Remember the "I am Tiger Woods" commercials that Nike ran in the late 90's. All kids from different races and even some adults playing golf and saying "I am Tiger Woods" over and over. A nice twist on the "Wanna be like Mike" commercials Nike did a decade earlier. I only have one problem with them.
It is FALSE advertising. Those kids are not Tiger Woods. You people reading this are not Tiger Woods! Phil Mickleson, Vijay Singh, David Duval, Ernie Els, Jim Furyk, and Sergio Garcia are not Tiger Woods. I AM NOT Tiger Woods. It does not matter how much anyone practices or plays or how much TWG (Tiger Woods Golf) gear they wear.
Only Tiger Woods is Tiger Woods. And Tiger Woods is goods.
In his career he has won 12 majors trailing only Jack. He wins 25% of the tournaments he plays in. And he knows how to make adjustments. He has changed caddies, swing coaches, and his swing altogether. He has changed from Titleist gear to all Nike. He has found true love by way of a Swedish bikini model and still had the energy to keep winning golf tournaments.
Most impressive he dealt with the stress and pain of losing his father. Taking time off and missing the cut at the U.S. Open. No one would have blamed Tiger if the rest of the year he took off or if he continued to play poorly. It would have only made sense and only kept him human. Surely after missing the cut at the U.S. Open we saw how difficult taking time of in such a precise and punishing game is on even the top athletes. We expected him to make progress in the final two majors but not run away with them.
But Eldrick is not human. He is part man part Tiger. He not only wins the British Open but wins another little tourney to warm up for the next major. Then in the PGA Championship, a tournament that had as many as ten people tied for first place on Saturday, Woods runs away from everybody on Sunday and snags another Major. Tiger Woods is on his own planet.
At times different golfers have tried to challenge Tiger. At first it was Ernie Els who famously took 2nd place to Tiger in 3 majors in a row. Than David Duval went after him before dissapearing. Young Sergio chased him in 1999 only to still be majorless 7 years later. Phil Mickleson has gone after Tiger twice in his career and was his biggest threat heading into this years U.S. Open only to choke and be a non factor in the last two majors.. Vijay Singh made things interesting for awhile but his prime just came at too late of an age.
We keep trying to come up with rivalries for Tiger, but not even the entire field is a worthy rival. Tiger Woods only real rival is Tiger Woods. He really can only beat himself. And I am not talking about the kids in the commercial who SAY they are Tiger Woods. I am talking about the guy who wears the red golf shirt on Sunday's and makes every other person in the world stop for a second, stare, and say the first thing that comes to mind, "He is Tiger Woods."
Ok buckle your seatbelts and enjoy the best list in the history of the planet. Its going to be a bumpy ride full of excitement and controversy, but ladies and gentlemen here it is your top 10 sports derrieres.
10. Derek Jeter I am no Yankee fan, but lets be honest, no shortstop has made as many hardcore baseball fans out of once uninterested moms, sisters, girlfriends, and wives. Jeter's moneymaker not only brings in the fans but brings in the rings. One clutch derriere starts this list off.
9. Mia Hamm Americans are hesitant to embrace two things in life - soccer and women's sports. This didn't stop Hamm from becoming a major American sports icon, leading U.S. women to World Cup glory and snagging herself a shortstop of her own. Jeter has the rings but Nomar's got Mia's ... Hamm.
8. Danica Patrick Ever been on a long road trip? If you have you know that as the miles pile on your bumper gets tired and sore. With that fact in mind it is even more amazing that Danica rides on against the men's top Indy racers. It is only a matter of time until Danica and her trunk find themselves toughing out a victory lap against the boys.
7. Cecil and Prince Fielder I guess a homerun swing really is all in the jeans. Prince can thank his dad for inheriting a rump that blasts out the long balls. This new booty might not even have to take the family "Field" trip to Japan.
6. Nancy Lopez It is not a pretty site but this old school rump shaker gets a birdie for consistency and sheer mass.
5. Maria Sharapova Unlike another bombshell blonde tennis star, this girl actually wins. It is a good thing too, because when you win, we all get to stare... I mean watch you play alot more matches.
4. Shaquille O'neal You thought that Kobe and Wade were the sidekicks that helped Shaq get four rings. Wrong. The only sidekick Shaq needs is his Diesel fueled mid-rear engine.
3. Ronaldo It takes a powerful behind to get the President of Brazil calling to find out how much excess meat your hauling. But that is exactly what happened withe World Cup's all-time leading scorer - Fat Ronaldo. While the world worries about the size of Ronaldo's butt, his coach just keeps playing the superstar and watching his butt... kick!
2. Serena Williams When Serena and her kuzunga are in full-effect they are the most unstoppable force in the history of women's tennis. Serena's booty is so mighty it makes J-Lo's bon-bon shake. Even the US Army knows where Serena is hiding her weapon of #### destruction. Congrat's Serena you own the number two spot on the list and the numer one amongst all the women.
1. Charles Barkley The "Round Mound of Rebound" carved out a Hall of Fame NBA career with a "mound" that could box opponents twice his height. This tank #### provided power, balance, and surprising hops. Sure Barkley's derriere had a great NBA career, but what is more impressive is that it also following that success with another successful career. Barkley is now making good dough talking out of his butt. Now that is one talented derriere.
Sometimes just a game or two, other summers I will play once or twice a week, but one thing is always the same. I start getting better as summer winds down and promise myself I will keep playing through the winter. You know hit up the range a couple days a week and even head out to the local course when the weather lets up. Set reasonable goals like getting in 18 holes a month over the wet season. But it never happens. I take the entire winter off. No range, no putting, no golf course. And when I dust off the clubs in the spring I inevitably fall back to square one and lose most of the progress I gained the previous summer.
For that very reason it is nice to see Tiger Woods miss this cut for the U.S. Open. Although the reasons he was missing golf were far more tragic than mine, it would have been too unreal, even for Tiger, to take that many months off and come back and dominate a Major Championship.
The difference is that Tiger Woods is the best golfer in the world and knows the dedication and fight it will take to be a champion again. As fathers day is just around the corner we were all hoping for that Tiger wins it for his late father story, but this is real life and that Fairy Tale ending will not be written at this U.S. Open.
I hope Tiger knows that he honored his father as much by missing this cut as he ever could have by winning it all. I know that he will find the dedication, determination, and discipline his father taught him and once again apply it to breaking records and winning championships.
NGS 2 Assignment 1. Write about an athlete. Any athlete! Broader than broad.
Ok you caught me. No ####y stars under the avatar so you can't vote for me I am not a finalist. But before you leave, stay awhile.
I have to say the first assignment stuck in my head for a couple hours. Then I moved on, but days later after reading some of the finalists blogs and wondering who I would choose to write on.... it hit me.
There is only one great athlete worthy of writing this on. He can't dunk a basketball, park one over the fence, and has never had a hole in one. He didn't play in pro, semi-pro, or even college anything. His best sport (horse racing) he gave up at a young age because he had a kid and I never even got to see him do that. He did win some money at bars for arm wrestling, but gave that up early too. As a matter of fact I can and do beat him in just about every sport, but he keeps coming back for more. And I make this guy look silly. Were talking dribbling a basketball between his legs, juggling a soccer ball over his head, or driving my golf ball a mile past his.
But the man presses on.
By now maybe you know who this guy is. Maybe you stopped reading because my athlete isn't athlete at all just my dad. I can here you know screaming or just thinking "Not a cheesy dad blog can't you wait a few weeks tell fathers day." Well maybe it is cheesy but I don't care. This my imaginary NGS2 assignment and this is who I choose.
Besides this athlete has player coached for years. Little league baseball, All-Star soccer champions, and last place soccer teams.
We have all seen or heard about the abusive pee-wee coach who screams at his kids and then yells at the parents "you don't like it you take over." Well how many of you are lucky enough to have the dad who never played soccer and still decided "ok I'll take over." 18 years later his son is married and his daughters could give a rip about soccer but he is still coaching. Volunteering for one of the worst high school soccer teams in the state. You know the one that has no JV or freshman team its just whoever trys out not only makes it but starts.
But the losing doesn't get to him.
Maybe he is immune from losing to me in just about everything since I was 12. Or maybe its that he knows it really isn't about winning.
The other day I broke 80 golfing for the first time. I shot a 76. The first person I called was my dad. We haven't golfed together in over a year. He was as excited about my 76 as he would have been about his 76. The first thing he thought of saying was "well I better get by clubs out so you can whoop me at golf too."
Maybe he draws his strength from his one incredible winning streak. Its a little like Josh Gibsons homeruns. No one has an official count but we know it is way way up there.
See as long as I have been alive my dad has never lost a wrestling match. The arena is the living room carpet and the wrestlers are usually me against my dad - ocassionally one of my friends may become a victim. The result is always the same. Mom and sisters and now wife giggling on the couches or somewhere near by while my dad pins me or makes me say "uncle." My dad was a state wrestler in high school and I wrestled for a few months in third grade. Between his perfect blend of experience and old man strength I always end up with rug burns, tweaked body parts, and in a little bit of embarassment.
But for the first time the streak is in jeopardy. Last time we wrestled we went three rounds before calling it a draw. And now between his age and all the time I spend in the gym I know I can beat him. And also for the first time I don't want to beat him. I have no problem creaming him in every other sport, but for some reason I don't wan't the day to come where I can pin my dad. At first I didn't know why. But now I suppose it is the same reason Giants fans don't want to admit Bonds did steroids, or Bulls enthusiast turn there heads at Michael Jordan's run with the Wizards.
See I don't want to admit that my sports hero is mortal after all.
Forget about the NBA playoffs in the Eastern conference. Lets just go ahead and say the Pistons are playing the winner of the Western conference. Why even dink around with these blowout series? Pistons are going to knock of the Cavs in 4 or 5 and then the Nets in 4 or 5.
R.I.P. to Earl Woods the loving father of Eldrick Woods. Some criticized him for having a big mouth and boasting about his son. To those FOOLS I say "shut yo trap." How many parents in this world over-boast about there children? EVERY GOOD PARENT!!! Thats how many. So if your son is actually one of the greatest golfers ever, is involved in charities, went to Stanford, and has inspired many races to play a game they never once thought of playing you might just compare him to Ghandi too! Earl Woods is ONLY guilty of being an extremely proud father. I tip my cap to Earl and send out prayers to the whole Woods family. And this is coming from a golf fan who usually roots against Tiger - underdog syndrome.
Thats it from me JC.
Hey yo...let the Filipino speak on dis. I, too, send out my condolences to the entire Woods fam. I am lucky that I haven't lost my dad yet, but can only imagine that it's pretty rough. To Elin, you are in my thoughts and I offer you a shoulder to cry on at anytime : )
As for the NBA, playoffs lost it's luster without the Lakers. Hate 'em or love 'em, KOBE = ratings. Nothing against Nash and his boys, but EVERYONE wanted an LA-LA Staples Center showdown. Too bad for David Stern and the league that this may never have a chance as good as this year for it to happen. And DON'T BLAME KOBE!!!! He was just trying to play "team-ball" and knew he'd get criticized for putting up a 50 spot. Blame Kwame Brown for going 2 for 10 (missing point-blank layins inside), Luke Walton for even attempting to shoot the ball and falling down like an #### under the basket, Devan George going scoreless and not doing his one and only duty in life: hit open 3s. Hopefully Phil will know better next year, get a better supporting cast, and let Kobe be Kobe.
I guess Kobe vs the Pistons Part II will have to wait another year. And if Kobe and the Shaq ever met in the Finals, each game would get ratings higher than the SuperBowl - no doubt. Kobe will do his part, so Shaq better do his.
Anyway, I am still love the NBA and look for the Pistons getting another 'ship against whomever from the West (anyone besides San Antone, please!!!!).
D
ok I am back. couple of thoughts. One d your dirty man. guy loses his dad and you mack on his girl. And I'll be the first to say not EVERYONE wanted an all LA series. I could care less about that and I am all about Nash. I love how you put no blame on Kobe... 1 point 2nd half of game 7 - nuff said. I will agree with you that I want anyone but the Spurs... There the new millenium Jazz... Ginobili big time flopper, Bruce "all over your body" Bowen, and boring superstars like the big fundamental - makes me want to take a nap just looking at him. Parker is cool though but even Eva is too bored to watch the Spurs lately.
as for the rest we are now officialy just a duel blog... we lost WHITEY... he was so WHITE he was invisible and you couldn't even read his stupid post.
