Tiger Woods - Caddy extrodinaire

There are many things that golfers wish for. A longer drive, a better short game, the ability to 2-putt the green, or to simply miss the tree or water hazard on their favorite course. But if you were to ask the average golfer what might be on the top of their wish list you can count on 2 or 3 things.

• To play a round of golf with Tiger Woods
  
• To get advice from Tiger Woods or any of the top golfers in the PGA
  
• To be a caddy or walking the golf course along with any of the world’s best players
  

Of course I think that all the above would be great things to have happen. And all of the above are beyond the ability of the average golfer. Normally.

But thanks to Tee Off With Tiger – a competition sponsored by Buick – one average golfer was able to live out one of these dreams, in a manner. John Abel was the lucky man, and what he got was a round of golf. With Tiger Woods being his caddy.

Can you imagine that?

I seriously can’t imagine how any regular duffer could play with Tiger calling the shots. Abel states that he got a lot of huge advice from Tiger. From shots to putting on greens that Tiger admits are about 3 feet slower than what the pro’s play on. Greens I might add that were indecipherable to us regular folks.



I tell you that this was something I am envious of. If I had the money I would donate $100,000 to charity just to be able to play with Tiger. I can’t imagine what sum of money it might take to get him to caddy for me. I’d donate $10,000 just to carry his clubs and watch as he played a golf course. That alone would be huge in learning to play better, I’m sure of it.

I imagine that there are lots of photos that Abel has with Tiger, and they will never be on eBay. Talk about prized possessions.

But as I end this envy post (yes I envy that opportunity) I want to touch on something else that John Abel mentioned about the time with Tiger. Unlike many celebrities these days that are full of ego and conceit, Tiger it seems is a “fantastic guy”.

It’s often hard to get a feel of the real person separate of the celebrity or athlete. Too often they turn out to be a certain orifice as opposed to anything resembling pleasant. Yet Abel conveys the image that out of competition, among average people like you and me, Tiger Woods is not only human but someone you would want to have a beer with. The more I hear about celebrities and entertainers, their drug problems, divorces, cheating, and violations of law, the more I appreciate just hearing that some are better than that. And yes, the fact that this is an African American man that is not into drugs, misogyny, and all that the “ghettofabulous” lifestyle promotes like crack really makes it all like manna from above.

But like all the duffers I play with, and I imagine across the world, I still have my wish list. Who knows, maybe one day it will come true. It did for John Abel so you never know.

Do you know the Special Olympics Golf Tournament?

These days you hear so much about entertainers and athletes that do so much for themselves that you hear little else about people doing for good causes. Far too often the major news media, and even sports news, just ignore events because they don’t fulfill the torrid scandal meter that tends to capture national attention. But when I do run across these kinds of events, I like to mention them.

Once such item deserving of such attention is the following item:

Special Olympics Golf National Invitational Tournament - Wright joins more than 200 golfers from 24 U.S. Special Olympics programs who are competing on PGA Golf Club's Ryder and Wanamaker courses, Oct. 4-6.

The Special Olympics is not a new event, I think most of us have seen a commercial on television at the least. In many ways the acheivements of these handicapped individuals confirms the credibility and reality of the term hanicapable. As such it’s a due honor to mention their acheivements just as we would and have those that went to the Bejing Olympics this summer.

But I am not sure how many people, or golfers, are aware of this event. I can honestly say that I was unaware of the event until today. But having learned of it I cannot imagine not saying more about it.

Golf has always been a sport of individual triumphs and challenges. Golfers of every skill go out each season and tackle the only 2 opponents that really matter, the course and themselves. And each golfer has their own moments of success.

Whether it’s a hole-in-one or an eagle, or just making par each is an accomplishment. But sometimes we need to notice the outstanding actions of some. Like the blind golfer I’ve read about, or the one-armed golfer. It just says something about the human spirit that moves me.

In this event, there are several levels of competition. Level II is an alternate shot team play, where a Special Olympics athlete is paired with a non-Special Olympics partner of more advanced skill for a 9-hole competition. I think that deserves attention.

So I present the Level 2 9-hole leaders. I wish them luck in their efforts to win on Monday.

Johnson/Wilbanks, Murphy, Texas -- 49-49 98
Binggeli/Binggeli, Clarkesville, Ind. -- 49-49 98

There are far more competitors and leaders in each of the 5 levels of skill and play in this event. But rather than just tell you about them I invite you to look and find out more yourself.

www.specialolympics.org

Tiger Woods: knee beats season

The announcement has been made – Tiger Woods will be out for the rest of the golf season. The PGA and multiple events are popping pills, knocking back drinks, and calling shrinks as I write.


After the amazing rally and win at the U.S. Open against Rocco Mediate, in sudden death on Monday, concerns over Tiger’s knee were rampant. And with good reason. The man was feeling pain at virtually every drive. In my opinion the only reason there was a playoff and a close event at the US Open was because of the recovering knee. A healthy Tiger Woods beats everyone when he wants to, by as much as he would like.

How big is this loss?

“The Tiger Effect has been with us so long now that it takes jolting events like Monday's U.S. Open playoff victory and Woods' relapsing knee to remind everyone of all the numerical impacts the man has. Besides booming TV numbers for NBC and ESPN, Woods also drove record-setting hits all over the Internet.”

Tiger Woods is perhaps the most capable athlete in the world at helping to move the U.S. economy. From ticket sales at events he appears at (influencing additionally airline tickets, hotels, restaurants, and various knick-knacks and impulse purchases at the events), advertising prices for coverage of golfing events on television and the internet, to sales of anything related to golf (clubs, clothing, golf balls, ect.) Tiger has an impact that does not have a real comparison.

And I have to wonder what happens if Tiger gets beat.

I don’t mean by another player. As uncommon as that may be, statistically it has to happen occasionally, we have seen it. I mean by his knee or any other potential injury while he is still young and early in his career. While I would hope this would never happen, injuries may be the only real opponent that Tiger has to face. And it’s the only opponent that realistically can prevent him from breaking every record the game has in place.

That would seriously hurt golf worldwide. Prize money at every event has increased since the first pro win by Tiger. Without his presence, other players might run higher in world ratings, but likely will make less money as interest wanes. Sales can decrease as the dream of competing with or playing with the living legend becomes fixed as just dreams. While perhaps a generation of kids will likely still stay involved with golf, the potential reach to new generations might end.

And millions lose a role model of poise under pressure, education, success, self-discipline, and moderation. Think about it, Tiger is the single most successful athlete in the world. No one makes his kind of money and has so little negative press. He is a good family man, without drug addictions or alcohol abuse, without scandals for fighting or paternity lawsuits. Hell, even the opponents he plays are grateful for the chance to compete with him – except for Fuzzy Zoeller – noting that he is the best around. Name another athlete, celebrity, or entertainer you hear competitors say that about.

So I’m not surprised that media sellers and the PGA are fearful. I can see how economists will have to make a (minor) adjustment to economic projections. And I can see that a whole sports industry is nervous about their futures.

Tiger is out for another season, and I hope it means he will be back healthy soon after. Because a world without Tiger Woods in the headlines detracts from everyone’s life in more ways than most ever imagine.

Tiger Wood and the U.S. Open: Rocco Mediate tried

Tiger Woods is in the lead to win the U.S. Open, again. I know you are shocked.

I was at a pool tournament Saturday and they had the Open on the T.V. Everyone asked from time to time where Tiger was. The answer varied a bit, basically he’s in the top 5, and every response would be ‘ok, he’ll win tomorrow’. Such are the expectations facing what I consider the greatest golfer in the world, perhaps ever.

Now how many of the people at the tournament realized that Tiger had recently had knee surgery? Some, though not most. Yet I think that would not change a single opinion.

‘When the man wants to win, everyone else is playing for second,’ as I recall one of the top players once stated (I think it was Ernie Els).

Right now, Tiger is winning by 3. Rocco Mediate, who is a very good player (his 157th in the world ranking aside or included), and I’m sure he will finish as close as possible. But his day was yesterday. He had his chance, he had the lead alone. Then Tiger rallied.

As I recall there has only been 1 player that has beaten Tiger Woods in a playoff match. He’s played quite a few, 14 in all, and they have almost always been for the same reason. Tiger rallied to tie. Once he rallies, everyone else (virtually) folds under the pressure he brings to bear.

Rocco had a great chance. Tiger is not fully healed, and spent the Open without taking the lead. Rocco was playing one of the best games of his career. But with Tiger around, that’s just not enough.

The thing I always find fascinating, and encouraging, is when everyone loses to Tiger. Other than Fuzzy Zoeller they don’t get upset. And it’s not because he has brought more money and excitement into the PGA, and golf in general. It’s because they are playing their A-games against someone who can bring out another level they have never seen. They are part of a living history in action.

The final match of the U.S. Open is not over yet. Tiger could fold to his injuries. Rocco could come up with a level of play he has never done before. But if I were in Vegas I wouldn’t bet against Woods. They couldn’t lay odds that are worth throwing my money away.

A bit on my Labor Day - 9.3.2007.1

I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday, as I'm sure it's well deserved. I've taken a little bit of time to relax myself. I even got the chance to go out and play golf in a tournament this weekend. I hadn't been able to play a lot of golf lately, nor the past couple of years, but I did do quite well. I'm not Tiger Woods by any stretch of the imagination. Yet, I was able to win a prize for the closest to the pin contest. I nailed my shot 43 inches pin high on the par three. Then went on to make a birdie putt. I plan to add a picture of all the competition scores shortly.

Of course, I'm a little sore today, but whether that's from the golf match or the celebration afterwards I'm not sure.

One other thing that I've been able to do is finally get a copy of Bid 'Em In. I've spoken about this video previously [The Black Entertainment Television PSA, insult or slap in the face - 8.13.2007.1, Further thoughts on the Black Entertainment Television PSA - 8.13.2007.2], and I feel it's a very powerful piece of storytelling. For those who have not been able to see it before I suggest you take the opportunity now. It's really quite moving.




In the meantime, I hope everyone enjoys the Labor Day holiday. I may have some other posts later today.