AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2006 > July > 11
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Captivating World Cup woos U.S. fans
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Furman Bisher
FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH: Never has a World Cup so engrossed this country as the one just ended in Germany, and at the end, soccer had gained favor over here in gulps. No complaints about the dearth of scoring, rather a new understanding of offenses and defensive play. We began to get into the deliberateness and flow of play. Scheduling was right on the money for television. The U.S. team crashed early, but was never missed. American audiences just signed on with another team of choice and cheered on. Ratings will show that soccer was the hit of the weekend, and the game should have gained millions of new fans it never had before. … And whatever will become of Zinedine Zidane, who slumped off in disgrace? …
“I will be heavyweight champion of the world again.” Evander Holyfield said it at his induction into the Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame. “They said I was too young at first. Now they say I am too old. I’ve been in training and getting ready to fight again.” …
“I’m trying so hard to make the Ryder Cup team, I’m getting in my own way.” Davis Love III said it at the U.S. Open. He ranked ninth on the list at the time. He has slipped to 11th since. …
“Oh, about 100,000, I guess,” Ben Curtis said, when asked about the size of the crowd around his finish the year he won the British Open. “Here today (as he won the Booz-Allen two weeks ago), probably 100.” …
Paul Harvey’s switch from WGST 640 AM to WYAY 106.7 FM on the dial has created a new country music fan at our house. Thank you, Rhubarb Jones. …
Who holds the record for fewest home runs by a major league player with more than 3,000 at-bats? Duane Kuiper, who hit one, that in 1977 at Cleveland. He has made up for it watching Barry Bonds hit ‘em by the bushel as he broadcasts Giants games. …
And would you say that Jason Giambi seems to be getting more mileage out of his enhancers than Bonds? …
Phil Mickelson’s finish at the U.S. Open sort of represents the investment status of two of the sponsors whose names he wears on his body. Ford Motor Co., whose trademark is on his shirt, lurks around $7 a share, and BearingPoint, prominent on his cap, is around $8. …
Have you ever seen such a change in a sports figure as Nick Faldo? He was a guy of few words, if any at all, a big stiff as a player. Now he has become a virtual comedian as a television commentator and in commercials. …
Don’t you know that President Ford is just overwhelmed to receive the Dick Enberg Award. Wonder how that stacks up against a Nobel Prize? …
Only two pitchers with losing records are in the Baseball Hall of Fame, Rollie Fingers and Bruce Sutter. Both closers of sorts, though Fingers had a few starts. Sutter never started, so naturally he didn’t have a complete game. Doesn’t that tell you something? …
After all these diligent years of campaigning Dale Murphy for the Hall, 71-year-old Ed Tyree of Virginia Beach, Va., has retired his cudgel. “Perhaps he may not ever be selected for the Hall of Fame, but we all know there are more important things in life than Cooperstown,” Mr. Tyree concludes. …
Must be something in the salt air. Before he retired from basketball coaching at College of Charleston, John Kresse pulled a “Cremins.” Left CofC for Davidson, but after 24 hours went home to Charleston, just as Bobby Cremins had done before him, between Georgia Tech and South Carolina. …
Five additional college bowl games next season? Where in heaven’s name can they come up with 10 teams willing to embarrass themselves to be known as “bowl teams”? …
You gotta be kidding me: Paintball, poker, dominoes and hot-dog eating contests on television? Quick, where’s the bi-carb? …
Selah.
Permalink | | Categories: Furman Bisher
