Too Bad for Norman

While I can't say I watched even a single moment of this year's British Open (and no, it had nothing to do with Tiger Woods not being involved) I feel the need to comment on it. I really wish Greg Norman had been able to hold on and win the tournament. Nothing against Padraig Harrington, in fact I actually like him a lot, but it would've been so great if Norman could've pulled it off. At 53 he would've been the oldest player to win a major (right now, Jack Nicklaus holds the record at 46) but even better he would've been able to salvage his tattered reputation.

I guess he probably has saved his reputation even without winning, but bringing home the Claret Jug would've really done the trick. I'll never forget his complete collapse at Augusta in 1996, it was probably the most awkward I've ever felt watching a sporting event. There's nothing you can do to help a guy who is completely losing it right in front of you, and for that to happen to what seemed to be a good guy, and on that kind of stage, was just awful. This just about sums up what happened that day twelve years ago.

Of course he'd won the British Open twice before, in 1986 and again in 1993, so it's not like he's this lovable loser. In fact he's one of the richest former athletes out there with his stakes in wine making, clothing, real estate and golf course development and construction, just to name a few. Plus he just married Chris Evert.

Still though, it would've been nice. People mention him in the same breath as Jean Van de Velde, and I suppose rightfully so. If there was any way for a guy to get off that list, this was it. He'll probably never contend for a major again, in fact I'm a little surprised he even entered the event to begin with since he's only a few years from qualifying for the Champions Tour, which is the old-guys league.

But I don't care about this for the story's sake. Things like that make me angry listening to sports columnists on tv and radio. It makes sense for them to want a good story because then they have something to write about without doing much work. But for the average fan, can't it be good enough to pull for a guy because he's a good guy?

Return of the Rizz

Despite my best efforts to render the situation otherwise, I, the humble Rizz, am wholeheartedly alive. Since we last corresponded, I've done some questionable things:

• Got my first tattoo(s)
• Tried to bluff this guy out of a $350 pot
• Slept for 20 of the 24 hours between midnight Tuesday and midnight Wednesday

Clearly, the utterly summer-inspired giddiness that can only be understood by teachers has taken hold; and I, my friends, am simply holding on for the ride.

All this being said, I continue to be a rabid sports fan. I do not currently have a TV in my house--but I live in New Orleans, a glorious place in which I can walk two blocks to a bar--at 11AM!!!--to simultaneously watch 2 Euro 2008 games and the US Open.

Because I have so many thoughts swarming, here's a synopsis of my recent opinions:

1. While points 5-2 proved shaky, I'm pretty happy with my assertion that everyone would be ready to hand the Lakers the NBA title were they to be matched up with the Celtics. Boston proved its gravitas, winning the first two games at home and putting LA in a fairly big hole.
   

Despite being happy that the Celtics won, I was left with mixed feelings after the Finals:

• Kevin Garnett, after putting up an MVP-caliber regular season, disappeared in Game 5. How can a superstar miss two clutch free throws and expect not to be crucified? Were it not for superhero Paul Pierce (and, in certain instances, Jesus Shuttlesworth), the Celts were toast.
• As much as I hated the Kobe-Shaq Lakers... I can now see how they might have been endearing to some people. This Laker team, on the other hand, simply came off as soulless and selfish. Phil Jackson is hard to like, with his brooding intellectual elitism; Lamar Odom underachieves so much that you can't really root for him; and Kobe, despite his eye-popping abilities, spends more time bitching and moaning than he does smiling and embracing fans.
• One would think that an LA-Boston match-up would represent the perfect end to such an NBA season. Why, then, did the Finals leave me feeling so... unfulfilled?

2. Watch this. Watch this. Look at her. Now... look at me--with a straight face--and tell me that Tiger Woods is not the single greatest athlete in the history of sports. Period.

3. Kudos to ESPN and its family of networks for airing each contest of the European Championships. Nothing in the world of sport--nothing--brings about the kind of passion that accompanies world-class soccer on an international stage. For those who consider soccer a dull sport... watch the final 15 minutes of the Turkey-Czech Republic game. Who comes from 2 goals down to win a game in the final moments? I mean... the Italians have built their name on going up 1-0 and sitting behind the ball, playing mindnumbingly boring defense. Of all the major sports, soccer's leads are easiest to hold... which makes the Turkish comeback all the more amazing. Who cares if they're pseudo-European and pseudo-Asian? Viva la Turks!

4. Take away the miracle catch that led to the most BS Super Bowl title ever, and Boston would hold title trophies for all 3 major sports.

5. Chipper Jones, one of my favorite baseball players ever, will not hit .400 this year.

6. College football is going to be sick this year. UGA looks loaded, but they have to play at Arizona State (out of conference), at LSU, and against Florida in the WLOCP. The Gators, with Mr. Stud coming back at QB, have to play Hawaii, Miami, and at Florida State, not to mention UGA and LSU. The Tigers have a QB dilemma, as Ryan Perilloux screwed up a dream situation. Per usual, the SEC should have 3 or 4 teams in the national top 10. And again, it looks like a 1-loss season in that conference should be enough for a BCS berth.


Last of all...

Haner Jesus: Poker, Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, or Church?

Tiger...Greatest Athlete Ever?

Why is it that whenever people talk about the greatest athletes of all-time and they mention Tiger Woods, they miss a crucial piece of his story? Those kind of lists usually include people like Michael Jordan, Muhammed Ali, Wayne Gretzky and Jack Nicklaus. Admittedly, Tiger is amazingly good and has put up numbers that are unrivaled. But what he doesn't have that all the others do is a comeback that matters. Sure, Tiger has won thirteen majors and ocassionally dominated them, but he has never come from behind on a Sunday to win in a major.

Tiger is known not just for his successes but for his intensity. No one plays harder and focuses more than Tiger, it is often said. But that seems to disappear when he's not atop the leaderboard. It's almost like that killer instinct that he seems to possess on Sundays when he's in the lead just isn't there when he's not winning. It's been said that it's impossible to catch Tiger when he's ahead of you, but if you're ahead of him, it simply takes steady play and a sound game plan.

Each of the past two Masters tournaments are perfect examples. In 2007, Zach Johnson stuck to his conservative plan to lay up on par 5's and not try to do too much. The result was that his lead was not challenged by a trailing Tiger. This year, Trevor Immelman shot +3 on Sunday yet Tiger could do no better than par for the day and though he finished second for the second straight year, really did not challenge for the green jacket.

Chasing Jack Nicklaus' record of eighteen majors is of course an amazing accomplishment and if/when he breaks the record it will be celebrated the world over. But consider for a moment the 19 second place finishes (to Tiger's five), 46 top three finishes (to Tiger's 21) and 73 top tens (to Tiger's 28) achieved by the Golden Bear. Granted, Nicklaus played in majors every year from 1960-2000 while Tiger has only been playing in majors sine 1995. But the point is, Nicklaus routinely finished in the top 10 and higher in majors and once had a streak of 13 consecutive in the top 10. Tiger has finished in the top 10 five times in a row, twice.

This is not to slam Tiger or to say he's not as good as Nicklaus - some insult! It's just to point out that while Tiger wins a lot in majors, he seems to conceed the titles when he's not already out in front. A very curious way of playing in tournaments. Eventually, one must assume, he will come from several shots back with an amazing final round and win a major in climactic fashion. But until then, I think we need to hold off on the greatest ever athlete conversations.