Archive for the 'Golf' Category

Uhhhh, really?

sandcrabs July 5th, 2008

So, the NBA draft last week had a hell of a lot of changes and trades.  That’s pretty normal, but what bugs me is that the trades aren’t official until July 9.  Why?  Oh, I know it has something to do with their free agency period and the collective bargaining agreement, but it sucks to hear team officials dance around the questions about trades.  Do it like football.  Announce the trade during the draft and allow everybody to explain themselves right away.

Okay, enough on that.  I sit here changing channels between 3rd round coverage of the PGA AT&T National and the Yankees/Red Sox game.  First, an opinion on the state of the PGA (of course you knew I have an opinion).  I think Tiger being out is one of the better things for the PGA.  My reasoning is that the occassional viewer can now get to know the games of players they may not have necessarily known had Tiger stayed healthy.  It’s usually “Hey!  Let’s see Tiger’s shot and, oh by the way, the leader just made eagle on 7….which we will replay for you after we watch Tiger.”  Nothing against Tiger.  I’m a big fan of Eldrick’s.  I love watching some of the freaking crazy shots that guy makes.  It totally bakes my noodle watching another human being do the things that he does.  No.  My point is that we will get to see at least a dozen more players who each week do very well.  Kenny Perry is the next big thing.  His redneck, easy-going demeanor is just what the sport needs.  Steve Stricker is a might fine player in his own right.

I could go on and on listing those who I feel deserve some extra attention, but you should check it out for yourself.  I know there will be more than a few names you’ve never heard of but will show up for the FedEx Cup playoffs as well as the Ryder Cup.

Now, I have a question to ask of you….and please comment with your answer and some examples.  Is it possible to hate a particular organization but really like and respect the individuals who play for them?  I mentioned the Yankees and Red Sox.  Two of the most polarizing franchises in all of sports.  You either hate them or love them.  Of course, if you love the Yankees you absolutely hate the Red Sox.  If you love the Red Sox, nothing gets you more fired up than anything having to do with the Yankees.  I can’t stand either.  Oh, it was nice to see Boston finally win a World Series, but enough.  Shut up and go away for another 86 years.

There are more than a few players on each team that I truly enjoy to watch.  Regardless of what anybody thinks personally of the man, Derek Jeter is one of the greatest players ever.  He is always a professional, consistent and you know exactly what you’re going to get from him.  A lot of people continue to pile on A-Rod.  Enough is enough.  Yeah, I loathed him during the “Pay-Rod” era when he initially went to Texas.  However, the guy just keeps producing and, barring injury or a drug scandle, could very well challenge the career home run  record.  Oh, and the dude can run.  (He just stole second)  Mike Mussina, Johnny Damon, Melki Cabrera (A-Rod just took 3rd) and the only guy in all of Major League Baseball that has been honest about their steroid use, Jason Giambi.  The manager, Joe Girardi, is a very good manager.  He got totally jobbed in Florida who didn’t have enough sense to keep the individual who won Manager of the Year.  Wow.  That’s pretty stupid.  Of course this list isn’t all inclusive.

On the Red Sox side you’ve got Tim Wakefield, Oregon native Jacoby Ellsbury, Kevin Youklis, Josh Beckett, Mike Lowell and J.D. Drew.  Power, speed, professionalism.  Very good to great players all.  But I just can’t stand the organization.  Same with the Yankees.  I root for these players individually, but I don’t want to see the team (franchise) have any success.

Notice I didn’t mention Manny Ramirez.  Is there a bigger putz in all of baseball?  The mantra “Manny being Manny” is an old, tired excuse.  Let me refresh some memories on what a jackass this guy is.  A few weeks ago Manny had to be separated from Kevin Youklis in the dugout over what’s being termed a “misunderstanding.”  Then, just this week, a Red Sox travelling secretary (It was a guy, don’t get all freaked out) advised Ramirez he may not be able to come up with the 16 tickets Manny wanted for that night’s game.  Enraged, Ramirez knocked that guy to the floor.  Some reports indicate it was a shove, but as big and strong as Ramirez is….he knocked the guy down.  He’s still on the team and there was no discipline.  Quite ironice that Shawn Chacon of the Astros did pretty much the same thing to his General Manager and he was released.  I know there are differences here.  Chacon shoved his General Manager while Ramirez knocked down a lowly secretary.  Who gives a damn?!  They each had a physical confrontation with a team employee.  The other difference was that Chacon was struggling and Ramirez is one of the best in baseball.  It was just “Manny being Manny”.  Bullcrap!  Somebody needs to send this joker a message that his behavior is no longer quaint.  He should have been at least suspended but since he’s as good as he is it would never happen. 

Come to think of it, maybe that’s why I can’t stand these franchises.  The way they do business is a joke.  Sure, they make millions of dollars but we as fans deserve better.  Oh well.  I’m just one voice.  They don’t care what I think and never will.  You can be sure that the wuss know as Commissioner Selig will keep his craggy head in the sand and continue to let “Manny be Manny.”

Snipets

sandcrabs June 9th, 2008

Just a few things on my mind.  I don’t have enough to go on, and on, and on about, but there’s been enough happening that I need to say something…..or several somethings.  Some will be rants on themes I’ve talked about before (crappy officiating) and others will be just my twisted little observations.  So, without further ado, here we go.

Fans of this blog, or “fan” I should say, know my disdain for professional sports officiating.  There’s no telling what’s going to be called or when for that matter.  Now, I haven’t watched much of the NBA finals.  Hell, I’ve spent more time on the crapper today than I’ve spent watching this junk, but the disparity in fould shots for game 2, 38-10 Boston, is not only ridiculous but bordering on the slanderous.  Now I understand the home team will get most of the calls.  That’s a given.  But anybody with a brain that’s still connected to the rest of the functioning body and operating normally can not in any dreamlike state believe this isn’t a joke.  As I’ve stated many times before, don’t make it so obvious.

Big Brown’s disappointing Belmont.  There’s been a lot of criticism about what happened.  I, for one, applaud the decision made by jockey Kent Desormeaux to pull up when he knew he didn’t have the horse to win.  He did it explaining that he cared for the animal.  What an original concept.  Others have mentioned how valuable the horse is in explaining their agreement with the actions.  These people have no character.  I can’t believe that I’m siding with PETA, but those people don’t give a damn that such a wonderful animal could have lost their life.  All they can think about are the millions that could have been lost had something happened to BB.  Those folks need to get the hell out of the sport.  They are definitely what’s wrong with horse racing.  I didn’t believe it at first, but their comments have certainly opened my eyes.

NASCAR points leading Kyle Busch got a little come-uppance.  His too aggressive driving caused yet another accident, yet this time he was the one sitting in the garage instead of another contender being put out of the race by this butt-monkey.  I give him some credit (but not much) for taking responsibility for the situation.  Still, it happened.  This guy needs to take a long look at himself and figure out how to race well without being reckless.

The college baseball world series is about to begin.  The super-regionals are winding down with several teams already qualifying for Omaha.  Baseball sucks but there’s something about college baseball that is somewhat exciting.  I know that all NCAA sports have been corrupted by the bungholes who call themselves administrators, but I do still enjoy it.  I guess it’s got something to do with the “ping” of the metal bats.  We’ve seen several MLB pitchers almost get their heads taken off lately, and they’re using wood bats.  Kind of makes that whole argument a moot point.  (Yes, that’s moot and not mute)

The dismantling of Roger Federer by Rafeal Nadal was quite impressive.  Some are saying this is an indicationg that Federer’s skills are dimishing.  They are much like the same idiots who made Federer #1 and Nadal #2 for the French Open.  Again, anybody with normal cranium functions know better.  This just makes for better tennis.  It will be interesting to see if Nadal can close the gap on other surfaces.  Maybe we’ll see a rivalry that harkens back to the Borg/McEnroe days.  Much like the NBA, shorts back then were much tighter and much shorter.

Take heart sports fans.  The U.S. Open is this weekend and football is less than 2 months away.

Reflection

sandcrabs February 11th, 2008

With the Pro-Bowl being played, to me, this signals the end of the sports season.  While the Superbowl was one of the more exciting games we’ve seen in several years, its passing is bittersweet.  We now have to endure several months of the NBA along with one of the most slow moving sports, Major League Baseball, which is currently going through arguably one of that sport’s most darkest times…more on that later.

I want to take a few moments to reflect on what has transpired recently within several different sports.  Granted, I feel that football is king and will continue to be the greatest competition that man has ever created.  However, much like my golf game, I will be all over the place today touching on some things that are near and dear to our hearts as well as those that we’ve come to loathe.

The Pro Bowl brought us a few expected items.  Peyton Manning dissecting another defense with the precision of a surgeon; T.O. dropping passes and then mouthing off at how great he is (mainly to himself); mindless and boring banter from the game commentators searching for something to fill time; the parade of Hall of Fame inductees being honored for their selection.  Let me say something about that (as if you didn’t know this was coming).  There are teams that whenever mentioned, certain names always come up.  Joe Namath and the New York Jets, Joe Montana and Jerry Rice for San Francisco, John Elway and the Broncos are but a few.  However, for me whenever the Washington Redskins are mentioned there are 2 who immediately come to mind.  John Riggins and Art Monk.  Why it took so long for Art Monk to be voted into the Hall is was beyond me.  He was more deserving to be included sooner more that somebody such as Troy Aikman was and that’s not saying that I feel Aikman was not deserving the honor, but c’mon…Art Monk should have been there long ago.  He held several passing records and is one of those who is synonymous (sorry for the big word) with the Redskins organization.  Monk was a constant presence on the field and was always a class individual.  The Hall is for on-field accomplishments but as we’ve seen some penalized for what they’ve done off the field of competition we should award those who examplify what sportsmanship is all about.  Art Monk is truly one of a kind and it’s about time the voters finally got it right.

February also signals the beginning of the NASCAR season with it’s biggest race of the year, the Daytona 500.  Yes, much like my brethren rednecks having the biggest event at the start of the season is backwards…but who cares.  NASCAR is more sophisticated than a bunch of hicks driving around in a circle making left turns.  You need to figure out how many laps you can make on a tank of fuel and then how is that car handling and if you need to take a half-pound of pressure out to help with traction of whether or not that quarter wedge is making your turns smoother or what needs to be done to help settle down that push or….well…hopefully you get the point.  Yes, the most exciting part of a race is the start and the finish but with so many details that require attention give it a shot.  The 500 is a great race but also check out some of the short track races (Bristol and Martinsville) and the action is non-stop and the tempers run extremely high.  Drivers with short fuses such as Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch always seem to find themselves in a post-race meeting with NASCAR officials.

Of course there is golf, which is why we are all here.  I don’t pretend to be an expert at the sport but I do have an understanding of the rules and how everything works.  I am beginning to enjoy watching some of the action on TV.  I felt about golf the way many feel about NASCAR.  It was excruciating to watch on television but so much better live.  Once I came to understand the complexities of the game I learned to appreciate what it took to succeed.  The AT&T this weekend was entertaining for obvious reasons.  The Pro/Am aspect appealed to a broader audience, but some of those shots and the pure beauty of Pebble Beach made it that much more enjoyable.  Also, watching Vijay get bested always makes for a better tournament.  Hey!  I can root against somebody for being a putz.  In fact, I like to cheer for those who are good people along with being talented on the course.  Rooting for the good guy, what a novel concept (take a hint NBA).

Oh yeah, the NBA.  Has a professional league moved any further away from the mainstream than basketball?  There is such a disconnect between these spoiled millionaire jerks and the fans that just about any other sport.  Yes, there are those who are great individuals.  Brandon Roy comes to mind (Go Blazers!) but they are far and few between.  The NBA has by far the most inept commissioner of all the leagues.  David Stern caters to these crybabies more than any other league’s official.  He has single-handedly brought the league down to the level it is now.  The players are the most gifted athletes of any sport in my opinion but their attitudes give off that they feel entitled to what they have, not that it is a priviledge.  Most games are unwatchable as the showboating and trash talking get to dizzying heights.  Have some class. 

At least there’s March Madness coming.  Even though many of these athletes are bung-holes in training, this is still one of the most exciting times of the year for sports.  I usually have several brackets going and am glued to the games.  That first Thursday and Friday are where you see the most entertaining and pure games of basketball ever.  The lowere seeded teams are loaded with players who will only see the inside of an NBA locker room as an executive of a team.  They are playing college ball for the experience and the free education.  Another foreign concept.  Playing a sport to enhance your life.  Wow!

How many months until the first pre-season football games?  How many boring, unaffecting baseball games will we be required to pass over?  Steroid issue aside, does anybody really care about baseball any more? (other than those outside New York and Boston of course)  I will generally catch a few mid-season games, and maybe a couple during the playoffs, but I find it extremely difficult to watch grown men play catch.  If I wanted to do that I’d just go down to a prison yard and watch the inmates toss around a newbie, while completely taking advantage of their naivete` and turning them into……sorry.  Went on a sidetrip for a moment.  Back to the steroid issue.  Who cares?  Why drag up the past when you’ve made the mistakes of not policing it?  Make your policies and rules and move on.  Mark McGuire belongs in the Hall.  There is no proof of what he may have done, though it looks like he did.  Get off your high horse Baseball Writers.  Should we start digging into your past and take away your ability for vote just because of past indescretions?  (I thought I didn’t care about baseball.)

There are many options to fill our time waiting for football season to resume.  Whatever floats your boat is fine with me.  Some are jacked up over the choices available until September but for me this is a dark, dark time my friends.  Here’s to hoping the FedEx season continues to gain the momentum that I’ve noticed these first few weeks.  Golf will never be the monster that football has become, but it will always be more sophisticated and something that I won’t wake up the next morning pissing and moaning for the Advil.

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