Tiger Woods, Just Like Willis Reed

Tiger hobbled onto the U.S. Open Course at Torrey Pines to win his 14th major tournament.  He did it with a bum knee.  The performance reminded me of the greatest moment in N.Y. Knick history.  Game 7 of the 1970 NBA finals, Knick center and team captain Willis Reed limped onto the court with a torn thigh.  He scored the first two baskets giving the NY Knickerbockers the inspiration the needed to go on and beat the Lakers for the teams first NBA Championship.

Doctors told Reed not to play.  We now know, doctors told Tiger not to play.  His performance in the U.S. Open should go down as one of the gutsiest in sports history.  Tiger did not play his best, he did not hit the ball as far as he can.  But he did remain focused, even through pain.  He did make the clutch shot when he needed it and in the end Tiger did win!

My heart goes out to Rocco Mediate for his Cinderella performance.  There is no doubt that he deserved to win just as much as Tiger did.  But in golf, as in life, the loser is usually the one who makes the last mistake.  At 45 Rocco should serve as an inspiration to anyone thinking their career is over. 

The two golfing greats proved you are never out of it, not at 45 and not with an injured knee.

Tiger… What Went Wrong?

“Unbelievable, I knew he would make it,” that’s what Rocco Mediate said the moment Tiger Woods birdied 18 to send the U.S. Open to an 18 hole playoff on Monday.  As terrific as Rocco Mediate played, Tiger seemed lost and let his lead slip away with a series of bad shots and even worse decisions.  But you wouldn’t know that by listening to the announcers for NBC.

Their love for Tiger overshadows their own better judgement.  They want Tiger to make history with every swing so bad, they try to will him to play better by telling viewers around the globe that Tiger is doing things he’s not!

On Sunday, Tiger was not Tiger.  To me he looked befuddled, out of sorts and uncomfortable.  His reactions to shots looked more like my reactions when I am not playing well.  I almost got the feeling Tiger just wanted the round to be over.  Yet the announcers kept saying things like:

1. “This is when he is in the zone.”
2. “He looks energized.”
3. “This is when he plays his best, by slowing things down.”

Are they crazy?  During the 4th round, I don’t think Tiger ever looked energized or in the zone, until the moment he made that putt on 18.  And every time Tiger backed away from a shot made me believe he just didn’t trust his swing or the distance. 

I know Tiger is the greatest golfer to ever play the game.  I have the utmost respect for him and I consider it an honor to be able to watch him play.  But everyone has an off day.  I know is knee is bothering him, maybe he had trouble getting a “feel” for his game.  The announcers need to have the guts to tell it like it is.

What makes Tiger so great is that he can still be in the hunt for a Major Championship even when he is not playing well.  When he had to make that final birdie, he did, that is the mark of a champion.  

I can’t wait for Monday’s playoff, and I don’t know who to root for! 

Phil Mickelson’s New Commercial, A Sneak Preview

I had the opportunity to watch the new commercials for Crown Plaza staring Phil Mickelson.  They were awesome and I usually don’t give rave reviewsfor commercials.

The setting is a conference room with Phil Mickelson getting advice from his biggest fans.  I am told they are the real fans and not actors.  Phil does a terrific job of acting, he’s believable and funny.  I am told they will start airing during the Crown Plaza Invitational at the Colonial.  You need to watch for them.

There is even an Asian Phil Mickelson look alike, yes I said Asian.  It’s pretty funny.

The Colonial Will Never be the Same

Being a newsman has it’s perks.  One is getting to play golf at the Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth.  Today was the annual media day leading up to the Crown Plaza Invitational.  I could just feel Ben Hogans presence as I was walking up and down those plush fairways… on my way to the woods to find my ball.

When the Tournament starts the PGA Pros will be playing at a distinct disadvantage this year.  I managed to carve out dozens of divots that now look more like moon craters.  When you see Phil Michelson, Jim Furyuk and the rest of the gang hitting out of a tiny sand trap in the middle of the fairway you can thank me for the excitement that is sure to follow.  Old Stinchfield left his mark at Colonial that’s for sure.

I had the distinct pleasure of playing today’s round with “El Capitan” Brad Wright.  Yes, that’s former NBC5 anchorman Brad Wright, now turned Jet Pilot.  The quote of the day was, “God I hate that club!”  He wasn’t talking about his home course, The Colonial, he was talking about his 8 iron after he “chili dipped” it 12 feet in front of him.  (He’s clearly more expereinced at the Publicity photo then me, Brad knew to tilt his hat upwards.  As he later told me, Lighting is everything.) 

The greens were perfect today, not that we hit any.  But when we were putting, the balls rolled faster then a walnut off a hen house roof.  Needless to say, we didn’t make any putts. 

 

The round would have been a major disaster if Floyd Wade (right), the senior member of the group, didn’t put us in play nearly every hole.  We are told Floyd “The Big Banger” Wade is a Colonial staple.  In fact he was the only one who hit the ball with any consistency.  

Ch11 Sports Photographer Bret Kelly (left) was also consistent, with his beer intake.  Actually he made some great swings today.  Unfortunately those swings were all at me when I told him how Ch11 doesn’t have any idea how to put a decent news cast on the air.  I then went on to tell him I aways watch Ch11, especially when I need a good laugh.  He said that’s exactly why he watched me play golf.  It made him feel much better about his game knowing my swing looks just like Arnold Palmer’s, only with out the result old Arnie gets.

In the end we all had fun, so much fun, the Greens Crew will be working over time after the destruction we left behind. 

Note to readers:  Brad is actually a great golfer. (I’m sure the Chili Dip incident only happens once a decade.)

How I Plan on Playing Augusta National

As a six handicapper my dreams of makeing the PGA tour are slowly diminishing.  That means my chance of playing my way onto Augusta National, by making the Masters, is also slowly reaching zero.

Since reality has set in, I will have to find a new and creative way to get onto the greastest, most storied, golf course in America.  

My first thought was to just show up, slip the starter a 100 bucks and off I go.  But then I realized the members there actually blow thier noses with 100 dollar bills, so the starter may not be that impressed with my wrinkeled up Benjamin that I had been saving since my last trip to Winstar.

Sneaking onto the course is a possibility, but if I get caught the members probably take me to jail, not the Mens Grill Room. 

Befriending a member is out of the question.  They don’t talk to reporters!  And even though my Net worth qualifies me for a Costco Membership, it may not be up to thier standards.

I figured the only way I make it onto that heavinly track is to become a “Night Member.”  The initiation is free.  Of course there are some membership limitations.  Night Members can’t use the club house, and they can’t tee off on #1 or Finish on #18.  And all Night Members must tee off after dark.  Plus, Night Members don’t get any tickets to the Masters either.  Wearing all black while playing is optional, but highly reccomended.