The Travelers Championship at River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut provided a similar scenario to the U. S. Open in San Francisco the week before. Only the main characters were different. Pudgy, long-haired blond Charley Hoffman (like gaunt, short-haired and balding Jim Furyk at the Open) was cruising along with a three-shot lead on the back nine Sunday, seemingly unstoppable and unflappable. Then, the nerves took over.
Hoffman bogeyed Number 13, reducing his lead to two shots. Other golfers challenged, but stumbled at crucial times. The biggest name in contention, Bubba Watson, whose first PGA tour victory occurred at this tournament in 2010, threatened until he hit water on 17. A missed putt on 18 left him at 267, 13 under par and one shot behind Marc Leishman, a 28-year-old Australian waiting in the clubhouse after shooting a sizzling 8-under 62 for the day. Leishman was the Travelers' version of the Open's Webb Simpson, an anticlimactic winner collecting dust in the clubhouse while considered a longshot until very late in the day when those ahead on the leaderboard fell apart.
Meanwhile, Hoffman's woes multiplied with a horribly flared tee shot on 17, which found water over 220 yards from the green. The pudgemeister, whose hairstyle resembles that of a younger Sammy Hagar, went on to double-bogey the hole. By that time, Leishman was at the practice range anticipating a playoff. Hoffman capped his meltdown with another bad tee shot on 18, and another bogey after finding sand with his second shot. Suddenly, Leishman was catapulted into the victory circle.
While the broadcast team at CBS was strong as usual, even without top analyst Nick Faldo, the network's production team made three glaring mistakes. First, like NBC with Webb Simpson the week before at the Open, they failed to give much screen time to Leishman. Although he shot an excellent round, Leishman had started the day six strokes behind co-leaders Brian Davis and Roland Thatcher. Plus, Leishman is not a household name. A camera crew finally found Leishman in the clubhouse, smiling, drinking water, and watching TV coverage of himself.
The second and worst CBS production error was failing to show Hoffman's critical tee shot on 17, live or tape-delayed, due to an alleged technical glitch with the cameras--unforgivable in this day and age. The third mistake was not as egregious, but it would have given the broadcast a more graceful coda. Although they landed a brief interview with Leishman after he was declared the winner, the network cut its coverage before the trophy presentation on the 18th hole. Network execs decided its prime time lineup could not be delayed.
The biggest winners were the local charities, including the late Paul Newman-founded Hole-in-the-Wall Camp, which received over one million dollars from tournament organizers and sponsors. Good job.
Euro Cup 2012 has provided several thrills and chills for soccer fans, both in and out of the stadiums. In the first quarterfinal, Portugal featured a smothering defense and a goal from its reigning superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo, in the 79th minute to knock off the upstart Czech Republic, 1-0. In the second quarterfinal, Germany crushed Greece (perhaps in a metaphor of respective economic power), 4-2, after leading at the break, 3-0. The German national team now has 15 straight wins in competition and is the only undefeated and untied team remaining in Euro 2012.
The third quarterfinal saw a great Spain team (champion of the 2010 World Cup) beat a quality France team, 2-0, thanks to two goals from Xabi Alonso at the 19th and 90th minute marks, the last on a penalty kick. Andros Iniesta is another Spanish superstar playing a strong tournament.
Speaking of superstars, nobody can blame Wayne Rooney for England's overtime loss to Italy in the fourth quarterfinal. Critics may blame the team for a predictable offense and dull game plan, but some credit belongs to the always tough Italians. After ending regulation and overtime in a scoreless tie, Italy won the penalty shootout, 4-2. While Rooney and Gerrard scored their tries, Young's kick hit the crossbar and Cole's kick was blocked. Meanwhile, Italians Diamanti, Balotelli, Montolivo, and Nocerino all made good on their attempts, thanks in large part to several stutter steps and misdirection kicks. Clever work.
Besides the mob fight between Polish and Russian fans outside the stadium where their teams would play, the big non-game story arising from Euro 2012 so far concerns the Russian soccer chief, Sergei Fursenko. He resigned after Russia's dismal showing in group play. However, he only resigned after meeting with President Vladimir Putin, a well-known sports fan. Perhaps Putin, the former KGB chief and most powerful man in Russia, made Fursenko an offer he couldn't refuse.
The Euro semifinals feature favored Spain against Portugal in a fight for Iberian bragging rights, and favored Germany against Italy. If Germany wins, the team would play the final in Kiev, Ukraine. Now it's unfair for young or middle-aged fans of historically oppressed countries to blame young or middle-aged fans of historically oppressor countries for the sins of their elders and long-gone regimes. Nonetheless, if you thought Polish fans were angry with Russian fans, just imagine how angry history-minded local Ukrainian soccer fans could be with German fans. Euro 2012 should have an exciting conclusion, both inside and outside of the stadium.
In brilliant news from Omaha for fans of western teams, the University of Arizona won the College World Series of baseball, with consecutive victories over two-time defending champion South Carolina. Now if college ball could just do away with the aluminum bats.
What was the best news about the NBA Championship series between the Heat and the Thunder? The league let it die a quick and merciful death after only five games. I'm not saying the NBA Finals were scripted like a WWE match, but who honestly believed LeBron James & Co. were going to be denied a title win on its home court? After all, isn't LeBron receiving major endorsement dollars from Nike, McDonalds, and Coca-Cola? Don't those three companies provide the basketball television and radio networks with heavy advertising dollars? Don't the networks provide the NBA with high broadcast licensing fees? You connect the dots.
It's shameful how the ESPN/ABC national and local affiliate broadcasters all bleated about the redemption, exoneration, and crowning of the new and rightful king of the NBA, LeBron James. They couldn't say enough about how LeBron had "matured" and "grown wiser" as a person. That same Mr. James was seen dancing the night away at an embarrassingly lavish party the team's owner threw that night. At least he avoided an eye injury, unlike Tony Parker at a New York nightclub. Good work.
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