AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2007 > July > 06 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USSports climate alters in flash
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Furman Bisher
Let’s see, where were we? Has it been that long? The Braves were on a winning streak, a change of face from a year ago. The Hawks had just drafted Al Horford and Acie Law. Don’t laugh, they could become household names, like Raid and Crisco in no time. The tragedy of Chris Benoit, the “Canadian Crippler” — now there’s a loving tribute for his headstone — was just beginning to sink in. Mike Hargrove was still managing the Seattle Mariners — there’s one for the mystery book. The Buick Open was playing on with Tiger in absentia, except for his commercials. Know something? If he ever gives up golf, the guy has an acting career out there. Another thing — there is so much speculation about how fatherhood may affect his game, what about the LPGA mamas who are actually on the production line?
And on and on it went, while I lolled away on an island in the tropics. (Well, St. Simons is the next best thing, except for the taxes.) Mainly, my time was absorbed in a study of the invasion of the American sports scene. Just check the American League All-Star team: The two Rodriguezes, Ortiz, Polanco, Jeter, Guerrero, Ordonez and Suzuki. Only Derek Jeter home-grown. Alex Rodriguez was born here, but of Dominican Republic parents, and in that World Classic thing, he played for his parental country.
Now, we move to golf, gifted to us by Scottish shepherds, but now slipping out of our grip. An Argentine is our U.S. Men’s champion, Angel Cabrera — and have you noticed the outbreak of Cabreras in our many games? It was almost ordained that one of the army of Korean girls would win the Women’s championship, a Kim, a Park or a Pak. No Swede this year, for Annika Sorenstam’s game is in recovery. With all those Kims in there, how could it not be? On some days there’ll be the names of around 20 Kims in the daily scores of the LPGA. Only seven made the cut at Pine Needles. The highest finisher was Mi Hyun Kim, who tied at eighth. Then there were the Parks, the Paks, the Songs, the Ahns, the Yang and the Kang and a Choi, no kin, probably, to K.J., who won the Nicklaus tournament at Muirfield. The Koreans’ Kim and Choi are to them as our Smith and Jones. They’re rolling them out of their finishing school in South Korea like cars off the production line in Detroit.
We’re closing in on the hallowed FedExCup cut line, and Woods is in the lead, but which Cup? NASCAR or PGA? The Tour is sparing nothing to keep its Cup out front, noisily promoting its standings over earnings. Maybe I missed something along the line, but what happens to the players who get cut in the four tournaments leading up to the Tour Championship, which amounts to a 30-man playoff?
These days haven’t been wasted. I’ve given heavy study to things I like and don’t like about golf as televised. When I check the leaderboard and find a cast of LaBelle, Barlow, Goggin, Lickliter, Na and Wi, I turn on. When I see the camera line up on Jim Furyk, I know I have time to head to the water closet while he goes through his setup the usual three times. And the caddie who squats behind his player lining up a putt, which he usually misses. And one more, while I’m on this kick: For God’s sake, why does a full-grown pro no more than two feet from the hole have to mark his ball?
Going into the home stretch, with AT&T now ponying up for Tiger’s Washington tournament, that makes three. Pebble Beach is one of the classics, and it’s not going anywhere. Would you conclude that the so-called Classic at Sugarloaf might be getting a bit nervous?
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By Journalist Jibberish Smithereens
July 7, 2007 10:38 AM | Link to this
The point being? Old man, you gone senile.
By Leroy Rogers
July 7, 2007 3:05 PM | Link to this
Being a combat veteran of the Korean War so many people know nothing about, at age 77, seeing 35 South Korean make the Ladies Open, makes me proud that we didn’t defend the freedom of South Korea in vain. I have tried to find out how many of these players are U. S. citizens but no luck. I do know when K.J. Choi won over a million bucks from the Memorial it relates to almost 2 billion Won, the South Korean money exchange. I guess I be alone on an island in my thoughts, at least these little tanned ladies earn what they make, unlike Michelle Wie and Nancy Gulbis, who make the big bucks and haven’t won yet. I hope to goodness neither is another Laura Baugh, who came close to winning her first tourney played somewhere near Atlanta I think. Laura has had a tough life. No comments about baseball. Too many million bucks paid to players, especially pitchers, who seldom know what a nine inning game is. And the Bobby Coxes of the world et al who take pride in getting thrown out of games sends a terrible example for little leaguers. So I guess this old coot just likes to surf the internet and pick and choose what I want to read about in what little time I have. Usually, I refer to my remarks as Rogers’ Ramblin’s but I am sure the man without a name that calls himself Gen. Neyland, will have plenty to say. A word to him, by the way; I fought for our country, otherwise known as one of President Truman’s policemen. I answered the call, in a place called The Land Of The Morning Calm. We called our stay,Hell!
My real name is Leroy!
By Francesco Sinibaldi
July 7, 2007 3:22 PM | Link to this
Escaping from myself / Like a flame in the sadness.
I sing in an airy morning, and I’m happy when a blackbird returns in my head describing a picture and a fallen desire; I wait for the sound of a beautiful care, and always, while a candle appears in the air with the breath of a dream, I pray to the sun, and a light disappears like a flame in a sadness…
Francesco Sinibaldi
By Ben
July 7, 2007 7:27 PM | Link to this
This reads like a long, drawn out version of one of Larry Munson’s “Inside on Sports” bits that air on 960am daily here in Athens… That’s not a compliment… You two should get together weekly to disscuss all of your old man woes and leave the rest of us out of it.
By Ben
July 7, 2007 9:11 PM | Link to this
Just for the record… Alex Rodriguez played for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, not the Dominican Republic.
By jbutler
July 7, 2007 11:59 PM | Link to this
Okay. What a total downer. First time reader. And last time reader.