After a photo of Michael Jordan smoking a cigar during a practice round at the Harding Park Golf Course appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, an official for the city of San Francisco took the time to remind the PGA to inform Michael Jordan that smoking is not allowed in or at public facilities in their fair city. Jordan is serving as an honorary assistant to captain Fred Couples for the upcoming President’s Cup, which officially kicks off Thursday when the first round of competition takes place at Harding Park, a public course.
Jordan, always the rebel, appeared to be at least partially aware of the ban, but maintained he planned on smoking anyway. When asked how many cigars he intended to smoke, Jordan replied:
“Well,” Jordan replied, “that depends, because I heard this is a public place, so they limit what you can smoke. I’m not even supposed to be smoking, but this was a practice round and no one said anything.”
If he is permitted to smoke, Jordan said, “I would say (it’s) a three-cigar round. I would try to keep it at a minimum of three.” via.
White guys are still 0-for-14 when Tiger Woods leads a major golf tournament on Sunday, but a 37-year-old from the far East finally did the deed. Yesterday, the pride of Jeju-do, South Korea, Yang Yong-eun, finally caught Tiger Woods by his tail, the first time anyone had done so in the final round of a major championship. Hey, Yang! It’s a parking lot!
“I usually go for broke,” Yang said through an interpreter. “The odds are against me. Nobody’s going to be really disappointed that I lose. So I really had nothing much at stake, and that’s how I played it.” via.
Yang chipped in a 60-foot approach shot for eagle on 14, giving him an outright lead that he would not relinquish. Woods finished bogey-bogey for the second straight major Sunday en route to a turdly 75. Congratulations have come in many forms for Yang, from the South Korean president phoning him to the nearby Hoban Korean Restaurant (where Yang ate all week) remaining open late on Sunday and applauding his arrival.
My big issue with Woods’ lack of grace in defeat was his refusal to hole out on 18 and let Yang have the stage to himself at the end of the tournament, a customary gesture that’s been extended to Woods plenty of times throughout his stellar career. It could be a bit of LeBronning on Woods’ part. It also could be as simple as Woods’ literally not knowing how to lose. As surprised as we were that Woods came up short yesterday, perhaps no one was more surprised than him. Cablinasia mourns yet again.
Tiger Woods is already leading the PGA Championship after shooting a five-under-par 67 today, and that’s good enough for me. Honestly, I don’t see the point in making a whole weekend out of these tournaments. When you have a “championship” every week, the concept seems to be diluted just a bit.
Even when Tiger wins five tournaments in a season, people flip out when he hasn’t won a major, like they’re scolding the kid that honestly forgot to brush his teeth one night. YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO DO THIS ALL THE TIME! WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU! It’s still fascinating that the citizens of Cablinasia are (a) so disappointed whenever Tiger falters, and (b) equally overjoyed when he doesn’t. It’s the same level of joy that was felt when your dad cut ass at the dinner table. When Tiger wins, we want him to do it again, and he rarely disappoints.
But that Phil Mickelson? Well, his wife got cancer, and we still hate that asshole. For so long has Mickelson been anointed the Great White Hope that could give Tiger a challenge week after week. Not so much. But Padraig Harrington, who was rushed into defeat last week if you believe Tiger’s side of the argument, stands poised to give Woods another run. And that’s nice. Cute, really. But we know how this is going to end. So just give Tiger the PGA trophy now, his one major for the year, and then get ready for football.
If you put Kobe Bryant, Bengals owner Mike Brown, Andy Roddick and Brett Favre in the same room, my animosity toward that room might approach the hate that I have for PGA Bastard-At-Arms Vijay Singh. The Fijian made headlines in 2003 at the Colonial Tournament when he said that Annika Sorrenstam–agruably the greatest female golfer ever– “didn’t belong” in a PGA event. And then he skipped the tournament while his little comrade Ernie Els came out and said what a great guy Vijay was. Sure, leave it to some ginger boy from South Africa to discount any sort of discrimination in a country club sport.
But now Vijay’s really off his rocker–he has tried to bail out Allen Stanford, who defrauded investors out of $7 billion dollars. Allegedly.
Singh has an endorsement deal with Stanford Financial reportedly worth $8 million. Although no longer being paid, Singh has continued to wear the Stanford logo on his visor and shirt.[...]
“Vijay’s opinion is that Stanford has yet to be proven guilty and until then has chose to act supportively,” said Dave Haggith, a spokesman at IMG, the management company that represents Singh.
Vijay’s reasoning: Allen’s a great guy. I’m sure he is, Vijay. Great guys stand accused of ten-figure fraud all the time. I expected a little more from a guy that grew up on the side of a volcano.
|CBS Sports, via KOGOD|
Ireland's own Padraig Harrington survived a double bogey on the 18th hole today, and then bested Sergio Garcia in a 4-hole playoff to win the British Open in Scotland. The luck of the Irish was with Harrington as Carnoustie's 18th has destroyed lesser men (from lesser nations) such as Jean Van de Velde from France. Harrington also benefited from Garcia's tee-shot striking the base of the pin and rolling 18 feet away on the 2nd playoff hole. Garcia, who led the tournament by 3 shots going into the final round, handled the misfortune with his usual aplomb:
"To tell you the truth, I don't feel like I did anything wrong," said Garcia, who closed with a 73 and was 1 over in the playoff. "I really didn't miss a shot in the playoff. I hit unbelievable putts. They just didn't go in . . . I should write a book on how not to miss a shot and not win a playoff."
Suggested titles for that book: Nuremberg Golf: Don't Blame Yourself, Great Putts That Miss: When the Green is Culpable, or Sour Grapes: The Sergio Garcia Story. -KD
Greg Norman's divorce proceedings have turned nasty:
Greg’s lawyer, Martin Haynes, said his client has a “special equity” in the marriage because of his fame, and therefore deserves a bigger slice of the couple’s $500 million fortune. “What sets this marital estate aside from many . . is the work ethic of the husband,” the filing states.
I assume Solicitor Haynes meant to say that the husband almost always brings home the bacon, but was trying to be politically correct. I kid, ladies. Take my situation for instance, you can't really call what I do 'work' because I would be perusing tasteful pictures of starlets and models on the internet every waking moment anyway. Plus how ethical can a guy be who doesn't wear pants?
“His drive, and his ceaseless effort to compete, survive the embarrassment of defeat, and to enjoy the taste of victory . . He was recognized as the Great White Shark prior to marriage. The wife did not teach the husband how to swing a golf club. The wife did not teach the husband how to win."
Even his lawyer recognizes that Norman is remembered more for his final round collapses than his two British Open victories. Yes, Greg survived the embarrassment of defeat, and you can't say his wife taught him how to win. The Great White Shark was very fortunate that Americans were fascinated by all things Australian in the mid-80s, such as Crocodile Dundee, that Energizer battery guy, and the boomerang or as the Shanty Irish call it, 'the Clap'. Apparently he's dating Chis Evert now to force me to recall a decade I'd like to forget and acknowledge two sports for which I don't care. I think I'll watch Jaws today. -KD
