Happy Easter to you all and happy Masters weekend! My remote has seen plenty of work this weekend switching between golf, hockey, and a little baseball. But, my remote also saw a good amount of playing time from my frustration at the fascination of the golf world on a prima donna whose act grows thin. I had to switch channels often this weekend.
If you can’t tell, I am something of a traditionalist and purist. I appreciate and emphasize the traditions of sports, because those traditions exist for a reason. On that note, I found myself utterly disgusted at Tiger Woods on Thursday.
I understand when you have been the best player in the world, your expectations will be sky high. Rationally, you would expect to hit every shot perfectly, and for many years Tiger not only expected but also executed those shots. But, as the most important player in golf there should also be an expectation from fans that Tiger will play golf like a gentleman as befits the traditions of the game.
Time for a rhetorical question: how would you feel if you played golf with a guy who got so frustrated he tossed clubs and kicked them? Golf will always frustrate no matter who you are, and I will not claim to have never tossed a club in frustration. But, there are certain golfers who only play with their relatives, because no one can stand playing partners who throw clubs and curse loudly. And yet, four times each year the golfing world, fans included, forgets that fact and focuses on one guy who does both those things often.
I have met certain folks who like Tiger because he expects the best and shows frustration when a shot goes awry. We understandably like athletes who use the framework of perfection mentally to play well. Additionally, I don’t doubt Tiger was the toughest mental player in the game at one point in his career. But if you like Tiger that much, consider how much his course behavior affects the perception of the game. Yes he shows grit, determination, and courage with his shots but also looks rather spoiled, quickly flinging his clubs after any kind of poor shot. Keep in mind the pugnacious, irritating playing partner I mentioned earlier. Do you want future golfers to justify that kind of behavior “because Tiger did it?”
I admire Tiger for playing his game without caring what others think, but at a certain point golf fans should care about the image he presents for the game. His foundation does very well for many around the world, but as a person his image remains dubious. Casual sports fans have difficulty respecting an athlete with such baggage as Tiger’s over the past few years. A scandal-ridden person like that doesn’t do well promoting what is essentially a hobby for most. In addition, he plays golf like an arrogant child, in effect telling young kids they can be awful playing partners in the future as long as they play well. In a recent interview with ESPN, when asked about kicking his club, Tiger responded, “I certainly heard that people didn’t like me kicking the club, but I didn’t like it either…I hit it right in the bunker and it didn’t feel good on my toe either.” Sounds a lot to me like “I know I did it, but it was justified.”
I find it hard to believe Phil Mickelson would ever say anything like that, or even toss his club in frustration. By all accounts, Phil has some personal arrogance behind closed doors, but he presents one of the best images for the game imaginable: an All-American family life, previous years of lovable struggle, and a propensity for unconventional shots, not to mention a personal foundation geared towards education. And while he has an equally large fan club, Phil doesn’t draw viewership like Tiger.
For all of these reasons, it irks me Tiger Woods will always be the only golfer some folks remember. Even when he’s ten strokes back, everybody talks about Tiger. The world of golf is much larger than Tiger and is a little more presentable, especially when a replacement for Tiger as chief ambassador of the game continues to wallow in second despite better play and conduct. Personally, I threw my clubs when I first started playing golf and before too long got the message that I would no longer be welcome to play with friends. Golf’s most important player should receive the same treatment.
Bit #1: Speaking of spoiled children…Dwight Howard everyone!
Remember my post last month about the Magic giving Dwight Howard too much power? Well the issues I predicted look to be coming true (not a big deal since a blind octogenarian could foresee this kind of ending). This past week, Magic coach Stan Van Gundy told reporters he knew from a management source that Howard asked for Van Gundy’s dismissal.
Howard clearly sees something we don’t. Van Gundy deserves Coach of the Year consideration for guiding the Magic through the 2012 circus to the playoffs. His job security has been questioned for so long that, by now, lesser coaches would wilt under that kind of pressure, kind of like Mike D’Antoni did earlier this season. If anything, Van Gundy used the pieces at his disposal this year to surprise many, even without the presence of major talent in Orlando besides Howard.
If Dwight wants Van Gundy gone, the Magic will accommodate. But, this coach performed well this season while coaching the most immature star in today’s game. I think the Magic should continue to give him a chance. I know the GM recently denied this report, but given Howard’s history I have no doubt he’s probably thinking these thoughts anyway.
Bit #2: The worst guy in sports
Bobby Petrino. Nothing more to say. Last week, Petrino’s motorcycle crashed and the story that came out has stunned many. On the bike with him: a 25 year old engaged woman who was hired onto Petrino’s staff a few days later in a new recruiting position. Fishy already? Well Petrino, head football coach at Arkansas and married father of four, admitted later he had an inappropriate relationship with the woman in question. He lied to his boss about all of it but when the police report became public, the situation snowballed.
You may remember Petrino’s abrupt departure from the Atlanta Falcons, without telling owner Arthur Blank or his team before leaving. This most recent episode solidifies his position as Chief Weasel in College Sports. If I were the father of a five-star recruit, my son would never play for Petrino unless he could start on day one, freshman year. He’s been successful, but at no point should success override character concerns, especially in a sports world that requires an intimate bond between player and coach to truly create to performances. The game should have no place for a man as morally corrupt and despicable as Petrino.
Bit #3: PLAYOFFS!
Yesr folks that’s right. Starting Wednesday, the best time of the year begins…at least for me. NBC will be showing every game on its family of networks, meaning my work production and sleep time will immediately go down the tube.
The Capitals somehow proved themselves up to the task in making the playoffs. Key wins down the stretch mean the Caps will play the Bruins first, a tense matchup but one that somehow the Caps dominated over the last two months of the season. But, there are other good series going on as well, including Pittsburgh-Philly and Nashville-Detroit which I’ve touted for weeks as worthy of your attention. My prediction: Pittsburgh-Nashville finals.
Bit #4: April 8, 1974 – Hank Aaron breaks Ruth’s record
In the world of steroids, those of my generation forget how important Hank Aaron was to the game of baseball. The home run king broke a record that stood for a long time, held by possibly the most iconic player of the century. Add to that Aaron’s race and his accomplishment took on more weight in the mid-1970s, when racial tensions had cooled but were by no means extinguished. But, many of us now also forget how good Aaron was, making 20 straight All-Star games and winning three Gold Gloves, including one NL MVP. With those numbers, Aaron should deserve discussion as one of the 20 best players of all time. Thankfully, he will be remembered forever without any kind of controversy as the home run king, no asterisks attached.
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