Wikapeadia is becoming synonymous with “the truth” and this is a problem as some are beginning to find out.  Everyone cites Wikipedia.  Students in schools, bloggers online, and the casual researcher are all guilty of quoting Wikipedia as if it were undisputed fact.  The truth is that many things posted are not only false, but they are considered slanderous.

Take this recent lawsuit by Fuzzy Zoeller over statements that were posted to his Wikipedia biography that were false and slanderous.  Over time the statements have been repealed, but for the time that they are posted on the internet anyone who reads them will leave with the impression that they are true.

Overall, Wikipedia gets most things right and as an organization it polices itself fairly well.  But what happens when they do make mistakes?  (And they do make mistakes.) Who is responsible and should anyone be made to pay for those mistakes?  If you or I took out an advertisement in the newspaper slandering a politician or an athlete, do you think we could be sued and/or punished for it?  These are the types of questions that are being asked. 

As a teacher and a father helping my son with research, I try to ensure that students verify all information by using more than one source, and preferably not all from the internet.  It may seem like a small matter, but to Fuzzy Zoeller the loss of endorsement money is not laughing matter.

 

SoCalSportsFan

The old song goes, “All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth.”  Having four children, I know this song is false, but it does raise an interesting question, “What do these sports personalities want for Christmas?”

Terrell Owens:  I wish I had spit cup on my helmet.  Trying to get rid of my Copenhagen during the game is tough to do, especially with a player in front of you.

Tony Romo:  Jessica Simpson under mistletoe, wrapped in a bow.

 

Allen Iverson:  Sleep in, show up for work, make millions, ….wait, I already have that.  I want my singing career to take off like Shaq’s.

Peyton Manning:  I wish I were Tom Brady.

Tony Dungy:  I wish Peyton was Tom Brady.

Ricky Williams:  I wish I had a Cannibas tree.

 

 Isiah Thomas:  I wish I had Laimbeer and Mahorn on my team again.  Bill always new how to give a hard foul.

J.D. Drew:  I just wish I had signed that contract in LA.

 Bud Selig:  All I want for Christmas is a positive steroid test on Barry before he breaks Aaron’s record.

 

 

George Steinbrenner:  I wish I could get Roger back with Andy. 

 

Kobe:  This game sure was a lot easier when I had Shaq on my team.  I wish I were playing with Shaq again on Christmas, on the same team.

Edgerrin James:  I wish I were a Colt again. Actually, I do wish I had my two front teeth.

Michelle Wie:  I want to make a cut against the men so badly that I gave up playing college golf.  Sure, I got into Stanford, but because I turned pro I am not eligible to have a normal college life like Tiger Woods had.  Besides, competing against people my own age wouldn’t be fair anyway.  Everyone knows I am much better than they are and one of these days I will actually win a tournament and prove it.  Until then, I am happy with my golf game because if I could just drive the ball better I might actually win a tournament.  My game is not that far off.

 

That is about all I have for now, but feel free to add your Christmas Wish List below.  Have a very merry Christmas to all!

 

SoCalSportsFan

There is still time to get into the Fox Blogger Bowl Pickem league I set up.  Here is the Group ID and password.

Group ID#: 15406

Group Password: socal 

Michelle Wie is at it again, playing against the men in Japan.  Don’t get me wrong.  She has every right to play against the men if she gets a sponsor’s exemption and clearly the companies which endorse her, like Sony, want her to compete against the men.  The only problem is they want her to COMPETE against the men.  Sooner or later Michelle is going to learn that she is not competing.  She can play two rounds with the men and miss the cuts, but that is not what they are looking for.  They want her to make the cut and make some noise in the final round so that they can get some #### for their buck, but this is not going to happen.

What’s worse is that every time Wie misses a cut or loses she makes statements which are so far from the truth that it is just plain laughable.  Take this statement from Wie after shooting an opening round 81,

 

"I don't think I was playing that bad," she said. "My long game put a lot pressure on my short game. I have to get my confidence back on my drive and just hit the ball the way I always do and I'll be fine."

 

I have news for you Michelle, shooting an 81 in a professional golf tournament is playing badly.  You can remain positive all you want, but until you go back to the drawing board and hone your game against people you can win against, then you will remain a loser.  Playing against the men will not sharpen your game; it will only cause you to doubt yourself even more.  This Thanksgiving as I sit around my table and enjoy turkey and the NFL, Wie will be over in Japan searching for birdies.

 

SoCalSportsFan

Tiger Woods suggested that the PGA be proactive and start drug testing.  He did not imply that anyone was using performance enhancing drugs, but he suggested that it could happen and that the PGA should take the lead and prevent it from happening rather than react to it when it does happen.  Tim Finchem, PGA Tour Commissioner, said that he sees no reason to start testing for PE’s.  I would have to agree with Mr. Finchem and here are my reasons:

 

1.  To my knowledge there are no performance enhancers which help with hand eye coordination.  Golf is a funny game.  Players can be as lumpy as Tim Herron or as bulky as Craig Stadler and still be successful.  Others players are as small as Corey Pavin and still win tournaments.  Size has nothing to do with success on the PGA and steroids which help a player bulk up could actually be counter-productive.  Hitting the ball further is more of a function of "swing speed" and not muscles.  That is why a guy like Camilo Villegas can hit the ball 300+ yards when he is only 5'8" and weighs less than 150 lbs.

 

2.  Performance enhancers like EPO help cyclists by giving an oxygen boost to their tired muscles.  Cyclists and marathon runners need this boost to help, but not golfers.  I am sorry, but walking 18 holes o####olf course at a snail’s pace while someone carries your clubs for you and you suck down a Dasani does not qualify as aerobic exercise.  The body is not taxed enough to need a “boost” and therefore EPO would not benefit any golfer enough to make them risk using this type of enhancer.

 

 

3.  The last category of enhancers would be “speed” or amphetamines.  While some players may be using this form of PE, the chances are they are using them more as an illegal drug than to help them golf.  Amphetamines are sometimes used as weight loss drugs or even for ADD.  So this category might be something that you would find in some PGA golfer’s bloodstream it is highly unlikely that he would be using it to do better on the tour.  If anything the player might develop the “yips” while putting while on “meth”. 

 

So while Tiger Woods says all of the right things and encourages the tour to be proactive, I think Commissioner Finchem is on the right trail.  It might be unpopular and politically incorrect, but I do think he is right when he says the PGA does not have a problem in the realm of “performance enhancers.”  The real question is should they test for sedatives to calm the nerves of golfers as they look down the line of a three foot putt at Augusta.

 

SoCalSportsFan

Detroitsports has come up with some excellent questions and all worthy of an individual post.  Since we must answer them all I will not elaborate on each and everyone but get straight to the questions.

 

1. The first question deals with the removal of a sport from society.  As painful as removing a sport is, I can think of several that I would not miss.  Before I can make a logical choice, it seems illogical to choose to eliminate that which is not a sport such as poker or any various and sundry card games that are promoted on ESPN as a sport.  These are competitions, but certainly not athletic endeavors and therefore not in the running for my dismissal.  My choice for dismissal will also surely offend members of the opposite sex and for that I apologize before I even begin.  For me, it is an easy choice.  Rid the sportsworld of “We Got Next!”  Yes, I said it.  The WNBA needs to go.  It provides zero dollars to the owners who are sinking in millions to payroll the whole operation.  The teams routinely bring in less than 8000 fans per game in arenas designed to seat many more.  When someone gets excited that a woman player actually makes a lay-up and calls it a dunk  it is time to go.  If you want to know my true feelings on the matter visit my blog and read the post, highlighted above, that I wrote last year on the WNBA.

 

2. If I could go into the past and meet someone who would it be.  This question is one that I find to be way to open ended.  If it is open to any person who ever lived I would have to say that I would want to meet with Adam.  Yes the very first man who ever lived.  I would want to know how he let a woman mess up paradise.  I would want to know how it felt to have gone from the top to the bottom all in a day.  Unbelievable as it may seem, he had the best gig going and threw it all away for a dame and some food.  The two vices most men have the hardest time with are our stomachs and our.....desires.  Poor Adam, he never stood a chance. If we are talking about athletes, that is an entirely different story.  You see, I would love to go back and spend some time with the Babe.  Imagine getting to eat hot dogs all day, drink beer, and go to the games.  I would want to see first hand how far his HR’s flew out of Yankee stadium.  I would love to watch him pitch and see just how hard he threw the ball.  Most of all, I would like to see just how people treated him within the organization that refused to let him manage when his career as a hitter was through.
3. Question number three is the toughest one of all to answer.  What position would I want to participate in?  I love all sports and therefore playing in anyone sport is not so important as the possibility of playing in a certain venue.  Playing shooting guard or a center is not that big of a deal whereas playing shooting guard with Michael Jordan would be a tremendous dream.  Seeing him pass the ball to you in the clutch situation like John Paxson or Steve Kerr and hitting the game winning shot has to be an unbelievable thrill.  However being on a team with Kobe and never touching the ball would be a huge drain.  Therefore, I would choose rather to be a professional golfer, (And as long as we are dreaming, why not be Tiger Woods.  Beautiful wife, boat, and golf.).  Getting to play the game I love 7 days a week, and only four of those are real work,  would be the thrill of a lifetime.  The chance to play on courses like Augusta National, Pebble Beach, and St. Andrews would be the dream of a lifetime. 

So there you have Detroit.  Eliminate the WNBA, let me meet with Babe Ruth, and let me live the life of Tiger Woods.  Does it get any better than this?

SoCalSportsFan

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way . . .

Charles Dickens wrote those words in 1849 and they may sum up how Tiger is feeling right now.  He is on top of the golf world, but his personal life is at an all time low. He is married to a beautiful Norwegian model/nanny, Elin Nordegren, but loses his dad to prostrate cancer.  As great as Tiger is on the golf course, he is not immune to the normal trials of life and this will be the subject of debate over the rest of this year.  Every time he loses, golf analysts will discuss his mental state during the mourning process.  If he wins, then they will discuss how focused and competitively fierce he is even in this time of bereavement.

In the world of sports, fans can get wrapped up in the tragedy of their heroes because we have all suffered the loss of a loved one.  When Dale Earnhardt died, the entire population of the southeast mourned his death.  Women shopping in Wal Mart wore black for the entire month.  It was a very sad event and yet Dale Jr. races on because he has a passion for NASCAR.  His dad instilled that passion at an early age and Little “E” continues to honor his father every time he gets behind the wheel of his Chevrolet. Tiger Woods is no different.  As the old saying goes, "Life goes on." 

Some people have tried to paint an ugly portrait of a man who forced his son into golf.  This is not the picture of Earl Woods that Tiger has shared with so many nor is it the description that is given in the book Start Something written by Earl Woods and the foreword by Tiger.  Tiger and his dad enjoyed a very special relationship that only a father and son can understand.  

While Earl was not a professional golfer, he loved the game of golf and it impressed Tiger so much that at the tender age of two, he could swing a club better than most amateurs today.   Earl was an athlete, a green beret, and above all else, a father.  He loved his son and his son still loves him.  Tiger will continue to play and honor his father both on and off the course. 

Speculation abounds about how Tiger will perform now that his father has passed away.  Rest assured, Tiger will continue to dominate.  Without the distraction of an ailing father, Tiger can now focus on winning and that should frighten the rest of the field.  Tiger is probably the fiercest competitor on the golf course alive today.  His mind will not wander back to how his dad is feeling in CA, but he can completely focus on his game.  In fact, he may just bury himself in the one thing he loves almost as much as his dad and that is golf.  There will be a time to mourn and a time to heal, but in the end he will return to golf with the passion that Earl Woods instilled years ago.  Every time he steps onto a tee box, he will remember his dad and the lessons he learned.

For the rest of the PGA tour there can only be one message, “Be afraid, very afraid!”  

 

SoCalSportsFan

**Condolences alone will not help, but as fans of the game and as human beings, our prayers are with Tiger and his family during this time.   May we honor your father in death by giving you the privacy you deserve to mourn, but we selfishly wish your quick return to the tour.**

If the trend holds true, the last 16 champions have come from the last pairing which today is Phil Mickelson and Fred Couples.  Either way I will be happy.  These guys are two of my favorite golfers and both very likable.  Each one would make a great story for sportswriters around the country.

For Fred Couples, 46 years old and 20 years since another 46 year old won the Masters, Jack Nicklaus, it would be a fairy tale beginning for his season.  Fred has won the Masters before as has Phil, but in the twilight of his career the wins are few much less a chance at another major.

For Phil, well he just shot the PGA record this year at the Bellsouth Classic, the warm up PGA event to the Masters.  Phil needs this win to solidify him as Tiger's main competition.  Also, Tiger is lurking 2 strokes back and if he wins it will just further show his dominance over Phil.  Phil needs this win more than any other to show he is Tiger's rival and his equal.  Just as Jack had Arnold Palmer to push him, Tiger needs Phil and vice versa.

Good luck to both and may the best man win.  A little luck and slick greens will provide plenty of drama this afternoon.  This may just be one of the best Master's finishes ever with 5 great players in contention.  Don't forget abou Vijay Singh or Retief Goosen all within striking distance.  I plan on pulling up the couch and the TV tray and enjoy my afternoon.  I wish I were at Augusta, but CBS will have to do.  Go ahead and make your Master's prediction below.

SoCalSportsFan

Back in the first NGS, I started a post called SoCal's Daily Affirmations.  In this post I get to basically rant about the things that I feel are relevant on that day, week, or month.   This morning I felt it was the best way to once again post on numerous topics for you the blogging community.

UConn is lucky enough....Washington is unlucky enough...Memphis has some luck of its own as does UCLA.  Villanova is playing really well and Florida will match up well against them, but LSU is good enough, smart enough, athletic enough, and dog gone it, I like them....

If you follow Golf you know that Davis Love III needs some daily affirmations today.  Repeat after me Davis, "You are not Tiger, you are not Ernie, you are not even Freddie, but dog gone it people like me"  (For those of you who don't follow golf, Davis Love just earned the notorious distinction of being the first golfer ever of leading a tournament on the first day and missing the cut on the second day.  He shot a 65 on the first day followed up with an 83 on Friday missing the cut.)

Tiger Woods flew home to be with his dad the day before the TPC at Sawgrass.  Tiger you are good enough to just stay home if you like.  Your invite to the Master's is already secure.  Go ahead and take a week off and let the new Tiger, Villegas take the stage.  Keep your eyes on this rookie, Camilo Villegas, because he is fun to watch.  He weights in at around 140 lbs put routinely drives the ball 310 yards.  Camilo has a natural flair and is sure to be the rookie of the year.  He is good enough and fun to watch.   Is it me or is he just really taking the Tiger thing too far when he crouches like a Tiger to read the green on his putts?  Hey, I guess if it works for you, keep it up Camilo.

Carolina just got a whole lot better by signing Keyshawn Johnson.  Johnson, much like TO, has a reputation.  For the most part he performed last year for Dallas without any incidents and was a perfect compliment to Terry Glenn.  This is a good move for the Panthers as Keyshawn has been a perfect citizen since Tampa Bay and Gruden taught him that the coach and team has the power to fire you if you step out of line.  He will be a great addition and only help Steve Smith be that much more dangerous.  In my humble opinion, Keyshawn is one of the best possession receivers and is always going to catch the ball on third down for that 10-15 yards needed for first down.  He has great hands and by golly he is just looks so happy in that SI swimsuit photo and does anyone have  a nicer smile than Keyshawn.  I can think of 19 million reasons for him to be smiling about now.  Keyshawn repeat after me, "I look good, I am good, women love me and above all Carolina likes me...."

 Did anyone else think that Adam Morrison looked silly on the floor after the Gonzaga loss?  JJ was in tears too, but Coach K was there to console him.  I was disappointed in the way Adam handled himself until I saw his quivering lips and that cheesy porn moustache and then I remembered he was just a kid.  Adam, repeat after me, "You are good enough to play in the NBA, you have the skills, but stay in school one more year.  With JJ gone you will be the talk of the town for the whole year.  You can shoot the three, dunk the ball,  and even post up on smaller forwards, and by golly the scouts love you.."(Is that Adam Morrison waving goodbye to his senior year?)

 

 

 

Well that is all the time we have today but keep your eyes peeled for more of SoCal's Daily affirmations.

 

 

SoCalSportsFan

 

First there was Cleopatra and Anthony.  Then there was Napoleon and Josephine.  George and Martha Washington have to be included because we need some Americans but we can not forget my most famous Couples of all, Freddie.  (I would also like to throw in my favorite blogging couple, GOT and JustRandy, you can figure out all the symbolism necessary and maybe I will add my version of how they would look later on this afternoon. )

I love to play golf and I will even admit that I enjoy watching it on a Sunday afternoon.  There is nothing more relaxing to me than to lie down on the couch on a Sunday afternoon and fall asleep watching golf.  Tiger is fun to watch, but my fan favorite is Couples.  He overcame some type of food poisoning or bug this week and shot an opening round 65 at the Nissan Open just up the road from me at Riviera Country Club in LA.  This is one of the most prestigious tournaments that a golfer can win and the only one that Tiger has never won when he has entered it more than three times.  It is ironic that Tiger suffered from a flu bug and withdrew in his home town tourny while Freddie moves on and is in perfect position to win today.  I for one am routing for Boom Boom, as he once was called, to win in style.  His effortless swing is beautiful to behold and I enjoy seeing the guys in their 40's win on tour.  (Makes me think I still have a shot at 42! Laughter from my wife behind me.)

Winning today will not be easy as Sabbatini has a four stroke lead, but this is one tough tournament to win as Tiger will attest.  The LA Open is famous for being Hogan's Alley who won this tournament in 1942 and was the runner up in 1946 and 1950.  Both times Hogan lost was to future HOF Sam Snead.  Freddie has won this tournament twice.  He won in 1990 and 1992.  If he wins again today, maybe they should rename it to Couples Lane.

 

SoCalSportsFan

Athletes and politics often go hand in hand.  When a team wins a major title, who is the first person they go to see?  It is the President of the United States and then off to Disney World.  Later on they hit the Leno or Letterman Show.  Steve Largent, Tom Osborne, Bill Bradley are all in politics and now Lynn Swan is running on the Republican ticket in PA.  Let me say for the record, I have never researched Tiger’s political beliefs or his voting record, but if I had to guess which party he would lend his name to one day, it would be the Republicans.

Tiger is the supreme example of Capitalism working at its best.  He knows how to market himself to make the most from his ad campaigns.  Either it is a shrewd business instinct on his part or that of his handlers at mega powerhouse IMG.  Tiger never has to worry about winning a golf tournament to retain his tour card.  He is paid more in appearance fees than he earns on the tour each year.  This week in the Dubai Desert Classic it is reported that he is earning 3 million just to play in a tournament where the total purse is only 2.4 million.  If he wins, which he is tied for first as I am typing this post, he will take home another 400,000.  Okay, it is official; Tiger Woods just won bringing his total paycheck this weekend to 3.4 million and winning in back to back tournaments to begin the season.  Go ahead and roll over PGA tour field, it must be the year of the Tiger on the Chinese calendar.

One more reason Tiger is a Republican; he has won back to back events, sort of like George W. becoming a two term president.  Also, Tiger is pretty tough in the Middle East and we all know how the Democrats feel about Iraq. 

And the last reason I know he must be a Republican is Tiger not only has ringing endorsements from Buick, (Pushes those SUV type vehicles that use lots of fossil fuels), Target, and American Express, but he knows a thing or two about getting government funding?  This is where I really have to say that he knows how to work the system.  One of his charities is getting 100,000 dollars from the US government to help with a 25 million dollar educational building in Anaheim, CA.  Come to think of it, he may just be a Democrat!

By the way, I am a registered Independent, but I found this map that shows all of the counties that voted for George W in 2004.  Not only did he carry more states, but just counting counties he wins hands down.  The trouble is that the counties that Kerry won happen to be high population centers.  Just food for thought.  Can you spot the county that Tiger hails as his current home and the one where he grew up?  That might give you a clue to his political leanings.  This post in no way endorses one party over another.  I make equal fun of both parties at times.

Socalsportsfan