The opening ceremony was as idiosyncratic as its creator-director Danny Boyle. It included curious British humor (Mr. Bean), pompous British drama (Kenneth Branagh), and long-in-the-walrus-tooth British music (Paul McCartney). The storyline was laborious and borderline Ken Russell ludicrous at times. The light-card sections in the stands were fun: whatever happened to student card sections at football games? The highlight? The pre-recorded music soundtrack perhaps inadvertently began playing the old BeeGees' classic "Staying Alive" as the athletic delegation from Ethiopia entered the stadium.
Swimming, indoor volleyball, and skeet shooting have been the highlights so far. Swimming pleasures include Michael Phelps' epic fails.
Men's basketball: an NBA all-star team playing middle school junior varsities. Unwatchable. Women's basketball: 11-4 after one quarter. Unwatchable.
Soccer/ world football, field hockey, and water polo: watchable. Fencing and rowing: unwatchable. Synchronized diving: seriously?
Events to look forward to next week: everything in track and field/athletics.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Monday, July 23, 2012
The British Open 2012: Another Epic Fail at an Open and the Return of Another Epic Hero
The 2012 British Open concluded on Sunday with an overused scenario of late in major tournaments: the leader stumbled, allowing an earlier finisher who had a strong final round to claim victory. Last year at the Masters it was Rory McIlroy who did the colossal collapse in the final round. This year at the U. S. Open it was Jim Furyk. At the British Open on Sunday, it was Australian Adam Scott.
Scott had a five-shot lead at one point. He had a four-shot lead with four holes to play. Did he have a one-hole meltdown like Tiger Woods, who dared a pot bunker and lost, resulting in a triple-bogey? No. Scott's epic fail was methodical and meticulous, one bogey at a time.
As writer David Dusek reported, Scott's biggest bonehead move was using a fairway wood from the 18th tee, putting the fairway pot bunkers into play. However, by that time the Aussie was a shell of his former steady self. On the 17th, he had pulled his second shot into the rough near the green, resulting in a bogey. On the 16th, he had missed a three-foot putt, resulting in a bogey. He also heard the roar of the crowd on the 18th when Ernie Els sank a long putt, resulting in a birdie and a two-under par round of 68.
Rattled, Scott approached the 18th in a tie with Els, who was wolfing down a sandwich by the clubhouse. All Scott had to do was shoot par to gain a four-hole playoff. In case you had forgotten, Scott's caddy was Tiger Woods' former caddy, Stevie Williams. Williams had to know a fairway wood was the one club NOT to use on the 18th tee. Did Scott foolishly reject Williams' advice? If he had to reject the prudent suggestion of an iron, he could have at least been a man like Els and used a driver. He didn't. The fairway wood choice led to an impossible pot bunker lie, which led to a sideways pitch-out.
Scott wasn't done. He hit a great iron to leave him with a ten-foot putt on a relatively flat green. Unfortunately for him, the putt just drifted left at the last moment, and Scott found himself with his fourth consecutive bogey and second place all to himself.
Ernie Els backed into his fourth major victory, two British Opens and two U. S. Opens. Symmetry. He was not undeserving. He had shot four-under par on the back nine on Sunday. He had not only sunk two long putts, but he had defied the late-for-the-party stiff winds by using his driver at every opportunity. He played like a champion, and Els acknowledged another champion, South African President Nelson Mandela, in his gracious speech on the 18th green while accepting the Claret Jug.
To his credit, Adam Scott did interviews after the collapse. Will he ever win a major tournament? At 32, Scott's in his golfing prime. What did he do after the interviews? Perhaps Jim Furyk bought him a drink at some out-of-the-way pub.
Who were the winners and losers of the week besides Els and Scott? First, eight Americans finished in the top 20. Second, 52-year-old Mark Calcavecchia had a top ten finish, tied for ninth seven strokes off the pace.
Scott had a five-shot lead at one point. He had a four-shot lead with four holes to play. Did he have a one-hole meltdown like Tiger Woods, who dared a pot bunker and lost, resulting in a triple-bogey? No. Scott's epic fail was methodical and meticulous, one bogey at a time.
As writer David Dusek reported, Scott's biggest bonehead move was using a fairway wood from the 18th tee, putting the fairway pot bunkers into play. However, by that time the Aussie was a shell of his former steady self. On the 17th, he had pulled his second shot into the rough near the green, resulting in a bogey. On the 16th, he had missed a three-foot putt, resulting in a bogey. He also heard the roar of the crowd on the 18th when Ernie Els sank a long putt, resulting in a birdie and a two-under par round of 68.
Rattled, Scott approached the 18th in a tie with Els, who was wolfing down a sandwich by the clubhouse. All Scott had to do was shoot par to gain a four-hole playoff. In case you had forgotten, Scott's caddy was Tiger Woods' former caddy, Stevie Williams. Williams had to know a fairway wood was the one club NOT to use on the 18th tee. Did Scott foolishly reject Williams' advice? If he had to reject the prudent suggestion of an iron, he could have at least been a man like Els and used a driver. He didn't. The fairway wood choice led to an impossible pot bunker lie, which led to a sideways pitch-out.
Scott wasn't done. He hit a great iron to leave him with a ten-foot putt on a relatively flat green. Unfortunately for him, the putt just drifted left at the last moment, and Scott found himself with his fourth consecutive bogey and second place all to himself.
Ernie Els backed into his fourth major victory, two British Opens and two U. S. Opens. Symmetry. He was not undeserving. He had shot four-under par on the back nine on Sunday. He had not only sunk two long putts, but he had defied the late-for-the-party stiff winds by using his driver at every opportunity. He played like a champion, and Els acknowledged another champion, South African President Nelson Mandela, in his gracious speech on the 18th green while accepting the Claret Jug.
To his credit, Adam Scott did interviews after the collapse. Will he ever win a major tournament? At 32, Scott's in his golfing prime. What did he do after the interviews? Perhaps Jim Furyk bought him a drink at some out-of-the-way pub.
Who were the winners and losers of the week besides Els and Scott? First, eight Americans finished in the top 20. Second, 52-year-old Mark Calcavecchia had a top ten finish, tied for ninth seven strokes off the pace.
Friday, July 20, 2012
The British Open 2012: Progress Report at the Halfway Mark
As William Blake might have said if he were a golf commentator at Royal Lytham this week, the course is playing like a lamb, not a tiger. However, Tiger is playing like a tiger. Sure, the rough is treacherous, the fairways narrow, and the pot bunkers deep. Yet the overnight rains have made the fairways and greens more manageable, and the lack of trademark blustery winds has led to some very low scores indeed. The mild weather has given the Americans a huge edge. It has thrown off some of my predictions. Some, not all.
First, I said Tiger Woods, Bubba Watson, and Dustin Johnson would wilt under pressure, while Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy, and Darren Clarke would thrive. What actually happened? The "wilters" all made the cut, including an imperious third-place standing for Woods at this point. Only one "thriver"-- McIlroy--made the cut, and he's 12 shots behind the leader.
Second, I said a non-American would win. After two rounds, an American--Brandt Snedeker--leads at 10 under par, and five other Yanks are in the top 15, including a surprisingly determined Woods.
Third, I said Jim Furyk would bounce back from his U. S. Open meltdown and make the cut. He did.
Fourth, I said Woods would miss a top ten finish. Based on his weekend troubles at the Olympic, one shouldn't be too confident of his torrid pace continuing. However, if the weather remains benevolent, Tiger should be top ten, top five, perhaps even numero uno. If the winds kick up, expect the worst and a more accurate prediction on my part.
Fifth, I said at least one over-40 golfer would enjoy a top five finish. At this point, 43-year-old Paul Lawrie is tied for fifth. Ernie Els and Steve Stricker are close behind, but better storylines would come from Tom Watson (62), Mark Calcavecchia (52), or John Daly (46) making a run on Sunday.
Finally, I said the winner would come from a carefully culled list of 24 golfers. How am I doing? The bad news is that seven (Kaymer, Schwartzel, Rose, Mickelson, Garcia, Love III, and Darren Clarke) won't be playing this weekend, leaving me with 17 possibilities. The good news is that, apart from cinderellas Snedecker, Thorbjorn Olesen, and Thomas Aiken, and surprisingly steady (so far) Tiger Woods, six of my picks are in the top ten (to this point, anyway): Adam Scott, Jason Dufner, Graeme McDowell, Matt Kuchar, Paul Lawrie, and Ernie Els.
Who will crumple and fold? Who will rise and triumph? Here's hoping for weather foul, play inspiring, and leads interchangeable. Here's hoping the scores will fall back towards even par overall. Here's hoping an American like Calcavecchia, Furyk, Stricker, and new "kid" on the block Ted Potter, Jr., makes things interesting on Sunday. Here's hoping a Brit like Luke Donald, Graeme McDowell, Paul Lawrie, or Ian Poulter keeps the hometown crowds engaged until the last putt on the last hole Sunday. Golf needs drama. In the land of Shakespeare, Marlowe, Shaw, and Stoppard, the British Open needs great drama.
First, I said Tiger Woods, Bubba Watson, and Dustin Johnson would wilt under pressure, while Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy, and Darren Clarke would thrive. What actually happened? The "wilters" all made the cut, including an imperious third-place standing for Woods at this point. Only one "thriver"-- McIlroy--made the cut, and he's 12 shots behind the leader.
Second, I said a non-American would win. After two rounds, an American--Brandt Snedeker--leads at 10 under par, and five other Yanks are in the top 15, including a surprisingly determined Woods.
Third, I said Jim Furyk would bounce back from his U. S. Open meltdown and make the cut. He did.
Fourth, I said Woods would miss a top ten finish. Based on his weekend troubles at the Olympic, one shouldn't be too confident of his torrid pace continuing. However, if the weather remains benevolent, Tiger should be top ten, top five, perhaps even numero uno. If the winds kick up, expect the worst and a more accurate prediction on my part.
Fifth, I said at least one over-40 golfer would enjoy a top five finish. At this point, 43-year-old Paul Lawrie is tied for fifth. Ernie Els and Steve Stricker are close behind, but better storylines would come from Tom Watson (62), Mark Calcavecchia (52), or John Daly (46) making a run on Sunday.
Finally, I said the winner would come from a carefully culled list of 24 golfers. How am I doing? The bad news is that seven (Kaymer, Schwartzel, Rose, Mickelson, Garcia, Love III, and Darren Clarke) won't be playing this weekend, leaving me with 17 possibilities. The good news is that, apart from cinderellas Snedecker, Thorbjorn Olesen, and Thomas Aiken, and surprisingly steady (so far) Tiger Woods, six of my picks are in the top ten (to this point, anyway): Adam Scott, Jason Dufner, Graeme McDowell, Matt Kuchar, Paul Lawrie, and Ernie Els.
Who will crumple and fold? Who will rise and triumph? Here's hoping for weather foul, play inspiring, and leads interchangeable. Here's hoping the scores will fall back towards even par overall. Here's hoping an American like Calcavecchia, Furyk, Stricker, and new "kid" on the block Ted Potter, Jr., makes things interesting on Sunday. Here's hoping a Brit like Luke Donald, Graeme McDowell, Paul Lawrie, or Ian Poulter keeps the hometown crowds engaged until the last putt on the last hole Sunday. Golf needs drama. In the land of Shakespeare, Marlowe, Shaw, and Stoppard, the British Open needs great drama.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
The British Open 2012: Two Dozen Favorites and a Few Observations
With the first threesome only an hour away from teeing off at Royal Lytham and St. Annes to start the third Grand Slam golf tournament of the year, it's time to make a few more predictions, accurate or not.
First, I believe the American streak of three consecutive Grand Slam wins will be snapped. Why? For the most part, the Americans are allergic to inclement (read: rainy and windy) weather and pot bunkers. While they don't handle nasty roughs well, neither do the internationals, based on recent memories of the U. S. Open last month at Olympic.
Second, I believe Tiger Woods will not finish in the top ten here, but he has a great chance of winning the PGA Championship next month.
Third, I believe Webb Simpson and Jason Day withdrawing due to non-emergency family events says more about their fear of links golf on wind-battered terrain than their love of family.
Fourth, I believe Jim Furyk will recover from his Olympic meltdown last month and at least make the cut.
Fifth, I expect at least one over-forty golfer, someone like Phil Mickelson, defending champion Darren Clarke, Lee Westwood, Vijay Singh, or the ever-wiley Tom Watson, to enjoy a top five finish.
Sixth, I expect some very good golfers to get the jitters because of the Thursday-Friday pairings. I see Tiger wilting when paired with Sergio G. and Justin Rose. I see mad bomber Bubba Watson losing his cool and going ballistic when paired with rock-steady and majors-hungry Lee Westwood. Similarly, I see long-hitter Dustin Johnson failing to make the cut when paired with used-to-the-elements-and-links set-up Graeme McDowell.
Seventh, in contrast to sixth, I expect some power pairings to elevate the play of talented golfers having a less-than-stellar 2012. Darren Clarke will be steadied by the crowd and by playing partners Ernie Els and Zach Johnson. Phil Mickelson will rise to the occasion not only with vivid memories of his runner-up finish last year, but by playing shot for shot with current world number one, Luke Donald. Rory McIlroy will regain his game not only by temporarily forgetting about his Miss Danish Tennis, but by going toe to toe with other recent majors champions Keegan Bradley and Louis Oosthuizen.
Eighth and finally, I expect the 2012 British Open champion to come out of a pool of two dozen names. Please note only a third of the names are American. In no particular order, they are as follows:
Zach Johnson (A) Charl Schwartzel
Ernie Els Justin Rose
Graeme McDowell Phil Mickelson (A)
Louis Oosthuizen Adam Scott
Martin Kaymer Steve Stricker (A)
Luke Donald Lee Westwood
Keegan Bradley (A) Francesco Molinari
Darren Clarke Hunter Mahan (A)
Ian Poulter Rory McIlroy
Davis Love III (A) Sergio Garcia
Padraig Harrington Matt Kuchar (A)
Jason Dufner (A) Paul Lawrie
Could a dark horse like Webb Simpson at the Olympic Club last month emerge at Royal Lytham this weekend? Of course. All 156 golfers entered are so talented that even an amateur like Alan Dunbar or a has-been like John Daly could take it. Here's hoping for more surprises.
First, I believe the American streak of three consecutive Grand Slam wins will be snapped. Why? For the most part, the Americans are allergic to inclement (read: rainy and windy) weather and pot bunkers. While they don't handle nasty roughs well, neither do the internationals, based on recent memories of the U. S. Open last month at Olympic.
Second, I believe Tiger Woods will not finish in the top ten here, but he has a great chance of winning the PGA Championship next month.
Third, I believe Webb Simpson and Jason Day withdrawing due to non-emergency family events says more about their fear of links golf on wind-battered terrain than their love of family.
Fourth, I believe Jim Furyk will recover from his Olympic meltdown last month and at least make the cut.
Fifth, I expect at least one over-forty golfer, someone like Phil Mickelson, defending champion Darren Clarke, Lee Westwood, Vijay Singh, or the ever-wiley Tom Watson, to enjoy a top five finish.
Sixth, I expect some very good golfers to get the jitters because of the Thursday-Friday pairings. I see Tiger wilting when paired with Sergio G. and Justin Rose. I see mad bomber Bubba Watson losing his cool and going ballistic when paired with rock-steady and majors-hungry Lee Westwood. Similarly, I see long-hitter Dustin Johnson failing to make the cut when paired with used-to-the-elements-and-links set-up Graeme McDowell.
Seventh, in contrast to sixth, I expect some power pairings to elevate the play of talented golfers having a less-than-stellar 2012. Darren Clarke will be steadied by the crowd and by playing partners Ernie Els and Zach Johnson. Phil Mickelson will rise to the occasion not only with vivid memories of his runner-up finish last year, but by playing shot for shot with current world number one, Luke Donald. Rory McIlroy will regain his game not only by temporarily forgetting about his Miss Danish Tennis, but by going toe to toe with other recent majors champions Keegan Bradley and Louis Oosthuizen.
Eighth and finally, I expect the 2012 British Open champion to come out of a pool of two dozen names. Please note only a third of the names are American. In no particular order, they are as follows:
Zach Johnson (A) Charl Schwartzel
Ernie Els Justin Rose
Graeme McDowell Phil Mickelson (A)
Louis Oosthuizen Adam Scott
Martin Kaymer Steve Stricker (A)
Luke Donald Lee Westwood
Keegan Bradley (A) Francesco Molinari
Darren Clarke Hunter Mahan (A)
Ian Poulter Rory McIlroy
Davis Love III (A) Sergio Garcia
Padraig Harrington Matt Kuchar (A)
Jason Dufner (A) Paul Lawrie
Could a dark horse like Webb Simpson at the Olympic Club last month emerge at Royal Lytham this weekend? Of course. All 156 golfers entered are so talented that even an amateur like Alan Dunbar or a has-been like John Daly could take it. Here's hoping for more surprises.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
The Open or the British Open: Didn't We Have a War Over British Arrogance to Settle This and Other Issues Before?
This week features another Grand Slam sports event in England. Last week saw Serena Williams and Roger Federer both reclaim singles tennis crowns at Wimbledon in surprisingly dominating fashion, considering they are both past their physical prime.
This week might see another player past his physical prime--Tiger Woods, Lee Westwood, Darren Clarke, or even Tom Watson--reclaim another British Open trophy, the Claret Jug.
Did I say "British Open trophy" in error? No. It's not "The Open." It's the British Open. Such arrogance is akin to Ohio State University believing it is the only college that deserves to be called "The University." It's akin to the Rose Bowl, the granddaddy of all bowl games, insisting on being called "The Bowl," or the Indianapolis 500, the granddaddy of all auto races, insisting on being called "The 500" (not that they would). It's akin to American football believing it is the only sport in the world that deserves to be called football. Well, doesn't it? When the NFL and AFL merged decades ago, the American Football League name should have been the one retained. It was more descriptive and more humble.
There are many great golf tournaments and many great opens, including the U. S. and the U. S. Amateur. The British Open is a great golf tournament. It is not the only great golf tournament.
The issue was settled before. Around 1776, the United States declared itself independent of British sovereignty. The fledgeling country didn't believe in worshipping royalty or following the unjust edicts of an irrational king across the pond. America also didn't believe in the rigid class system of the Brits. The founding fathers couldn't accept the impositions of the Crown. They didn't believe England, or Great Britain (consisting of England, Scotland, and Wales) for that matter, was "The Country." Hence, they created their own.
In short, the Revolutionary War lasted six years, ending with the defeat of the British in 1781. The second round, known as the War of 1812, lasted three years, with British forces again retreating to their own shores or other regions of their vast world empire. Still, to the United States, Great Britain was not "The Country." It did not control "The Empire." There were other countries. There were other empires.
Get off the pedestal, you Brits. The British Empire is only a memory, and the Queen nothing more than a symbolic figurehead of a glorious past. Just because some non-Brits remain fascinated with your royal family does not mean you control the world again and can continue passing unreasonable and unjust edicts.
Persuading the world-wide media and international golf communities alike to refer to Great Britain's professional championship as "The Open" is arrogant and pompous, if not unreasonable and unjust. It doesn't play any better in 2012 than it did in 1776.
This week might see another player past his physical prime--Tiger Woods, Lee Westwood, Darren Clarke, or even Tom Watson--reclaim another British Open trophy, the Claret Jug.
Did I say "British Open trophy" in error? No. It's not "The Open." It's the British Open. Such arrogance is akin to Ohio State University believing it is the only college that deserves to be called "The University." It's akin to the Rose Bowl, the granddaddy of all bowl games, insisting on being called "The Bowl," or the Indianapolis 500, the granddaddy of all auto races, insisting on being called "The 500" (not that they would). It's akin to American football believing it is the only sport in the world that deserves to be called football. Well, doesn't it? When the NFL and AFL merged decades ago, the American Football League name should have been the one retained. It was more descriptive and more humble.
There are many great golf tournaments and many great opens, including the U. S. and the U. S. Amateur. The British Open is a great golf tournament. It is not the only great golf tournament.
The issue was settled before. Around 1776, the United States declared itself independent of British sovereignty. The fledgeling country didn't believe in worshipping royalty or following the unjust edicts of an irrational king across the pond. America also didn't believe in the rigid class system of the Brits. The founding fathers couldn't accept the impositions of the Crown. They didn't believe England, or Great Britain (consisting of England, Scotland, and Wales) for that matter, was "The Country." Hence, they created their own.
In short, the Revolutionary War lasted six years, ending with the defeat of the British in 1781. The second round, known as the War of 1812, lasted three years, with British forces again retreating to their own shores or other regions of their vast world empire. Still, to the United States, Great Britain was not "The Country." It did not control "The Empire." There were other countries. There were other empires.
Get off the pedestal, you Brits. The British Empire is only a memory, and the Queen nothing more than a symbolic figurehead of a glorious past. Just because some non-Brits remain fascinated with your royal family does not mean you control the world again and can continue passing unreasonable and unjust edicts.
Persuading the world-wide media and international golf communities alike to refer to Great Britain's professional championship as "The Open" is arrogant and pompous, if not unreasonable and unjust. It doesn't play any better in 2012 than it did in 1776.
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