Let’s Talk Sports!

What’s up with these rookie idiots for the NBA?  Miami Heat rookie,
Michael Beasley was fined $50 grand for breaking a rule.  And, that
rule is no women in your hotel room during the rookie symposium.  Also
fined $20 grand were rookies Mario Chalmers and Memphis’ Darrell
Arthur.  Oh yeah, they were doing the same thing.  Come on, guys,
what’s your problem?  Are your needs that bad?  Again, I think it’s too
much money too soon.  What’s a $20 grand fine to chumps making millions
right from the start.  They forget which head to think with.
Suspending them with no pay is what is needed to help other young
millionaire athletes have a chance to mature - let their brains catch
up with their bank accounts.

Great news that boxer Oscar Diaz has awakened from his coma.  He was
carried from the ring over two months ago after being knocked out by
Delvin Rodriguez.  Even better news is that the doctors are optimistic
there will be a full recovery.  Oscar may have been carried from the
ring, but after two months, he has apparently won his biggest battle.

Well, the Raiders finally found a team they can beat - the Chiefs.  I
don’t know which team to root for since I played several years for
both.  Okay, the Raiders suck, the Chiefs are just bad.  But think
about it - how can the Raider players play well when they know20there
could be a coaching change in the middle of the game.  Al Davis has the
potential to do things like that - and believe me, it’s only a matter
of time.  That young coach had better keep his bags packed.

Did you see that call the ref made in the Denver game?  Dude, that was
really bad.  Even your girlfriend who doesn’t understand football could
have made a better call.  It was a fumble.  Forget about it, no
discussion needed, it was a fumble.  The ref later apologized to the
Charger coach, saying he blew it.  Okay, kool, blow this you chump (and
I’m talking about Coach Norv Turner’s finger).  And with this gift of
new life, the Broncos went on to win the game by two points.

Now, I say if you have an injury that doesn’t allow you to function
properly, it’s okay to say you can’t play.  L.T., the prize halfback
for the Chargers, has a hurt big toe.  Big toe? What’s with that?  So
far he’s missed the exhibition season and two season games. Now he may
not play this Sunday against the Jets.  Wrap the dang thing up.  Stick
a needle in it full of no-hurt juice and get out there, the Chargers
need you, Dude.

And finally, what about O.J…. is he still part of the sports world?
Well, just in case he is, it’s time for O.J. news, once again.  As most
of you know, he’s back in court, in
Las Vegas, trying to stay out of
jail.  He has a slew of charges that could get him a lot of jail time
if convicted. My bet?  He will walk.  This time the witnesses against
him have even less smarts than him.  It’s happening as you read this,
so let’s see how it plays out.

Okay, I’ll stop here, but you can bet there’s more coming.

Yeah, I’m talking about Tiger Woods. What more can you say about the man, the athlete the warrior with the mind of a tiger. Always stalking and watching you. Make a mistake and you’re toast. Play your heart out, and you’re still toast.

If you weren’t watching the Open over the weekend, whether you’re a golfer or not, by Sunday night you were watching highlights on the news with the same intensity as a prime time cliffhanger. Tiger was battling himself first, Rocco Mediate second. Rocco wasn’t really a factor in Tiger’s game, more significant was the battle Tiger was
having playing thru the pain caused by his bad knee.

In the overall picture, it didn’t matter who Tiger was tied with - in this case it just happened to be Rocco - the story was that Tiger battled thru every hole, and came from behind to force an 18-hole playoff today. Rocco’s presence definitely made it a better competition for the television audience. Rocco also gave the bias TV commentators something to build their stupid comments on, such as Johnny Miller supposedly quoting Jack Nicklaus when he said he wondered why other golfers, when they play with Tiger, open the doors for him to win. Is he kidding? It’s like Tiger doesn’t have to hit the ball or make the putts. I’d like to see Jack, even at his prime, play these courses at 7,600 yards - and they legalized the length of these courses to cool down Tiger and his long drives. I think Jack would have retired sooner.

Rocco was good, but the long course was too much for him. Tiger’s bad left knee caused him to hit a lot of tee shots to the right. The left leg is the pivot leg on the downswing, which puts a lot of pressure and pain on that knee. The kind of pain he played through we will probably never know because he’ll never complain or tell you. After receiving the cup Bob Costas asked Tiger if the knee was a factor. Tiger simply said he was “glad that it’s over”. That’s the most he complained. He said he’s shutting down for a while.

This was a good, no make that great win for Tiger - his 14th major. And what we saw was vintage Tiger with eagles, birdies, 300+ yard drives, miracle shots out of traps, and some heart-stopping putts. Tiger was Tiger in spite of his bad knee, the commentators and the gallery - all of whom seemed to favor Rocco. Go Tiger! You are the man.

Big John Daly is at it again, making news in the wrong column - the bad one.   Is he or isn’t he? …is the question. Drinking again to the point of stupidness.

Big John is a likable guy, fun to be around, and can play some good golf.   Sometimes.   Actually, when you analyze it real close, his game sucks.   Okay, he can hit the ball a mile with any club, which is his only attraction. The fans aren’t waiting to see him win, which he hasn’t done in a long time - or even make the cut.   Nope, his following is waiting to see him hit a 7-iron 230 yards, and on that he usually doesn’t disappoint.

Sponsors like him because of the big fan following and the “good ol’ boy” image, which he completes with a beer belly and a cigarette hanging from his lips.   While the beer completes the image, it’s also the beer that gets in the way of his career.   Butch Harmon, the legendary golf coach just announced he was done working with John because John’s interest was more in beer and less in working on his game.

Big John’s latest problem was at Bay Hill when he was disqualified for missing his tee time in the ProAm.   This rule in itself could be a a whole topic of conversation.   Pros used to complain about having to play with the amateurs in a ProAm.   They didn’t like playing with weekend only golfers who talk too much and constantly ask for tips on their game.   Hey, stupid, these are the people who are paying your salaries.   Amateurs pay from $4,000 to $6,000 for the honor of playing with a pro who doesn’t want to be playing with them.   They just don’t get it, that’s where the big purses come from.

Okay, back to Big John, who insisted they gave him the wrong tee time leading to his being a no-show.   Not only did they disqualify him, but two other players were also disqualified when, as alternates, they couldn’t be found to take John’s   place at tee time.   It all sounds a bit dumb to me.   If I were an alternate and had a chance to play at Bay Hill, I would be sleeping next to the tour tent just in case I got a call to play.   John finished the day saying “Now I’ve got everybody mad at me…”   Go figure.

Big John called Arnold, the host of the event, and apologized to him and to the sponsors for letting all of them down.   Too bad he didn’t realize the one he really let down was himself.

The Shaq is Back

It was good to see Shaq back on the court. For a moment he looked a little strange in a Suns uniform, but it grew on me quickly. What added to the excitement of his first game with the Suns was that he was playing his former team - and controversial ex-teammate Koby Bryant.

Even tho’ the Suns lost, it was a good day for Shaq as he scored 15 points, and his new teammate Amare Staudemire scored 37 points. Still, it was no match for Koby who scored 41 points, and the Lakers newly acquired giant, Gasol, hit 24. But just wait ‘til Shaq has a little time to settle in and get into his groove with the Suns.

It was a fun game to watch as we truly were watching professionals at their best. In the end, someone that night had to win, and this time it was the Lakers 130 to 124.

Tiger Did What???

Okay, we’ve all heard the expression “Number One Golf Guru”, when describing Tiger Woods. Example? Take the time he hit a 2 iron out of the rough, over the trees, over the water, and landed 250 yards away on the green. What to do, what to do. Ho hum. How about three birdies and an eagle to literally steal the win. In an interview after the match, Tiger’s opponent, Holmes, said, “What can you do?”. That says it all.

This tournament is the Accenture Match Play Championship. The top 64 players are matched against each other - match play means you lose, you go home and watch tv with us. Those of you who play golf know that golf is a strange game (meaning your game is here today and gone tomorrow!). Sometimes you can’t miss a putt no matter how far away it is. Other days the 3 footers can’t be willed in no matter how hard you stare at the ball.
For Tiger to be as consistent as he is is a feat that can’t be explained. Other players work as hard as he does I’m sure. But if they want to compete with him, they have to work harder and longer - and even then Tiger finds a way to come back and beat them.

For some reason Tiger’s magic is different. I believe a lot of the credit goes to his father who taught him the right way to think, to concentrate, to focus, and to let go of the occasional bad shot. I used to see Tiger with his dad at Alameda Golf Course when I was with the Raiders. Tiger was about 3 years old. His dad would say that Tiger was going to be the best golfer ever. I guess when someone is telling you your entire life that you are going to be the best, your mind set is conditioned to know you are the best. Tiger’s dad was righ