In past years, I've writting a live blog of sorts from the draft, but it always ran really long and was really random. So, instead of just writing whatever pops into my head, I'm going to give my thoughts on each pick.
Before I get into that, I do need to mention a couple things. First, how about that USA Soccer team? After looking atrocious against Italy and Brazil, the Americans were granted a miracle and earned a spot in the semifinals. And they took advantage of the opportunity by beating the #1 ranked Spanish team. While no one will confuse USA for a threat to win the World Cup next year, but its still an important win for the confidence of the team.
Ok, let's go through the picks. And yes, the first round is going on as I'm writing, so a few of these will be written in retrospect, but you won't know which ones so ha.
1. Clippers - Blake Griffin: Not much suspense. I'm sure he'll be good, but I think that if I was picking first overall, I would want to be a bit more excited about the prospects of the guy I'm picking. I feel like there are Blake Griffin-type players on every team in the league. And I'm sure playing for the Clippers will shorten his career by at least a decade. And he's wearing a purple dress shirt.
2. Memphis - Hasheem Thabeet: Again, I'm underwhelmed. Thabeet can block shots in college, and I'm sure he'll continue to do that, but he's more of less terrible on offense and seemed to disappear at times.
3. Oklahoma City - James Harden: I think he's one of the few guys ready to contribute right away in the NBA. Plus, he's wearing a bow time. A lot to like if you're an Oklahoma City fan. And if you're an Oklahoma City fan, you're probably looking for any silver linings you can find since you live in Oklahoma City.
4. Sacramento - Tyreke Evans: Another year, another Memphis PG taken with a high draft pick. And guess what? Next year, John Wall will be another Calipari protege taken in the top 5. I just hope whoever took the SAT for Evans is going to get a nice bonus tomorrow morning.
5. Minnesota - Ricky Rubio: Hey Ricky, how did that soccer game go the other day? Get ready for a series of beatdowns from Americans you skinny foreigner! Haha - I'm only joking, of course. Rubio actually looks like a young Steve Nash to me and hey, Nash is foreign too!
6. Minnesota - Jonny Flynn: Let me get this straight, you draft two PGs in back to back picks? I'm confused. I like Flynn but this is just odd. I think the long, cold winter is still having an effect on the brain parade running the show in Minny.
7. Golden State - Stephen Curry: The highlight of this pick was watching the Knicks fans in MSG cry because they didn't get Curry.
8. Knicks - Jordan Hill: Needless to say, the fans weren't too pleased. Hill is good, athletic, and has talent. Uhh, and he has a firm handshake. I don't know. I wouldn't be pleased either, were I a Knicks fan.
9. Raptors - Demar Derozan: Derozan is a great athlete who improved over his freshman year at USC. The good news for Demar is that he won't have to get used to managing his paychecks since he's been doing it for the last year. Zing.
10. Milwaukee - Brandon Jennings: If you're Jennings or anyone who supported Jennings in his quest overseas for a year instead of college, you're quite pleased right now. Frankly, I think as long as the age-limit rule stays as is, we'll see more and more kids do this and I can't blame them. There's a reason schools are now staying away from recruits like Lance Stephenson, especially after seeing the messes at USC and Memphis.
11.New Jersey - Terrence Williams: Great pick. I love Williams as a basketball player. I think he'll be a very good pro. Wise choice by Jay-Z.
12. Bobcats - Gerald Henderson: Well, it's obvious the Bobcats brass has stopped catering the to overwhelmingly pro-UNC contingent in Charlotte. I can't speak rationally about Henderson, but I just don't think he's going to be very good. He could only really score when he put his head down and drove to the basket. Of course, he won't have a size or speed advantage in the NBA so he'll have to develop a jump shot.
13. Pacers - Tyler Hansbrough: Boo yah. Say what you want about him, but I love the kid as much as you can love a guy that you've never met and only watched play basketball. He may never be an all-star, but he's not going to suck either. He'll be in the league for a long time.
14. Phoenix - Earl Clark: Lots of talent, not sure where his head is. Just doesn't seem like he wants to realize his potential. I do like the name Earl though.
15. Detroit - Austin Daye: He's 6'10" and 190 lbs. He's going to get beat up in a bad way. Whoever the coach is there should just make him and Tayshaun Prince have donut eating contests.
16. Bulls - James Johnson: Another guy I like a lot. Versatile, ridiculously athletic and a lot of potential. I'm on board with this pick.
17. Philly - Jrue Holiday: Holiday was projected to go much higher, so I suppose this is a good value. He wants to play point guard despite not playing the position in college. If I were an NBA team, I'd draft a guy to play point guard that I know is capable of being succesful at that position. But, I'm not an NBA team.
18. Minny - Tywon Lawson: Really? 3 PGs? Ok, now one of them has to be traded. And ah, there we go...ESPN got Ric Bucher out of the tanning bed long enough to tell us that Lawson will be treated to Denver. Great turn of events for Lawson, who will get to play for George Karl (UNC alum) and learn from Chauncey Billups.
19. Atlanta - Jeff Teague: Another point guard taken. Teague's dip in production could be of concerned, but my sources in Winston tell me that Teague wasn't the most motivated guy on the team in February and March. Guess he knew he was going pro.
20. Utah - Eric Maynor: Seems like a Jazz kind of player. Tough, plays defense, can score or create for others. Sure, he has to play behind Deron Williams, but Maynor's a nice option to bring off the bench. At this point in the draft, that's about all you're looking for.
21. New Orleans - Darren Collison: The fifth straight team to take a PG, most of which already had a veteran in place (assuming the lawson to denver trade is legit). In a PG heavy draft, not a huge surprise but you have to think these teams had bigger needs than backup pg to take them to the next level.
22. Portland - Victor Clavor: Apparently, he's Spanish but he's also a Ginger. Good times in Portland.
23. Sacramento - Omri Casspi: He's allegedly the first Israeli-borm player drafted in the first round. Good for Israel. They probably need some good news right about now. I'm treading lightly here...
24. Dallas - BJ Mullens: This guys sucks. Even an Ohio State fan confirmed it for me. That's all I need to know.
25. Oklahoma City - Rodrigue Beubois: I'm pretty sure he's the star of the new film, Bruno. Not sure how good he is at basketball.
26. Chicago - Taj Gibson: A poor man's version of Tyrus Thomas. Unfortunately for the Bulls, they already have Thomas on the roster. Woops.
27. Memphis - DeMarre Carrol: I enjoyed watching this guy at Missouri in college, but not sure he's an NBA talent. He can make a paycheck for a long time in the NBA because he's one of the guys that will actually try every night.
28. Minnesota - Wayne Ellington: Another Tar Heel in the first round. Big night for the Heels and even though it seems like Lawson is leaving, the Wolves drafted the starting backcourt for the Tar Heels.
29. Lakers - Toney Douglas: Apparently Douglas is actually going to the Knicks, which is great for New York. This guy is a stud. He's an NBA guard - he can defend, he can shoot, he can distribute. I'm a fan.
30. Cleveland - Christian Eyenga: He's from the Congo, so at least he won't have to worry about being attacked by those freaky gorillas in that Michael Crichton book. And yes, that's the first time I've mention Michael Crichton in this blog. And hopefully the last.
Well, there you go. Hope you've enjoyed this as much as I have. Big night for the Heels (ed. note - Danny Green was taken in the second round by Cleveland. Anyone that gets to go play with Lebron and Shaq must be pleased).
I'm out of here. Enoy the weekend. I'm going to sucker punch Gerald Henderson in the face and then claim I was just trying to hail a cab. Trust me, I'll be the real victim in all of this.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Ten to Win the US Open
There’s a saying that the only two certainties in life are death and taxes. Well, you can add a third – the Ten to Win on Work Hangover. Truth be told, I wrote two full posts last week only to have technical difficulties prevent me from posting them. Ok, so one of the “technical” difficulties was purely me being an idiot, but the other one was totally the computer’s fault.
Anyway, as always, we’re here to get you ready for golf’s majors. This week, we’re in New York at Bethpage for the US Open. Bethpage was the first public course to be chosen to host a US Open in 2002, and considering we’re already back, you’d have to guess that the first one was a success. Of course, I wouldn’t recommend the general golf hacker public try to go play Bethpage Black. That would be akin to taking the Gondola up to the top of Jackson Hole and trying snowboard down without ever having done it before. You’re going to end up on your back about to fly off a cliff. Trust me.
Nevertheless, despite the general lack of posts (or humor, quality writing, analysis, etc.) here at the Hangover, we will provide you, as always, with the Ten to Win the US Open.
Tee it high and let it fly!
1) Tiger Woods – In general, I refrain from including Tiger (I like a challenge), but I just can’t do it this time. He’s finished in the Top 10 of every tournament he’s entered this year, he’s won twice, he won the US Open the last time it came to Bethpage, he hit 87% of fairways in his last tournament and he’s married to a Swedish bikini model. In all, I loathe him but you can’t have a list of 10 golfers expected to win a tournament and not include him.
2) Geoff Ogilvy – The last time the US Open was played in New York, Ogilvy won by coming through the back door after Mickelson double-bogeyed the 18th hole at Winged Foot. Ogilvy had a hot start to the year but has recently tailed off a bit with some erratic play. Regardless, I like him to feed off the good vibes of being back in New York.
3) Ian Poulter – Frankly, he looks ridiculous, but he’s going to win a big golf tournament soon. So, why not this week? I can’t imagine the New York crowd is going to be a huge fan of his frosted tips or absurd pants unless they say I heart NY on them, but he seems to feed off that.
4) Paul Casey – Amazingly, Casey is ranked 3rd in the world. I’m not sure he’s the third best golfer, but he’s had a lot of good results this year, winning both in the US and abroad. Like Poulter, he’s a guy with a ton of talent who is on the verge of winning a major. Casey always seems to be in the mix at Augusta, but I don’t see any reason why he can’t compete at the US Open too.
5) Nick Watney – Watney has been as consistent a performer as the Tour has seen this year, outside of Tiger. He’s made 11 of 13 cuts and won once and is currently 9th in the FedEx Cup standings. Not bad for a guy most have never really heard of. He won the Buick, which was played at Torrey Pines, the site of last year’s US Open. He hits the ball long which should bode well with the wet conditions.
6) Steve Stricker – I’ll be shocked if Stricker isn’t around the leader board this weekend. It seems like he’s always hanging around at majors, and especially the US Open. His putting will always keep him in contention. This season, he has 6 top 10s and won at Colonial a couple weeks ago.
7) Anthony Kim – Probably a poor choice considering he hasn’t played well this season, but I’m just a big fan of Kim’s. I think the crowd will get behind Kim like at the Ryder Cup. This is a patriotic crowd at Bethpage and they’ll remember Kim pounding the Euros (especially Sergio). The key for Kim will be to stay under control. Par is good. He loves red numbers but just needs to focus on par and avoiding large numbers.
8) Jim Furyk – I can’t pick 10 to win the US Open and not include Furyk. He’s the definition of steady on a golf course. I remember when he won the US Open. He took his hat off and I was shocked that he was bald. I have no idea what that means, other than maybe he’s just an unassuming guy who goes about his business with no frills. And that’s what it takes it win a US Open. Just grind it out.
9) Lee Westwood – I haven’t heard much from Westwood this season, probably because he’s been playing mostly overseas (I guess…), but he was in the final pairing at last year’s US Open on Sunday so he knows what it takes to compete at this tournament. And if he’s in the same situation this year, hopefully he won’t blow up again.
10) Sean O’Hair – O’Hair has 6 top tens this year and won at Quail Hollow, which is commonly referred to as one of the toughest stops on the PGA Tour all season. One of those top 10s was in The Masters, so he’s capable of competing at the Majors. His win at Quail Hollow showed he learned from losing a five stroke lead to Tiger at Bay Hill in the final round to finish second.
Well, there you go. Now, I wouldn’t go throwing down any large sums of money on these picks. You’ll notice I didn’t make any wild wagers with my loyal reading public (Hi Jon!). I can only publicly humiliate myself so many times before it starts to take its toll on my self-esteem. And no one wants a grumpy blogger. Even if he does only post once every two weeks.
Enjoy the golf this weekend. Should be another great tournament. If you need, I’ll be posted up on the beach all weekend. I need a vacation from all this hard work I’m putting in writing on this website.
Anyway, as always, we’re here to get you ready for golf’s majors. This week, we’re in New York at Bethpage for the US Open. Bethpage was the first public course to be chosen to host a US Open in 2002, and considering we’re already back, you’d have to guess that the first one was a success. Of course, I wouldn’t recommend the general golf hacker public try to go play Bethpage Black. That would be akin to taking the Gondola up to the top of Jackson Hole and trying snowboard down without ever having done it before. You’re going to end up on your back about to fly off a cliff. Trust me.
Nevertheless, despite the general lack of posts (or humor, quality writing, analysis, etc.) here at the Hangover, we will provide you, as always, with the Ten to Win the US Open.
Tee it high and let it fly!
1) Tiger Woods – In general, I refrain from including Tiger (I like a challenge), but I just can’t do it this time. He’s finished in the Top 10 of every tournament he’s entered this year, he’s won twice, he won the US Open the last time it came to Bethpage, he hit 87% of fairways in his last tournament and he’s married to a Swedish bikini model. In all, I loathe him but you can’t have a list of 10 golfers expected to win a tournament and not include him.
2) Geoff Ogilvy – The last time the US Open was played in New York, Ogilvy won by coming through the back door after Mickelson double-bogeyed the 18th hole at Winged Foot. Ogilvy had a hot start to the year but has recently tailed off a bit with some erratic play. Regardless, I like him to feed off the good vibes of being back in New York.
3) Ian Poulter – Frankly, he looks ridiculous, but he’s going to win a big golf tournament soon. So, why not this week? I can’t imagine the New York crowd is going to be a huge fan of his frosted tips or absurd pants unless they say I heart NY on them, but he seems to feed off that.
4) Paul Casey – Amazingly, Casey is ranked 3rd in the world. I’m not sure he’s the third best golfer, but he’s had a lot of good results this year, winning both in the US and abroad. Like Poulter, he’s a guy with a ton of talent who is on the verge of winning a major. Casey always seems to be in the mix at Augusta, but I don’t see any reason why he can’t compete at the US Open too.
5) Nick Watney – Watney has been as consistent a performer as the Tour has seen this year, outside of Tiger. He’s made 11 of 13 cuts and won once and is currently 9th in the FedEx Cup standings. Not bad for a guy most have never really heard of. He won the Buick, which was played at Torrey Pines, the site of last year’s US Open. He hits the ball long which should bode well with the wet conditions.
6) Steve Stricker – I’ll be shocked if Stricker isn’t around the leader board this weekend. It seems like he’s always hanging around at majors, and especially the US Open. His putting will always keep him in contention. This season, he has 6 top 10s and won at Colonial a couple weeks ago.
7) Anthony Kim – Probably a poor choice considering he hasn’t played well this season, but I’m just a big fan of Kim’s. I think the crowd will get behind Kim like at the Ryder Cup. This is a patriotic crowd at Bethpage and they’ll remember Kim pounding the Euros (especially Sergio). The key for Kim will be to stay under control. Par is good. He loves red numbers but just needs to focus on par and avoiding large numbers.
8) Jim Furyk – I can’t pick 10 to win the US Open and not include Furyk. He’s the definition of steady on a golf course. I remember when he won the US Open. He took his hat off and I was shocked that he was bald. I have no idea what that means, other than maybe he’s just an unassuming guy who goes about his business with no frills. And that’s what it takes it win a US Open. Just grind it out.
9) Lee Westwood – I haven’t heard much from Westwood this season, probably because he’s been playing mostly overseas (I guess…), but he was in the final pairing at last year’s US Open on Sunday so he knows what it takes to compete at this tournament. And if he’s in the same situation this year, hopefully he won’t blow up again.
10) Sean O’Hair – O’Hair has 6 top tens this year and won at Quail Hollow, which is commonly referred to as one of the toughest stops on the PGA Tour all season. One of those top 10s was in The Masters, so he’s capable of competing at the Majors. His win at Quail Hollow showed he learned from losing a five stroke lead to Tiger at Bay Hill in the final round to finish second.
Well, there you go. Now, I wouldn’t go throwing down any large sums of money on these picks. You’ll notice I didn’t make any wild wagers with my loyal reading public (Hi Jon!). I can only publicly humiliate myself so many times before it starts to take its toll on my self-esteem. And no one wants a grumpy blogger. Even if he does only post once every two weeks.
Enjoy the golf this weekend. Should be another great tournament. If you need, I’ll be posted up on the beach all weekend. I need a vacation from all this hard work I’m putting in writing on this website.
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Just checking in
It's been awhile since we checked in with you but I had some very pressing engagements, like a tee time at The Honors Course and, well, a buddy got married so I guess that was important too. Anyway, let's check in and see what else has been happening.
In the NBA playoffs, the Lakers and Magic will meet in the NBA Finals which isn't exactly the matchup the NBA or its fans were looking for. It was supposed be Lebron vs. Kobe, but a funny thing happened on the way to the Hollywood script - the Magic drained a bunch of jump shots.
Who will win the NBA Finals? I say the Lakers. I'm rooting for the Magic, but at some point, the jump shots won't fall and LA's big men are at least somewhat capable of keeping Dwight Howard in front of them, unlike Big Z for the Cavs. And yes, I thought about spelling Big Z's name but got confused and gave up.
The primary conversation regarding the NBA has been Lebron failing to shake the Magic players hands or meet with the media after losing Game 6. I find it kind of amusing that people are making such a big deal about it. Sure, it was immature but it's not like he's a bad person. He's still young and acted like it.
I have a bigger problem with his press conference the next day. He didn't apologize, which is fine, but then he basically justified his actions by saying he was a winner. Well, Lebron, what exactly have you won?
Don't get me wrong - I think he's the best all-around player in the NBA and is going to end up with rings, MVPs and in the conversation for the best player of all-time. But, right now, he hasn't won anything. He's been in one NBA Finals during which his team was swept. This season, his team won the most games. They cruised through the first two rounds against mediocre opponents and when facing a challenge, they kind of choked. So, Lebron, you're an excellent basketball player, but you're not a "winner" yet. You have to, you know, win something first. And in the conversation you're trying to be in, the only wins that matter are in the NBA Finals.
Elsewhere, perhaps the biggest upsets in sports in recent memory was Rafael Nadal losing in the French Open. In his career, he had never lost at the French Open. Ever. Now, that's a winner. That opens the door for Federer to finally win his first French Open and tie Pete Sampras' Grand Slam record. With Nadal, Djokovic and Andy Murray all out, it sets up quite well for Federer.
The other big piece of news that I need to mention is the allegations that Memphis may have had an illegible player during its 2007-2008 season and also allowed an associate of a player travel on the team's charter flight without paying. The unnamed player is rumored to be Derrick Rose, who could have been ineligible because he cheated on his SATs. Well, he didn't actually cheat on them, he just went ahead and had someone else take them in his place. The associate is also allegedly Rose's brother.
All of this makes the hire of Calipari by Kentucky all the more interesting. Of course, Kentucky fans probably don't care right now, but this seems to be Calipari's general mode of operation. He goes to a school, takes them to unprecedented heights and then leaves the school in shambles. Of course, this isn't exactly new territory for Kentucky who has seen its fair share of coaches with a slightly morally casual attitude.
I honestly feel a little sorry for Memphis. The players and coach who possibly cheated are no longer there and most likely won't face any consequences while the school could very well be held liable and suffer the penalties. The sad thing is that it's in no way surprising. And if Calipari is coaching in the NBA in a few years and UK is going through a similar situation as Memphis now (and UMass a decade ago), don't act surprised then.
I did want to clarify a couple points on the blog about my day as a caddy. Any jokes that I made were at my own expense. It was a great experience and the golfer who allowed me to caddy for him was incredibly gracious. It was a lot of fun and I just wish I could have actually helped him.
All right, we're out of here. Will I post again this week? Guess you'll just have to keep checking back to find out!
In the NBA playoffs, the Lakers and Magic will meet in the NBA Finals which isn't exactly the matchup the NBA or its fans were looking for. It was supposed be Lebron vs. Kobe, but a funny thing happened on the way to the Hollywood script - the Magic drained a bunch of jump shots.
Who will win the NBA Finals? I say the Lakers. I'm rooting for the Magic, but at some point, the jump shots won't fall and LA's big men are at least somewhat capable of keeping Dwight Howard in front of them, unlike Big Z for the Cavs. And yes, I thought about spelling Big Z's name but got confused and gave up.
The primary conversation regarding the NBA has been Lebron failing to shake the Magic players hands or meet with the media after losing Game 6. I find it kind of amusing that people are making such a big deal about it. Sure, it was immature but it's not like he's a bad person. He's still young and acted like it.
I have a bigger problem with his press conference the next day. He didn't apologize, which is fine, but then he basically justified his actions by saying he was a winner. Well, Lebron, what exactly have you won?
Don't get me wrong - I think he's the best all-around player in the NBA and is going to end up with rings, MVPs and in the conversation for the best player of all-time. But, right now, he hasn't won anything. He's been in one NBA Finals during which his team was swept. This season, his team won the most games. They cruised through the first two rounds against mediocre opponents and when facing a challenge, they kind of choked. So, Lebron, you're an excellent basketball player, but you're not a "winner" yet. You have to, you know, win something first. And in the conversation you're trying to be in, the only wins that matter are in the NBA Finals.
Elsewhere, perhaps the biggest upsets in sports in recent memory was Rafael Nadal losing in the French Open. In his career, he had never lost at the French Open. Ever. Now, that's a winner. That opens the door for Federer to finally win his first French Open and tie Pete Sampras' Grand Slam record. With Nadal, Djokovic and Andy Murray all out, it sets up quite well for Federer.
The other big piece of news that I need to mention is the allegations that Memphis may have had an illegible player during its 2007-2008 season and also allowed an associate of a player travel on the team's charter flight without paying. The unnamed player is rumored to be Derrick Rose, who could have been ineligible because he cheated on his SATs. Well, he didn't actually cheat on them, he just went ahead and had someone else take them in his place. The associate is also allegedly Rose's brother.
All of this makes the hire of Calipari by Kentucky all the more interesting. Of course, Kentucky fans probably don't care right now, but this seems to be Calipari's general mode of operation. He goes to a school, takes them to unprecedented heights and then leaves the school in shambles. Of course, this isn't exactly new territory for Kentucky who has seen its fair share of coaches with a slightly morally casual attitude.
I honestly feel a little sorry for Memphis. The players and coach who possibly cheated are no longer there and most likely won't face any consequences while the school could very well be held liable and suffer the penalties. The sad thing is that it's in no way surprising. And if Calipari is coaching in the NBA in a few years and UK is going through a similar situation as Memphis now (and UMass a decade ago), don't act surprised then.
I did want to clarify a couple points on the blog about my day as a caddy. Any jokes that I made were at my own expense. It was a great experience and the golfer who allowed me to caddy for him was incredibly gracious. It was a lot of fun and I just wish I could have actually helped him.
All right, we're out of here. Will I post again this week? Guess you'll just have to keep checking back to find out!
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Caddy for a Day
Another week, another Pulitzer-worthy column coming your way. Last week, I teased a story about me caddying in a pro golf tournament, so here you go. The Nationwide Tour made its annual stop in Greenville, SC for the BMW Charity Pro-Am. This tournament is modeled after the PGA Tour’s event in Pebble Beach, where Pros are matched with amateurs for most of the rounds.
Well, I just happen to be dating the daughter of one the amateurs playing in the tournament, so he asked me to caddy for him. I happily accepted.
Of course, we learned shortly thereafter that the round I would be caddying for him would not be played at a Greenville course, but rather Bright’s Creek Golf Club in Mill Spring, NC, about an hour’s drive that took place too early in the morning. Not a good start.
We arrive and head to the practice putting green. I’m told to help line up putts. After two misses, I’m asked, “Are you blind?” Really not a good start. From there, I decide to focus my energy on meeting celebrities and not completely screwing up. Among those I met were Dennis Quaid (looked hungover), Greg Kinnear (wearing aviators and white pants – maybe his role in “As Good As it Gets” didn’t involve much “acting”), Stephanie Schaeffer (no clue who she is but I just assume she was famous since people were getting there pictures taken with her) and Locke from Lost (more on this later). I also saw Dabo Swinney, but why would I want to meet the coach for a bottom-tier ACC football team?
Anyway, the round progresses nicely – my guy eagles the first par 5 by chipping in from off the green. Had to be the club selection. After the front nine, he’s 4-under including the strokes he gets for his handicap and you’d think the team was in good position. You’d be wrong. The pro we played with, Sonny (we’ll protect his name for his own good), isn’t exactly knocking on the door of the PGA. On one hole, he reads a putt to have a slight left to right break. My guy tells him he thinks its straight. Sonny hits the putt straight and it misses right. He then starts complaining. Hey buddy, anytime you’re a pro and let an amateur overrule you on a putt, maybe it’s time to think of a new profession.
So, our pro isn't giving much help on the scorecard, but picks things up a little on the back with a couple birdies. We miss a couple makeable birdie putts as well – couldn’t have been the read, I promise – and the round kind of stalls.
Then we reach the 18th hole. A beautiful par 3 with a peninsula green. There’s water short, left and long. My advice on the tee box is, “Don’t hit it left.” Naturally, my guy hits it left and splashes down. Fortunately, Sonny hits a great shot to about 10-15 feet and has a makeable birdie putt. Unfortunately for Sonny, he’s not very good and misses the putt but taps in for par.
The team finishes up at 6-under for the day and will eventually miss the cut by a few strokes. Sonny though, buoyed by his partner’s caddy (that would be me), shoots a 1-under 71 for the day by himself. After the round, he tells us that its his first round under par since January and that he was going to go out to celebrate. Hey buddy, maybe you should just hit the range, have a glass of water and get a good night’s sleep. Just an idea if you’re trying to make a living playing golf and yet you’ve only broken par once in 2009.
Anyway, after the round, we go into the clubhouse for a little buffet. Here’s where Locke comes in. I had my plate of pasta salad, bread, cookies, etc. and was making my way over to the table. I’m not really paying attention – after all, I’ve got to make it back to Greenville for a rehearsal dinner later that night and just need to scarf down some food. I hear someone say, “Excuse me” in an all-to-familiar voice. I look up. It’s Locke. Oh no, is he about to kill me? Or is he really dead? Is Jacob around? Is he trying to convince me to go back to the island?
Truthfully, he was absolutely the most unassuming celebrity I saw the entire time. Most others had security or a small entourage following them around everywhere. Locke was just sitting there by himself drinking a beer. It was cool and completely surreal at the same time. After all, I just watched him two nights before on the Lost finale (which was awesome) and now he’s sitting three feet from me downing a Bud Select. I pretty much just watched him make his way through the room and he was Locke. He had the same scraggly facial hear, looked way too sweaty and maneuvered about the room like it was the Orchid station. I’m pretty sure he even had cargo pants on.
All in all, it was a really cool experience, and you got to see how different things are on the Nationwide Tour. A few weeks earlier, I attend the PGA Tour event in Charlotte where every player gets a Benz for the week and is treated like royalty by adoring fans. Here, there were no fans. The players drove themselves. Another pro in our group, Geoffrey Sisk was draining putts left and right from all over the place. At one point, someone said, “How much do you charge for putting lessons?” His answer, “A lot. It’s the only way I can make any money.”
So, the world of golf at that level isn’t quite as glamorous as it might appear when you watch the PGA Tour. But, the players are still really talented. They just have to work that much harder and missed cuts hurt that much more. If only they had me as their caddy, then they’d really be making the big bucks.
Well, I just happen to be dating the daughter of one the amateurs playing in the tournament, so he asked me to caddy for him. I happily accepted.
Of course, we learned shortly thereafter that the round I would be caddying for him would not be played at a Greenville course, but rather Bright’s Creek Golf Club in Mill Spring, NC, about an hour’s drive that took place too early in the morning. Not a good start.
We arrive and head to the practice putting green. I’m told to help line up putts. After two misses, I’m asked, “Are you blind?” Really not a good start. From there, I decide to focus my energy on meeting celebrities and not completely screwing up. Among those I met were Dennis Quaid (looked hungover), Greg Kinnear (wearing aviators and white pants – maybe his role in “As Good As it Gets” didn’t involve much “acting”), Stephanie Schaeffer (no clue who she is but I just assume she was famous since people were getting there pictures taken with her) and Locke from Lost (more on this later). I also saw Dabo Swinney, but why would I want to meet the coach for a bottom-tier ACC football team?
Anyway, the round progresses nicely – my guy eagles the first par 5 by chipping in from off the green. Had to be the club selection. After the front nine, he’s 4-under including the strokes he gets for his handicap and you’d think the team was in good position. You’d be wrong. The pro we played with, Sonny (we’ll protect his name for his own good), isn’t exactly knocking on the door of the PGA. On one hole, he reads a putt to have a slight left to right break. My guy tells him he thinks its straight. Sonny hits the putt straight and it misses right. He then starts complaining. Hey buddy, anytime you’re a pro and let an amateur overrule you on a putt, maybe it’s time to think of a new profession.
So, our pro isn't giving much help on the scorecard, but picks things up a little on the back with a couple birdies. We miss a couple makeable birdie putts as well – couldn’t have been the read, I promise – and the round kind of stalls.
Then we reach the 18th hole. A beautiful par 3 with a peninsula green. There’s water short, left and long. My advice on the tee box is, “Don’t hit it left.” Naturally, my guy hits it left and splashes down. Fortunately, Sonny hits a great shot to about 10-15 feet and has a makeable birdie putt. Unfortunately for Sonny, he’s not very good and misses the putt but taps in for par.
The team finishes up at 6-under for the day and will eventually miss the cut by a few strokes. Sonny though, buoyed by his partner’s caddy (that would be me), shoots a 1-under 71 for the day by himself. After the round, he tells us that its his first round under par since January and that he was going to go out to celebrate. Hey buddy, maybe you should just hit the range, have a glass of water and get a good night’s sleep. Just an idea if you’re trying to make a living playing golf and yet you’ve only broken par once in 2009.
Anyway, after the round, we go into the clubhouse for a little buffet. Here’s where Locke comes in. I had my plate of pasta salad, bread, cookies, etc. and was making my way over to the table. I’m not really paying attention – after all, I’ve got to make it back to Greenville for a rehearsal dinner later that night and just need to scarf down some food. I hear someone say, “Excuse me” in an all-to-familiar voice. I look up. It’s Locke. Oh no, is he about to kill me? Or is he really dead? Is Jacob around? Is he trying to convince me to go back to the island?
Truthfully, he was absolutely the most unassuming celebrity I saw the entire time. Most others had security or a small entourage following them around everywhere. Locke was just sitting there by himself drinking a beer. It was cool and completely surreal at the same time. After all, I just watched him two nights before on the Lost finale (which was awesome) and now he’s sitting three feet from me downing a Bud Select. I pretty much just watched him make his way through the room and he was Locke. He had the same scraggly facial hear, looked way too sweaty and maneuvered about the room like it was the Orchid station. I’m pretty sure he even had cargo pants on.
All in all, it was a really cool experience, and you got to see how different things are on the Nationwide Tour. A few weeks earlier, I attend the PGA Tour event in Charlotte where every player gets a Benz for the week and is treated like royalty by adoring fans. Here, there were no fans. The players drove themselves. Another pro in our group, Geoffrey Sisk was draining putts left and right from all over the place. At one point, someone said, “How much do you charge for putting lessons?” His answer, “A lot. It’s the only way I can make any money.”
So, the world of golf at that level isn’t quite as glamorous as it might appear when you watch the PGA Tour. But, the players are still really talented. They just have to work that much harder and missed cuts hurt that much more. If only they had me as their caddy, then they’d really be making the big bucks.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Quick visit
We meant to post more this week - we really did - but things got in the way, primarily the season finale of Lost, so we didn't post anything. And this one isn't going to be much of an effort either.
Here's a quick wrap up of what's going on:
The Celtics continue to have the only interesting series in the NBA playoffs.
The Penguins and Capitals played a great series, despite a blowout in Game 7.
A guy who a couple months ago played a golf shot with nothing but his underwear and a golf glove on, won The Players Championship. Not exactly the ratings bonanza that the PGA Tour might have hoped for.
People are still playing baseball, they just aren't named Manny Ramirez. They are named Alex Rodriguez, though.
Actually, I'm going on a brief rant about baseball's steroid policy - it's a complete joke. I mean, it was always illegal right? So, we find out that guys did it, but they don't get punished, except for having reporters follow them around and people making fun of them on the road. But, that's not the point. The point is that Bud Selig is an idiot.
He's been the commissioner of baseball during the entire steroid era and turned a blind eye to it despite knowing all along that it was around the game. If he wanted to protect the sanctity of baseball (which seems like its probably part of the job description), he would have actually tried to be proactive. Now, his legacy is going to be ruling over the game when everyone cheated. That whole tie game during the All-Star game seems like a distant memory.
Anyway, baseball is paying the price now. The problem is that I'm pretty sure baseball has been tainted my entire life. At least I have the memory of Cal Ripken. Because I'm sure he never used anything to recover from injuries during the consecutive games streak. Oh damn.
Ok, I'm done with the rant.
Anyway, while this post may or may not be garbage, I promise something good next week. I'm going to be caddying for one round up the upcoming Nationwide tour event in Greenville, SC on Friday. I'll explain how it's happening later, as well as detailing my travails as a caddy. How's that for a teaser?
Come back next week - both of you!
Here's a quick wrap up of what's going on:
The Celtics continue to have the only interesting series in the NBA playoffs.
The Penguins and Capitals played a great series, despite a blowout in Game 7.
A guy who a couple months ago played a golf shot with nothing but his underwear and a golf glove on, won The Players Championship. Not exactly the ratings bonanza that the PGA Tour might have hoped for.
People are still playing baseball, they just aren't named Manny Ramirez. They are named Alex Rodriguez, though.
Actually, I'm going on a brief rant about baseball's steroid policy - it's a complete joke. I mean, it was always illegal right? So, we find out that guys did it, but they don't get punished, except for having reporters follow them around and people making fun of them on the road. But, that's not the point. The point is that Bud Selig is an idiot.
He's been the commissioner of baseball during the entire steroid era and turned a blind eye to it despite knowing all along that it was around the game. If he wanted to protect the sanctity of baseball (which seems like its probably part of the job description), he would have actually tried to be proactive. Now, his legacy is going to be ruling over the game when everyone cheated. That whole tie game during the All-Star game seems like a distant memory.
Anyway, baseball is paying the price now. The problem is that I'm pretty sure baseball has been tainted my entire life. At least I have the memory of Cal Ripken. Because I'm sure he never used anything to recover from injuries during the consecutive games streak. Oh damn.
Ok, I'm done with the rant.
Anyway, while this post may or may not be garbage, I promise something good next week. I'm going to be caddying for one round up the upcoming Nationwide tour event in Greenville, SC on Friday. I'll explain how it's happening later, as well as detailing my travails as a caddy. How's that for a teaser?
Come back next week - both of you!
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Did you miss me?
When you're awoken by a text message that reads, "What's a brother gotta do to get a new Hangover post?!", then you know you've been away too long. Add in the fact that a guy from Iowa was calling himself "brother" and you've really hit rock bottom. So, by popular demand, we're back.
Since we last left you, the Masters was just ending, the baseball season was just underway and the baseball and hockey playoffs were just starting. So, since there's no real way to accurately go over the entire last month, we're going to do another one of our favorite Lists of 10. This will be fun, I promise. So, here is my quick recap of the last few weeks in sports.
1. Baseball started, but the only thing anyone wants to talk about is a guy that still isn't playing. Alex Rodriguez continues to make headlines while recovering from hip surgery due to Selena Roberts (no relation, I'm a much better writer) releasing her book chronicling A-Rod's steroid use. You know, he'd be able to recover a lot quicker from that surgery if he could just get some Winstrol.
2. On the actual field, the early surprises are the Mariners leading the AL West and the Kansas City Royals leading the AL Central (seriously). Royals pitcher Zack Greinke is already 6-0, been a cover story on SI and sports an ERA of 0.40. Not bad. Especially considering he suffers from social anxiety disorder, much like my friend from Iowa who sends late night text messages about poorly written sports blogs.
3. The NFL draft happened. Honestly, I couldn't care less. I will say that I was relieved to see the Skins didn't completely screw up the draft, but honestly, we won't know who did well in this draft for a few years. So, I refuse to get excited about it.
4. I can get excited about Brett Favre. Ok. No, I can't. Just stay on your farm in Mississippi.
5. The Bulls-Celtics series was one of the best I can remember in recent years. Of course, I haven't really watched much of the NBA playoffs in recent years. Unfortunately, it was only the first round. Fear not, the rest of the first round matchups proved as lifeless as you would expect. Who knows what will happen from here on out, but at least you got one interesting series. Now, we'll just go back to ignoring the NBA.
6. I will say that I've become a huge fan of Lebron. In terms of NBA players that I'm a big fan of, he's definitely in the top 5. The others (non-UNC alumni) would probably be Dwyane Wade, Brandon Roy, Deron Williams and maybe Dwight Howard. That's a crudely thrown together list, but those are guys I like. Guys I don't like, (non-Dook alumni) include Kobe Bryant, Joakim Noah, Ron Artest, Dirk Nowitzki and maybe Carmelo. Not sure why, but I'm just not a Melo fan.
7. The NHL playoffs are going on. I haven't actually watched any of it, but typically they are fascinating. The NHL has a great matchup in Sidney Crosby vs. Alexander Ovechkin, but they seem to refuse to advertise it. I think they played tonight but I can't be positive. Having games on the VS. channel doesn't help, but come on. I'm still baffled that Gary Bettman has a job. And yes, the fact I know the name of the NHL commissioner might mean I have a problem...
8. The Quail Hollow Championship took place last weekend and we got to spend some time out at the course. Great course, great field and a winner who stepped up on Sunday when other big names couldn't. Don't be surprised to see this course get a PGA Championship in the next 10 years or so.
9. The Players Championship starts Thursday and since it's trying to become the "fifth major" I'll throw some picks your way. Here's the five guys that I think might win - Mickelson, Boo Weekley, Jim Furyk, Anthony Kim and Geoff Ogilvy.
10. The Heels lost Tywon and Wayne to the draft, but that certainly wasn't a surprise. It's a shame to see the guys go, but they've earned it. I can't blame them and they accomplished everything we could ask for from players who came in ranked as highly as those guys.
Well, there you go. Hope you enjoyed it. We promise to post more than every few weeks. And every time my boy Sweet Lew sends me a text message, I promise to post something.
Since we last left you, the Masters was just ending, the baseball season was just underway and the baseball and hockey playoffs were just starting. So, since there's no real way to accurately go over the entire last month, we're going to do another one of our favorite Lists of 10. This will be fun, I promise. So, here is my quick recap of the last few weeks in sports.
1. Baseball started, but the only thing anyone wants to talk about is a guy that still isn't playing. Alex Rodriguez continues to make headlines while recovering from hip surgery due to Selena Roberts (no relation, I'm a much better writer) releasing her book chronicling A-Rod's steroid use. You know, he'd be able to recover a lot quicker from that surgery if he could just get some Winstrol.
2. On the actual field, the early surprises are the Mariners leading the AL West and the Kansas City Royals leading the AL Central (seriously). Royals pitcher Zack Greinke is already 6-0, been a cover story on SI and sports an ERA of 0.40. Not bad. Especially considering he suffers from social anxiety disorder, much like my friend from Iowa who sends late night text messages about poorly written sports blogs.
3. The NFL draft happened. Honestly, I couldn't care less. I will say that I was relieved to see the Skins didn't completely screw up the draft, but honestly, we won't know who did well in this draft for a few years. So, I refuse to get excited about it.
4. I can get excited about Brett Favre. Ok. No, I can't. Just stay on your farm in Mississippi.
5. The Bulls-Celtics series was one of the best I can remember in recent years. Of course, I haven't really watched much of the NBA playoffs in recent years. Unfortunately, it was only the first round. Fear not, the rest of the first round matchups proved as lifeless as you would expect. Who knows what will happen from here on out, but at least you got one interesting series. Now, we'll just go back to ignoring the NBA.
6. I will say that I've become a huge fan of Lebron. In terms of NBA players that I'm a big fan of, he's definitely in the top 5. The others (non-UNC alumni) would probably be Dwyane Wade, Brandon Roy, Deron Williams and maybe Dwight Howard. That's a crudely thrown together list, but those are guys I like. Guys I don't like, (non-Dook alumni) include Kobe Bryant, Joakim Noah, Ron Artest, Dirk Nowitzki and maybe Carmelo. Not sure why, but I'm just not a Melo fan.
7. The NHL playoffs are going on. I haven't actually watched any of it, but typically they are fascinating. The NHL has a great matchup in Sidney Crosby vs. Alexander Ovechkin, but they seem to refuse to advertise it. I think they played tonight but I can't be positive. Having games on the VS. channel doesn't help, but come on. I'm still baffled that Gary Bettman has a job. And yes, the fact I know the name of the NHL commissioner might mean I have a problem...
8. The Quail Hollow Championship took place last weekend and we got to spend some time out at the course. Great course, great field and a winner who stepped up on Sunday when other big names couldn't. Don't be surprised to see this course get a PGA Championship in the next 10 years or so.
9. The Players Championship starts Thursday and since it's trying to become the "fifth major" I'll throw some picks your way. Here's the five guys that I think might win - Mickelson, Boo Weekley, Jim Furyk, Anthony Kim and Geoff Ogilvy.
10. The Heels lost Tywon and Wayne to the draft, but that certainly wasn't a surprise. It's a shame to see the guys go, but they've earned it. I can't blame them and they accomplished everything we could ask for from players who came in ranked as highly as those guys.
Well, there you go. Hope you enjoyed it. We promise to post more than every few weeks. And every time my boy Sweet Lew sends me a text message, I promise to post something.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Masters Recap
I hope everyone who complained about the lack of roars and excitement around Augusta the last couple years is happy. Was Sunday enough excitement for you? We had Tiger and Phil trading jabs while also playing themselves into contention despite being 7 strokes out to start the day. We had a 48 year old playing like he was 30 for 16 holes. We had a pudgy Argentinian who can't really speak English fumbling his way around the course but yet somehow ending up wearing a new green blazer after 74 holes.
Of course, the performance by the golfers was more impressive than any predictions that your loyal blogger made. Just for fun, let's take a look and laugh. It's ok, I'm used to it.
Phil Mickelson - 5th
It's hard to imagine, but Phil shot 67 on Sunday and it should have been better. Aside from the brutal shot on 12, Phil missed three very makeable putts that would have won him the tournament. The birdie putt on 14 that lipped out was a bad omen, the eagle putt that missed on 15 was a harbinger of doom and the missed birdie on 17 was the final nail in the coffin. Make those three puts, and Phil finishes at 12 under and in the playoff.
Paddy Harrington - T35
Paddy made the weekend in striking distance, but consecutive 73s on the weekend left him way off the pace. The penalty stroke he had to take after a ball moved on the green due to wind after Harrington had addressed the ball didn't help. Although, on the bright side, at least he knows that one stroke didn't cost him the tournament. There were 11 others that he needed to figure out too.
Geoff Ogilvy - T15
Ogilvy was 3-under entering the weekend, but a third round 73 destroyed his chances. He did shoot 69 on Sunday, that has to be a positive, but he still finished 7 shots off the pace.
Paul Casey - T20
Casey scored well on Sunday, shooting 3-under, but he couldn't do enough the rest of the week to really ever be a factor. Maybe Peter Kostis needs to stop analyzing Swing Vision and start coaching his client.
Rory McIlroy - T20
This one was a long shot - expecting a 19 year old playing in his first Masters to win is a bit of a stretch. But, McIlroy showed how good he is by finishing in the top 20. He only had one round over par for the week, so he has to be pleased.
Sean O'Hair - T10
O'Hair was one of two golfers to shoot three rounds in the 60s. The other? Angel Cabrera. So, had O'Hair not derailed for a 76 on Friday, he would have been right in the mix on Sunday. O'Hair should be in the mix as one of the premier players from the next generation of golfers.
Andres Romero - T49
Romero tied with Rocco Mediate as the two guys who finished last of all those who made the cut. So, at least he made the cut. The streaky Romero started the tournament hot, shooting 69 on Thursday. He quickly cooled, going 75, 77, 77 the rest of the tournament. At least he still probably made more money on the weekend than I have in the last couple years combined.
Lee Westwood - 43
Westwood probably isn't too pleased with his Sunday round of 79. Considering his talent and the low scores that everyone around him were shooting, he can't be happy with the fact he was pushing 80. Maybe he's still trying to lose the image on Boo Weekley riding his driver like a bull down the first fairway at the Ryder Cup last year.
Boo Weekley - MC
Speaking of Boo, not a good week for everyone's favorite redneck golfer (non John Daly division). On the bright side, this was the only one of my 10 golfers to miss the cut. So, I got that going for me. Which is nice.
Ben Curtis - T35
If Curtis was playing the US Open, his tournament score of Even par might have put him in contention. Unfortunately for him, he was playing at Augusta and birdies were to be had. He didn't have nearly enough.
So, we had 9 of 10 golfers make the cut, 2 in the top 10 and 4 in the top 20. Not bad. Of course, I promise winners and I didn't come through this week. I'm just glad I came to my senses and didn't make any promises involving the WNBA, jean shorts, tank tops or mustaches. And no, I never made the promise to be a WNBA player, as the last sentence might have implied. Those were all separate bets.
Anyway, we're now into a time of year when nothing really interests me. I'll probably do an NBA playoffs preview at some point which won't be very interesting since I don't watch the NBA much. I should probably do a baseball preview, too, huh? Oh well, we'll get to all that in due time. For now, I'm still relishing the Heels national title and an amazing Sunday at Augusta.
Of course, the performance by the golfers was more impressive than any predictions that your loyal blogger made. Just for fun, let's take a look and laugh. It's ok, I'm used to it.
Phil Mickelson - 5th
It's hard to imagine, but Phil shot 67 on Sunday and it should have been better. Aside from the brutal shot on 12, Phil missed three very makeable putts that would have won him the tournament. The birdie putt on 14 that lipped out was a bad omen, the eagle putt that missed on 15 was a harbinger of doom and the missed birdie on 17 was the final nail in the coffin. Make those three puts, and Phil finishes at 12 under and in the playoff.
Paddy Harrington - T35
Paddy made the weekend in striking distance, but consecutive 73s on the weekend left him way off the pace. The penalty stroke he had to take after a ball moved on the green due to wind after Harrington had addressed the ball didn't help. Although, on the bright side, at least he knows that one stroke didn't cost him the tournament. There were 11 others that he needed to figure out too.
Geoff Ogilvy - T15
Ogilvy was 3-under entering the weekend, but a third round 73 destroyed his chances. He did shoot 69 on Sunday, that has to be a positive, but he still finished 7 shots off the pace.
Paul Casey - T20
Casey scored well on Sunday, shooting 3-under, but he couldn't do enough the rest of the week to really ever be a factor. Maybe Peter Kostis needs to stop analyzing Swing Vision and start coaching his client.
Rory McIlroy - T20
This one was a long shot - expecting a 19 year old playing in his first Masters to win is a bit of a stretch. But, McIlroy showed how good he is by finishing in the top 20. He only had one round over par for the week, so he has to be pleased.
Sean O'Hair - T10
O'Hair was one of two golfers to shoot three rounds in the 60s. The other? Angel Cabrera. So, had O'Hair not derailed for a 76 on Friday, he would have been right in the mix on Sunday. O'Hair should be in the mix as one of the premier players from the next generation of golfers.
Andres Romero - T49
Romero tied with Rocco Mediate as the two guys who finished last of all those who made the cut. So, at least he made the cut. The streaky Romero started the tournament hot, shooting 69 on Thursday. He quickly cooled, going 75, 77, 77 the rest of the tournament. At least he still probably made more money on the weekend than I have in the last couple years combined.
Lee Westwood - 43
Westwood probably isn't too pleased with his Sunday round of 79. Considering his talent and the low scores that everyone around him were shooting, he can't be happy with the fact he was pushing 80. Maybe he's still trying to lose the image on Boo Weekley riding his driver like a bull down the first fairway at the Ryder Cup last year.
Boo Weekley - MC
Speaking of Boo, not a good week for everyone's favorite redneck golfer (non John Daly division). On the bright side, this was the only one of my 10 golfers to miss the cut. So, I got that going for me. Which is nice.
Ben Curtis - T35
If Curtis was playing the US Open, his tournament score of Even par might have put him in contention. Unfortunately for him, he was playing at Augusta and birdies were to be had. He didn't have nearly enough.
So, we had 9 of 10 golfers make the cut, 2 in the top 10 and 4 in the top 20. Not bad. Of course, I promise winners and I didn't come through this week. I'm just glad I came to my senses and didn't make any promises involving the WNBA, jean shorts, tank tops or mustaches. And no, I never made the promise to be a WNBA player, as the last sentence might have implied. Those were all separate bets.
Anyway, we're now into a time of year when nothing really interests me. I'll probably do an NBA playoffs preview at some point which won't be very interesting since I don't watch the NBA much. I should probably do a baseball preview, too, huh? Oh well, we'll get to all that in due time. For now, I'm still relishing the Heels national title and an amazing Sunday at Augusta.
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