The Jing and the Yang

Look, it was bound to happen. Tiger was caught. Not by Phil or VJ, Ernie or Paddy...not by Sergio or the latest Spanish matinee idol. No, it was Yang. Yes....the dreaded 36 year old Y.E. Yang, which means "Tin Cup" in Korean. And this is OK. Because now we've got all off season to look forward to The Masters. And make now mistake, the golf season is over. Bring on the Pigskin! Tiger will stew all winter, come out next year, at age 34, golf prime, win the Masters and talk of a natural Grand Slam will ensue.
As for what all this means to "World Golf", slow down, Jim Nance! This win by "Tin Yang" is great copy. I mean, 36 years old...didn't pick up a club until he was 19...found out he could play at a local driving range...good stuff! But this will no more begin an "Asian invasion" in golf than Isao Aoki did back in the 80's. Keep in mind that Tiger is 1/2 Asian himself; his mother of Thai decent. Finally, there already is an Asian invasion in golf....it's called the LPGA....

Bird of Another Feather

"Hide your Beagle, Vick's an Eagle"? Only in Philly! There are several curious aspects to Mike Vick becoming a Philadelphia Eagle. Let's start with the fact that they have one of the top QBs in the league in Donavan McNabb, and a couple of years ago drafted the air apparent on Kevin Kolb. In fact, McNabb was so angered by the Kolb pick that he reportedly wanted out of Philly. Plus, they've got Jay Feeley, the definition of a back up QB. Add to this the fact that it was McNabb himself who lobbied for Vick, and it does seem rather odd. Now Mcnabb says this is good for the team, and that may be true, and good for Kolb. That's definitely NOT true. What is true, is that Vick may be in a perfect place to resurrect a career that was teetering BEFORE we learned he was involved in heinous dog fighting activities. Remember Ron Mexico? The Water Bottle? Philly runs a system he knows, and McNabb may be the best possible mentor this side of Tony Dungy. As for Dungy, is it crazy to think that he may be he next coach of the Eagles if Reid were to bail, or be bailed, in the next couple of years?
As for Vick himself....crime committed, time served, move on. That's the way we roll in America. Screw up again, and you are banned for life. As for the concerns of PETA...shut up already!

Easy, now....

So the PGA tour is going to fine Tiger Woods for busting on Official John Paramor for putting Woods and Padrig Harrington on the clock when they fell 17 minutes behind the pace during Sunday's final round at the World Golf Championships. First of all, the rule is stupid. They were the final group, holding up no one. And it was an epic golf battle. Who was complaining? Tiger's comments were spot on.
What I question here is the wisdom of the Tour fining the only guy who defines the tour. The only guy the golfing public cares about. The only guy who single handily moves the needle. When he's there, people watch. When he's not, they don't. If the Tour comes off looking petty here, and they would, what stops the Tiger in the Room from just staying home. Really, at $100 mil a year, who needs who more? Now, I'm not usually a guy who advocates the tail wagging the tour, but if it's Tiger's tail......Besides, what can you possibly fine the guy? Here's a better suggestion...review the rule. Tiger's temper tantrums are wrong...he's right here...

How's that Feel?

Maybe I'm overly sensitive to this issue since I was born a raised a long suffering Browns fan. Like the Houston Oilers, the Browns last championship glory came in the early 60's. And like Oiler fan, Browns fan put up with some awful football for some fleeting good times in the 70's, 80's and 90's....and then the owner jerked the team away on us. Now, both Cleveland and Houston got pro football back (sort of), but at least Browns fan doesn't have to watch someone else wear their gear! How do these images play in Houston? Can you imagine seeing your beloved colors and logo in someone else's town? The Oilers should still be playing....in Houston. And the Titans should be in Nashville. the NFL "Retired" the Oiler name and gear when Houston returned to the league...it should stay that way. When an owner decides to move, then you leave it all...including the history. Bills or Vikings fans will understand as well, when the next owner jerks a team out of a football made town...

Hate to see it go...

Today, ESPN 106.7 the FAN ceased to exist. You may think that I get some joy or satisfaction out of seeing the folks who brought me to Nashville flame out, but nothing is further from the truth. The fact is, that place represented a lot of passion for many of us. A sales team that fought the good fight. Jonathan Shaffer and Charlie Saunier who made sure we sounded bigger that we were. Leslie Pardue and a promotions team working with both hands tied behind there back. To me, the whole deal is really sad, since I believed we had something building there. And now it's just another old logo. As for the heart and soul of the deal, Shaffer's doin' fine, fills in for me sometimes and has a new show coming out on Friday Nights this fall. Charlie is still Crazy and doing a great job running the new Thom Abraham Show. Pardue is building our network. And me...I'm still drivin' this cab....oh wait, that's another song!

Why we play the Games

It's all about the smile. OK, focus on the smile in the MIDDLE. This is what sport, in it's truest sense is all about. That's my 2nd oldest son, Tommy, beaming with mom and dad. The trophy is from the season finale tournament of his U11 travel team, the Diamond Rattlers, won over the weekend. The ball is a game ball off a 6 for 7, 9 RBI day, and the actual ball he sent over the right field fence to brake open an 8-6 game in the final inning. After he had his moment to brag, I guided him to the comments of Tim Tebow and winning with humility, as stated in the Bible. Not sure how that will work out, but for one moment, all the travel, all the practices, all the expense and all the weekends burned at the ballpark were set aside. For that smile. That's why we love sports. That's why we compete. Hopefully he hasn't peaked!

Better in Black and White

What a cruel game. I would not blame Tom Watson one bit if he never picked up a club again. Of course, Watson is a better man than me so I fully expect to see him competing on the Senior British next week, but really....
Watson was on the verge of doing something truly remarkable in sport. The fact is, what he did IS truly remarkable, but our society will only honor the win, not the 'almost'. As for the cruel part, 168 yards, center cut of the fairway, downwind, 1 shot lead, 8 iron in hand. Watson didn't fan it, didn't hook it, didn't chunk it or hit it in the forehead...he flushed it. Right over the flag. Shoulda took a 9 iron, but what 59 year old is thinking 9 from 168? The next hour was just painful. For him, and for anyone watching it. Maybe even Stewart Cink. As for Cink, I've been calling this for a few years now. What will be lost is the heroic 72nd hole birdie Cink makes to put the -2 on the board. The way he stroked it in the playoff indicates that Cink may now win a few of these majors. Confidence in the clutch has always plagued the lanky Alabamian, but now that issue has been pushed aside. I just wish he could have pushed it aside next month...