I'm pretty much an underdog kinda guy...I like to see upsets, so when Tiger and Rocco teed it up today at Torrey Pines, I found myself torn as to which one I wanted to win...The thing about Tiger is that everytime he wins a Major or any tournament..it's good for golf. Personally, I don't watch it unlessTiger's playin' and if this weekends tournament doesn't tellya the reason why...I can't helpya..he's the best there ever wuz...
Havin' said that...A guy like Rocco Mediate is refreshing. They call him everyman and I think that's as gooda tag as anything...Personality and bein' genuine in golf, sometimes, is as rare as an honest politician. I did a post a while back on Boo Weekley and I've certainly done a few on John Daly cuz these guys are real...The majority of golfers are, frankly, pretty boring and phony...by that, I mean..they take themselves too seriously...Tiger is probably one of the major offenders of that ilk....but...ya gotta figger,,,that's some serious change those guys are makin' and bein' serious and disciplined is prob'ly the reason he and others in that arena do as well as they do...
Widdat outtadaway...The only thang that makes Tiger real, is when he yells "G..dammit!!!" after an errant shot....and if he can say the Lord's name in vain on national television and not be censored ...then why inda #### did I just git censored from jus' bloggin'..?...It might be becuz he's....unreal...
Either way...ya done good Rocco...and you were...real ....
In a way, Rocco being such a nice guy is what ultimately got him in the end. Everyone on the tour loves him,including Tiger, and there's no mental intimidation from your competitor when your joking and having a good time everyhole for 36,37 holes together.
Tiger's knee and comfort level might have been an issue if he was playing against a quiet "grinding" type player. Easier to stay loose if the guy you're trying to beat is a buddy.
It was great to see a guy like Rocco match the course and Tiger for so long. Now that he's healthy again, hopefully he'll be on the leaederboard more often.
One of the best Open's i've seen in a long time.
Steveo--I was pulling for Rocco but didn't think he could beat Tiger hes definitly unreal I think we need to check and see if hes an ailen..
Because hes so much better than mere mortals.
Texascuda...It really wuzza great show..and even Tiger..(as unreal as he is) every now'n then shows genuine feelings like when he popped that shot in on 17 Saturday and knew he got by with sumpthin'....
..but ya notice...he only flashes that kinda warmth when he's doin' GOOD...Rocco is affable either way..
JW...For the first time I ever saw Tiger in a tournament...this was the only time that I was "ok" if he was beaten by someone else...and that's a reflection of Rocco...
I was pullin' forra good match...and that's what I got...lol
You know I was pullin' for Tiger but it wouldn't have killed me to see Rocco pull it out... Didn't happen and the beat goes on.
I thought it was darned cool when Tiger's baby daughter didn't want him to hand her off to Mom... I think that said one heck of a lot about the kind of person Tiger Woods is...
That was one of the greatest displays I've ever had the privelege of watching as both of these guys went toe to toe for the biggest prize in golf. It's a shame someone had to lose. It almost looked to me like Rocco stepped up to that last putt of his and he was in another world somewhere... He stroked it, but everyone and their dog knew he wasn't making it...
There is already too many sports. I wouldn't marry a guy totally into sports because I've had my fill of mowing lawns already.
So if golf were to suddenly go away I wouldn't have a problem with it at all. But for right now for those who like golf at all, Tiger Woods must win for the game to survive on TV at least. At least until the new whoever comes along. Nobody cares who wins if Tiger doesn't. Nobody watches from what I read if he doesn't play.
My dad and a neighbor argue about who is the greatest golfer of all time. Who cares? All that matters is Tiger Woods is keeping the game alive for you to even have a game.
I tend to agree with you Stevo.
course Phil is my guy. (feel my pain I know)
To comment a bit on the comment above me.... I think if an "almost nobody" were to take the Tiger down, the press would be there just the same. Heck we love seeing icons fall............
Yee Mum...I gotta go with Nique on this'n but at least you have a fav'rit..Heres da deal fer me:
If I hear that Boo Weekley or Daly or Rocco are in da runnin' on Sunday...I'll check it out if Tiger ain't playin'..otherwise..I won't...If Tigers playin'..I'll start watchin' on Thursday...
SteveoinHTown
Unfortunately for Rocco he'll have his 15 minutes of fame . Do the talk show circuit for a few weeks and then just disappear altogether from the public's conscience.
All smalls now for Mediate . But how many of us'll remember his name two , three or even six months from now ?
It's always been that way with the guys who've ended up playing second fiddle to Woods in a major .
So for now Rocco ought to make hay whilst the sun shines . 'cause in a few weeks we'll have forgotten about him once and for all ! The public's attention span is really that short. It's a feel good story of the moment. But there'll be another one just around the corner.
justan...Im not so sure 'bout that...Lotta people knew Rocco way before this and this'll help him...he's gotta better image than 15 minnits...not to menshun da fact that Tiger himself said this was his "greatest win ever.."
I was pulling for Tiger to win and Rocko to put up a great fight. That was exactly what I got. What a show they put on! Being from San Diego, I was also thrilled for San Diego for how well this tournament went off. I remember playing Torey Pines for $7.00 with a resident card, or free if I showed up after 5:00 PM. Sure can't do that anymore.
SteveoinHTown
No one is concerned with the amount of money a guy wins on The Tour if he's not winning majors .
Charles Howell III has won more money on the Tour than Nicklaus did over the course of his entire career. Howell has yet to win a major . So are you trying to make an argument for guys of that ilk ? If so then that's you prerogative. But at the end of the day it's the big tournaments that count. And the big tounrnaments are The Majors . As that's what'll clearly define these guys and their legacy and place in the annals of golf folklore.
And until Mediate notches one under his belt. He won't be seen as anything other than a guy who chased Woods over the course of 4 1/2 days in trying to win an elusive first major title.
tophat' aka justan's pic on his 957am comment says it call. THey were having fun, they gave the fans more than you could ever ask for in an open, and were both true gentlemen.
Tiger said during the trophy presentation if it had been any other tournament, when his knee was buckling in rd 3 and 4, he wanted to quit, but said "there was no way I was gonna quit in front of these great people. It was just not gonna happen." Thats showed a lot of his dad in him , and his love for the fans, regardless of what Nique or others think. The reason he wins so much is because of this mental toughness. Its what separated Nicholaus from the rest as well, and we are lucky to be able to witness it.
justan....I'm not trying to argue any issue..but I'll yellya this much..Guys that make over 13 million in 20 years regardless of the 20 year period don't need "15 minutes of fame"..
"So for now Rocco ought to make hay whilst the sun shines..."
He's already done it...
"But how many of us'll remember his name two , three or even six months from now?..."
bleed...Golf always wins when Tiger is inda field and the positive affects uvva like Rocco bein' inda field while Tiger takes another sabbattical wouuld translate into ratings (assuming he was inda hunt). Not close to Tiger-like...but nonetheless a reasonable dent...
Last edited by StevoinHTown on June 17th at 1:24 PM.
What did I say? I never put Tiger down. I said Tiger IS professional golf. If that of been any two other guys walking down the fairways grinning and laughing I guarantee you the interest would have been 10% of what it was even with the close finish. Because it was Tiger is what made it special.
The ironic thing 'bout that is, that without "free TV", golf wouldn't enjoy the popularity it has...but, here'sdadeal..Don't be surprised if Golf entertained the notion of PPV in Majors that Tiger's in inda future...
Sounds silly, I know, buttit wouldn't surprise me either way...
I mean...if he was inda runnin' on Sunday and I could only get it on PPV...I'd consider it...well, that's assumin' gas prices went down considerably...lol
Bein' able to watch Tiger for "free" is a gift...whenya thank 'bout it...Cheap entertainment...
I'm a life-long native of the GREAT COUNTRY of TEXAS. Been a sports fan all my life. I can be serious, irreverent, humorous and sometimes foolish on a lotta my "takes". Never mean any malice to anyone and that's why I have an affinity for "blogging". Cuz, after all, yuh can't whack me upside the head if I change my mind....
Caveat:
I drink beer.
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