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07/21/2008: "Monday Sports Rant"
Caught a little sports this weekend as I wait for my chance to catch a marlin ...
- Some amazingly good and amazingly bad golf this weekend. Let's start with the good - how good did it feel to see Greg Norman in contention in a major? Sure, we all knew he was 53, and even if he wasn't old his history said there'd be a crash and burn come Sunday. But in a weekend when the Tiger wannabees were supposed to step up to fill the void, it was a guy who's too busy for the Senior Tour who had to take time out from his honeymoon to make the headlines. Phil? Ernie? Vijay? Someone must have told them Tiger was actually in the field, 'cause they folded early. Norman, however, used his knowledge of the game in vicious conditions to hold the lead after three rounds. Of course, we all remember his record - 1 for 7 in such conditions - and no one really believed he'd make a difference. A 7-over final round gave Padraig Harrington his second consecutive Claret Jug and the joy of a walk down the 18th fairway - something fate robbed him of last year. But a tip of the fin to the Great White Shark, who reminded us what it is like to watch a professional golfer at work.
- Professional is a word you'll be hard-pressed to associate with Michelle Wie. The one-time wunderkind of ladies' links had seemed to get her act together over the last year. First, she fired her father and got a professional caddie on the bag; then she enrolled at Stanford University, and focused on her studies instead of her drives. Good moves all. This weekend, she teed it up with the ladies of the LPGA, and was playing well - she was T2 as she walked off the green on 18. Unfortunately, that's where the rules officials caught up to her. Seems that on Friday night, she left the scoring tent without signing her card. Although a volunteer ran her down later and got it signed, the die was cast - DQ. A harsh lesson in the rules of golf, but that's how it goes - and all of Michelle's post-disqualification tears can't change that. While she was a traveling circus act trying to play with the men, her counterparts were honing their skills on the junior circuit. That's where you learn the little things about golf - like replacing your divit, avoiding others' lines, and signing your scorecard. It's unfortunate that a solid performance was marred by a lapse in knowledge, but even more unfortunate to hear that she's going to play with the men again this weekend in Reno. It doesn't do any good to tell her to do the right thing if some greedy bastard of a tourney host is going to dangle an exemption in front of her. Might as well hand a drink to a drunk ...
- All the talk in the National League East is about the moves made by the Phillies and the surge by the Mets. But has anyone noticed who's lurking only a half game out of first place? That's right, baby - your Florida Marlins! Who cares if we can't field the ball - we lead the league in home runs! While many teams - including the Phillies - have had to deplete the minor league closet trading for some pitching support, all the Fish have had to do is look to the DL. Josh Johnson is back from a year-long Tommy John surgery rehab and showing the fastball that garnered him Rookie Of The Year votes two seasons back. Anibal Sanchez is scheduled to come off in a couple of weeks, just in time to take Andrew Miller's slot in the rotation. And don't forget rookie sensation Chris Volstad - only two years out of high school and two wins in his first two games. I'd like to see us pick up a decent catcher - maybe one who comes with a solid on-base percentage. But at least for one year, the surrender flag is no where in sight!
