has managed to come back from deficits three times during the tournament, surving one 6 hole stretch on Friday with five bogey yet still manages to come back and lead the tournament. On the final day when the nerves are the tightest Watson falls behind four different players at various times during the tournament but still comes back on the 71st hole to reclaim the lead.
Unfortunately this is golf the unforgiving game that has no gimmes when you are playing for the Clarret Jug and money. Watson drilled a perfect drive down the right side of the fairway within a 170 yards from the pin. Now the emotions were starting to come to the forefornt. Tom Watson who won the Open Championship the first time he played it in 1975 some 34 years ago and than would go onto win the title more than half of the first nine times he entered the tournament. The tournament was his to win but this tournament was different. No that Watson was 59 but now in an age of high security, terror threats and million dollar tournaments Watson walked up the green almost alone. He had his caddy and he had numerous security officials but where were the hundreds of Scotsman that had followed him up the 18th back in 1975? One of the great traditions in golf derailed by fear. The fear of the unknown. The fear that a hooligan would do something stupid. Maybe the lack fo the traditional crowd the accompanied Watson to his other British Open Championships intensified the nerves. Because what had been a fairy tale for 276 shots would now turn into a nightmare that hopefully will not overshadow one of the all-time great efforts in sports.
The 277th shot of the tournament for the old man from Kansas City hit just a little bit too hard and rolled but a few inches too far then drifted off the back side of the 18th green at Turnberry only to settle just beyond the second cut of grass in the rough.
What to do? After 38 years of professional golf including 112 rounds of British Open Championship golf and five Clarett Jugs to his name who better to make the shot than Tom Watson even if he is less than two months shy of his 60th birthday. The 277th shot of the tournament was probably the toughest decion Watson would have to make. Do you pull the 7 iron and bounce one up the hill from 20 feet away. Do you putt the ball not an easy task from twenty feet away out of the rough up the hill on the second cut of grass than down the green to the hole. Or do you pull out the loft wedge and try to drop one in like he did back in 1982 at Pebble Beach during that year's US Open Championship to beat the greatest of them all, Jack Nicklaus.
Watson decided to putt the ball and he took a good whack at the ball making sure to get it up the hill than shriveled the nerves of tens of thousands of Open Championship fans who were pulling for the old man to knock it tight for an easy 6th title. Not likely the ball rolled and rolled a good nine feet past the pin leaving Watson more than he bargained for. This was unchartered waters for Watson for the first time in the tournament the man who had played thousands of rounds of professional golf including 8 major titles had left himself with a nine foot putt for the championship after being 170 yards out and needing only to get down in three strokes to claim what could be the final chapter of a Hall of Fame career on the 18th hole at Turnberry. The putt was short and to the right, a push familiar to most of us amateurs when we have a mere couple of skins riding on a putt.
No sense rehashing the playoff. There is no debate whether Tom Watson didn't have the nerve to finish because he has finished too many times to doubt he is a bonafide Hall of Fame golfer. No, as good as the game has been for Tom Watson who won his first British Open this his last Open Championship prior to his 60th birthday will have been a cruel one for four and a half holes and for a man pushing 60 playing the Tiger Woods generation 71 holes was enough to put a smile on my face. Thank you Tom Watson.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Tom One More Thumb
Nothing abnormal about a six time PGA Player of the Year winner leading the British Open after 54 holes.
Nothing abnormal about a 8 time major winner in golf leading the British Open after 54holes.
Nothing abnormal about a 5 time British Open Champion leading the British Open after 54 holes.
There is absolutely no reason to believe Tom Watson cannot win the British Open if the only argument is father time has Tom turning 60 in about 7 weeks and is more than a decade older than any other major winner in the history of the sport since Julius Boros a the spry young age of 48 won the 1968 PGA Championship. Now that is abnormal but nothing to cause many of Watson's fans dating back to the late 70's and early 80's when he dominated golf. Here we are 30 years later and the old man from Kansas is ready to take his place in history vying to win another Open Championship. Blogger: All Around Sports - Create Post
Reasons we should believe Watson will win the championship. Well none of the online sports betting services could have posted odds much better than the field for Watson so that would not be a reason he will win the Open Championship.
Watson will win because he has shown the physical and mental desire to win. Watson after an opening round 5 under 65 has twice gone on bogey binges including five of six holes on the front nine Friday only to charge back atop the leaderboard showing a mental toughness and physical toughness to endure the windy conditions at Turnberry. Watson has also been the recipient of a little bit of luck nailing consecutive birdie putts on #16 with 75 and 30 foot putts. If your a math geek you could add the length of those putts together and divide by two and Tom is still older. This might be the understatement of the century but Watson has plenty of experience winning the Open Championship five times with four of those victories coming in Scotland compliments of Muirfield, Royal Troon, Carnoustie, and of all places the location of this weeks tournament Turnberry, nothing like been there done that. Since 2001 Watson has also won 4 Senior Britsh Open Championships so more reason to believe not rain, sleet, snow, wind, nor the courses themselves will stop Watson from what he wants most, a 10 major Open Golf Championship. The fans themselves will be there for the old man as they want to see history made. So when he feels he might not be able to gut it out there will be thousands of Scotsmen rooting for the old Yank to win, even outcheering local Brit Ross Fisher in round 3. More importantly there is no Tiger Woods. Who would have thought the Open Championship could be exciting with two straight years of no Tiger Woods playing on the weekends but we have Tom to thank for what should be potentially record setting television ratings as the Buick club, blue hairs, and all of Kansas and the world tunes into the see if the 69 year old man can win the Open Championship. Excuse me, 59, it's been so long since he has contended for a major yet alone won one that it seems more like 36 years as opposed to 26 years since his last Open Chamionship. If nothing else Tom Watson is just a tough old bird that is willing himself to win by his constant come backs through Saturday that have put him atop the leaderboard.
The only thing really that could top this story and immortalize Tom Watson in the history of golf is if he can come through with a victory tomorrow get himself a week long massage to loosen up the old muscles and than come back next week to Sunningdale Golf Club in England to make a run at the Senior British Open Championship. That might be a feat that could never be duplicated. Ever!
Should Tom Watson come through with the improbable than follow up in England next week as the favorite than it will be time for Gene Hackman the tough old bird of Hollywood to get back on the film set and play Tom Watson in the most improbable sports story throughout the history of mankind!
Nothing abnormal about a 8 time major winner in golf leading the British Open after 54holes.
Nothing abnormal about a 5 time British Open Champion leading the British Open after 54 holes.
There is absolutely no reason to believe Tom Watson cannot win the British Open if the only argument is father time has Tom turning 60 in about 7 weeks and is more than a decade older than any other major winner in the history of the sport since Julius Boros a the spry young age of 48 won the 1968 PGA Championship. Now that is abnormal but nothing to cause many of Watson's fans dating back to the late 70's and early 80's when he dominated golf. Here we are 30 years later and the old man from Kansas is ready to take his place in history vying to win another Open Championship. Blogger: All Around Sports - Create Post
Reasons we should believe Watson will win the championship. Well none of the online sports betting services could have posted odds much better than the field for Watson so that would not be a reason he will win the Open Championship.
Watson will win because he has shown the physical and mental desire to win. Watson after an opening round 5 under 65 has twice gone on bogey binges including five of six holes on the front nine Friday only to charge back atop the leaderboard showing a mental toughness and physical toughness to endure the windy conditions at Turnberry. Watson has also been the recipient of a little bit of luck nailing consecutive birdie putts on #16 with 75 and 30 foot putts. If your a math geek you could add the length of those putts together and divide by two and Tom is still older. This might be the understatement of the century but Watson has plenty of experience winning the Open Championship five times with four of those victories coming in Scotland compliments of Muirfield, Royal Troon, Carnoustie, and of all places the location of this weeks tournament Turnberry, nothing like been there done that. Since 2001 Watson has also won 4 Senior Britsh Open Championships so more reason to believe not rain, sleet, snow, wind, nor the courses themselves will stop Watson from what he wants most, a 10 major Open Golf Championship. The fans themselves will be there for the old man as they want to see history made. So when he feels he might not be able to gut it out there will be thousands of Scotsmen rooting for the old Yank to win, even outcheering local Brit Ross Fisher in round 3. More importantly there is no Tiger Woods. Who would have thought the Open Championship could be exciting with two straight years of no Tiger Woods playing on the weekends but we have Tom to thank for what should be potentially record setting television ratings as the Buick club, blue hairs, and all of Kansas and the world tunes into the see if the 69 year old man can win the Open Championship. Excuse me, 59, it's been so long since he has contended for a major yet alone won one that it seems more like 36 years as opposed to 26 years since his last Open Chamionship. If nothing else Tom Watson is just a tough old bird that is willing himself to win by his constant come backs through Saturday that have put him atop the leaderboard.
The only thing really that could top this story and immortalize Tom Watson in the history of golf is if he can come through with a victory tomorrow get himself a week long massage to loosen up the old muscles and than come back next week to Sunningdale Golf Club in England to make a run at the Senior British Open Championship. That might be a feat that could never be duplicated. Ever!
Should Tom Watson come through with the improbable than follow up in England next week as the favorite than it will be time for Gene Hackman the tough old bird of Hollywood to get back on the film set and play Tom Watson in the most improbable sports story throughout the history of mankind!
Poker's Rise to Television Glory
It can be argued that poker is not a sport. Golf used to receive the same comparisons as pot bellied Jack Nicklaus was the most successful golfer the sports has ever seen. Now with Tiger Woods prowling the well manicured grassy links around the world it's tough to argue against golf being a sports. After all Woods won one of the toughest tournaments in the world on one leg in 2008, The US Open at Torrey Pines just north of San Diego. If an injury is part of the game and an athlete can overcome the injury it's tough to argue that the game is not a sports.
Poker meanwhile has been around for centuries going back to the fictional 1800's with Maverick riding the horse of luck across the old west. The rise of poker this century has been galvanized by television and various online poker rooms. Poker has drawn a favorable comparison to golf. Competitors don't need to hit the weight room nor do miles of roadwork to build up their stamina to compete on the highest of levels, just take a look at John Daly and his multiple major championship victories or Tom Watson competing for the British Open at the age of 69, actually he's 59 but it's been decades since the 5 time British Open Champion has competed at this level. Both activities are individual and based on the individuals performance is how they make their living or get paid. So playing it safe instead of playing to win can line the wallet quite effectively with Uncle Sam's greenbacks.
Anyone that knows golf though knows a player of the caliber of Tiger Woods is never one to lay up with the championship on the line. Woods is actually at his most exciting when he is down and needs ot make great shots because he usually comes through in the clutch. You needn't look any further than the 18th green of the 2008 US Open when Woods sank a 20 foot birdie dead center of the cup to catch Rocco Mediate and force a Monday playoff which he battled an extra 18 holes on a wounded knee to victory.
Tiger is one of the exceptions in golf. He plays to win and not for the paycheck. It's tough in both golf and poker to have a loser when a guy comes in 2nd place and still earns a hefty paycheck worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Poker has come a long way in a short period of time. The game certainly would not be hurt by putting a face on the game. Numerous online gaming companies are pushing for their players to be just that face of Poker and one face has even drawn a comparison to golf's super talent Tiger Woods. Phil Ivey a southern California native with African American heritage has been the comparison to Woods. He is allegedly the most feared player in the world of professional poker. He has those baby face looks of Tiger. He is the all-time leading money winner of the sport. He is a candidate but he is not even close to being a Tiger Woods. Phil Ivey has yet to win the Super Bowl of poker, no-limit World Series of Poker Texas Hold'em.
Phil makes a lot of final tables, gets a lot of television time and is probably the most patient player in poker. He sits around takes very few risks and lets his competitors beat go all-in knocking off one another until there is Phil and the eventual winner. Thus there is a huge difference between Phil Ivey and Tiger. Tiger goes out and takes wins. He has the patience to wait around but when he needs to strike he comes through. Phil Ivey has made 7 final tables at the World Series of Poker no limit Texas Hold'em championships and has zero braclets to show for it. Hardly Tigeresque.
For now Phil is more of a Scott Hoch. Scott Hoch was a highly successful PGA professional. He routinely finished in the top 25 often in the top ten. He won some tournaments but never a major. When he did have his big shot at a major in the 1989 Master's he caught a little putter wiggle jiggle on the 18th hole from three feet to come in second but still managed a nice paycheck.
Phil Ivey is a great poker professional, one of the better players in his business but he is no more a Tiger Woods than former USC All-American and Atlanta Hawk, Harold "Baby Jordan" Miner was the next Michael Jordan. Harold won a slam dunk contest during all-star game but he never won a scoring title, rookie of the year, MVP, or six MVP titles. Phil isn't done though, there is still the upcoming WSOP where he can prove himself worthy of being the face of the industry, then there is a world of work to do to catch up with Tiger.
Poker meanwhile has been around for centuries going back to the fictional 1800's with Maverick riding the horse of luck across the old west. The rise of poker this century has been galvanized by television and various online poker rooms. Poker has drawn a favorable comparison to golf. Competitors don't need to hit the weight room nor do miles of roadwork to build up their stamina to compete on the highest of levels, just take a look at John Daly and his multiple major championship victories or Tom Watson competing for the British Open at the age of 69, actually he's 59 but it's been decades since the 5 time British Open Champion has competed at this level. Both activities are individual and based on the individuals performance is how they make their living or get paid. So playing it safe instead of playing to win can line the wallet quite effectively with Uncle Sam's greenbacks.
Anyone that knows golf though knows a player of the caliber of Tiger Woods is never one to lay up with the championship on the line. Woods is actually at his most exciting when he is down and needs ot make great shots because he usually comes through in the clutch. You needn't look any further than the 18th green of the 2008 US Open when Woods sank a 20 foot birdie dead center of the cup to catch Rocco Mediate and force a Monday playoff which he battled an extra 18 holes on a wounded knee to victory.
Tiger is one of the exceptions in golf. He plays to win and not for the paycheck. It's tough in both golf and poker to have a loser when a guy comes in 2nd place and still earns a hefty paycheck worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Poker has come a long way in a short period of time. The game certainly would not be hurt by putting a face on the game. Numerous online gaming companies are pushing for their players to be just that face of Poker and one face has even drawn a comparison to golf's super talent Tiger Woods. Phil Ivey a southern California native with African American heritage has been the comparison to Woods. He is allegedly the most feared player in the world of professional poker. He has those baby face looks of Tiger. He is the all-time leading money winner of the sport. He is a candidate but he is not even close to being a Tiger Woods. Phil Ivey has yet to win the Super Bowl of poker, no-limit World Series of Poker Texas Hold'em.
Phil makes a lot of final tables, gets a lot of television time and is probably the most patient player in poker. He sits around takes very few risks and lets his competitors beat go all-in knocking off one another until there is Phil and the eventual winner. Thus there is a huge difference between Phil Ivey and Tiger. Tiger goes out and takes wins. He has the patience to wait around but when he needs to strike he comes through. Phil Ivey has made 7 final tables at the World Series of Poker no limit Texas Hold'em championships and has zero braclets to show for it. Hardly Tigeresque.
For now Phil is more of a Scott Hoch. Scott Hoch was a highly successful PGA professional. He routinely finished in the top 25 often in the top ten. He won some tournaments but never a major. When he did have his big shot at a major in the 1989 Master's he caught a little putter wiggle jiggle on the 18th hole from three feet to come in second but still managed a nice paycheck.
Phil Ivey is a great poker professional, one of the better players in his business but he is no more a Tiger Woods than former USC All-American and Atlanta Hawk, Harold "Baby Jordan" Miner was the next Michael Jordan. Harold won a slam dunk contest during all-star game but he never won a scoring title, rookie of the year, MVP, or six MVP titles. Phil isn't done though, there is still the upcoming WSOP where he can prove himself worthy of being the face of the industry, then there is a world of work to do to catch up with Tiger.
Celtics off season pick up of the year
Danny Ainge for years had been a failure as an NBA Executive. Ainge's best accomplishment prior to winning the NBA championship in the spring of 2008 was giving a big assist to the Los Angeles Lakers and causing headaches for the Detroit Pistons and Sacramento Kings in the playoffs without even being in the building. The lowest point of his post playing days career happened while serving on the bench for the Phoenix Suns and having "Big Shot" Robert Horry throw a towel in the former players face during a game. Horry would take his two rings earned in Houston and bypass the Suns and win championships with the Lakers and Spurs en route to a career filled with 7 championship rings including the famous rebound and hit a three against the Kings in 2002 and then sticking a nail into the coffin of the Pistons quest for a second championship in the Chauncey Billups/Larry Brown era while coming off the bench for the Spurs.
Not sure if you can get any lower as an executive but then one day his good buddy and former Celtic Hall of Fame teammate Kevin McHale did Danny a favor. He gave up "The Big Ticket" Kevin Garnett for the future of the Timberwolves franchise and there has been no looking back for Danny Ainge as the Celtics went on to pick up Ray Allen and a championship in 2008 with a crushing defeat of 2009 champion Los Angeles Lakers arguably because Garnett missed the 2009 post season.
Well Danny has his Big Ticket back and he didn't waste any time talking Rasheed Wallace into donning the Celtic green but on this day July 18, 2009 the biggest surprise probably occurred compliments of former Celtic all-time great and Indiana Pacer executive the immortal Larry Bird decided not to exercise the option on Marquis Daniels and versatile, scoring tweener. Ainge picked up the Pacer outcast and now it appears the dog with the sharpest teeth is back in beantown for a run at championship number 18.
Marquis Daniels is a young athletic NBA veteran that is going to be very versatile member coming off the Celtic bench. He can run the floor keeping up with speed demon Rajon Rondo and he is athletic enough that he can play defense for short periods of time coming off the bench making big guard Ray Allen and small forward Paul Pierce that much more energized and effective. Daniels can create off the dribble and has a good enough shot that he can provide a scoring punch with the second unit. He has shown the ability in Pacerland to rebound, score, bring the ball up the court and do the key things that make up a Championship team.
Consider the numbers in 60 games with the Pacers he put up twenty plus points 18 times, pulled down 8 or better rebounds 11 times which was no easy task with Troy Murphy setting a Pacer single season record grabbing just about everything that came off the glass. These are not mind-boggling numbers but it shows the flash and ability of Daniels that can be called upon in limited minutes coming off of the Celtic bench. More importantly Daniels blocked 29 shots and had 68 thefts these are not numbers that will get past head coach Doc Rivers or team leader Garnett where they constantly preach about defense winning championships.
Take a look at up and coming super star Rondo who doesn't need to score to make a huge impact on the Celtics well with the established All-Stars on the Celtic roster one can expect Daniels will be fast to assume his role in quest for hanging another Celtic banner up in the rafters.
Not sure if you can get any lower as an executive but then one day his good buddy and former Celtic Hall of Fame teammate Kevin McHale did Danny a favor. He gave up "The Big Ticket" Kevin Garnett for the future of the Timberwolves franchise and there has been no looking back for Danny Ainge as the Celtics went on to pick up Ray Allen and a championship in 2008 with a crushing defeat of 2009 champion Los Angeles Lakers arguably because Garnett missed the 2009 post season.
Well Danny has his Big Ticket back and he didn't waste any time talking Rasheed Wallace into donning the Celtic green but on this day July 18, 2009 the biggest surprise probably occurred compliments of former Celtic all-time great and Indiana Pacer executive the immortal Larry Bird decided not to exercise the option on Marquis Daniels and versatile, scoring tweener. Ainge picked up the Pacer outcast and now it appears the dog with the sharpest teeth is back in beantown for a run at championship number 18.
Marquis Daniels is a young athletic NBA veteran that is going to be very versatile member coming off the Celtic bench. He can run the floor keeping up with speed demon Rajon Rondo and he is athletic enough that he can play defense for short periods of time coming off the bench making big guard Ray Allen and small forward Paul Pierce that much more energized and effective. Daniels can create off the dribble and has a good enough shot that he can provide a scoring punch with the second unit. He has shown the ability in Pacerland to rebound, score, bring the ball up the court and do the key things that make up a Championship team.
Consider the numbers in 60 games with the Pacers he put up twenty plus points 18 times, pulled down 8 or better rebounds 11 times which was no easy task with Troy Murphy setting a Pacer single season record grabbing just about everything that came off the glass. These are not mind-boggling numbers but it shows the flash and ability of Daniels that can be called upon in limited minutes coming off of the Celtic bench. More importantly Daniels blocked 29 shots and had 68 thefts these are not numbers that will get past head coach Doc Rivers or team leader Garnett where they constantly preach about defense winning championships.
Take a look at up and coming super star Rondo who doesn't need to score to make a huge impact on the Celtics well with the established All-Stars on the Celtic roster one can expect Daniels will be fast to assume his role in quest for hanging another Celtic banner up in the rafters.
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