Breaking the Game Down to a Tee

Posts tagged ‘sports’

Olympic Glory

With the Olympics already technically underway, one cannot help but begin to feel the ultimate pride for their respective country. The Olympics truly takes place on a global stage that provides even the most casual of sports fans with an awesome spectacle that only comes around once every four years. This installment of the Olympics is already boasting with storylines and could potentially be another great showing for the Americans.

One of the biggest story lines will take place in the pool. Michael Phelps will yet again seek to dominate the Olympics and obtain as many gold medals as possible.

Fellow Americans Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte.

This time will be different though because Phelps has some real competition in the form of fellow American Ryan Lochte. Lochte has beaten Phelps before and has the best chance of dethroning the former golden boy of American swimming. Their relationship as both teammates and competitors will be sure to draw the eyes of everyone.

USA Basketball will also go for the gold once again at the Olympics. Basketball is continually evolving into a global sport but the Americans are still by far the universal favorite. This team has sparked a recent debate on who is actually the best team of all time.

This 2012 version of the dream team has publically admitted that they feel they could defeat the original 1992 dream team that sported some of the best players of all time.

Still this argument remains irrelevant unless USA Basketball can capture the gold medal once again. They face fierce competition from Argentina and Spain but they have no reason to not win the gold.

There are vast amounts of other storylines that will continue to unravel in the coming weeks. The USA Women’s soccer team will try to avenge their FIFA World Cup loss to Japan. On the men’s side, Spain will attempt to win the gold medal with the hopes that they can continue to win every major tournament on the planet.

Then there is Usain Bolt. Bolt is track and field. He is the most notable figure in the sport and could potentially be the fastest man on Earth. How will he comeback in this Olympics after dominating in 2008? That remains to be seen but rest assured the world will be watching.

Usain Bolt will attempt to wow onlookers once again.

The Olympics truly is the greatest sporting event. It compiles athletes all around the world to compete on a global stage for all to see. There is something very different about rooting for your country.

For a few weeks every four years we all forget about our attachments to something like our favorite baseball team or preferred soccer club. We instead take pride in our country and watch as athletes compete against the best in the world.

I personally feel the most compelling part of the Olympics is the unforgettable moments that take place. These athletes train their whole lives for these events. If an athlete is lucky enough to qualify for the Olympics, they might never get that chance again. Very few Olympians compete in multiple Olympics.

I can’t imagine the pressure these athletes must feel. They are no longer just representing themselves, but are competing for their country. If they win, they will be forever revered by their fellow countrymen. If they perform poorly, they may never get a shot ever again to prove themselves.

The Olympics is much more than an athletic competition. London will become the center of the world as people from all around will tune in. Champions will be crowned while others will likely be disappointed because their best effort just was not enough. I can’t wait to watch because there will certainly be moments that we will never forget.

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Dufner begins climb up PGA ladder

Who has had a better month than Jason Dufner? In just the past 22 days Dufner has won his first and second PGA Tour events while also getting married. Many remember Dufner for blowing a four stroke lead with four holes left to play in the PGA championship last year,but  now the 35 year-old Auburn alum finds himself atop the FedExCup standings after his victory Sunday and one of two golfers to win twice on tour so far this season.

Jason Dufner has been cool, calm, and collective under pressure as of late.

Even more impressive is how Dufner won. The leader board at the Byron Nelson Championship saw several golfers finding themselves within striking distance of the leader. Fortunately for Dufner, no one was able to pull away and he was able to hang around just long enough to eventually take care of business.

After a monster drive on 18 as well as a stellar approach shot, Dufner found himself with a 25-foot birdie putt for the win. He showed no signs of his playoff defeat from last year at the PGA Championship as he stepped up and drained the putt to finish at -11 for the tournament and claim victory.

Dickie Pride finished second in the event after seeing the title stripped away by Dufner. Pride was also seeking his second victory on tour although his last victory occurred almost twenty years ago in 1994. Pride almost escaped with a lucky victory after saving par on the 18th hole, which started with his drive going into the water.

Suffice it to say it was not in the cards for Pride. Dufner took advantage of the opportunities presented to him and showed a sense of resiliency that has never been seen before in his career. A year ago at the PGA Championship the pressure got to him. Yesterday he started as the leader, but bogeyed two out of the first three holes.  Instead of letting his slow start get to him, Dufner bounced back with a solid round to win the tournament.

Dufner and his wife after winning on Sunday.

Even more amazing is that Dufner is doing this at an age when many start to think about the end of their career, not the beginning.  Not too long ago, this was a man that could barley hold on to his tour card. The fact of the matter is that this guy is tough as nails. He started his college career as a walk-on at Auburn University before eventually becoming an Honorable-Mention All-American. He was able to recieve his PGA Tour Card after a successful amateur career only to have it taken away after several lackluster performances. Despite this, he got his card back and has since seen some great success in the past few years on tour.

Some Crimson Tide fans would contribute his success to marrying a former Alabama student. I personally just think that Dufner has become more confident in his abilities by translating his past failures into pure motivation. Keep on the lookout for Dufner. This will definitely not be the last we hear from him.

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The best and worst of ESPN

ESPN recognizes itself as the worldwide leader in sports. With ESPN come many different personalities from all around the globe that work together to share opinions and report on the latest in sports. I enjoy some of these personalities, others not so much. In this installment I will go through my 3 best and worst ESPN personalities. First, let’s start with the bad news. The 3 worst on ESPN that made my list are as follows.

1. Skip Bayless

I have to be honest you are the inspiration for this piece. In the words of Stu Price from the Hangover, “You are literally too stupid to insult.” Every once in a while I try to give ESPN First Take a chance in order to change it up, but you continually show me how bad that choice was as soon as you open your mouth. You say things that can’t possibly be how you feel because no one can be that unintelligent. Chad Johnson had it right when he said you only say things for shock value. You try to capitalize off your idiotic statements for the sake of getting more viewers.  Why ESPN gave you a microphone, I don’t know.

2.  Woody Paige

Woody Paige, I almost feel bad for you. To continue with the movie theme, I’d like to take a line from Forrest Gump sum up how I feel about Woody. “Stupid is as stupid does.” My main discontent comes with your inability to make sense.

Woody Page looking like a fool.

You continually flip-flop on your sporting opinions and make up your own stats with the hopes that no one will call you out on it. Fortunately for us, Tony Reali and the rest of crew from Around the Horn have caught on to your antics. The only reason you aren’t number one is because of the tricky quotes you write on your chalk board during commercial breaks. Most of them are illogical, but at least they keep me somewhat entertained.

3. Mark Schlereth

Mark Schlereth, I’m just going to start by saying no one cares. We all know you played in the NFL and we all know how hard it is to play in the trenches. Still, we don’t need to be reminded of this every time you open your mouth. If fans didn’t care about offensive linemen then, what makes you think they will care now? If you need a friend, maybe you can hang out with Chris Carter and you guys can reminisce about the glory days. And besides, I am pretty sure you winning super bowls had a lot more to do with John Elway than your fierce O-Line skills. But really, is it just me or does Schlereth look exactly like Kenny Powers from East Bound and Down?

The 3 best on ESPN continually set the bar for sports reporting and analysis. I thought about doing a full report on just Erin Andrews, but I’d like to maintain some credibility in the mind of my readers. These select few have an energy and accuracy that should leave the previous personalities filled with envy.

1. Michael Smith

Michael Smith is easily one of the best on ESPN. My admiration for him comes mostly from his sound fantasy football advice that has helped me to some crucial wins way back when. Beyond that, Smith is one of the younger guys on ESPN. He is able to connect with the younger audience  while still maintaining a sound amount of professionalism. He is even the all-time leader in points during a single show for Around the Horn with 63 points. That counts for something, right? If that doesn’t convince you, then this Mel Kiper impersonation will do the trick.

2. Jon Gruden

Jon Gruden currently does work for ESPN mostly as a Monday Night Football commentator. He continues to tell it how it is and doesn’t waste as much time being politically correct like his peers. I personally enjoyed Gruden’s reporting that takes place just before the NFL draft. Gruden does a great job of breaking down high-profile quarterback prospects entering the NFL draft. Most of the time he pretty much tore them to pieces. He wasn’t there to be their friends. He made sure he told them how he felt about their ability to transition to the NFL and I respect that. Beyond that, Gruden won a Super bowl with Brad Johnson at quarterback while also having Keyshawn Johnson and Warren Sapp in his locker room. The guy knows his stuff. It is also evident that he has a passion for football and isn’t just doing this to waste time between his next head coaching stint. Gruden is waiting for the best opportunity for him to begin coaching again. Until then, he continues to show that sports are fun for him. This is highlighted by the fact that he volunteered to be the offensive line coach at his son’s high school. Gruden just gets it.

 

3. Stuart Scott

Stuart Scott is basically the man. He comes from UNC and is also known for hosting the Late Night With Roy event that takes place every year in Chapel Hill that marks the beginning of the college basketball season. Scott first caught my attention when I was younger with catch phrases such as “Aye poppy, I didn’t know you could do it like that.” Another personal favorite of mine is “The Lord said you gotta rise up.” Since then, he has gone on to host NFL Countdown and anchors SportCenter while simultaneously battling cancer. I don’t know about you, but I certainly enjoy a nice “boo-yah” from Stuart Scott to get my day started off right. Just for kicks, here is one of my favorite commercials with Stu Scott.

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Matt Kuchar delivers at the Players Championship

Going into Sunday at the Players Championship, most of the conversation revolved around the waggle of Kevin Na and the emergence of Rickie Fowler. Once the final round came to a close, the conversation changed to the clutch performance of Matt Kuchar.

Kuchar started his final round at TPC Sawgrass just a shot off the lead, but was able to remain calm as several golfers made their way up to the top of the leader board. Kuchar ultimately claimed victory in large part due to his outstanding putting. He continually sank big putt after big putt while fending off the late charges of Fowler, Ben Curtis, and Zach Johnson.

Matt Kuchar claims his fourth tour victory on Sunday.

Fowler came into the tournament less than a week removed from his first PGA Tour win. Despite his great play, he was unable to make a 7-foot birdie putt on the final hole that would have brought him within one shot of Kuchar as he approached the 18th tee box. Kuchar was then able to play the 18th hole with a two shot lead as he coasted to an easy victory.

How calm was Kuchar as he walked up 18 about to win golf’s richest tournament you might wonder? He and his caddie were overheard discussing the NBA Playoffs also taking place that day as he approached his second shot  on the 18th fairway. Shortly after, Kuchar tapped in for par and celebrated with his family after he took home the 1.71 million dollars given to first place.

As mentioned earlier, Kevin Na provided golf analysts and fans alike with a lot to talk about as he navigated his way through the Players Championship. Before this weekend, most remembered Na for shooting a 16 on one hole during the Valero Texas Open last year. Yet after this weekend, many could not stop talking about the golfer’s unusual pre-shot routine.

Tiger’s struggles continued over the weekend at TPC Sawgrass

Na was often seen standing over an impending shot while continually waggling his club five or six times before he was able to pull the trigger. Even so, Na was the 54-hole leader and going into Sunday  having already set a record with 16 birdies during the first two rounds of the tournament. Unfortunately, Na added to a growing trend with the 54-hole leader of the Players Championship coming up short on Sunday the last six years in a row. Na was forced to complete his final round of +4 as many in the gallery booed his seemingly painful routine. Even more painful was to watch post-round interviews where Na relayed that his inability to swing the golf club is just as annoying to him as it is to the fans.

Tiger Woods completed another discouraging tournament appearance. While he finished the tournament under par, he shot a 40 on the front nine Sunday and finished in 40th place for the tournament. This marked the first time in his career that Woods has finished no better than 40th in three straight tournaments.

Next up this week is HP Byron Nelson Championship being held at the TPC Four Seasons Resort in Irving, Texas. Who do you guys think will take home the championship trophy? Can Keegan Bradley defend his title or will someone else rise to the occasion? We want to hear what you guys think so comment on this post and let us know!

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PGA Tour

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Sorry, Arnie…

The Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill has long been viewed as one of the top stops on the PGA Tour early-season schedule. And why not? Great course, great atmosphere, great sponsorship… and until now, great field.

How could you not like this tournament, hosted by “The King,” Arnold Palmer? He has already done far too much for golf, not to mention the countless efforts he and his wife, Winnie, have made in the medical community.

Arnold Palmer struggles to attract the best competition.

Unfortunately, the story this week is many of the world’s top players skipping out on the event. Arnie, himself, has even expressed his “disappointment” towards the top players not entering this week’s field as World No. 7 Webb Simpson is the top-ranked player in the field.

But (you heard it here), in this case, The King is wrong. The Masters is right around the corner and the guy who has four green jackets (Arnold Palmer) wants everyone to be fixated on his event?

The fact is, only two of the world’s top-10 golfers are American. Europe is setting the standard for premier golf and they are doing it by winning major championships.

The world’s current top four players (Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer)… are all taking a rest in Europe while preparing for The Masters. And even Arnie can not knock the importance of The Masters.

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PGA Tour

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America’s New Sweetheart?

When many people think of Hunter Mahan, the first thing that shoots to mind is the image of a defeated young golfer sitting in front of a microphone, sobbing and blaming himself for America’s 2010 Ryder Cup loss.

Thankfully, that can now change.

Mahan’s demolition of last week’s WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship bracket again proved that not only is he one of America’s brightest young talents, but quite possibly the best.

Hunter Mahan seems poised to become the best American golfer on tour.

And it’s great to see, considering the heartbreak Mahan suffered after his flubbed chip on the 17th hole at Celtic Manor allowed European hero Graeme McDowell to claim the match and officially close the door on the American team’s hopes to retain the Ryder Cup. It was the type of heartbreak that had the potential to haunt a career for its entirety.

But after examining Mahan’s record since, it’s pretty clear that this kid has a truly special resolve and will be leading the American charge for many years to come.

In 2011, Mahan posted nine Top 10s in 25 Tour starts while missing only three cuts, and was incredibly denied the FedEx Cup title by Bill Haas’ once-in-a-lifetime, $10 million dollar shot from the water in the Tour Championship playoff (another heartbreak he’s bounced back from). In addition, he banished his demons in the team format, helping America to win the 2011 President’s Cup with a 4-1 individual record.

What’s great about Mahan is that he keeps on coming. And when this guy gets going, everything goes in the hole (which was the case last week in Arizona), and he has the capability to win several events in a row, including multiple majors.

With Europe firmly in control of the Official World Golf Rankings, Mahan’s re-emergence teamed with with his ability to dominate the big events gives him a leg up on the handful of other talented Americans with their eyes set on wrestling the No. 1 spot away from the Europeans.

Winning the Match Play Championship will feel like a major, but don’t expect that to be the end of the noise made by America’s new main man in this year’s biggest tournaments.

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