It only took them a mere 4 hours after my post about athletes playing through pain, but the highly paid sportwriters at Fox Sports finally came up with the following: http://msn.foxsports.com/golf/pgStory?contentId=8256134#sport=Golf&photo=8260098 Way to go guys!
And here I am some lowly golf nut nobody ever heard of. Go figure.
thanks to Charlie Riedel of the AP for the great shots of Tiger throughout the tournament
Playing with pain
What great athlete has never played through pain in the quest for victory? This is not your ordinary kind of pain, a headache, a toothache, a muscle ache, no, this is the dibillitating kind of pain as a result of a sports injury. Where most of us would just collapse on the nearest sideline (couch), screaming for the next available appointment with Jack Kavorkian, professional athletes not only have to overcome this agony while performing at their peak but are expected to - all the while risking permanent damage and increasing the pain tenfold by pushing the envelope!
In sports this is referred to as, "playing through pain", and it's something that all pro athletes are expected to do, especially in team sports. Shake it off, walk it off man, BE the pain, suck it up pardner, eat the pain, thank you sir, may I have another! It's an athlete thing folks. Ask any pro athlete if victory is any sweeter than when acheived through pain and you may be surprised at the answer. It certainly doesn't do their legend any harm and their peers respect them for it.
Playing through the pain
The dead givaways that there is major suffering going on while playing in pain are not so much dictated by the actual location of the injury such as in Tiger Woods case, the knee, but are seen more through facial distortions like, winces, grimaces or hissing of air through gritted teeth brought about by nerve grinding pain as a result of an injury (old or new). Most times these reactions are hidden behind football helmets and hockey masks (where serious pain lives). But a guy like Tiger Woods who has the TV cameras focused on him so acutely that you can see the imprint from his wife's last kiss, just can't hide his pain. Believe me, he wants to hide it because he does not want the world to see he is human NOR does he want his fellow competitors to think he would use the pain as an excuse should he (gasp!) actually not win. I have a theory about guys like Tiger that I would like to share with you later in this post. (more…)
One innocent blunder should not a career make
Boy, ain't that the truth and about time somebody said it (other than me). But unfortunately, If history has taught us anything I doubt if that groveling apology that Bobby Clampett had to make during his Masters broadcast will suffice to keep the Richie Riches at bay. Today when you call a spade a spade everybody gets all twitterpated and offended and when that Augusta National crowd gets down on you - look out!
Masters Staff practices zero tolerance
It seems as though of few of the green jacket wearers are furious about a remark Mr. Clampett made live on the air at this past Masters about Liang Wen-Chong, obviously an Asian player - not an "Oriental" player, (which is now a term that has become taboo according to my resident Human Resources Manager). However, it could have been worse, he didn't use any of the more blatant idioms of racial slur like: "chink", "gook, "slope" - any one of which would have guaranteed the loss of his job and a spot in the Victims of Political Correctness Hall of Shame? No - it was much worse than that! He called a Chinaman - a Chinaman. Good grief Bobby! Just what were you thinking?
If he's from China and he isn't a Chinaman - what is he?
Are people from Indiana ashamed to be called Hoosiers? How about people from Texas, are they offended when someone says they are a Texan? How about Oklahoman's, do they mind Okie? Well, now I guess it just depends on the context or tone, doesn't it? Apparantly calling a man from China a "Chinaman" is an unforgivable racial slur and guess what poor Mr. Clampett had to say on the air in order to save his job? Try not to barf. "It has been a privilege to be here with you the last two days describing action of all of the players," said an embarassed Clampett. "In describing the Asian player Wen-Chong Liang if I offended anybody please accept my sincere apologies." Mr. Liang was unavailable for his reaction to the comment but was overheard by a member of the Chinese press saying that he blamed Clampetts comment for his missing the cut and planned to sue him for racial profiling and damages.
Oh, no. Not Feherty too!?
Well, I gotta tell you what I find offensive is that he had to apologize at all. There is no word yet on whether Clampett will be disciplined by CBS but did you notice the lack of humor and usual edginess from CBS's David Feherty? Man, with his schtick he's lucky he could contain himself for four days at the Masters. But I didn't see anything of what he says about himself here all week: "I don't like being nice; in fact it makes me feel kind of nasty, or at least disingenuous. I only have one life to live, and I've no patience or time to waste on social posturing. I've always found the quickest way to get to know someone is to poke them where it's uncomfortable, and watch how they react." Didn't see much poking going on there David. Dang, you don't think Feherty would bow to those jerks too would you? Personally I don't care for a muzzled David Feherty. I know how lucky he feels that he has this great job now with CBS but how about somebody someday having the guts to say "hey, if a couple of people were offended, tough, get over it. The fact that Liang didn't have a chinaman's chance in hell to make the cut should have nothing to do with it.
Let the punishment fit the crime
I have defended Gary McCord, Ben Wright, Jack Whitaker and a few others who have dared to cross the sanctimonious jerks at the Masters or other organizations with innocent comments where a retraction and apology would have been more appropriate than a firing where their whole life and career is ruined. These are some of the most beloved people in sports and to censor them for one lapse in judgement is criminal. I say let the punishment fit the crime and I may just decide not to watch the Masters anymore. They run too tight a ship for me as is their right but since it is obviously (more than ever) a conclave of the rich and righteous I just don't belong in the same room as a TV tuned to that broadcast, much less attending their little southern lawn party.
I'm starting a movement to bring Gary McCord back to the Masters
My vote is for the former storage room tenent who made it big, the guy whose license plate used to read "NOWINS" and protege of everyone's favorite anda one anda two guy, Mr. Lawrence Welk himself. Read about McCord and you will know the story of an underdog that turned lemons into lemonade. Besides, who needs a reverent and restrained David Feherety? His commentary so far this week is dull, almost boring, just calling the shots as they are and it's totally out of character for him. If it wasn't for his Irish brogue I might want Wieskopf back (as bad as he was). He needs McCord for a straight man and that Augusta National foot on his neck may cause him to start drinking again in frustration. If you have ever read any of his totally far out articles in Golf Magazine you know what David is thinking even if he can't say it. One false move and he could end up like McCord, Ben Wright or even Jack Whitaker, banned for life for calling Masters "patrons" a "mob." And this was all before political correctness destroyed our society. You can feel the whole CBS team on guard against a fatal faux paux. Even Nick Faldo sounds flat.
A CBS golf tournament is not the same without him
CBS Golf coverage is just not the same without Gary McCord, even more so at the Masters. I have been missing him there for over 13 years now and I think it's time for Augusta National to forgive and forget. How about it Tom Watson? I can't believe that even the snotty rich boys at Augusta could be that vindictive. All because of an innocent quip about the speedy greens, "the club must have used bikini wax on them." My God McCord what were you thinking!? So what's wrong with a reprimand, suspension or even an on-air apology? If this is a lifetime ban why not have the guts to come out and say it?
Gary McCord got the last laugh
The dismissal, however, backfired in Augusta National's face. The expulsion made McCord an instant celebrity (even The Late Show called), and his signature mustache firmly cemented his image. Since then he's written three books, made a not-so-small fortune appearing at corporate outings, acted in a Hollywood film (Tin Cup), paired up with Peter Kostis in a highly successful golf school and become arguably the CBS golf team's most recognizable face. Who needs Augusta National? Not Gary McCord. (more…)
Fellow golfers it's Masters week again, spring is in the air and all those Tiger Woods versus Jack Nicklaus - who's the best player ever - comparisons are making the rounds of our sports news both in newpapers and on the internet. I saw one by Ian O'connor on MSN.com on April 8th, Sorry Jack, but Tiger's already the greatest that inspired me to write my own views of the subject. I respect Mr. O'connor's abilities as a sportswriter but thought I might be able to offer a different perspective since everyone seems to be focused more on the records than the men themselves. Mr. O'connor says Tiger is already the greatest, but the greatest what? Golfer of all time?, person?, family man?, philanthropist?, man of color? I know by reading the article that he means greatest golfer but there is more to it than that.
Jack Nicklaus is the standard all golfers are measured by
I am not a sportswriter by profession but it seems as though they all seem to be focused on how Tiger is on track to not only break Jack's records in golf but to smash them. The disclaimer; IF he stays healthy. I don't know much about Tiger's health, he sure looks buff on TV but Jack is the leader in the clubhouse and that's fact. So when sportswriters like Mr. O'Connor say that Tiger Woods is the greatest player of all time it kind of strikes me as being premature. Certainly if Tiger continues like he has for the next ten years we will see some great things and he may end up totally eclipsing Mr. Nicklaus - on paper. But in my opinion, as a man/athlete in the spotlight, I think Jack Nicklaus leaves him in the dust. And here's why.
Jack Nicklaus, the approachable Golf God
It's a different world we live in now thanks to 911 and I don't think any of us really realize how deeply that tragic event has impacted our lives, including something we have taken for granted for a lot of years, professional golf. Security on the PGA Tour is a huge issue now, nobody gets near Mr. Woods unless he wants them to and that usually means just Steve Williams, his caddy. I can't really blame him as I was present at the Phoenix Open when they arrested a guy in the gallery with a gun in his knapsack and people were throwing fruit at him. But I do know this; had Angelo ever smashed a fan's camera or cell phone Jack would have fired him on the spot.
Check this out. Did you think he did this Nike commercial in one take? Not even Tiger is THAT good!
This is a rare feat for golfers like me with relatively good vision (with my glasses on I can see the pin from 200 yards away) but is really rare for guys like Leo Fiyalko who is legally blind, 92 years old and, God bless him, is still swinging. I have been fortunate enough to have three holes-in-one in my 30 year + golf career and know first-hand what a thrill it is - especially the first one! And, I got to actually see the ball go in the hole all three times! This story comes from Angela Jacobs, writing for the tampabays news 10 website. It's a story worth reading.
Normally, nine holes with his wife Pat is all he plays in a week. This time he was playing in a Thursday foursome with a group of golfers ranging in age from 70 to 90-plus and on the Par 3, 5th hole at Cove Cay Country Club in Clearwater, Florida, he scored his very first ace in his 60 years of playing golf. Swinging a five-iron from 110 yards away he had to rely on his golfing buddies to tell him his shot had gone in the hole. “I could tell it went on the green, (but) when we got up there I didn’t see it. I looked in the hole and there it was,” said Jean Gehring, one of his playing partners. For the past 10 years, Leo has had macular degeneration, no vision in his left eye and only peripheral vision in his right.
Leo brushes the whole thing off as no big deal, even refusing to appear on the Jay Leno show, "I didn't want to fly," he said. On January 10th, the day he made his ace, he said it didn't excite him much, attributing his lack of emotion to old age. (I don't know about him, but personally, at age 92 I would be excited just to be swinging a club!) So he still can't understand why the rest of the world is making a big deal out of it. A humble Leo comments, "When I get up to the green, I can barely see the ball, I'm just trying to hit the damn ball. I'm lucky to hit it."
The story ran in the London Times, the New York Post, the Daily News, Sports Illustrated. Golf Digest and the Associated Press. He even turned down an appearance on Good Morning America, saying, "if they want to talk to me they can come here." His wife Pat says he settled down quickly enough, not wanting to take long trips because of his age. Fiyalko’s friends at Cove Cay CC presented him with a plaque to commemorate the feat.
Yes folks, it's 2008 and Super Bowl fever is right here in sunny, warm Arizona! It's just one week before the big game and last night The New England Patriots (18-0) arrived in Phoenix for Super Bowl XLII (for you un-Romans out there XLII means 42nd Super Bowl). Their plane touched down at 7:35 pm on a rare, rainy Sunday night At Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and to put everyone's mind at ease, Tom Brady actually walked to the waiting bus UNDER HIS OWN POWER! Speculation had run rampant about his injured foot, ankle, tendon, toe, fill in the blank, and the infamous "boot" that was nowhere to be seen. He declined an interview with yours truly and I don't blame him, he stubbed his toe getting on the bus, and was in obvious discomfort (just kidding)! The New York Giants kinda snuck in, preferring to let their football do the talking.
What does the Super Bowl and Tom Brady's foot have to do with Low Carb dieting or golf, you ask? Not a darn thing! This is just an opportunity for me as a resident of Scottsdale, Arizona (and as the owner of this site) to brag about what a great sports town Phoenix and her neighboring cities are. In less than one week from today the greatest football game of the year will be held in Glendale, Arizona at University of Phoenix Stadium, home of the (snake-bit) Arizona Cardinals. This year Arizona is providing new meaning to the term "Super Sunday", not only is that the day of the big game but just prior to kick-off and just a few miles to the east in Scottsdale, the PGA Pro's are putting the finishing touches on the final round of the FBR Open, a PGA TOUR event. After a week of partying at the TPC Scottsdale, golf fans will be anxious to crown a new champion and get in front of the most gi-normous big screen TV they can find! I feel sorry for the fans if it turns out to be a sqeaker or, God-forbid, a playoff - because only the true, die-hard golf fan would remain - everyone else storming the exits to get home in time for coin toss.
And just for the record, The FBR Open at the TPC Scottsdale always sets PGA TOUR attendance records (mostly by breaking their own) each year. (The secret if you want to know is; unlimited parking). It is the home of the infamous 16th hole, a delicate little Par 3 that Tiger Woods aced in his first FBR Open appearance. What a year that was (1997), the fans were salaming Tiger and tossing their beers into the fairway in tribute. And that was before the stands resembled those of the Roman Colliseum, lining the length of the hole and around the tee box, sort of a stadium within a stadium. Deane Beaman, you are a genius!
As if a Super Bowl and the final round of a wildly popular PGA TOUR event on the same weekend werent enough, Scottsdale is also host city to the first Super Skins Celebrity Golf Classic on February 2 hosted by Nick Lachey and NASCAR'S Jimmy Johnson. All the stories I read by press time quoted Jenna Fryers article in the AP which was a nice fluffy little piece but declined to disclose a location (golf course) for the event or which of our fine golfing celebs would be playing. I know a couple of choices I would make; Sean Connery, Joe Peschi, Clint Eastwood for sure. Bill Murray will be finished clowning around at the TPC Scottsdale Silver Pro-Am by then so he will probably be there. Nick Lachey, the former Mr. Jessica Simpson, and Jimmy Johnson of NASCAR fame are hosting the first of three contracted events held in Super Bowl locations. The AP story details how NASCAR star Johnson had broken his wrist last December clowning around on top of a golf cart and how embrarassing it was but that the event is a great way to get friends together to raise some money for charity. Each hole will be worth $20,000.00 but both Nick and Jimmy declined to be interviewed for this article nor would they disclose the route the celebs will take for the short trip from Scottsdale to Glendale for the Super Bowl on Sunday. As of this writing flight plans had not been filed.
So, with all this cool stuff going on, culminating on the Sunday of Super Bowl XLII, which I am predicting will be one of the greatest Super Bowls' ever played - I hereby - by the power invested in me as Scottsdale's #1 Golf Fan, former ABC Sports Golf Spotter, charter member of the Scottsdale Golf Packager's Hall of Fame, Scottsdale Golf Industry Insider and a player of some notoriety himself - proclaim that Sunday February 2, 2008 will be forever known as SUPER DUPER SUNDAY. Remember, NFL Films and Steve Sabol, I said it first!
Pat's by 3.
Who was that man seen weaving his way through traffic in a golf cart - through the streets of Stockholm?! Why, just Bill Murray, thats all. Yes, it was our famous (and beloved by golfers) actor/comedian himself behind the wheel of a linksmobile that was stopped by the Stockholm police. Bill was actually on his way back to his hotel after he and some friends had dinner at the club hosting the Scandinavian Masters- he just got tired of waiting for the Limo, figured the hotel wasn't that far and hey, I'm Bill Murray, what can they do? (more…)
