This was supposed to be the new MarlinBlog, running on our new software, but I spent so much time watching sports this weekend (OK, and fishing) that it’s gonna have to be pushed back a week …

- The US Open is traditionally the hardest of golf’s major championships to win, primarily because the sadistic bastards at the USGA like it that way. They seem to feel that it’s their job in life to humble the world’s best golfers, who (they must believe) get it far too easy on most courses. USGA events are held at a select group of courses, and they send in their own course experts to “toughen up” the venues before each Open. You aren’t going to see runaway victories here – you’re lucky just to get under par. So you can imagine their chagrin when Ricky Barnes found himself at -11 midway through the third round of a rain-soaked event that ran well into Monday. Whatever prayers the USGA said must have worked, though, as not only did Barnes fade like a bleached t-shirt but all the other compelling stories fell by the wayside. No victory by Tiger; no win for Amy by Mickelson; no redemption for Duval. No, when it was all over, Lucas Glover was your US Open Champion, clear from the field by two shots. He didn’t win it as much as survive it, as each of the three players in the second place tie could have – should have – found victory. The defeat must be particularly hard for Mickelson, who had publicly stated his desire to present his ailing wife with the trophy for her hospital room as they battle her breast cancer. But it was not to be. Woods drove the ball well, and on a decent course might have made a more typical run. Duval was a shocking surprise, and one can only hope his finish is a sign that he’s found his way out of his own little golf hell. But the moment belongs to Glover, the surprise champion. This is his moment to flourish or flounder, and it will be interesting to see which way he goes with the spotlight on him.

- Box up the “Mannywood” signs and ship them to Albuquerque. Manny Ramirez begins his road back to the majors with a stop in the outfield of the Albuquerque Isotopes, the Dodgers’ AAA farm team. He’ll play a couple of games there before heading to California and hooking up with Inland Empire 66ers, a single-A team. Manny’s eligible to return to the big leagues on July 3, and according to Dodgers bullpen catcher Rob Flippo, who’s been working with Manny at Dodger Stadium, he’s hitting the ball better now than when he was suspended. Recall that Ramirez signed late, and was working to get his stroke back when he was suspended fifty games for performance enhancer usage. That’s probably not good news for the teams the Dodgers have to face in the second half of the season, nor for their rivals in the National League West. The interesting story line to me is how Joe Torre will opt to use Ramirez after his return. Juan Pierre stepped into the outfield void and has more than held his own, hitting a respectable .283. But he’ll never drive it the way Manny can, and like they say, “chicks dig the long ball.” Look for all to be forgiven the moment Manny puts that first one deep into the pavillion seats.

- The lead story from this weekend’s dalliance by NASCAR in the road racing world up at Sonoma was Kasey Kahne’s victory, the first for the merged Richard Petty Motorsports and the King’s first chance to taste victory in many years. To me, though, the real story was the “have vs. have nots” scenario that is quickly developing in the sport. RPM represents a merger between the old Petty Enterprises and Gillete Evernham Racing (itself a merged entity), and was one of several shotgun wedding mergers that came during the offseason. Some of the biggest names in the sport, including the Gibbs and Childress Racing teams, find themselves contemplating downsizing their teams amid the turmoil of the economic mess and lessened participation by the auto companies. At the same time, several others are flourishing. Roush Racing has so many cars running that they’ll actually have to lose one next season to remain within the rules, and are looking at ways to farm out one of their teams without losing control. That same scenario already exists at Hendrick Motorsports, where they run four cars and provide engine and chassis for Stewart Haas Racing and their two drivers – a deal that’s looking pretty smart, considering Tony Stewart is on top of the point standings. HMS is even looking at expanding further, planning to find a ride for up and comer Brad Keselowski either in a third Stewart Haas car or by entering his current JR Motorsports team into the Cup Series. I know times are tough, but the powers that be at NASCAR need to find a way to level the playing field or it won’t just be on those restarts where there’s a huge disparity between those cars that can win the race and those that are just burning fuel.