While anxiously waiting for the college football season, there was water cooler debate about why our President would be involved with a parochial issue between the Cambridge police and his college professor friend? With his rugged agenda and ubiquitous presence in our lives, it was odd to see so much time spent with a civil matter. A Yard intern connected a few dots and proffered a scenario. While Michele and the girls are hunkered down in Martha’s Vineyard, Barry scoots back to the White House for some beers with the boys? The same week, former President Clinton flies to North Korea to diffuse the school yard fight between Kim Jong II and Hillary and maybe hit a few karaoke bars? Solving problems or cover stories for nights out? These guys are good.
The college football season begins in earnest when the USA Coaches Top 25 poll is released early each August. BCS fortunes can be dashed before the first game is played. The only team to win the BCS Championship without being ranked in the pre-season Top 10 is Oklahoma in 2000. We have a call into the White House to see if can catch a beer in the rose garden to drill into this BCS profiling.
The 4th ranked Trojans look to contend for another National Championship. Pete is past the Mark Sanchez departure. He had his hissy fit at the press conference when he flipped the game board on Sanchez. Sanchez did sign a 5 year $60 million contract with 28 million of those clams guaranteed by the New York Jets. He might be the first rookie QB to start in the Big Apple since Joe Namath. Or he could be partying in LA, taking cake classes at the U, impregnating girlfriends and being worshipped by the Trojan faithful for staying and leading the team for one more season. Sanchez will never regret not staying. Pete, what did getting Matt Leinart to stay for one more year do for Matt?
The Bruins broke back into the “Others receiving votes” category in the national polls. Some might snicker about the Bruins fourteen votes compared to USC’s 1,321 but Michigan only had one vote! Coach Neuheisel hopes the defense plays better and the Bruins can put some points on the board. We all hope that the NCAA gets a little more hitch in their giddy up and starts deposing people and stuff across town. The best defense is a good offense and the NCAA Rules committee is one of the best in college football.
USC fan is outraged that Pete Carroll was on the front page of the LA times with a cover story about USC’s use of an NFL consultant last season. It is a violation of the rules albeit a rather obscure one. Pete was shocked it was even an issue and we must admit it did seem rather petty. Peter, you should have been paying more attention when Reggie Bush was showing up to football practice in a fully restored powder blue Impala sporting two carat diamond studs. Timmy Floyd should have maybe asked a few questions of O.J. Mayo’s posse while they were installing that 56 inch 1080 DPI flat screen in his dorm room.
Extra Innings:
We were surprised by all of the hoopla about the high tech swim suits at the World Swimming Championships in Rome. Michael Phelps was soundly beaten and his world record smashed by a no name German swimmer in a soon to be outlawed neoprene suit. Phelps’ coach was outrageously outspoken. He threatened to pull Phelps from future meets if these suits were used. He declared that Phelps is the one who “puts butts in the seats” at these swim meets.
The Yard had two thoughts on this swim suit controversy. First, Phelps would probably be using the same suit if he did not get one million clams from Speedo to wear their suit. He might have picked the wrong suit but we do not believe the other company had the mil in the briefcase for Phelps and his coach.
Secondly, who attends swim meets outside of the Olympics anyway? We can name more people in the Hot Dog eating championships than in World Swimming Championships! American Joey Chestnut is keeping the American dream alive being ranked #1 in the International Competitive Eating Federation! He holds world records for macaroni and cheese, jalapenos, waffles and every other food group that is never on the Food Channel. He has kicked arch rival Kobayashi’s ass the past two summers in Coney Island to keep the competitive eating world title in this McNation!
After Phelps, name anyone on the men’s swim tour? We do have Dana Torres in our Fantasy swim pool league. She did not win either but she gets all of our votes and she rocks in any swim suit.
Tony
http://tonyattheyard.blogspot.com/
626-278-4736
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Voices of Turnberry
President Obama has been omnipresent of late. There he was throwing out the first pitch at the All-Star game, exchanging sound bites with Joe Buck in the booth, and presenting awards via satellite at the ESPY’s. We checked to see if he wanted to sit in the Yard box for Manny Bobble Head night on Wednesday at the Ravine but he was already having dinner with Tom Watson. We agreed to try and catch a UCLA game in the fall.
We invited Tom in for dinner this week. He begged off but we agreed to circle back in the afterlife if his schedule frees up by then. Sunday at Turnberry was great theater and just because ABC Television could not figure out the satellite feed does not diminish Tom Watson’s heroic efforts.
Golf is humbling and requires more concentration than any other sport. Many sports enthusiasts might argue this point. If you have ever stood over a short putt with a three skin carry over on the line, you have a small sense of the demons Mr. Watson faced on Sunday. Golf is not about the athleticism. It is about dealing with adversity when the voices in your head want to review your failures while you are lining up that putt. The voices are loud in Yard golf lore and execution always suspect with these dimpled balls.
Professional golf does reward athleticism on Thursday and Friday with the promise of the weekend. It is the grinders who overcome adversity and are in the hunt on Sunday. While Tiger did not make the cut, there was 59 year old Sir Tom, 26 years after winning his fifth British Open and last major, leading in the fourth quarter with two out in the ninth and the goalie pulled while the loyal fans were roaring.
On the 72nd hole, with his 275th shot of The Open, he proved for the world one of the universal axioms of golf that a well placed shot does not always end in a well place. Two shots later, he stubbed a nine foot putt two feet short just like we all have done with less at stake and with fewer people watching.
Watson aged about twenty years while walking down the 18th fairway Sunday under the canopy of adoring cheers from the Scottish faithful. He teed off like a 40 year old pounding a 270 yard drive. He sagged ten years when he realized the aforementioned well placed second shot had rolled off the back of the green. He tacked on five more rings to the fraternal tree when he putted nine feet past the hole on his third shot. Then while standing over a nine foot putt that could earn him a historic 6th British open, he added the last five before our eyes just before putting that stubby. He hopelessly searched for the Benjamin Button secret sauce through four miserable playoff holes and eventually creaked into the clubhouse defeated but not in defeat.
It was tragically historic. In a nation that reveres efforts but remembers results, Watson’s effort will overshadow the result for this fan.
Extra Innings: It was great to see Jason Schmidt pitch in his first game in two years. He won and also homered. It is a nice comeback story. The Yard is not sure he is going to win too many more with that 83 mile an hour fast ball.
What kind of reception did David Beckham expect after he tried to get out of his Galaxy contract? Is he as out of touch as that vapid woman he married?
St. Louis Ram defensive lineman Leonard Little killed a woman with his car with a BAC of .19 in 1998. He was sentenced to 90 days in jail and suspended for 9 games by the NFL. It cost him $125,000 in salary. Mr. Little has earned over $35 million since his arrest. Mike Vick committed a heinous crime as well but has lost three prime years of income, $20 million in signing bonus and he is bankrupt. Has he not paid a lot more for his crime than Little has for taking a human life?
We invited Tom in for dinner this week. He begged off but we agreed to circle back in the afterlife if his schedule frees up by then. Sunday at Turnberry was great theater and just because ABC Television could not figure out the satellite feed does not diminish Tom Watson’s heroic efforts.
Golf is humbling and requires more concentration than any other sport. Many sports enthusiasts might argue this point. If you have ever stood over a short putt with a three skin carry over on the line, you have a small sense of the demons Mr. Watson faced on Sunday. Golf is not about the athleticism. It is about dealing with adversity when the voices in your head want to review your failures while you are lining up that putt. The voices are loud in Yard golf lore and execution always suspect with these dimpled balls.
Professional golf does reward athleticism on Thursday and Friday with the promise of the weekend. It is the grinders who overcome adversity and are in the hunt on Sunday. While Tiger did not make the cut, there was 59 year old Sir Tom, 26 years after winning his fifth British Open and last major, leading in the fourth quarter with two out in the ninth and the goalie pulled while the loyal fans were roaring.
On the 72nd hole, with his 275th shot of The Open, he proved for the world one of the universal axioms of golf that a well placed shot does not always end in a well place. Two shots later, he stubbed a nine foot putt two feet short just like we all have done with less at stake and with fewer people watching.
Watson aged about twenty years while walking down the 18th fairway Sunday under the canopy of adoring cheers from the Scottish faithful. He teed off like a 40 year old pounding a 270 yard drive. He sagged ten years when he realized the aforementioned well placed second shot had rolled off the back of the green. He tacked on five more rings to the fraternal tree when he putted nine feet past the hole on his third shot. Then while standing over a nine foot putt that could earn him a historic 6th British open, he added the last five before our eyes just before putting that stubby. He hopelessly searched for the Benjamin Button secret sauce through four miserable playoff holes and eventually creaked into the clubhouse defeated but not in defeat.
It was tragically historic. In a nation that reveres efforts but remembers results, Watson’s effort will overshadow the result for this fan.
Extra Innings: It was great to see Jason Schmidt pitch in his first game in two years. He won and also homered. It is a nice comeback story. The Yard is not sure he is going to win too many more with that 83 mile an hour fast ball.
What kind of reception did David Beckham expect after he tried to get out of his Galaxy contract? Is he as out of touch as that vapid woman he married?
St. Louis Ram defensive lineman Leonard Little killed a woman with his car with a BAC of .19 in 1998. He was sentenced to 90 days in jail and suspended for 9 games by the NFL. It cost him $125,000 in salary. Mr. Little has earned over $35 million since his arrest. Mike Vick committed a heinous crime as well but has lost three prime years of income, $20 million in signing bonus and he is bankrupt. Has he not paid a lot more for his crime than Little has for taking a human life?
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Don't Cry for me Trevor Ariza...
Don’t cry for me Trevor Ariza…we kept our promise..You kept your distance…
Trevor and his agent figured that with those two steals and hitting 39% of his 3’s in the NBA Finals, local boy Ariza had earned more than a paltry $6 million per year for the Laker’s mid-level exemption. They were publicly upset with the Lakers making an offer after such Trevor’s spectacular five games in the finals. He was brilliant in the playoffs but he was average during the 82 games to get there. He was not a starter and it is not certain he would be next year even if Lamar leaves. Trevor, public outrage in LA gets you five years in Houston and a chalupa to be named later. You might want to check with Yao and see if he is playing next year because the reports are not good. And good luck getting a pass back from Tracy McGrady.
People forget that on national television in the finals of any professional sport extraordinary performances are exponentially remembered. It is like all statistics get multiplied by Pi for all of history. Trevor should maximize his return but he is going to miss LA. Mitch went all in on the first hand, sorry TA. Your agent did not read the situation quite right. Playing for $6 million a year for three years below the radar as the 3rd option on offense, in the town you played high school and college basketball is priceless.
In 1996, Larry Brown of the Dallas Cowboys was the MVP of the Super Bowl. He intercepted two passes and became the first cornerback ever to win the MVP of this game. He was a free agent and signed a lucrative contract with the un-lucrative Oakland Raiders. He played 12 more NFL games. Aaron Boone has secured employment every season since his historic walk off home run in game 7 of the 2003 ALCS against the Red Sox until this season.
Trevor, we thought you should have never left UCLA after your freshman year when you were injured, young and injured. You did play in all 82 games this season but started only 20. You are Bruin success story in the NBA and it would be nice to see you in the purple and gold. But Artest is an upgrade for less money, bro. For $18 million over three years, the Lakers get to see how many more championships Kobe can will them with the wingman he has never had. For $33 million over five years, the Rockets get to find out if your five games of fame this past June will be repeated nightly next season. Be careful about giving unproven 24 year olds huge five year guaranteed contracts in the NBA.
Ron Artest is the disaster that never happened. He is a tough NYC kid who went to Saint John’s and was 1st team All Big East. He played against Rip Hamilton and Lamar Odom in the NCAA tournament that year. While with the Pacers in 2004, he went into the stands to attack a drunk that threw a beer on him and a teammate. He has behaved since that infamous November night in Detroit, eccentricities notwithstanding. These days, he gets in more trouble with his mouth than his elbows. He is no saint but he is out of the news and down in the paint.
Compared to the sinewy Ariza, Artest is 6’7” and 260 pounds of inside out with an attitude. He averaged 16 points and 5 boards while shooting 40% from beyond the arc last season. He was a lock down defender and had fourteen games that he scored more than 24 points last year. Ariza averaged 9 points, 4.3 rebounds and scored over 20 points once all season. Ariza, Walton, and Fisher were all terrible for long stretches spotting up beyond the line for kick outs from Gasol, Odom and Kobe. Trevor hit his threes in the Finals but he would disappear for games at a stretch during the season. Grinders get you to the finals where heroes sometimes emerge.
Lamar, the Trevor deal was a clear shot across your Snickers bar. If you want to hang in LA, play the Ron Harper role for Phil, be a big dog in this great sports town while making solid Benjamins, have your agent pump the brakes a bit. You and Ronnie A. go way back to NY AAU ball together. This could be priceless and be careful, Mitch seems a little pissy and quick on the leverage. Sometimes you have to be careful in what you wish for in life.
"Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about the bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth. Lou Gehrig July 4, 1939.
Trevor and his agent figured that with those two steals and hitting 39% of his 3’s in the NBA Finals, local boy Ariza had earned more than a paltry $6 million per year for the Laker’s mid-level exemption. They were publicly upset with the Lakers making an offer after such Trevor’s spectacular five games in the finals. He was brilliant in the playoffs but he was average during the 82 games to get there. He was not a starter and it is not certain he would be next year even if Lamar leaves. Trevor, public outrage in LA gets you five years in Houston and a chalupa to be named later. You might want to check with Yao and see if he is playing next year because the reports are not good. And good luck getting a pass back from Tracy McGrady.
People forget that on national television in the finals of any professional sport extraordinary performances are exponentially remembered. It is like all statistics get multiplied by Pi for all of history. Trevor should maximize his return but he is going to miss LA. Mitch went all in on the first hand, sorry TA. Your agent did not read the situation quite right. Playing for $6 million a year for three years below the radar as the 3rd option on offense, in the town you played high school and college basketball is priceless.
In 1996, Larry Brown of the Dallas Cowboys was the MVP of the Super Bowl. He intercepted two passes and became the first cornerback ever to win the MVP of this game. He was a free agent and signed a lucrative contract with the un-lucrative Oakland Raiders. He played 12 more NFL games. Aaron Boone has secured employment every season since his historic walk off home run in game 7 of the 2003 ALCS against the Red Sox until this season.
Trevor, we thought you should have never left UCLA after your freshman year when you were injured, young and injured. You did play in all 82 games this season but started only 20. You are Bruin success story in the NBA and it would be nice to see you in the purple and gold. But Artest is an upgrade for less money, bro. For $18 million over three years, the Lakers get to see how many more championships Kobe can will them with the wingman he has never had. For $33 million over five years, the Rockets get to find out if your five games of fame this past June will be repeated nightly next season. Be careful about giving unproven 24 year olds huge five year guaranteed contracts in the NBA.
Ron Artest is the disaster that never happened. He is a tough NYC kid who went to Saint John’s and was 1st team All Big East. He played against Rip Hamilton and Lamar Odom in the NCAA tournament that year. While with the Pacers in 2004, he went into the stands to attack a drunk that threw a beer on him and a teammate. He has behaved since that infamous November night in Detroit, eccentricities notwithstanding. These days, he gets in more trouble with his mouth than his elbows. He is no saint but he is out of the news and down in the paint.
Compared to the sinewy Ariza, Artest is 6’7” and 260 pounds of inside out with an attitude. He averaged 16 points and 5 boards while shooting 40% from beyond the arc last season. He was a lock down defender and had fourteen games that he scored more than 24 points last year. Ariza averaged 9 points, 4.3 rebounds and scored over 20 points once all season. Ariza, Walton, and Fisher were all terrible for long stretches spotting up beyond the line for kick outs from Gasol, Odom and Kobe. Trevor hit his threes in the Finals but he would disappear for games at a stretch during the season. Grinders get you to the finals where heroes sometimes emerge.
Lamar, the Trevor deal was a clear shot across your Snickers bar. If you want to hang in LA, play the Ron Harper role for Phil, be a big dog in this great sports town while making solid Benjamins, have your agent pump the brakes a bit. You and Ronnie A. go way back to NY AAU ball together. This could be priceless and be careful, Mitch seems a little pissy and quick on the leverage. Sometimes you have to be careful in what you wish for in life.
"Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about the bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth. Lou Gehrig July 4, 1939.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
