The boosters are really serious at Notre Dame. So serious in fact, that they are testing the theory that the dead will "turn over in their grave" during an unlikely event...as, um...as in the 1-5 start of the Flatulent-ing Irish.
The family of George Gipp exhumed his body for DNA testing.
Word has it that he was face-down.
Who was George Gipp? He was the legendary Notre Dame football player who died at an early age of pneumonia. Legend has it that he told the Irish coach Knute Rockne on his deathbed, that if ever the players' backs were against the wall, to play hard for him.
That inspired The great Coach Rockne to utter the words "win one for the Gipper", during halftime of a half-hearted effort against Army...in which the team mounted a comeback and did win.
We don't have that sort of legend that will help us win the 2008 Ryder Cup.
We need a "Gipper"...we need inspiration.
We need Jack Nicklaus to coach the Ryder Cup...alas, we'll have to wait.
A wake-up call happened during Coach Nicklaus's President's Cup. It happened for every teammate...from the steeled eyes of Tiger, to the swim-goggled-eyes of Woody Austin.
The players want to win for someone they believe in.
Tiger (no less) has mapped-out his whole life's accomplishments on this singular man. Nicklaus has no equal...he is The Man...The Legend.
Who's not going to want to play for him? No offense to Paul...but is Tiger (et al) going to be pumped-up at a Zinger rally-cry? Not likely.
But a Nicklaus-led rally? Yeah, now you're talking. But let's do it soon PGA America. 2010 is right around the corner, and Jack is no spring chicken.
Tiger Woods wants to win a Ryder Cup for Jack Nicklaus.
He doesn't want to win one for some other coach when the chips are down, saying " let's win one for The Bear."
Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,
JFB
Showing posts with label Ryder Cup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ryder Cup. Show all posts
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
You can't beat strong emotions
Last night the New Orleans Saints' football team opened up a can of whoop-ass on the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons, whom were favored, looked more like a Pop-Warner team, than a Pro Bowl team.
The game was significant because it marked the official return of pro football to the hurricane-ravaged Emerald City. Everyone in the house was on an emotional high, and the Falcons never had a chance because of it.
Such was the case with this years' American Ryder Cup golf team. Those unfortunate souls came into Ireland and departed without even getting a sniff of a Guinness beer.
Last month, Darren Clarke's wife succumbed to a long battle with cancer. In the process, he became The Fleur de Lis if you will, of the Europeans' team. With the influence of close friend Tiger Woods' recommendation that Darren compete with the Euro-team, Tiger indirectly gave the Euro-team a booster-shot of emotion that could not be contained. Darren, an affable Irishman, playing at the K Club (in Ireland no less) created what captain Woosy exclaimed as "destiny".
Professional athletes all run in the same social circles...football players hang with other football players, as is the same with professional golfers. These guys all know each other, some as really close friends. So it comes as no suprise that these two teams couldn't step on the necks of the opposition when it came to brass tacks.
I don't care how hard you try, if you are up against an emotionally-charged team, you are going to lose. It's why upsets happen, it's why teams beat spreads, and it's why you can't simply look at a team on paper and declare a victory or loss.
It's why we play the game.
Thanks for redaing. Keep it in the short-grass,
JFB
The game was significant because it marked the official return of pro football to the hurricane-ravaged Emerald City. Everyone in the house was on an emotional high, and the Falcons never had a chance because of it.
Such was the case with this years' American Ryder Cup golf team. Those unfortunate souls came into Ireland and departed without even getting a sniff of a Guinness beer.
Last month, Darren Clarke's wife succumbed to a long battle with cancer. In the process, he became The Fleur de Lis if you will, of the Europeans' team. With the influence of close friend Tiger Woods' recommendation that Darren compete with the Euro-team, Tiger indirectly gave the Euro-team a booster-shot of emotion that could not be contained. Darren, an affable Irishman, playing at the K Club (in Ireland no less) created what captain Woosy exclaimed as "destiny".
Professional athletes all run in the same social circles...football players hang with other football players, as is the same with professional golfers. These guys all know each other, some as really close friends. So it comes as no suprise that these two teams couldn't step on the necks of the opposition when it came to brass tacks.
I don't care how hard you try, if you are up against an emotionally-charged team, you are going to lose. It's why upsets happen, it's why teams beat spreads, and it's why you can't simply look at a team on paper and declare a victory or loss.
It's why we play the game.
Thanks for redaing. Keep it in the short-grass,
JFB
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Who would you want for a Ryder Cup mascot?
This weekend The University of Colorado is trailering their 900lb mascot Ralphie IV , and bringing her to represent their football team as they go up against the Mighty Bulldogs of Georgia. The Bulldogs, with Uga VI, is an equally impressive mascot which has graced more magazine covers than any other in history.
Mascots bring not only pride, but are also a rallying symbol.
That got me thinking; what if the US team had a mascot for the Ryder Cup? Not only would that be cool, but it would bring another immediately marketable plush stuffed animal to buy! Hey, it worked for Caddyshack.
We all like to identify with something, but it's awfully hard to identify with pampered millionaires who get to stroll some of the most pristine land around the world....but we can identify with mascots.
What mascot would you choose?
Look no further than nicknames of some great players: they could have a walrus as a mascot. Seeing how the Walrus has been a nickname for Craig Stadler forever, it has already shown it can be marketable.
Then there are the other obvious ones: tiger (Woods), bulldog (Love), lion (Daly), a golf cart (covered in an earlier post).
Or maybe to really bring it down an identify-able level: squirrels....uh....for the woods....or how about a fish for water hazard? Hey! A worm would have a duel meaning: an unplayable lie....or the bottom of a tequila bottle at the 19th hole....
...but I digress.
I think I'd vote for one that hails from Captain Lehman's home: Minnesota, and has already proven its marketability by representing the greatest golf movie ever.
My vote for our 2007 US mascot to The Ryder Cup should be a:
Gopher.
Heck, if the K Club is worried about our mascot creating a new chunnel under their golf course...we could bronze it, and make it a Golden Gopher.
Our Ryder Cup team needs its "Ralphie", and all of us self-proclaimed Carl Spacklers are in need of something to identify with. We need a mascot.
Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,
JFB
Mascots bring not only pride, but are also a rallying symbol.
That got me thinking; what if the US team had a mascot for the Ryder Cup? Not only would that be cool, but it would bring another immediately marketable plush stuffed animal to buy! Hey, it worked for Caddyshack.
We all like to identify with something, but it's awfully hard to identify with pampered millionaires who get to stroll some of the most pristine land around the world....but we can identify with mascots.
What mascot would you choose?
Look no further than nicknames of some great players: they could have a walrus as a mascot. Seeing how the Walrus has been a nickname for Craig Stadler forever, it has already shown it can be marketable.
Then there are the other obvious ones: tiger (Woods), bulldog (Love), lion (Daly), a golf cart (covered in an earlier post).
Or maybe to really bring it down an identify-able level: squirrels....uh....for the woods....or how about a fish for water hazard? Hey! A worm would have a duel meaning: an unplayable lie....or the bottom of a tequila bottle at the 19th hole....
...but I digress.
I think I'd vote for one that hails from Captain Lehman's home: Minnesota, and has already proven its marketability by representing the greatest golf movie ever.
My vote for our 2007 US mascot to The Ryder Cup should be a:
Gopher.
Heck, if the K Club is worried about our mascot creating a new chunnel under their golf course...we could bronze it, and make it a Golden Gopher.
Our Ryder Cup team needs its "Ralphie", and all of us self-proclaimed Carl Spacklers are in need of something to identify with. We need a mascot.
Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,
JFB
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