Jack’s Blog

Many of the names occupying the sports pages recently have been old favorites, some still working, some looking for employment and some deciding that maybe now’s the time to hang ‘em up.

Lance Armstrong gave the two-wheeler one last shot and found it might be time to just make commercials - on a stationary bike.  Did he give the Tour de France one last go because he thought he could actually win it?  If anyone would know, it’s Lance - no one’s won that race more.  Or, was he trying to prove to his accusers he could, at his age, win it all, squash all speculation of PEDS, end in yellow, kiss girls (at the end of the race) and ride off into the sunset - in low gear?  Whatever, it didn’t end that way.

One “elderly” chap - a true fans’ favorite (as well as a popular guy among his peers), John Daly, turned heads at the course where golf was invented - at least according to the inhabitants there.  Ol’ JD sported some pants that made him impossible to ignore and his play spoke as loudly as his drawers.  If anyone was looking for a comeback story, St. Andrews was a good place to start.

St. Paul might be home to another comeback story.  Maybe it’s not a comeback tale as much as it is a never leave one.  Brett Favre looks like he’ll be in purple & gold again this season.  The only debate surrounding Favre is whether he needs the additional time to heal or whether he’s just trying to avoid training camp.  Who cares?  His job is one where he is pampered nearly every day of his working life - except for the one day a week he poses as a human pinata.  If you think his decision is nerve-racking, how would you like to be his backup?

Another pigskin prodigy (or is the term pigheaded) is Terrell Owens.  He claims he is ready to play and, love him or hate him, one thing that’s never in question is his body.  If no one picks him up (which would be for a variety of reasons, all non-talent related), he ought to forget reality TV - in which he displays a very spoiled, hate-able side - and head up America’s War on Obesity.  Have those kids follow TO around and they’ll be in shape in no time.  What else they’ll become is another matter.

Another old warrior - and reality TV star - looking for work is Shaquille O’Neal.  He might be encountering some of the same issues TO is.  A talented guy who grabs more attention that his current ability warrants, Shaq has a couple of problems to deal with that Owens doesn’t - due to the demands of his sport.  While TO is still a serviceable wide receiver (although certainly not as prolific as he once was), Shaq has been exposed in recent years as a defensive liability anywhere outside of 15′ from the basket (especially in Cleveland), as someone a running team would have to wait for on offense (Phoenix) and a player a coach would rather not have on the floor at the end of a game if the team had a lead (everywhere).  Plus, the money he’s asking (demanding, begging) for might outprice him in the current market. 

Why is it guys seem to want to hang on so much longer?  The adulation can’t be the sole answer since many outstay their welcome and boos become more dominant that cheers at this stage of their career.  For my money - which ain’t much - the reason is that the key to a successful job is:

“Find something you love to do and get somebody to pay you to do it.”

It may be overstating the impact LeBron James’ shot to win Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals had, but I’m fairly sure there can’t be too many living people who haven’t at least heard about his near impossible accomplishment.  “Honey, can you go over and see what’s happening at the neighbor’s place - three houses down.  I heard some screaming that must have come from some sort of terrifying experience.  The noise level was so high I had to turn up the volume on our television because I couldn’t hear what the hosts of the Nature Channel were discussing.”

After Hedo Turgolu knocked down a more-than-just-difficult 14′ jumper with only one second left, it looked like the underdog Orlando Magic were going to put the Cleveland Cavaliers down 0-2 in the best-of-seven series (with both losses at home, something no team has ever come back from) and, in the process, deny the nation the Kobe-LeBron matchup everyone is clamoring for.  In a related story, production of the black armbands that the commissioner and all employees of the NBA office were going to wear (it’s been hinted that they wouldn’t have any objections if the NBA Championship came down to the Cavs vs. the Lakers) has been put on at least a temporary hold.

The reason for the majority of basketball fans’ delight, even though we all know the NBA office is completely unbiased - I mean does anyone really think David Stern has given any thought, much less made mention to anyone, that a Kobe-LeBron finals would outdraw one between Denver and Orlando?  Whoa, think of the enormous drop off of freak viewers the league would lose if that segment of society were denied seeing its poster child Chris Anderson - live and in living (hallucinatory) color. 

These two conference finals have been as thrilling a set of four games (although Thursday night’s game between LA and Denver, while close, was not a particularly well-played game) as I can ever remember.  Usually, there’s a game that one team leads from start to finish, with no intrigue - leaving viewers and the media with the comment, “Sure hope the next game will be more like the first one than this blowout.”

Possibly because I have done color commentary on both radio and television, I tend to pay more attention to, and thoroughly enjoy, the announcers and the guys in the studio than the average fan does.  An example is when someone who happened to grab the remote control decides to check on what’s happening on House during halftime and I go off.  Give me EJ, Jet and Chuck anytime over Dr. Gregory House, although I understand all to well how people can become addicted to vicodin (even if it doesn’t do much for me).

Since I tend to analyze every game I watch (some old habits die hard), pre- and post-game comments and, naturally, what half-time adjustments might be forthcoming, are easily as entertaining to me as the game itself is.  One thing that, as Peter Griffin says, “Grinds my gears” is when commentators share outrageous opinions (possibly because they feel they’re not getting enough air time or because they think people may see them as clever).

A perfect example was last night in Cleveland after Game 2 when LeBron hit the miracle shot to, at least temporarily, save the Cavs.  Reggie Miller made a statement, at first, insinuating that, although the shot James hit - with exactly one second left in the game - was a great shot, but one that would have been considerably more difficult had the defense played on him (ironically by Turgolu) been tougher.

This absolutely set off Kenny the Jet and Charles Barkley, who agreed (and it takes a statement as absurd as Miller’s to get those two to agree, since it isn’t exactly a recurring theme on the show) that the shot was defended as well as it could have been.  At first, when I heard Miller say it, I thought he was being facetious, as Turgolu seemed to do everything any coach, or teammate, would expect a defender to do in order to keep that man from scoring.

I don’t know how many people noticed it when the Magic’s coach Stan Van Gundy, at the post-game press conference said that they specifically told Turgolu to watch out for the lob first and foremost because, . . . and then Van Gundy named the three times Cleveland had used the lob play at the end of a game on a side out play (one of his references was as far back as the first half of the regular season).  This was something he or his staff had picked up while scouting the Cavs.  That alone should illustrate how hard these guys work and how well-prepared their teams are.  Sort of makes “Joe,” calling in from the West Side, sound foolish when he quotes some factoid (many times, it’s more like a ficton-oid regarding what the coaches should have done and why).  I often wonder whether Joe’s boss who is usually listening were to ask, “Joe, how come you know that, but their coaching staff, who are paid to know things like that, don’t?  Yet, there was your report that was due last week, you know, the one you haven’t turned in, because you said you  were swamped with work.  Wasn’t prioritizing one of the areas of improvement we discussed during your last evaluation?”

Back to Cheryl’s brother.  After hearing Van Gundy say that the defense played by Turgolu was just as they’d hoped, i.e. he took away the lob (possibly because a lob dunk to tie the game at the buzzer would have sent the crowd into a such a frenzy, it would have made winning in overtime so mentally and physically draining, it might not have been worth it), then he contested the shot, without fouling, Miller would still not back down from his preposterous criticism. 

As player after player mentioned the good defense Hedo played on LeBron, Reggie talked about how he allowed too much separation on LeBron.  Reminded that his first order of business was to take away the lob, Reggie then compounded his “I’m sticking to my guns even after everyone knows, including me, that I’m wrong.”  When Barkley said, looking at the video, that James pushed off Turgolu - and that’s how the separation occurred, Miller countered by saying that Hedo should have grabbed James’ arm!  The Jet chimed in on this one, reminding the NBA’s all-time leader in made three pointers that, in that situation, the number one rule not to be violated was, “Whatever you do, do not foul!”

Keep in mind, there was only one second to go in the game!  I don’t know of any NBA player - or, for that matter, any player who wouldn’t think, “Hey, I can play anybody for one second.  Miller’s reply was, “Come on, Kenny, you know that the referees aren’t going to make that call.  They’re going to swallow their whistles.”  Oh, sure, if they saw Turgolu grabbing his arm, they wouldn’t consider calling a foul on the Magic - in Cleveland?  With all the cameras and angles that are at the game?

Miller tried to win over his former NBA’ers in the studio by saying, “Charles, if you had that same opportunity - and that same look that LeBron had - you wouldn’t knock that shot down?  Sure, you would.  And so would you, Kenny.”

The more Reggie Miller talked, the more ridiculous he sounded.  I do not doubt for one instant that Reggie Miller knows he would make that shot in that same situation.  But it still reminded me of a guy I knew way back - during my high school days - when a youngster had no problem being that stubborn and would refuse to change his mind.  My buddy would say about these individuals:

“The only reason he opens his mouth is to change feet.”      Â

This year’s version of the Masters had excitement (a couple of “that might be the best shot of the tournament” moments) and drama (the first three-way playoff since ‘87), yet, after watching it, something still seemed to be lacking.

To start off the final day, one of the co-leaders was a 48-year old who, if he could somehow manage to win it, would be the oldest player to slip on the green jacket.  As if that wasn’t enough to keep people tuned in, Kenny Perry would become the oldest player to ever win a major!  He started the day at -11.

Golf is turning into must-see TV when Tiger Woods and his doppelganger, Phil Mickelson are playing and, going into the final day of this year’s Masters, the viewing public got just what they wanted - Tiger and Phil in the same twosome.  But it wasn’t the last twosome to tee off (they were each at -4 and had tee times an hour before the leaders, Kenny Perry and Angel Cabrera), so watching early was mandatory.  That turned out to be a good idea as Phil began the day with a a tournament-tying record 30 on the front nine with six birds and three pars (making the Phil-lovers and Tiger-haters orgasmic) but only meant Tiger had to post a better back nine score to keep all the groups glued to the set.  And, of course, he did (much to the delight of the TL’s and disdain of the PH’s - you figure it out). 

These two guys are both a unifying and polarizing force at once.  Huh?  Golf has basically, four groups of fans: those who love Tiger Woods, probably a majority of whom dislike Phil;  fans who love Phil Mickelson, with, similarly, a majority of those members being people who dislike El Tigre; a group of people who like both (Tiger & Phil usually are the numbers one and two players in the world) and lastly, the people who love golf for golf and neither like nor dislike either of the two any more or less than they do anyone else on Tour (with the exception of maybe a John Daly or a Rory Sabbatini).

Phil and Tiger each had eagle putts on 15, Tiger’s the longer (my guess, Tiger a 25′er and Phil a 5′er) with both putts being on the same line.  Phil watched Tiger as he hit, what Tiger thought was a perfect putt.  But Tiger read it to break right to left and it didn’t break at all.  Phil, admittedly (later on), was tentative after seeing Tiger’s putt which he also thought would break right to left, not break, so he, being on the same line, played his putt a bit left - which is exactly where it went - as it rolled by the hole.

Each made birdie, but lost a great opportunity to put intense pressure on the guys ahead of them (especially Phil, who, not only had the easier putt but, had he holed it, would have forged into a tie for the lead).  Though Tiger birdied the 16th to join Phil at -10, both bogey’d the final hole (Tiger bogey’d 17 as well).  Now, everything seemed kind of anti-climactic.

Wait!!!  We still have “the oldest man to ever win a” story - and Kenny Perry is still in the lead - even though, after 10 straight pars, he hit a perfect putt on 11 for birdie that somehow stopped an inch next to the hole.  It left everyone - TV viewers, fans in attendance, announcers and definitely, Perry, with mouths agape.  Maybe he was doomed to shoot all pars - which I don’t think would have bothered him the way the day was unfolding.  Except for what happened on the par 3 16th.  KP hit a tee shot that, after his follow through, started him walking toward it - a sign that allegedly says, “I just hit a really nice shot and can’t wait to get there and see how close it is.”  (A feeling that, unfortunately, I can’t ever remember experiencing).

It was a near hole-in-one (maybe by 6″), that Perry tapped in for birdie.  He now had a two shot lead with two shots to go.  All this while, (now that Tiger and Phil have completed their rounds), we found out there were others who were playing besides the two megastars and Kenny Perry.  Seriously, Chad Campbell had been sneaking up the past six or so holes and Perry’s playing partner, Angel Cabrera (the co-leader going into the final round), had been never out of reach, even though he’d hit an awful, leading a fan to believe he’d killed his chances, but then come back with a beauty of a golf shot and put himself right back into contention.  Not only that, but a golfer no one on TV had even mentioned (that’s what happens when Tiger and Phil are playing together and both are in contention), Shingo Katayama, had been quietly moving up the leader board (and would end the day alone, at -10, good for fourth, yet never was really a threat to win.

To sum up the Masters (after Tiger & Phil finished), Kenny Perry was far and away the crowd favorite - due to his age and the fact that his whole family - wife & three kids and a house full of relatives (they rented a large house to accomodate the group of twenty, yeah, 20) that traveled from Kenny’s native Kentucky to root him on.  If there was someone else the crowd might have been leaning toward, it would have been Chad Campbell, the Ryder Cupper from Texas, who’d made a furious push to get into a three-way playoff with Perry and Cabrera.

Yes, the storybook ending, a 48-year old, who not only would be the oldest to win a major, but, I failed to mention at the outset, it also would be his first major win, went out in a blaze of jumbled nerves, with a bogey-bogey on 17 & 18. 

On the first hole, Campbell, who’d been waiting (im)patiently to see if his services would be needed, came out, but missed a makeable putt on 18 (the first playoff hole) to eliminate himself.  On number 10 (the second playoff hole), Kenny Perry must have felt the weight of the world as his game completely abandoned him, as he hit an extremely poor drive which, for all intents and purposes, gave the Masters championship and the green jacket to an Argentinian Angel.  Cabrera speaks little English, understands more than he can speak, but has a terrific personality that really shows through on the course.  Still and all, for the Masters (played in good ol’ Augusta, GA), any American (save the two mentioned earlier) would be the odds on favorite to have the crowd pulling for him.  Maybe we do have a little pride in our country after all.  And, no, to those who say rooting for an American over someone who’s not from this country - just because he’s an American - is prejudiced, I say, “I’m not rooting for him because he’s an American; I’m rooting for him because I’m an American.”

Several afterthoughts on the 2009 edition of the Masters: Phil Jackson hit a ball in the water and Tiger Woods, caught in the rough behind trees, tried to hit one of those miraculous shots we’ve seen so many times, but in trying to do so, hit a tree (thunk!) and had his ball carom into another fairway.  I’m in the group that admires both of those champions, but it was an absolutely great feeling to see them actually hit shots like I do!  It makes playing golf worth it.  Usually guys like me try to emulate Tiger and Phil and only come up frustrated.  At Augusta, they emulated me!  It makes me feel like some kind of role model.

Another positive was for the country of Argentina, who had, just a few days ago, received the sad news that favorite son Manu Ginobli will be out for the Spurs for the entire NBA Playoffs.  That was offset (for the Argentinians, not Ginobli or San Antonio) by the fact one of their countrymen won the Masters golf tournament, a first for their country. 

In defeat, Kenny Perry was incredibly gracious (almost too much so) when he said, “Great players make it happen and average players don’t.  Angel got it done and I didn’t.”  He mentioned how in his career he’d had, realistically, chances to win only two majors and, each time, he lost (as opposed to getting beaten).  This is taking accountability to a little higher level than might be healthy.  Far be it from me to try psychiatry, but hearing his voice and disappointment in the post game interview, I can’t help but think that, as events start to turn south or maybe, even when all’s going fine, if he doesn’t begin to wonder when the roof’s going to cave in.

But, another statement Kenny Perry made, everyone should hear and think over and over again during these difficult days.  It has to do with a great deal of personal adversity he’s currently going through.  In regard to those hardships, he philosophically said:

“Here I am, playing golf for a living, and having the time of my life.”

John Daly’s latest outburst has many wondering if he’s finally hit rock bottom.  He claims former swing coach, Butch Harmon, who many consider the best in the business, “destroyed my life for a little bit.” 

Daly says Harmon lied about his antics, one of which was drinking at a Hooters’ tent and subsequently apologized to him about the remarks, telling Daly he would recant those statements.  For his part, Harmon merely said he told Daly he was sorry for Daly and his behavior, not what he (Harmon) had said and had not recanted the statements, nor had he any plans to do so.  In a thinly veiled threat, Daly said it would be best for Harmon to stay as far away from him as possible.

The John Daly story has been documented so many times, even non-golf fans can tell you who John Daly is.  Blessed with ungodly talent, he has put on displays of professional golf that left fans and experts spellbound.  He’s also put on displays of misconduct that left them with the same feeling.

His lifestyle, starting (and maybe eventually ending) with booze, gambling, an admitted sex addiction and simply outrageous behavior, e.g. playing a round topless (displaying a less than sculpted torso), has made many wonder why someone so talented would sabotage a career that had the potential of cracking the lists of all-time greats?  In dealing with the media, Daly makes public personal information most people in their right minds would never want anyone to know, shortcomings the average person would be seeking help to cure.  In some cases, he’s tried to cure them (three stops at the Betty Ford Clininc). 

John Daly is the original “Good Time Charlie.”  He just happens to have a ton more talent than Charlie could ever have wished for.  He’s lived life to the fullest - “acceptable behavior” and “moderation” be damned - and admits as much.  When this is “how you roll,” it shouldn’t come as a surprise that someone who tried to help you became frustrated.  Whether it’s called, he “told it like it was” or “destroyed my life a little,” the hurtful comments you felt ought to set you to reassessing your life - for the who-knows-how-many-eth-time. 

Vince Lombardi put it best:

“The quality of your life is directly proportional to your commitment to excellence.”