Jack’s Blog

Sometime, somewhere, somebody coined the phrase “the public’s right to know.”  I’ve never heard anyone take credit for it and, possibly, it’s because it’s a fraud invoked on the human race.  A quite popular fraud, but fraudulent nonetheless.

There are many areas of a celebrity’s life the public has a right to know, most of them dealing with whatever he or she does in his or her chosen profession and whether or not the celebrity in question has a police record.  Where and why the public has a right to know all the details of a person’s life (celebrity or common person) is something I’ve never had satisfactorily explained to me.

As far as Tiger Woods, the man was exposed as a womanizer and it has cost him dearly in areas such as the pocketbook (although I don’t believe he’ll be filing the short form come April), fan base (which, while it remains huge, has certainly been diminished by a great deal) and, by recent results, his game.   Worse, it has shown him to be vulnerable, i.e. human, something neither he nor his late father, Earl, would ever want to admit, as it might cause him to lose his edge.  Which, based on his play since his return, is the perfect adjective to describe what’s happened to him on the golf course.

What goes on behind closed doors, however, as long as it’s in within legal limits, is not, nor should it be, the right of the public.  In fact, there is no need for the general public to know - although a strong case could be made for its desire to know.

I’ve made my feelings known in previous posts (see 12/3/09/ & 2/20/10, in particular).  By gushing over every gory detail (fact or fiction), yet not adding anything substantial to their own lives, people are proving the line I first heard from my late, brilliant mentor, John Savage:

“You don’t strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.”

As far as Dustin Johnson’s two-stroke penalty in last weekend’s PGA tourney at Whistling Straits, there is plenty of fault to be spread around.  First and foremost, Johnson and his caddy should have read the rules.  After all, it is a major and how embarrassing would it be to get DQ’d (or assessed a two-stroke penalty) for not knowing what was and was not legal?

That’s a given.  Similar to when you don’t read the small print and the company sticks it to you on a formality.  What happened in Wisconsin reminded me of that commercial where the obnoxious guy screws over little kids on technicalities.  Now, Johnson’s (and his caddy’s - having been an assistant, which is basically what a caddie is, I know it’s one of your responsibilities to make sure these kinds of situations don’t happen) oversights are much worse than not reading the fine print - since his job performance depended on it.  Golf, however, prides itself on being a gentleman’s game, one that oozes dignity.  What transpired on Sunday was as close to a “gotcha” as what the GOP claimed Katie Couric did to Sarah Palin.

During the broadcast, the fact there were a ridiculous number of bunkers (1300 is the number that pops into my mind) was mentioned (bragged about?) numerous times.  Every shot from Snoopy’s blimp reminded those with short attention spans.  Seeing the players avoid them, for the most part, displayed the incredible skill they possessed.

In most sports, fouls or illegalities are called based on “advantage/disadvantage.”  Did what Johnson do give him an advantage or cause one of his opponents a disadvantage?   Granted, had the officials looked the other way, fans would have been shown replays of a player “obviously breaking a rule” and the officials would have had to answer a slew of difficult questions.  Uh, kinda like they’re doing now.

I’m not sure what shocks me more - the fact that a woman was actually sitting on the edge of the bunker while Johnson hit his (illegal) shot or the fact that the PGA officials remain so adamant and inflexible in their reaction to the ruling (”The rules are clearly stated and posted”).  This guy played 72 holes and grounded his club once.  Do you really think he was trying to pull a fast one?

The only way this situation could have been more embarrassing to golf is what Johnson himself said - if he’d made the subsequent par putt, giving him the apparent victory.  Golf, a sport in which the word “class” is so revered should pay attention to a comment by one of its tour pros (for the life of me, I can’t recall which one, nor have research attempts yielded which player made the profound statement).  When everyone was talking about how fans trampled bunkers throughout play during the four days of the tournament, the pro said:

“Imagine this happening at Augusta.”

For those readers who frequented this site yesterday, you probably know what my feeling is.  Bad day.  Really bad day.  To watch Nick give away his three-stroke lead - on the very first hole (he double bogeyed & Dustin Johnson birdied to pull into a tie) - might have signaled Nick’s day wasn’t going to end as well as the day prior.  His misery, though, was more drawn out than what his playing partner, D. Johnson, would experience - but that’s another story for a blog on golf’s rules.  Note: That blog won’t be posted by me as I don’t know or pretend to understand some of the rules of that sport.

As I mentioned, to watch Nick unravel was painful, but not to be able to witness it was even worse.  I checked the paper this morning which said TNT’s coverage would start at 8:00am Pacific time, but that CBS’ coverage wouldn’t start until 1:00pm, joining the tournament in progress after a 49ers preseason football game.  Was a preseason football game more exciting and a greater moneymaker than the final round of the PGA?  Evidently.

This is one of those times that personal preference and emotion got the better of me.  Would I have been upset had Nick not been the leader at the start of the day?  Probably, because through the years, I’ve come to appreciate and enjoy golf, especially when it’s played by the best in the world, more than a somewhat meaningless preseason football game.  I have to admit that there was a day when I’d rather a re-run of a football game would excited me more than watching golf.  Maybe it’s called old age, maybe maturity, maybe expanding my interests.

However, I became more frantic after my friend, Peter Sharkey (see 6/15/10 for a blog on Peter’s induction into a local Hall-of-Fame), called me and was giving me stroke-by-stroke commentary.  Somehow, he was getting the tourney on some remote channel that I couldn’t find, although I searched through about 700 channels - have I ever mentioned that I’m technologically-challenged?  Since I had a meeting with one of my artists for C.U.T.E. Baby Gifts at 1:00pm (please go to www.CuteBabyNameGifts.com for information on the best, personalized, unique baby - and toddler - gifts you’ll ever find), I gave up searching and drove off to my meeting.

By the time I returned, Nick was so far out of contention, they weren’t even showing him.  It wasn’t until much later that, while he was still in a first place tie (heading into the par 3 7th hole), there was a disturbance that caused him to block his tee shot - into Lake Michigan.  It was too late to check and even googling didn’t help uncover what occurred.   The questions remain, “Did Nick succumb to the pressure of leading a major for the first time, did the crowd disturbance ruin his day (he triple bogeyed the 7th and bogeyed both the 8th and 9th), or did he simply fall out of the three-day zone he was in?

One thing about sports - especially individual sports like golf - there will be another day and another tournament.  For Nick Watney, at age 29, there will be many, many more.  Some day, he might even look back on yesterday and feel it was the turning point of his career.  As Robert Allen put it:

“The future you see is the future you get.”

File this blog under the category, “local boy makes good.”  After the third round of the U.S. Open at Whistling Straits (WI), former Fresno State golfer, Nick Watney, has a three-stroke lead.  Should he claim his first major, the San Joaquin Valley will receive publicity for something other than being the nation’s number one agricultural region.

Nick is more than just a Bulldog alum; he is, and always has been, a true role model for everyone who’s met, seen or followed him.  Soft-spoken, incredibly talented and a young man whose humility is in inverse proportion to his skill, he has made everyone in the Sacramento area, where he grew up, and the Valley, where he starred, quite proud.  Not only has he grown as a professional, he’s remained grounded - due mainly to his family.  I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting either of his parents, but I am lucky to have been a colleague of his uncle - Fresno State golf coach, Mike Watney.  Even though I’m no longer employed by the university, he and I regularly correspond - although I’m ashamed to admit that as much as I abhor communication through modern technology, it’s more of the email and text variety.

Mike was (and is, as far as I’m concerned) an accomplished golfer in his own right and a sensational coach (in 2007 he was inducted into the Golf Coaches Association of America Hall-of-Fame).  Besides having the Bulldogs in contention for a conference championship on an annual basis (he’s coached at FSU for 30 years), he, in one lesson (which I won in a Xmas staff luncheon and he insisted I take advantage of), watched me take two swings and rid me of my 20-year slice with a simple correction to my grip.  Unfortunately, I never won another lesson.  On that, I kid.  Mike offered additional lessons (at no charge), but my game was a lost cause - unlike those he tutors on the golf team.

Mike not only taught his nephew the finer points of the game, as he does the other golfers he’s mentored (several others of whom are on the Tour), but he is as fine a person as there is in college coaching today - regardless of gender or sport.  This message was conveyed loud and clear to Nick, who had the benefit of Mike’s impeccable character and guidance at family functions as well as Bulldog practice sessions.

Superlatives are overused, but I’ll go out on a limb and make the statement that there never will be any negative publicity concerning Nick Watney.  To date, there’s never been a hint of scandal in his career - which happens to be taking place during the Age of the Internet. Save your money if you’re planning on betting against my prediction.

If you believe that good things ought to happen to good people, join me in pulling for Nick Watney to win his first, but not his last, major.  As for what he ought to do to accomplish that, Abraham Lincoln summed it up best:

“I never had a policy; I have just tried to do my very best each and every day.”

Since I just returned from working at the Michael Jordan Flight School (for the seventh year), my opinion of him is, admittedly, biased.  This year, because none of the campers remember MJ, the player, one hour during each of the two sessions activities were suspended and the video “Come Fly with Me” was shown.  Each youngster emerged from the auditorium with a greater appreciation of their host’s remarkable skills.  As I mentioned earlier, my evaluation is prejudiced but, to me, he is the greatest player who ever represented the NBA.

Yet, aside from his talent on the court, Michael Jordan possesses some additional attributes that are undeniable.  Sure, he’s at each session on time (usually in the morning and evening - afternoons are reserved for golf).  And while he has an abundance of friends who visit, he’s from the non-posse era.  But it’s more than that.  Simply put, the guy has a presence. 

Independent of what he’s wearing - even if it’s only jeans and a t-shirt (naturally, one with no “bacon neck”) - he looks like a million.  His smile is infectious.  He exudes confidence, class and charisma.  But watching him at his camp, an observer takes in something else.  He actually enjoys interacting with the kids and answering their questions - some of which can be pretty creative.

That made this year’s edition (the 15th) just like the others that preceded it.  Michael spoke to the campers about the importance of free throws and gave pointers on dealing with pressure, challenged some of them to competitions, awarded free shoes to youngsters - and up to ten friends of their choice - if they made shots and took pictures with each team, coach, administrator and worker in attendance.  The final highlight is when everyone at camp lines up and receives an authenticated Michael Jordan autograph - on anything of their choice (with some limitations - hey, Nike’s not paying him all that dough and not invoking exclusivity).

Selecting Santa Barbara for the camp’s site was not done by picking a name out of a hat.  The weather is incredible, the facilities at UCSB are phenomenal and the golf courses are exquisite.  In addition, the Bacara Resort & Spa is used to accommodating celebrities, meaning he can eat, come and go without being bombarded.

Ann Landers’ quote sums up Michael Jordan perfectly:

“Class is the sure-footedness that comes with having proved you can meet life.”

As anyone who reads this blog knows by now that the winner of this year’s British Open is Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa.  He won it the way most every golfer wins their first (major) tourney.  He combined the most important quality of all, talent, with consistent play, determination, wise decision-making, an ability to keep his nerves under control and focus to lead nearly wire-to-wire. 

When I heard him asked the question in an interview following Friday’s round, “Who was your role model?” I turned to the person next to me and confidently said, “Gary Player,” just as Louis gave his answer.  “Ernie Els.”  Am I that old? 

A white guy and a black caddie from South Africa - on Nelson Mandela’s 92nd birthday (which, if we didn’t know prior to the day’s play, we found out immediately after it was over and Louis wished the leader a happy birthday) - not only take the Claret Jug, but do so by steamrolling the competition, winning by 7 - yeah, seven - strokes.  Were the stars aligned just right or will we hear more from this gracious champion?

Because of the manner in which he conducted himself over the past four days, I know I’m hoping for the latter, and there is no doubt that hundreds of other fans share that feeling.  So what’s the key for a guy who missed the cut in 7 of his previous 8 majors?  Take the advice of Anthony Robbins:

“In essence, if we want to direct our lives, we must take control of our consistent actions.  It’s not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives, but what we do consistently.” 

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Ask any of the major network executives whether they would rather have a British Open final pairing of Tiger Woods vs. Phil Mickelson or Louis Oosthuizen vs. Paul Casey and, . . . you probably don’t need for me to tell you what their choice would be.  Can’t blame them.  Popularity drives TV ratings and the American duo beat their counterparts in that category in every part of the world - including South Africa and England.

Yet, although the average fan is certainly more apt to tune in to a Tiger-Phil match-up (which is why TV ratings are higher - duh), he identifies more with the lesser known golfer.  Somehow, we think their plight resembles ours.  Although they’re still professionals and play a completely different game of golf than we do, we still think they’re experiencing the nervous feelings we would if we were in their cleats.  And maybe they are.  Unlike us, however, they possess the skills and knowledge that, if they can contain their emotions and remain “in the moment” as Louis (unlike Tiger and Phil, he’s known by his first name because nobody can pronounce his last name) put it in a post-round interview yesterday, they realize they actually can hold up the Claret Jug at the end of today’s play.

After witnessing Tiger and Phil hit amazing shots from impossible lies, we view them and their game as godlike, the same as we do when we watch what Peyton Manning can do with a football, Kobe Bryant with a basketball, Tim Lincecum with a baseball or Roger Federer with a tennis ball.  It’s somewhat like the SI swimsuit edition - beautiful places we’d like to go, but knowing we’ll never get there. 

So, in essence, rooting for either Louis or Casey (we can pronounce that one) is really like pulling for ourselves - just like when we were kids and fantasized that we made the game-winner - whatever the game was.  There’s also a segment (I’d like to think small) who watches in anticipation of a Dustin Johnson  or Jean Van de Velde moment - a monumental collapse on national television.

In the words of one of the greatest underdogs ever (on a golf course anyway), Bill Gates:

“If there’s one cultural quality we have, it’s that we always see ourselves as an underdog.”

As if he cares.

As far as sports fans go, I consider myself, while not a fanatic, someone who enjoys watching competition, be it on the high school, collegiate or professional level.  As a player, it was football, basketball and baseball in high school.  In college, football for a brief period and intramurals throughout.  After graduating, there were the summer basketball, baseball and softball leagues, followed by tennis and golf in my adult years.

One thing about sports I’ve always taken for granted is that events should be fair to all those participating.  This doesn’t mean the teams have to have equal talent, whether they are composed of 11, 9, 5, 2 or even one player.  Anyone who was ever placed in a competitive environment (including a spelling bee or eating contest) quickly comes to the realization that all men are not created equal. 

One of the most talented and respected writers of this era is Rick Reilly.  After hearing his comments on the suspension of play at the British Open due to high winds, I was somewhat surprised at his feelings.  He couldn’t believe play was halted and went so far as saying that he thought players should tee it up in a hurricane if that condition arose. 

Golf is a frustrating enough sport.  Sure, seeing the pros get out of seemingly impossible situations with equally impossible shots is one of the reasons fans tune in.  When a shot actually is impossible, e.g. in the water or out of bounds, it’s always interesting to assess the mental toughness golfers show.  Do they allow the bad shot to affect their next one or can they put it out of their mind and play the subsequent ball as if they’re shooting a perfect round?

To watch golfers at St. Andrews mark their ball on the green, only to have the wind blow it when they place it down, time after time, . . . what’s the point?  Do they wait for the wind to stop blowing the ball, hit it while it’s on the move (isn’t that illegal?) or root it on if it’s being blown closer to the hole (if the wind blows it in, does that count as a stroke)?  As high as the winds got on Friday, we might have been witness to the first hole-in-none!    Watching a golf tourney in such conditions isn’t my cup of tea.  However, if that’s what the weather is, then go at it.  But not if the entire field doesn’t have to play under the same conditions!

Naturally, in golf, it’s not possible to have identical weather for every player at every minute.  But if some play in (relatively) pleasant weather while others - in the same tournament - are forced to compete during a monsoon, isn’t the real winner Mother Nature?  It might as well be broadcast on The Weather Channel.    

One of my nine coaching stops was in a league in which NCAA rules were viewed as nuisances (or on several occasions, not at all).  Winning was all that mattered.  Colleagues of mine (in other leagues) couldn’t understand that attitude, although they, too, wanted to win.  The remarks I heard ran the gamut from “good point” to “sour grapes.” 

Since that time, we’ve lived (are living) through the steroids era in sports.  That was (is) also about winning.  Most people feel cheated when players using PEDs are exposed.  They’re outraged!  The term level playing field has been (over)used in the world of sports for as long as I can remember.  Yet, I think it’s because we want to see the winner(s) as those who conquered their opponent(s) fairly.  I doubt anyone would think it right if a basketball game were played in which, rather than using the alternate possession rule, the same team was awarded the ball on every tie up.  Or if the fences were moved back when one team came to bat.  If one football team wins the toss at the beginning of the game (with much of the decision having to do with weather), should it also have the choice at halftime too?  Other than Bobby Riggs, who would play tennis if the same player got to serve every game?

I realize these are situations we can control, while weather is not, but to have a major professional golf tournament determined by the time a player plays, well, why would Rick Reilly think that’s fun?  I wonder how this year’s British Open would be run if Abraham Lincoln were in charge (assuming he lived to age 201), since he once said:

 “These men ask for just the same thing, fairness, and fairness only.  This, so far as in my power, they, and all others, shall have.”

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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.”

After the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Boston Celtics last Thursday night, the comment most often heard was that, if it hadn’t been the seventh game of the NBA Finals, people would have turned off their sets.  The play was, except for the last few minutes, hideous.

Yesterday’s final round of the U.S. Open surpassed the hoops contest - by a long shot.  As in a 350+ yard drive, duck-hooked into the fescue.  Basketball can always explain away poor offensive execution by claiming how great the defense is - and in Game 7, that was, in large measure, the truth.  Losing basketball players (and coaches) have another luxury golfers don’t - they can always blame the referees.  Technically, other than the weather (and in Pebble Beach’s case, the ridiculous manner in which the course was laid out), there is no outside defense (or other excuses) in golf.  Even jiggling of change by the playing partner is considered a breach of etiquette.

Since golf is an individual sport, and when it gets down to crunch time, e.g. Sunday of a major, the most vital tool for a golfer is mental toughness.  Seeing golfers, even  professionals, crack under such pressure is not an uncommon sight, but seeing everyone in contention fold up is unfathomable.  Yesterday’s display was, let’s all hope, one for the ages.

Granted, the course was made absurdly difficult and whoever performed that dastardly deed should be strung up by his Titleist Pro V1s.  I can guarantee it wasn’t anyone connected with NBC.  However, even with horrendous weather conditions and a brutally arranged course, there’s always someone who manages to block out all the negatives and rise to the top (of the leader board).

Naturally, the most likely comparison of pro golfers to professional hoopsters would be Tiger Woods and Kobe Bryant (at least that used to be the most apt comparison).  During Kobe’s Game 7 (admittedly) miserable performance, one of his worst, fans kept waiting for him to break out and become the “difference.”  Same with El Tigre yesterday.  Neither ever took place.  What Kobe can do, though, that Tiger can’t is rely on his teammates to pull him through so he still can be all smiles at the post-game press conference.

In golf, you alone are the winner and while you can deflect praise toward your caddy, coach or momma, the trophy has your name engraved on it.  That’s why, should anyone ever ask a golfer that most dreaded question: “What happened?“ the player can use a line from a manager of a team sport, the loquacious Tommy Lasorda, who, following a loss, gave the sporting world one of its more memorable quotes:

“This bleepin’ job is not that bleepin’ easy!”  Â