betED.com - The View from the Couch - by Gavin McDougald!
January 11th, 2006 - Odds & Ends
In a week that was very predictable in the world of sports – even I went four for four in the wild card games - two stories struck me as being suitable candidates for and odd and an end type column.
First off, golf, that most staid of sports that is the least of all likely candidates for being odd, was.
It was the season opener in Hawaii. The Mercedes Championship is a chance for the previous year’s champs to strut their stuff on the Plantation Course at Kapalua. It gives the opportunity for the PGA to highlight their best golfers in paradise and to rub our, the shivering masses, noses in it.
The best golfers were showcased except for Tiger and Phil that is, who took an extended break skipping Hawaii altogether because they remain too popped from playing golf - a month ago.
But maybe they were onto something because paradise turned out to be anything but golfing wise.
Of all the major sports, golf is the only one regular folks can appreciate on a participation level. We have no idea what it’s like to be an NFL QB. Now even a lineman. Who knows what it’s like to drive to the hoop in the NBA? Or to take a faceoff at center ice. Yet most of us have teed up a ball in a tournament and can at least conceive of what it’s like to play professionally. We all know we never could ‘cause those guys really are that “good,” but at least we have an inkling.
So it was refreshing to see the best of the best (almost), play a lot like, well, us.
Kapalua has new greens this year and fierce trade winds were blowing all week.
Paradise lost.
Along with some tempers.
Kenny Perry whined big time. "It's a little unfair. Everyone has to play it, but I don't think it's golf, in my opinion. Who wants to shoot 75 or 76 when that's the average score? I tell you what, it's shot my confidence."
David Toms was outright pissed off. “To see pros in the teens over par starting the season? That's not a lot of fun."
Sure it is.
Perry was so flustered that he said he would consider not returning next year if he was eligible. At this year’s tournament, were there is no cut, last place paid $70,000.
Golfers are odd.
Now for the End:
Marcus Vick, the younger brother of the Atlanta Falcon’s Michael Vick has had a busy month of January hasn’t he? Previously suspended for the entire 2004 season at Virginia Tech for assorted crimes –-some drug charges and three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, which is never good— Marcus has now ramped up the fun.
Last Friday he was kicked off VT permanently. Not for his leg stomp in the Sugar Bowl, but instead for driving with a suspended license. The same day he was going to announce he was turning pro. How did he react to getting the boot from college?
"I'll just move on to the next level, baby."
Unfortunately for him, the next level could be maximum security. Reportedly, he’s ramped up the criminal ante and is now into gunplay. After dining at McDonald’s, Vick pulled a gun on three teens in the parking lot who he thought had insulted his girlfriend. She told him that somebody had called her a “bitch.” So naturally, he went to his car and got a gun. Brandishing the weapon, he went over to the kids and said, “Which one of y'all called my girlfriend a bitch?"
The kids said they didn’t, and Vick, in a remarkable display of disciple for him, didn’t shoot anyone. Instead, he peeled out in his car - which he apparently is still driving.
How did his teammates react?
Jeff King, Vick’s favorite receiver this season, was surprised.
“That sounds a little out of character of the Marcus that we know,” King said Monday.
Another teammate, Aaron Rouse, was shocked.
“That can’t be. I just can’t believe that. I really don’t know what to say.”
I do.
Now that all this is out, his NFL draft prospects are really going to be hurt. He might drop all the way to the second round.
Cheers - Gavin McDougald - AKA Couch
Remember to drop us a line at rants@betED.com to voice your opinion on one of McDougald's articles or on anything else you read at betED.com!
January 11th, 2006 - Odds & Ends
In a week that was very predictable in the world of sports – even I went four for four in the wild card games - two stories struck me as being suitable candidates for and odd and an end type column.
First off, golf, that most staid of sports that is the least of all likely candidates for being odd, was.
It was the season opener in Hawaii. The Mercedes Championship is a chance for the previous year’s champs to strut their stuff on the Plantation Course at Kapalua. It gives the opportunity for the PGA to highlight their best golfers in paradise and to rub our, the shivering masses, noses in it.
The best golfers were showcased except for Tiger and Phil that is, who took an extended break skipping Hawaii altogether because they remain too popped from playing golf - a month ago.
But maybe they were onto something because paradise turned out to be anything but golfing wise.
Of all the major sports, golf is the only one regular folks can appreciate on a participation level. We have no idea what it’s like to be an NFL QB. Now even a lineman. Who knows what it’s like to drive to the hoop in the NBA? Or to take a faceoff at center ice. Yet most of us have teed up a ball in a tournament and can at least conceive of what it’s like to play professionally. We all know we never could ‘cause those guys really are that “good,” but at least we have an inkling.
So it was refreshing to see the best of the best (almost), play a lot like, well, us.
Kapalua has new greens this year and fierce trade winds were blowing all week.
Paradise lost.
Along with some tempers.
Kenny Perry whined big time. "It's a little unfair. Everyone has to play it, but I don't think it's golf, in my opinion. Who wants to shoot 75 or 76 when that's the average score? I tell you what, it's shot my confidence."
David Toms was outright pissed off. “To see pros in the teens over par starting the season? That's not a lot of fun."
Sure it is.
Perry was so flustered that he said he would consider not returning next year if he was eligible. At this year’s tournament, were there is no cut, last place paid $70,000.
Golfers are odd.
Now for the End:
Marcus Vick, the younger brother of the Atlanta Falcon’s Michael Vick has had a busy month of January hasn’t he? Previously suspended for the entire 2004 season at Virginia Tech for assorted crimes –-some drug charges and three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, which is never good— Marcus has now ramped up the fun.
Last Friday he was kicked off VT permanently. Not for his leg stomp in the Sugar Bowl, but instead for driving with a suspended license. The same day he was going to announce he was turning pro. How did he react to getting the boot from college?
"I'll just move on to the next level, baby."
Unfortunately for him, the next level could be maximum security. Reportedly, he’s ramped up the criminal ante and is now into gunplay. After dining at McDonald’s, Vick pulled a gun on three teens in the parking lot who he thought had insulted his girlfriend. She told him that somebody had called her a “bitch.” So naturally, he went to his car and got a gun. Brandishing the weapon, he went over to the kids and said, “Which one of y'all called my girlfriend a bitch?"
The kids said they didn’t, and Vick, in a remarkable display of disciple for him, didn’t shoot anyone. Instead, he peeled out in his car - which he apparently is still driving.
How did his teammates react?
Jeff King, Vick’s favorite receiver this season, was surprised.
“That sounds a little out of character of the Marcus that we know,” King said Monday.
Another teammate, Aaron Rouse, was shocked.
“That can’t be. I just can’t believe that. I really don’t know what to say.”
I do.
Now that all this is out, his NFL draft prospects are really going to be hurt. He might drop all the way to the second round.
Cheers - Gavin McDougald - AKA Couch
Remember to drop us a line at rants@betED.com to voice your opinion on one of McDougald's articles or on anything else you read at betED.com!
