Who cares about basketball and baseball these days? One sport is just a third into its season of overlong guaranteed contracts. The other sport is entering its last two weeks of controversial officiating and aura of executive office predestination. On a brighter note, many sports continue to shine.
Last week saw tremendous NHL action. The New Jersey Devils finished off the more talented New York Rangers and the Los Angeles Kings crushed the more talented Phoenix Coyotes. Playoff action in the NHL is nonstop, and rabid fans, unlike their NBA counterparts, have no need to raise an eyebrow over lopsided, biased officiating. Why? There is none. Are a few calls blown from time to time? Yes. However, there are no disturbing trends or patterns of inconsistency favoring the more popular teams, or teams with endorsement kings like LeBron James.
Last week saw the return of another king, Tiger Woods. He humbled the competition at the Jack Nicklaus-chaired Memorial in Ohio. On Sunday, Woods' playing partner, Rickie Fowler, couldn't even break 80. And Fowler's a top 20 golfer. The mystique may not be all the way back, but it's back at least in part. Tiger's spending 10 days preparing for the U. S. Open at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, a course he knows very well.
Last week also saw the Chip Ganassi team rolling on in IZOD Indycar competition. The Detroit Grand Prix saw a switch of the top two at Indy a week before, with Scott Dixon taking the checkered flag and his teammate Dario Franchitti nailing second.
The French Open saw the Williams sisters both lose in the first week. It also saw the normally stoic Roger Federer lose his temper as he advanced to the quarterfinals and the methodical Maria Sharapova overcome some slow starts as she advanced to the semifinals.
This weekend has some great sports viewing on tap, even with the premier event drained of drama due to injury. I'll Have Another will not compete in the Belmont Stakes Saturday because of swelling in a front left leg tendon. Thus, there will be no Triple Crown winner for at least another year. Was the favored horse overtrained? Did the banning of his nasal strip for the Belmont have anything to do with his leg injury, with less effective breathing causing a misstep? Who knows? The race will still be great, but it will not be epic. The horse racing industry loses another potential shot in the arm.
With the Devils finally winning a game, the NHL championship series returns to Jersey with the Kings still up, 3-1. It's unlikely the Kings will lose the series, but they could lose another game.
The St. Jude's Classic PGA event in Memphis has its own drama, even with Mickelson and Woods abstaining. Will Rory McIlroy set the stage for an epic U.S. Open showdown with Woods by winning his own American tune-up event? McIlroy missed three consecutive cuts on the European tour, but he has displayed good form so far in Memphis.
Who will win the French Open? Will older war horses Federer and Sharapova prevail in a triumph of patience and tenacity over the youth and quickness of Djokovic and Errani on the red clay of Roland Garros? Set your DVR's and find out.
Oh, there's an Eastern Conference final game seven between the Celtics and the Heat in the NBA, but only a fool would doubt its outcome and actually watch all two hours of action. Just fast forward to the trophy ceremony, where a carefully cultivated new and improved good-guy-imaged LeBron James will thank the city of Cleveland for his professional start.
Friday, June 8, 2012
Friday, June 1, 2012
2012 Indianapolis 500: A Win-Win For Most, But Not All
With the winds of NBA wars grabbing headlines, last weekend was refreshing in presenting an event that has recouped much of it lost prestige. Even the ratings that came out Tuesday showed a 4.38 share, up .32 from last year and the most-watched race since 2008. That's a huge victory for IZOD Indycar.
The race could not have been more successful as a sports spectacular. First, there were crashes. Clean crashes with no serious injuries. Dramatic crashes as in the last lap of the race. Second, there was drama, with an all-time record of lead changes due to the equality of the cars and the advantages of drafting from behind. Third, there was class, with a gracious international winner and his movie-star wife saying all the right things at the right time. Fourth, there were legends, with the presence of Mario Andretti and A. J. Foyt (see last week's post on their incredible status) in the pit area.
However, there were a few losers. Takumo Sato tried to pass Dario Franchitti on the last lap. That's not so bad, but he tried to do it on turn one, not a straightaway. Even though it was his third race at Indy, it was a rookie move. Later, he whined that Franchitti squeezed him down to the apron, where his car got loose and he spun out. Franchitti did what any driver who wanted to win would do: he kept his position, his line, in the turn and wouldn't give way. The only person I felt bad about there was David Letterman, who is a co-owner of Sato's driving team.
Another loser was Roger Penske. His cars may have been faster in the time trials, but they were not tuned as well for the long haul. Chip Ganassi's team finished one-two, with Franchitti and Scott Dixon.
It's hard to say Lotus was a loser, even though both Lotus cars were black-flagged in the first ten laps for failing to have a competitive speed. Why? The Indy 500 was far richer for having three manufacturers of engines (Honda/Chevy/Lotus) rather than the Honda monopoly. With its illustrious history, Lotus will only get better if it wants to.
While the viewer was a winner, he was also a loser for being inundated with scores of commercials, most with a 30/70 "split-screen" where the ad dominated, but some that were full ads, and driving time was missed. Please, bring back the closed circuit theatres or pay-per-view option so the race can be watched without interruption.
As usual, the ABC/ESPN broadcasting team was exceptional. A little more Brent Musberger would have been okay in my book.
Still, the Indy 500 is back, and that's good news for racing fans everywhere.
The race could not have been more successful as a sports spectacular. First, there were crashes. Clean crashes with no serious injuries. Dramatic crashes as in the last lap of the race. Second, there was drama, with an all-time record of lead changes due to the equality of the cars and the advantages of drafting from behind. Third, there was class, with a gracious international winner and his movie-star wife saying all the right things at the right time. Fourth, there were legends, with the presence of Mario Andretti and A. J. Foyt (see last week's post on their incredible status) in the pit area.
However, there were a few losers. Takumo Sato tried to pass Dario Franchitti on the last lap. That's not so bad, but he tried to do it on turn one, not a straightaway. Even though it was his third race at Indy, it was a rookie move. Later, he whined that Franchitti squeezed him down to the apron, where his car got loose and he spun out. Franchitti did what any driver who wanted to win would do: he kept his position, his line, in the turn and wouldn't give way. The only person I felt bad about there was David Letterman, who is a co-owner of Sato's driving team.
Another loser was Roger Penske. His cars may have been faster in the time trials, but they were not tuned as well for the long haul. Chip Ganassi's team finished one-two, with Franchitti and Scott Dixon.
It's hard to say Lotus was a loser, even though both Lotus cars were black-flagged in the first ten laps for failing to have a competitive speed. Why? The Indy 500 was far richer for having three manufacturers of engines (Honda/Chevy/Lotus) rather than the Honda monopoly. With its illustrious history, Lotus will only get better if it wants to.
While the viewer was a winner, he was also a loser for being inundated with scores of commercials, most with a 30/70 "split-screen" where the ad dominated, but some that were full ads, and driving time was missed. Please, bring back the closed circuit theatres or pay-per-view option so the race can be watched without interruption.
As usual, the ABC/ESPN broadcasting team was exceptional. A little more Brent Musberger would have been okay in my book.
Still, the Indy 500 is back, and that's good news for racing fans everywhere.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
The Indianapolis 500: Salute the Living Legend on Memorial Day Weekend
Naturally, thoughts turn to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country on this holiday weekend. Thoughts even turn to those who lost their lives in pursuit of an Indy 500 checkered flag. A driver who won two, Dan Wheldon, will be remembered in a brief moment of silence before the 2012 race Sunday. It was Wheldon who was the sole fatality in the massive accident and wreckage at the Indy-car Las Vegas race last September.
This year I would rather remember the ultimate survivor at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I would rather remember A. J. Foyt. Why Foyt when there are other big-name survivors of the Golden Age of Indy, names such as Mario Andretti, Al Unser, Gordon Johncock, Johnny Rutherford, Bobby Unser, Tom Sneva, and Rick Mears? Bobby Unser had 19 starts at Indy, Johncock and Rutherford each had 24, Al Unser had 27, and Mario had 29. Impressive, right?
Foyt had 35 starts. That's right. Thirty-five starts, from 1958 to 1993, from age 23 to age 58. During that span, he had 17 top ten finishes, including 10 top five. Like Al Unser and Rick Mears, he retired from Indy with four wins, his coming in 1961, '64, '67, and '77. Lest you think his reflexes declined after his last win, think again. He finished second in 1989 at age 54. Truth be told, he didn't have the best machines in his last 15 years at Indy. As boss of his own garage, he has to take some of the blame for that.
Just don't blame his driving instincts. More than John Wayne, Foyt was true grit. Could he be a bully on the track? Absolutely. Fear or be feared, Foyt chose the latter. He had no patience for driver error, especially rookie driver error. In later years, Foyt would provide comedy relief on a semi-regular basis, launching into rants against the incompetence that wrecked him: mechanical failure or driver blunder. His ego remained larger than his ever-expanding girth.
However, Foyt is a survivor. During those same 35 years at Indy, four drivers died during the race, including two in spectacular fireball fashion in 1964. Another nine drivers died during practice or qualifying in that same timeframe.
Keep in mind that when Foyt began his career, Indy was at its most dangerous. Safety fuel and safety suits didn't exist. Three years before Foyt's first race, the great driver Bill Vukovich died while leading at Indy. From about 1962 to 1982, safety was always playing catch-up with the greater speed of the vehicular machines.
Did that ever make Foyt shy away from the gladiatorial arena? No. A. J. relished the thrill of speed, competition, and victory. To his way of thinking, he was too good to ever get caught in a bad accident. Sure, he knew this was a ruse, self-delusion. The fact he knew how thin the line was between life and death at Indy just makes his courage all the greater.
Some network execs fret that the Indianapolis 500 ratings in 2012 will dip due to the absence of Danica Patrick and Dan Wheldon. Those who know anything about racing and the racing public, including a man named A. J. Foyt, realize that the race should enjoy higher ratings. Why? After Wheldon's death in a huge multi-car accident, the thrill and risk have been highlighted again. It was a risk Foyt managed for over 40 years of racing, and 35 at Indy.
To paraphrase The Godfather, Don Foyt, we salute you.
This year I would rather remember the ultimate survivor at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I would rather remember A. J. Foyt. Why Foyt when there are other big-name survivors of the Golden Age of Indy, names such as Mario Andretti, Al Unser, Gordon Johncock, Johnny Rutherford, Bobby Unser, Tom Sneva, and Rick Mears? Bobby Unser had 19 starts at Indy, Johncock and Rutherford each had 24, Al Unser had 27, and Mario had 29. Impressive, right?
Foyt had 35 starts. That's right. Thirty-five starts, from 1958 to 1993, from age 23 to age 58. During that span, he had 17 top ten finishes, including 10 top five. Like Al Unser and Rick Mears, he retired from Indy with four wins, his coming in 1961, '64, '67, and '77. Lest you think his reflexes declined after his last win, think again. He finished second in 1989 at age 54. Truth be told, he didn't have the best machines in his last 15 years at Indy. As boss of his own garage, he has to take some of the blame for that.
Just don't blame his driving instincts. More than John Wayne, Foyt was true grit. Could he be a bully on the track? Absolutely. Fear or be feared, Foyt chose the latter. He had no patience for driver error, especially rookie driver error. In later years, Foyt would provide comedy relief on a semi-regular basis, launching into rants against the incompetence that wrecked him: mechanical failure or driver blunder. His ego remained larger than his ever-expanding girth.
However, Foyt is a survivor. During those same 35 years at Indy, four drivers died during the race, including two in spectacular fireball fashion in 1964. Another nine drivers died during practice or qualifying in that same timeframe.
Keep in mind that when Foyt began his career, Indy was at its most dangerous. Safety fuel and safety suits didn't exist. Three years before Foyt's first race, the great driver Bill Vukovich died while leading at Indy. From about 1962 to 1982, safety was always playing catch-up with the greater speed of the vehicular machines.
Did that ever make Foyt shy away from the gladiatorial arena? No. A. J. relished the thrill of speed, competition, and victory. To his way of thinking, he was too good to ever get caught in a bad accident. Sure, he knew this was a ruse, self-delusion. The fact he knew how thin the line was between life and death at Indy just makes his courage all the greater.
Some network execs fret that the Indianapolis 500 ratings in 2012 will dip due to the absence of Danica Patrick and Dan Wheldon. Those who know anything about racing and the racing public, including a man named A. J. Foyt, realize that the race should enjoy higher ratings. Why? After Wheldon's death in a huge multi-car accident, the thrill and risk have been highlighted again. It was a risk Foyt managed for over 40 years of racing, and 35 at Indy.
To paraphrase The Godfather, Don Foyt, we salute you.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
The Week Ending April 24: Oscar Robertson Reminds All of NBA's Golden Age
Make no mistake about it: the Big O stands for more than a quality national tire shop chain. The Big O stands for Oscar Robertson, one of the greatest players ever in the history of the NBA. How great was he back in the day? For an entire season, he averaged a triple-double. As a big guard, he could shoot, pass it off, rebound, and play defense.
More importantly, he shined at a time when showboating was discouraged. He played hard on both ends of the court all the time. He was Bill Russell and John Havlicek, but without the championship banners. Apart from Jerry Lucas, the Royals were not loaded with other superstar talent. Robertson only played with true greatness at the tail end of his career, while with the Milwaukee Bucks and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar/Lew Alcindor.
He spent his energy on the court, not in the courts. He worked out in the gyms, not the nightclubs. He was a man's man, but didn't beat his chest or have an entourage of leeches.
The Big O remains a great representative of the Golden Age of the NBA. One can only wonder what he really thinks of the pampered stars of today's league, where traveling is almost never called in the service of spectacular drives to the hoop and slam dunks. Since he's a true gentleman, the public will probably never know.
More importantly, he shined at a time when showboating was discouraged. He played hard on both ends of the court all the time. He was Bill Russell and John Havlicek, but without the championship banners. Apart from Jerry Lucas, the Royals were not loaded with other superstar talent. Robertson only played with true greatness at the tail end of his career, while with the Milwaukee Bucks and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar/Lew Alcindor.
He spent his energy on the court, not in the courts. He worked out in the gyms, not the nightclubs. He was a man's man, but didn't beat his chest or have an entourage of leeches.
The Big O remains a great representative of the Golden Age of the NBA. One can only wonder what he really thinks of the pampered stars of today's league, where traveling is almost never called in the service of spectacular drives to the hoop and slam dunks. Since he's a true gentleman, the public will probably never know.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
The Week Ending April 17: Motor Racing, Hockey, and Baseball Are Up, but Golf and College Football Are Down
As predicted last September, open-wheel motor racing in America has been given a stiff boost in the ratings and in live attendance this season. NBCSports announced that its ratings and number of viewers for the Long Beach IndyCar Series race was up 45% over the 2011 race. You can thank the Las Vegas bloodbath and Dan Wheldon tragedy for that. Some people do watch for the uber-crashes. The Indy 500 will have better ratings as well.
If you're a fan of the MLB, particularly if you're from the West and a fan of baseball, it was a good week. The Dodgers, under new ownership for the most part, had an uneventful home opener thanks to beefed-up security, including undercover officers dressed in opposition-team gear. Better yet, the Dodgers burst out to a 9-1 start.
Arizona fans have plenty to cheer about. They started with a three-game sweep of the Giants, and stand in second place at 7-4. Even the Giants recovered from their rocky Phoenix launch, winning 5 of the next 8. Pitchers Cain, Zito, and Bumgarner look good. Lincecum has lost all 3 of his starts, looking bad.
What else is good about baseball? Detroit is off to a great 9-1 start, and Washington, St. Louis, and Texas also look good so far. For haters of enabled dynasties, the Yankees are only playing .500 ball, and the Red Sox already have locker room turmoil. Finally, like golf, baseball embraces middle-aged athletes. Last night, Jamie Moyer of the Rockies became the oldest pitcher at age 49 to win a game. Ever. In the history of Major League Baseball. Even though the MLB still has plenty of problems inherent in its flawed free agency system, the league is off to a really good start.
What's good about the NHL? Can you spell playoffs? Fists are flying, bodies are hurling and hurtling, and the pace is intense--for all three periods. Best of all, the L.A. Kings jumped out to a 3-0 advantage over the mighty Vancouver Canucks, while the Phoenix Coyotes hold a surprising 2-1 lead over the powerful Chicago Blackhawks in a series where each game has gone into overtime. Since the San Jose Sharks won the thrilling double-overtime opener against the St. Louis Blues, they have fallen twice. Intense. It would be nice to see a Canadian team advance to the Stanley Cup Finals. Go Ottawa!
The last big-winner sport of the week was the NFL, where they dominated sports radio and TV with the release of the 2012 NFL season schedule. It's just a schedule!
I get an uneasy feeling when I see star players of the NBA being rested due to so-called injuries. Sometimes it's done so the athletes have fresher legs for the play-offs. Worse, sometimes it's done so the cellar-dweller teams have a better shot at a high lottery pick in the draft. Kobe Bryant hasn't played for the Lakers in 7 consecutive games. Marcus Thornton and Tyreke Evans have missed plenty of games with nagging injuries for the Sacramento Kings.
Good news in the NBA? The "deal" to build a new arena in downtown Sacramento has fallen apart. Yes, the team owners handled it poorly, but they were right to pull out. Struggling Sacramento doesn't have the corporate base to support a new arena with more luxury suites and higher ticket prices in general. Plus, even with AEG's help, the city can't afford to finance the projected $390 million showcase.
Other good news? Immature antics by Dwight Howard and Andrew Bynum cannot blemish the effort that most teams are making to win games, consequential or otherwise. Last Sunday, the Kings had a thrilling come-from-behind victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, 104-103, thanks to a Marcus Thornton jumper in the last 10 seconds. Both teams are going nowhere, but players like DeMarcus Cousins, Tyreke Evans, Thornton, and Isaiah Thomas of the Kings and Raymond Felton, Wesley Matthews, and J.J. Hixson of the Trail Blazers were hitting the throttle all game at 110%.
Other sports had less successful weeks. The five starters from national champion Kentucky announced they are entering the NBA draft. So much for continuity in college basketball.
Bobby Petrino's ridiculous motorcycle crash and subsequent mistress revelation and termination of his head coaching gig at Arkansas was karma for a coach who had broken hearts at Louisville of the Big East and Atlanta of the NFL. That was nothing compared to the announcement coming out of NCAA football meetings that new post-season format options, one of which would take effect in 2014, will not be revealed until later in the year. So much for integrity in BCS-level college football.
One week after professional golf's triumphant return to the top of the spectator sports pile, the PGA tour put on display one of its sorriest excuses for a competition. Don't fault the course at Hilton Head or the television coverage: they both sparkled. Blame the field, the leaders, and the lack of drama on Sunday.
The RBC Heritage was not a classic, and its field reflected two problems the PGA has to contend with. First, it has competition with the European tour to draw the top names. Thirty years ago, this wasn't a problem because the old world tour didn't have the payouts or a similar level of play to compete with the PGA. The international game has dramatically improved, as witness the string of majors won by non-Americans before Keegan Bradley and Bubba Watson restored American pride. Since the "Crash of '07," the American dollar lost its world prestige and strength. While the dollar has rallied of late, the infusion of mega-wealth from Russia, China, and the Middle East has made the Euro Tour more alluring, although purses remain on average about 60% of PGA payouts. What is less often mentioned is the under-the-table appearance fee money which certain tournaments and sponsors send to players like Tiger Woods, in order to boost the gate and prestige of their own events a half-world away.
Second, if the PGA is not competing with the European Tour for top talent on a weekly basis (besides the three majors and three golf championships in its schedule), it is competing with its own success and sponsors, as top names can afford to compete just once a month and still make a very comfortable living. It's akin to having Tom Bradley or Peyton Manning play only every third week during the season. A better analogy? It's akin to having the Miami Heat, the Boston Celtics, and the Oklahoma City Thunder fail to show for every other game because they need the rest, don't like the away arenas scheduled, or have commitments with sponsors for special corporate weekends, weeknight seminars, or customer meet-and-greets. Appalling.
It is five weeks between the Masters Tournament and the Players Championship in mid-May. Yet, that is the next time the PGA field will be at full strength. Forty years ago, even the stars played three weeks a month.
One solution? As I've suggested before, the European tour and the PGA tour should agree to add two more majors to the schedule, strategically placed. For example, an Asian championship in May or September and a Southern Hemisphere championship in February or March.
Another problem with the RBC Heritage? The leaders over the weekend looked like stomach-bypass candidates. Carl Petersson and Colt Knost make John Daly and Craig Stadler look positively Ethiopian by comparison. Perhaps they are sponsored by Dunkin' Donuts. It's one thing to say part of golf's appeal is that anyone can win, but that display in Hilton Head was not what networks and their sponsors had in mind. Fortunately, Knost self-destructed on Sunday and wound up in third place, allowing normal-looking Zach Johnson to claim second. Unfortunately, Petersson's deft play on Sunday provided zero drama. The Swedish-born U.S. citizen won by five strokes.
Praise should go out to players like Luke Donald, Jim Furyk, Kevin Na, Matt Kuchar, Trevor Immelman, Jason Dufner, and Geoff Ogilvy for not skipping the event directly following the Masters.
Louis Oosthuizen also deserves great praise for winning the Malaysian Open after suffering a disappointing playoff loss at the Masters the week before.
If you're a fan of the MLB, particularly if you're from the West and a fan of baseball, it was a good week. The Dodgers, under new ownership for the most part, had an uneventful home opener thanks to beefed-up security, including undercover officers dressed in opposition-team gear. Better yet, the Dodgers burst out to a 9-1 start.
Arizona fans have plenty to cheer about. They started with a three-game sweep of the Giants, and stand in second place at 7-4. Even the Giants recovered from their rocky Phoenix launch, winning 5 of the next 8. Pitchers Cain, Zito, and Bumgarner look good. Lincecum has lost all 3 of his starts, looking bad.
What else is good about baseball? Detroit is off to a great 9-1 start, and Washington, St. Louis, and Texas also look good so far. For haters of enabled dynasties, the Yankees are only playing .500 ball, and the Red Sox already have locker room turmoil. Finally, like golf, baseball embraces middle-aged athletes. Last night, Jamie Moyer of the Rockies became the oldest pitcher at age 49 to win a game. Ever. In the history of Major League Baseball. Even though the MLB still has plenty of problems inherent in its flawed free agency system, the league is off to a really good start.
What's good about the NHL? Can you spell playoffs? Fists are flying, bodies are hurling and hurtling, and the pace is intense--for all three periods. Best of all, the L.A. Kings jumped out to a 3-0 advantage over the mighty Vancouver Canucks, while the Phoenix Coyotes hold a surprising 2-1 lead over the powerful Chicago Blackhawks in a series where each game has gone into overtime. Since the San Jose Sharks won the thrilling double-overtime opener against the St. Louis Blues, they have fallen twice. Intense. It would be nice to see a Canadian team advance to the Stanley Cup Finals. Go Ottawa!
The last big-winner sport of the week was the NFL, where they dominated sports radio and TV with the release of the 2012 NFL season schedule. It's just a schedule!
I get an uneasy feeling when I see star players of the NBA being rested due to so-called injuries. Sometimes it's done so the athletes have fresher legs for the play-offs. Worse, sometimes it's done so the cellar-dweller teams have a better shot at a high lottery pick in the draft. Kobe Bryant hasn't played for the Lakers in 7 consecutive games. Marcus Thornton and Tyreke Evans have missed plenty of games with nagging injuries for the Sacramento Kings.
Good news in the NBA? The "deal" to build a new arena in downtown Sacramento has fallen apart. Yes, the team owners handled it poorly, but they were right to pull out. Struggling Sacramento doesn't have the corporate base to support a new arena with more luxury suites and higher ticket prices in general. Plus, even with AEG's help, the city can't afford to finance the projected $390 million showcase.
Other good news? Immature antics by Dwight Howard and Andrew Bynum cannot blemish the effort that most teams are making to win games, consequential or otherwise. Last Sunday, the Kings had a thrilling come-from-behind victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, 104-103, thanks to a Marcus Thornton jumper in the last 10 seconds. Both teams are going nowhere, but players like DeMarcus Cousins, Tyreke Evans, Thornton, and Isaiah Thomas of the Kings and Raymond Felton, Wesley Matthews, and J.J. Hixson of the Trail Blazers were hitting the throttle all game at 110%.
Other sports had less successful weeks. The five starters from national champion Kentucky announced they are entering the NBA draft. So much for continuity in college basketball.
Bobby Petrino's ridiculous motorcycle crash and subsequent mistress revelation and termination of his head coaching gig at Arkansas was karma for a coach who had broken hearts at Louisville of the Big East and Atlanta of the NFL. That was nothing compared to the announcement coming out of NCAA football meetings that new post-season format options, one of which would take effect in 2014, will not be revealed until later in the year. So much for integrity in BCS-level college football.
One week after professional golf's triumphant return to the top of the spectator sports pile, the PGA tour put on display one of its sorriest excuses for a competition. Don't fault the course at Hilton Head or the television coverage: they both sparkled. Blame the field, the leaders, and the lack of drama on Sunday.
The RBC Heritage was not a classic, and its field reflected two problems the PGA has to contend with. First, it has competition with the European tour to draw the top names. Thirty years ago, this wasn't a problem because the old world tour didn't have the payouts or a similar level of play to compete with the PGA. The international game has dramatically improved, as witness the string of majors won by non-Americans before Keegan Bradley and Bubba Watson restored American pride. Since the "Crash of '07," the American dollar lost its world prestige and strength. While the dollar has rallied of late, the infusion of mega-wealth from Russia, China, and the Middle East has made the Euro Tour more alluring, although purses remain on average about 60% of PGA payouts. What is less often mentioned is the under-the-table appearance fee money which certain tournaments and sponsors send to players like Tiger Woods, in order to boost the gate and prestige of their own events a half-world away.
Second, if the PGA is not competing with the European Tour for top talent on a weekly basis (besides the three majors and three golf championships in its schedule), it is competing with its own success and sponsors, as top names can afford to compete just once a month and still make a very comfortable living. It's akin to having Tom Bradley or Peyton Manning play only every third week during the season. A better analogy? It's akin to having the Miami Heat, the Boston Celtics, and the Oklahoma City Thunder fail to show for every other game because they need the rest, don't like the away arenas scheduled, or have commitments with sponsors for special corporate weekends, weeknight seminars, or customer meet-and-greets. Appalling.
It is five weeks between the Masters Tournament and the Players Championship in mid-May. Yet, that is the next time the PGA field will be at full strength. Forty years ago, even the stars played three weeks a month.
One solution? As I've suggested before, the European tour and the PGA tour should agree to add two more majors to the schedule, strategically placed. For example, an Asian championship in May or September and a Southern Hemisphere championship in February or March.
Another problem with the RBC Heritage? The leaders over the weekend looked like stomach-bypass candidates. Carl Petersson and Colt Knost make John Daly and Craig Stadler look positively Ethiopian by comparison. Perhaps they are sponsored by Dunkin' Donuts. It's one thing to say part of golf's appeal is that anyone can win, but that display in Hilton Head was not what networks and their sponsors had in mind. Fortunately, Knost self-destructed on Sunday and wound up in third place, allowing normal-looking Zach Johnson to claim second. Unfortunately, Petersson's deft play on Sunday provided zero drama. The Swedish-born U.S. citizen won by five strokes.
Praise should go out to players like Luke Donald, Jim Furyk, Kevin Na, Matt Kuchar, Trevor Immelman, Jason Dufner, and Geoff Ogilvy for not skipping the event directly following the Masters.
Louis Oosthuizen also deserves great praise for winning the Malaysian Open after suffering a disappointing playoff loss at the Masters the week before.
Friday, April 13, 2012
The Masters 2012: Golf Moves to the Head of the Class
Argue all you want over which sport boasts the greatest athletes. There is no argument over which sport boasts the greatest drama. The Masters at Augusta National Golf Club last weekend proved once again that golf wins that contest like Secretariat won the Belmont Stakes in 1973: by over thirty lengths.
In an era where valid arguments and cogent observations reduce the once-magnificent sports of Major League Baseball(rampant free agency, labor strikes, major market favoritism, guaranteed contracts), NBA basketball (rampant free agency, labor strife, major market favoritism, uncoachable players), NCAA football (the unjust BCS system, coaching scandals, illegal recruiting), and NCAA basketball (the one-and-done farcical rule, illegal recruiting, egomaniacal coaches, undisciplined players) to rubble, professional golf and, to a lesser extent, NHL hockey and NFL football shine.
To loosely paraphrase Charles Dickens, it is the best of times and it is the best of times in the 2012 world of professional golf. Representing the old guard at Augusta, Fred Couples was a co-leader after 36 holes before winding up with an honorable 12th-place tie after 72. Representing American superstars, Phil Mickelson was a co-leader after 54 holes before ending up in an honorable 3rd-place tie after 72. Representing international superstars, Lee Westwood played steady and closed strong, finishing in a 3rd-place tie with Mickelson. Representing golf's new wave, America's Bubba Watson and South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen dueled to the end, where the spectacular but inconsistent Watson proved steadier than the steady and less spectacular (when he's not landing double-eagles) Oosthuizen in a two-hole playoff for his first major championship.
On a beautiful but tough golf course, it was beautiful to watch pre-tournament favorites Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy crash and burn, both having to settle for a 40th-place tie. It was beautiful to see great players struggle and hit average or substandard shots. There were plenty of those.
What else was striking about the Masters? While the foreign invasion was never more prevalent, including 7 of the top 10 finishers hailing from parts beyond American shores, American Bubba and American Patrick Cantlay took the pro and amateur crowns, respectively. Both champs were refreshingly humble and soft-spoken in Butler Cabin. The television coverage was near-perfect, as was the weather after the first day.
While other sports have talent pools diluted through expansion. negligent coaching, or sloppy fundamentals, golf's talent pool continues to improve and increase. Augusta National is now over 7400 yards long, but 18 players finished under par.
What else was special about the Masters? Three of the greatest all-time golfers were honorary starters: Arnold Palmer ('58, '60, '62, '64), Gary Player ('61, '74, '78), and Jack Nicklaus ('63, '65, '66, '72, '75, '86). Palmer had 8 other top 10 finishes, Player had 12 other top 10 finishes, and Nicklaus had 16 other top 10 finishes, including a tie for 6th in 1998 at age 58.
True, Nicklaus was the best of the best in consistency, longevity, and skills, but his game face more resembled the serious or dour faces of earlier legends Ben Hogan and Sam Snead. Palmer, Player, and a guy named Lee Trevino (who never could conquer Augusta) were the most important golfers to the growth of the game as television coverage took off. They had charisma; they still have it.
Guess what? Tiger Woods still has charisma, and he still boosts ratings--even when he's kicking an iron in the rough.
Bubba Watson could be the best news to hit the PGA tour since Tiger, as far as sponsors and American networks are concerned. A wild gambler off the tee and in the fairways, he's one of the longest hitters on the tour. Unlike John Daly, Watson's off-the-links life is far more restrained. Apart from great coaching he received at the University of Georgia, Bubba's pretty much self-taught and refreshingly lacks a swing coach. He drives a car made famous in a Deep South television series. In a sport where names like Davis Love III and Charles Howell III are not uncommon, he sticks with Bubba. He does dorky music videos with his golfing pals.
One can only hope he retains the rough edges against the advice of the inevitable new and more numerous corporate handlers. In that respect, Bubba Watson reminds one of Jay Leno in the '70s and '80s when the comedian flaunted his razor-sharp wit: unorthodox, brilliant, and carefree. We all know what happened to Jay.
Will Bubba become a multiple majors champ and superstar like Palmer, Player, Nicklaus, and that other famous golfing Watson, Tom, or will he be a one-major wonder? Will he change or be changed? That developing storyline only adds to the drama which is professional golf in 2012 and beyond.
In an era where valid arguments and cogent observations reduce the once-magnificent sports of Major League Baseball(rampant free agency, labor strikes, major market favoritism, guaranteed contracts), NBA basketball (rampant free agency, labor strife, major market favoritism, uncoachable players), NCAA football (the unjust BCS system, coaching scandals, illegal recruiting), and NCAA basketball (the one-and-done farcical rule, illegal recruiting, egomaniacal coaches, undisciplined players) to rubble, professional golf and, to a lesser extent, NHL hockey and NFL football shine.
To loosely paraphrase Charles Dickens, it is the best of times and it is the best of times in the 2012 world of professional golf. Representing the old guard at Augusta, Fred Couples was a co-leader after 36 holes before winding up with an honorable 12th-place tie after 72. Representing American superstars, Phil Mickelson was a co-leader after 54 holes before ending up in an honorable 3rd-place tie after 72. Representing international superstars, Lee Westwood played steady and closed strong, finishing in a 3rd-place tie with Mickelson. Representing golf's new wave, America's Bubba Watson and South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen dueled to the end, where the spectacular but inconsistent Watson proved steadier than the steady and less spectacular (when he's not landing double-eagles) Oosthuizen in a two-hole playoff for his first major championship.
On a beautiful but tough golf course, it was beautiful to watch pre-tournament favorites Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy crash and burn, both having to settle for a 40th-place tie. It was beautiful to see great players struggle and hit average or substandard shots. There were plenty of those.
What else was striking about the Masters? While the foreign invasion was never more prevalent, including 7 of the top 10 finishers hailing from parts beyond American shores, American Bubba and American Patrick Cantlay took the pro and amateur crowns, respectively. Both champs were refreshingly humble and soft-spoken in Butler Cabin. The television coverage was near-perfect, as was the weather after the first day.
While other sports have talent pools diluted through expansion. negligent coaching, or sloppy fundamentals, golf's talent pool continues to improve and increase. Augusta National is now over 7400 yards long, but 18 players finished under par.
What else was special about the Masters? Three of the greatest all-time golfers were honorary starters: Arnold Palmer ('58, '60, '62, '64), Gary Player ('61, '74, '78), and Jack Nicklaus ('63, '65, '66, '72, '75, '86). Palmer had 8 other top 10 finishes, Player had 12 other top 10 finishes, and Nicklaus had 16 other top 10 finishes, including a tie for 6th in 1998 at age 58.
True, Nicklaus was the best of the best in consistency, longevity, and skills, but his game face more resembled the serious or dour faces of earlier legends Ben Hogan and Sam Snead. Palmer, Player, and a guy named Lee Trevino (who never could conquer Augusta) were the most important golfers to the growth of the game as television coverage took off. They had charisma; they still have it.
Guess what? Tiger Woods still has charisma, and he still boosts ratings--even when he's kicking an iron in the rough.
Bubba Watson could be the best news to hit the PGA tour since Tiger, as far as sponsors and American networks are concerned. A wild gambler off the tee and in the fairways, he's one of the longest hitters on the tour. Unlike John Daly, Watson's off-the-links life is far more restrained. Apart from great coaching he received at the University of Georgia, Bubba's pretty much self-taught and refreshingly lacks a swing coach. He drives a car made famous in a Deep South television series. In a sport where names like Davis Love III and Charles Howell III are not uncommon, he sticks with Bubba. He does dorky music videos with his golfing pals.
One can only hope he retains the rough edges against the advice of the inevitable new and more numerous corporate handlers. In that respect, Bubba Watson reminds one of Jay Leno in the '70s and '80s when the comedian flaunted his razor-sharp wit: unorthodox, brilliant, and carefree. We all know what happened to Jay.
Will Bubba become a multiple majors champ and superstar like Palmer, Player, Nicklaus, and that other famous golfing Watson, Tom, or will he be a one-major wonder? Will he change or be changed? That developing storyline only adds to the drama which is professional golf in 2012 and beyond.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
NCAA March Madness Week Three: Observations
The NCAA men's basketball tournament is now history, fortunately. There were no buzzer beaters or cinderellas during Final Four weekend. There were tough hardcourt battles, as the refs did let them play again. Sportstalk radio hosts were confounded by Rick Pitino's absence from the Hall of Fame: how amusing! True, Pitino is a great basketball coach and a decent recruiter on the college level (proven once again last weekend), but his rocky experiences in the NBA and the fact he's a horrible human being do work against him.
Not surprisingly, Kentucky's superior talent crushed Louisville and Kansas. Surprisingly, the less-talented Jayhawks of Kansas inched by Ohio State in the other semi, 64-62. How big of an upset was it? The officiating crew and the network were pulling for the Buckeyes. How do I know this? Kansas may be basketball royalty, but the school doesn't pull the same numbers as the massive Ohio State fan base. Also, Clark Kellogg, CBS Final Four game analyst, is not only a highly-decorated former Buckeye, but he sits on the school's board of trustees! Although a Houston alum, polished pro broadcaster Jim Nantz resides in Connecticut, loves his TV partner Kellogg, and loves golf. Jack Nicklaus is from Ohio State. Need I say more? The network's third man in the booth, Steve Kerr, provided the broadcast's only balance.
Not surprisingly, Kentucky's superior talent crushed Louisville and Kansas. Surprisingly, the less-talented Jayhawks of Kansas inched by Ohio State in the other semi, 64-62. How big of an upset was it? The officiating crew and the network were pulling for the Buckeyes. How do I know this? Kansas may be basketball royalty, but the school doesn't pull the same numbers as the massive Ohio State fan base. Also, Clark Kellogg, CBS Final Four game analyst, is not only a highly-decorated former Buckeye, but he sits on the school's board of trustees! Although a Houston alum, polished pro broadcaster Jim Nantz resides in Connecticut, loves his TV partner Kellogg, and loves golf. Jack Nicklaus is from Ohio State. Need I say more? The network's third man in the booth, Steve Kerr, provided the broadcast's only balance.
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