So as I look over the Sports landscape these days, we are basically in a lull as we are not fully into Baseball yet, Hockey and Basketball are not yet to their playoffs which let in too many teams and March Madness is yet on the horizon. However I was looking at a few of the Sports stories these days full of either innuendo or bravado, posturing or pleading and just shake my head.
So Steve Williams, caddy for the great Tiger Woods has a little time on his hands. And as a folk hero in his native New Zealand, he has taken his show back home and proceeded to claim his ignorance of any of Wood’s hijinks, that he is mad at Tiger for what he’s done, sorry for Elin and “will tell Woods off” when the time is right. Really? So golfers on the tour knew what Woods was up to, nudge, nudge, wink, wink but Williams did not??? C’mon Steve, cut us a break. And save the speeches unless you really expect us to believe you are going to tell off the man whose made you over a milli0n dollars (Williams gets at least 10% of Tiger’s winnings if not up to 20%) for carrying a golf bag for him. Nice work if you can get it.
And good ole Pete Carroll has moved back into the NFL, this time as head coach for the Seattle Seahawks. Interesting timing if you consider he had one of the best QBs in college in Matt Barkley with three years of eligibility left. Of course, the investigation into USC and Reggie Bush has heated up and one can anticipate that head hunting for those who knew something is coming up fast. Guess it was time for Mr Carroll to get out of Dodge.
Our final and biggest bonehead award goes to he of the questionable character, Ben Roethlisberger, two time Superbowl winning Quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Roethlisberger started everyone questioning his judgement years ago when he took a header off his motorcycle while not wearing a helmet. Now the QB, hot on the singles scene, has been rung up not once, but TWICE for potential sexual misconduct. Maybe Big Ben needs to stay out of the bars and hope to meet Ms. Right at the library. At least that’s what the Steelers are hoping, now that their long term investment in Mr. Roethlisberger is looking sketchy at best.
Please someone get me into a real set of Sports (the Olympics weren’t bad, but too much jumping around by NBC) stories versus all these shady dealings!
In between taking swipes at Tiger Woods and his nine, I mean eleven, man is it up to an even dozen women?!?, pundits are expounding on the annual December swoon that descends upon the Dallas Cowboys. Swoon, shwoon; I’m not buying it at all! Last season the Cowboys went 1-3 in December, horrible right? Of course all four of the teams they played were playoff teams and three made their respective Conference Championships. This year the Boys are oh and 2 losing to the New York Giants in the Meadowlands and the San Diego Chargers yesterday. Both teams were expected to contend this year and the Chargers are riding an eight game winning streak. On the horizon for the Cowboys are the 13 and oh New Orleans Saints in the Superdome which doesn’t look real good for the Cowboys either. Long story short, I look at the schedule the Cowboys are playing and don’t buy into the swoon theory.
Are you ready for some football? Hey, Monday Night Football? Okay, add in a little golf and we’ll have you covered so let’s jump right into today’s SCL’s Fresh Take.
Hey sports fans, welcome to the all new SCL’s Fresh Take, a whole new twist on sports for you, the fan. Today, we have a bunch of topics from over the weekend to discuss, so let’s get started.
Remember the day when CNN was the end all, be all of primetime news? Those days are long gone now that FOX News has become the dominant player in primetime media due in part to its “Fair and Balanced” approach to journalism. Fox News has taken market share from CNN simply because CNN developed a media agenda and lost its objectivity. 
As the news broke that Tiger Woods missed the cut in this year’s Open Championship, I couldn’t help but compare where Lefty stacks up to Woods today. This is an interesting comparison since Woods has not returned to his top form since knee surgery last year and Mickelson continues to improve his game since the disappointment at Winged Foot in 2006.
Recognize the guy on the right? Before yesterday, he had not won a golf tournament in 286 days, the longest drought in his career. Of course, as the NBC commentators kept repeating that fact over and over again, they did occasionally remark that, oh yeah, and he had major knee surgery ten months ago… For those who wondered how Tiger Woods would do in his return to the PGA tour, it took him all of three tournaments to get back in the winners circle. And with the Masters on the horizon, one wonders how long it is until he wins his 15th Major tournament? One thing for sure, the television executives are thrilled he’s back! Were you doing anything else but watching Tiger knocking down a 15 foot putt as the sun set a little after 7:30 PM in Orlando? March Madness? Nascar? Everything took a back seat to Tiger being on the prowl again. His victim this time was Sean O’hair who came into Sunday with a 5 stroke lead, only to watch another Sunday charge filled with dramatic shots and magical putts. And in the end, O’hair could only watch, like so many others before him. Was there any doubt Tiger would drain the putt on 18, just like he did at last years Bay Hill? Or last years US Open? Arnie was just waiting to thank Tiger for again making his tournament a thrillling moment in time and one watched by more viewers than the last two Majors of 2008 after Woods went out for his surgery. Yes folks he’s back; and with apologies to Padraig and Lefty, Sergio and Geoff, he makes golf and the PGA, relevant again.
pace. After the round, Tiger stated “I just need to get a little sharper.” This comment is a close cousin to his other favorite quip “I’m close.” I know Tiger believes it and I can understand why the media and all his fans believe it, because Tiger is known for the unbelievable. This time, his quips are only a façade to appease his fans, the media and to give Tim Fincham and the PGA Tour a needed boost in the ratings.
