Change is Fast

In sports, opinions change on a dime with movement usually based on personal opinions and feelings over the sound judgment of statistics and normal common sense. Writers from major news outlets and the average blogger seem to jump ship just as fast as they jump onto the bandwagon. I just don't understand why people seem to jump back and forth so quickly.

Tiger Woods is a prime example. Everyone is writing the guy off. He's finished. The Major record is farther and farther than ever before. Note: Woods needs to 4 to tie and 5 to break the record. His game is on the decline. Seriously, where does all this come from. He has a personal life setback and the world is now ready to hand the world's #1 golfer title over to someone else.

Yes, Woods hasn't won a tournament since his "return" but how many people out there on the tour have won more than one major or more than 2-3 regular weekly tournaments? Tiger has earned the respect that we should be giving him while he is walking the fairways.

I have no doubt Woods will return to the winners circle but until then, all you writers out there, relax and stop writing all these articles about the beginning of the end unless you have some true hard facts and numbers. There are plenty of other great moments in sports to talk about.

If Woods wins the US Open next week at Pebble Beach, are you obligated to jump back on the Tiger will win 19 majors bandwagon?

Here We Go

So far, I have stayed on the sidelines with the whole Tiger Woods affair scandal stuff because I actually don't think there is anything to talk about or report. His affair was wrong and it should be a private affair.

My beef with the whole story is the sad fact of how people live and breathe scandals. Stop and think about why every news outlet picked up the story and ran with it. There was a car accident in the middle of the night, an affair, plenty of girls coming out of the dark, and Tiger hiding out somewhere in the world. The reason why the news outlets picked up the story had nothing to do with the above, it had to do with the sad fact people in this world love gossip. This wouldn't be a story if the people who read, listen, and watch the news were interested in something other than boring gossip. You, the people, created the whole story.

You can say he's a role model but why do you even look up to professional athletes in the first place. Try to mimic their skills and movements but copy their way of life? Come on, you are just setting yourself up for a dramatic failure. I have always looked at pro athletes and copied what they are good at...playing the game. Do I want to copy their life styles? Hell, no!

Gossip is just plain old crap that teenage girls spread during their high school years.

tiger

Photo taken from a Japanese newspaper

As you have noticed, I'm staying away from the whole Tiger thing but look what we have here.

Even in Japan, Tiger is being ripped a part. If you don't understand Japanese don't worry, you can easily come up with something with the picture on the right and also the "family tree" type diagram underneath Tiger.

Made my day.

A Sports Fan

If you are a hockey fan you will appreciate the above video.

Even though I am a born Torontonian and have never once cheered for the Habs, I still had a second of awe when I saw this. Seeing all the greats who once laced up their skates and found a spot on the TV every Saturday night in our living rooms made me think how lucky we are to have lived to see them.

I missed out on seeing some of the greats play in hockey, and in every other sport, but just think about how lucky we are right now to have lived to see Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Pete Sampras, Pedro Martinez, Joe Montana, and the list could go on and on for days.

With all the writers out there that bitch and moan about their team and how much they suck, why not write about the game itself. The players who make your night entertaining and just take in the great thing most of us take for granted.

Let's enjoy the thing we call sports.

New Shades

I am no fashion guru but what is Elin Nordegren wearing on her face? Those glasses are absolutely hideous. Is she making a fashion statement or was she just so busy with the kid she didn't realize she bought them. Maybe Tiger is feeling a little insecure and is forcing her to tone down the hotness that comes with being a sexy Swedish nanny. Some advice Tiger, you are the first athlete to make $1 BILLION, buy her some nice shades even if you do feel insecure.

Lame

Can anyone honestly say this was a good commercial. Clicked on a link which I thought was going to lead me to a funny commercial starring Woods, Jeter, and Federer but instead it gave me this piece of crap. More like an intro to an 80's porn.

2 to Go

The 2009 Masters is half way to the Green Jacket and I wish I had time this weekend to watch some of the action. Every year I try and sit back and enjoy the warming weather while enjoying a cigar with the Masters as my background noise but I guess this year will be the exception.

During the first two days I have read about some fairly notable names being at the top of the leaderboard and some who are lurking and may draw some attention come Sunday. Just looking at the results from Day 2, no one but Anthony Kim should be in the spotlight. After carding 11 birdies in a single round, this American is only 5 stokes off the lead. Wow, 11 freakin birdies in a single round and it was done at Augusta National too! Too bad he shot a 75 on Day 1. Come on man, if I card 1 or 2 birdies in a round I'm jumping for joy but 11, mother dam crap and all the other foul things that exist in the English language.

Canadian and former Masters champion is sitting a little further back than after Day 1. After scoring a 68 he followed it up with a 75 and seems to have fallen out of contention. I hope he contends on the final two days and doesn't fade into the category of players who win big and fall just as fast as their ascent. Ever hear about a guy named David Duval?

Lastly, how can I have a post about the Masters and not mention Woods and man-breasts Phil. Woods is sitting 7 stokes back but for some reason I don't see him making a huge charge and taking the coveted Green Jacket this year. With all the hype behind Woods and his return to the golfing world I just don't see him taking this years Masters. In my eyes, he doesn't seem like the guy who scares other golfers when he walks through the course. Just my two cents and I guarentee there are millions of people who will quickly discard my comments. Phil on the otherhand is only 6 back and I too don't see him putting on the Green Jacket come Sunday either. The more and more I watch Phil the more I see a man who needs to prove something and for Phil, I see this as a negative thing. Guy just needs to play his game and stop worrying about all the other distractions out there about him being 2nd to Woods. Just step up and hit that dam ball.

Hope everyone enjoys the Masters. It is always a special time of the year.

Pay Attention to Me

Now that Tiger is back most golfers on the PGA Tour need to find a way to get their names out there and what better way than bringing out your significant others. PGA Tour wives came out to raise money for charity and apparently they raised around $100K and by the looks of it they might want to do this more often. I guarantee you if these women decided to do this more often more people will come out to the events. It really is true, sex sells.

As for picture #3. What was she thinking? Let's get this straight, I'm not complaining but again what was she thinking.

PGA Tiger Update

The truth is the PGA Tour is a mere skeleton without Tiger Woods. He is the meat which satisfies the most important people in the golfing world, the fans, and without him TV ratings are simply crap.

It is the exact situation all leagues around the world go through. A star who carries the league to another level and captures the imagination of young and old while growing it's fan base. I am very happy to finally read news about Woods that isn't related to his rehab and when he was planning on getting back to competing on the PGA Tour.

Woods returned to the Tour by winning his first round match at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Tournament. (Side Note: He beat Brendan Jones, 64th in the world).

I didn't have a chance to watch any of it but after reading a few articles around the internet, I saw a theme, he was walking and swinging like he was a brand new man. His body seemed to have healed and is now stronger than ever. Just think about the fear that other golfers must think when they see, hear, and read about how strong Woods is and what he was able to do with a serious injury (US Open, leg injury, surgery, you've heard it before).

Just think about the statement it would be if Woods found a way to win this tournament. His first tournament back and he takes the title. This guy is unstoppable and it seems all the players know it. Please tell me, where is the next guy who is actually going to compete against Tiger and make him sweat when it comes to Sunday's back-9? Seriously, who the hell is going to make Woods sweat.

Tiger Woods is back and for all those golfers out there who won tournaments and had that sense of being able to win every time they teed up on Thursday, think again.

Truth

This is only funny because it's the truth.

I can't wait to see Tiger teeing it up, roaming the freeways, and fist pumping with his red shirt on Sunday. I have enjoyed watching some golf in his absense but it does seem a little more interesting when Tiger is in the hunt and playing for a championship on Sunday.

LPGA & PGA Collide

"Woods' starts the season with a victory at
the Masters and Kraft Nabisco Championship!"

This could be a headline on all media outlets around the world if Cheyenne continues on her path to golf stardom. For those of you who don't know who Cheyenne is, she is the niece of famous golfer Tiger Woods. Cheyenne is a 5"6 collegiate golfer currently swinging away at Wake Forest. Just imagine both tours, the PGA & LPGA, being dominated by two people from the same family.

I find it shocking whenever I come across people from the same family that can play a certain sport at such a high level. Just check out the Staal brothers in the NHL. Playing the same sport is understandable but both having the ability to play at the professional level just boggles my mind.

After you check out the video don't you think they look like father and daughter, the resemblance is uncanny.

Caddie Mouth

I was a little shocked to hear Tiger having to speak in front of the media concerning his caddie's comments about fellow PGA Tour player Phil Mickelson. Come on, this is a caddie, a dude who is hired to carry his clubs while he navigates 18-holes. Why the hell did this caddie, Steve Williams, even say something in the first place. His job is to carry the clubs, give an opinion on shots, shelter him from the rain with an umbrella, and do whatever Tiger wants him to do. But of course, this idiot had to go out and make a rant about Phil.

Absolutely stupid!

The comment was something that came out of a high school, where one guy, who is associated with the cool kid, tells off another kid. Just a lame and pathetic attention grabbing tactic. It seems people feel the need to go out and say whatever is on their minds, I do enjoy this and that is why I have a blog, but Steve is in a different position. He carries the bag of the most famous golfer in the world and maybe ever so he has the responsibility to carry himself in a professional manner.

According to Tiger the whole situation is over and is behind him but for some reason I think his caddie is on a shorter leash. Tiger better punish Steve for putting something extra on his plate. Guy has surgery and is trying to recover and his caddie pulls this out of the bag.

Have you ever heard about a caddie mouthing off about another golfer before?

Know your role man!


Photo Courtesy of Yahoo! Sports.

Premium Brands

The name Tiger Woods is situated alongside premium brands such as Titleist, Nike, Tag Heuer, American Express, and Buick...wait, did I just say Buick. Well, Tiger is now disconnecting his premium name with that of the old retired Florida image that comes with the Buick name. Come on, did anyone ever at any moment believe Tiger would willingly choose to drive around in a Buick. For those of you who know me, it's like me wanting to drive an American made car.

GM and Tiger have parted ways and I think this is a great move for both parties, especially Woods. After taking Nike Golf from a "tiny little" golf company to a $600million yearly business that leads the world in golf apparel sales and is a big player in the golf equipment and golf ball world. Woods deserves more than a pathetic little American car company that has fallen into the trap that any undergraduate business major learns in Business 101, complacency will destroy any company.

It is time for Woods to find a car endorsement that portrays his premium image. Even in a world where the economics are holding companies by the throat, there will be plenty of car companies that have the money to throw at Woods. I guarantee that this time around, Tiger will be extremely selective on where he will sign his name because we all know, especially Tiger, how much he is worth in the world of endorsements.

You will always pay a premium price for premium brands. Tiger Woods is no exception.


Photo courtesy of www.autospectator.com

Golf at Bethpage Black

Take a look at this article. A few lucky people are going to have a chance to play Bethpage Black, former home of the US Open where Tiger Woods won in 2002 with a 3-under score.

Wouldn't it be great to have a chance to play a course that was used for a Major? I would die to be able to take part in this and you would see me on the range everyday so I wouldn't make a complete fool out of myself.

The US Open will return to Bethpage Black in 2009.


Photo Courtesy of Golf.com

Eldrick Woods

Most people know Eldrick by Tiger but for the rest of the PGA Tour and golfing world, watch out. Tiger is putting and chipping but promises not to make a full swing until early next year. After having to end the 2008 season prematurely with an injury to his leg, Tiger vowed to take everything slowly and come back at 100%.

For some reason I will always read news about Tiger and his achievements, awards, off tour activities, and even boring news (to some) about his recovery.

I love golf and enjoying watching golf so having Tiger away from the golfing scene this past year didn't affect me too much but I know for a fact it afftected TV ratings.

Anyways, that was a little update on Tiger, I hope he fully recovers so I can watch him catch the 18 elusive majors set by Jack Nicklaus.


Picture Courtesy of Yahoo! Sports.