Did Sub-prime submarine your portfolio? Bet you saved the last kittles by stashing it in auction-rate instruments...safe-haven you thought, until you tried to withdraw the funds...ouch.
What's a poor guy s'pose to do? Not even the bond-market is safe because Tiger didn't win The Masters!
That's right...according to a WSJ report, there is a "Tiger effect" for the bond market.
Apparently, since 1997, some stat-freaks at BNP Paribas have been charting the Lehman Brothers Aggregate Bond Index, with correlations to Tigers' Masters victories.
...no, these aren't the same guys who chart the market after a Super Bowl win...that would be foolish.
So, here's the skinny... Tiger wins: buy bonds; Tiger doesn't win; sell bonds and buy Pokemon cards...no-no...I made that last part up...if Tiger doesn't win: don't buy bonds.
Here's the proof: the bond index returns over 1% when he wins, the same index gives a negative return of 0.12% when he doesn't.
So, don't buy bonds.
I'm sure the guys at BNP Paribas have a place for your money. From what I hear, they are hot on a shorting technique that works quite well...it's the Phil Mickelson theory.
Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,
JFB
Showing posts with label The Masters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Masters. Show all posts
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Sunday, April 13, 2008
"One person's luck is another person's skill"-JFB
"The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person's determination."
- Tommy Lasorda
"Luck is where preparation meets opportunity"
-Cale Yarborough
"I have never played an event without having one break go my way in order to win"
-Tiger Woods
Today, Tigers' portfolio of "breaks" will be on full display at Augusta, as he will sail through the 10-20 mph gusts of wind that will invade Bobby Jones' grounds.
Mere mortals will succumb to the windy path.
Exception: Tiger.
Leaning on his preparation, Tiger Woods will persevere through the swaying Pines finding opportunity that others fail to grasp, to win his 5th Green Jacket.
Today, the master of The Masters will prove yet again that he is the greatest golfer of our time.
For us, to be able to witness his ability, is truly lucky...
...take this opportunity to enjoy it.
Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,
JFB
- Tommy Lasorda
"Luck is where preparation meets opportunity"
-Cale Yarborough
"I have never played an event without having one break go my way in order to win"
-Tiger Woods
Today, Tigers' portfolio of "breaks" will be on full display at Augusta, as he will sail through the 10-20 mph gusts of wind that will invade Bobby Jones' grounds.
Mere mortals will succumb to the windy path.
Exception: Tiger.
Leaning on his preparation, Tiger Woods will persevere through the swaying Pines finding opportunity that others fail to grasp, to win his 5th Green Jacket.
Today, the master of The Masters will prove yet again that he is the greatest golfer of our time.
For us, to be able to witness his ability, is truly lucky...
...take this opportunity to enjoy it.
Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,
JFB
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Too much information
Excuse me while I rant about the loss of imagination.
The decision to televise the par-3 tournament of the Masters is wrong, and the Augusta members are wrong to allow its intrusion into this little known event.
Augusta's par-3 layout, (commissioned by Cliff Roberts to let members and special guests complete a round of golf in under an hour) has been a source for imagination and storytelling for those lucky enough to hold a practice ticket on the Wednesday of The Masters for years and years. I have been lucky enough to have seen it 3 times, and I enjoy tremendously the fact that I was personally viewing a little bit of a "secret" on those hallowed grounds of Augusta.
Imagination, and storytelling will be gone for future ticket-holders of the Par-3 event...gone is that little secret...the excitement that you are seeing something that only a few privileged folks are witnessing...
...it's gone as of today.
Let me give you an example of how will feel from now on:
BEFORE TV: Me: "Hey Joe...you should've seen the excitement at the Par-3 tournament at the Masters."
Joe: "There's a Par-3 tournament? I thought it was just a practice round of the golf course...you mean they play on just the par 3's?"
Me: "No, Joe, they actually built a par-3 golf course out there, and on Wednesday's, all the guys play a little tournament on it....they take their kids, friends...whomever...and they caddy for them....it's a riot!"
Joe: "That does sound like a good time...man I'd love to get tickets to that someday."
Me: "There were 18 holes-in-one's! Tiger hit one...it landed off the green, but had so much backspin it 4-wheeled itself back onto the green...into the hole!"
Joe: "Wow! I bet that was exciting to be there...wish I coulda gone."
AFTER TV: Me: "Hey Joe...you should've seen the excitement at the par-3 tournament at the Masters."
Joe: "Yeah, I saw a little bit of it over at Shaw's Bar & Grill. We watched a couple holes...then lost interest....you shoulda seen the Budweiser commercials though! Man, they were good!"
Me: "Oh...you don't say."
...A Tradition unlike any other...is gone.
Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,
JFB
The decision to televise the par-3 tournament of the Masters is wrong, and the Augusta members are wrong to allow its intrusion into this little known event.
Augusta's par-3 layout, (commissioned by Cliff Roberts to let members and special guests complete a round of golf in under an hour) has been a source for imagination and storytelling for those lucky enough to hold a practice ticket on the Wednesday of The Masters for years and years. I have been lucky enough to have seen it 3 times, and I enjoy tremendously the fact that I was personally viewing a little bit of a "secret" on those hallowed grounds of Augusta.
Imagination, and storytelling will be gone for future ticket-holders of the Par-3 event...gone is that little secret...the excitement that you are seeing something that only a few privileged folks are witnessing...
...it's gone as of today.
Let me give you an example of how will feel from now on:
BEFORE TV: Me: "Hey Joe...you should've seen the excitement at the Par-3 tournament at the Masters."
Joe: "There's a Par-3 tournament? I thought it was just a practice round of the golf course...you mean they play on just the par 3's?"
Me: "No, Joe, they actually built a par-3 golf course out there, and on Wednesday's, all the guys play a little tournament on it....they take their kids, friends...whomever...and they caddy for them....it's a riot!"
Joe: "That does sound like a good time...man I'd love to get tickets to that someday."
Me: "There were 18 holes-in-one's! Tiger hit one...it landed off the green, but had so much backspin it 4-wheeled itself back onto the green...into the hole!"
Joe: "Wow! I bet that was exciting to be there...wish I coulda gone."
AFTER TV: Me: "Hey Joe...you should've seen the excitement at the par-3 tournament at the Masters."
Joe: "Yeah, I saw a little bit of it over at Shaw's Bar & Grill. We watched a couple holes...then lost interest....you shoulda seen the Budweiser commercials though! Man, they were good!"
Me: "Oh...you don't say."
...A Tradition unlike any other...is gone.
Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,
JFB
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Ugh...The Masters
Every year, millions of golfers tune into Augusta Georgia to see what has become the United States' official spring right of passage...The Masters.
To me...and millions of allergy suffererers, this great golf event has become a right of passage of another sort...
Springtime.
Oh, to be sure, the Azaleas...Dogwoods...and Bradford Pears are all in full bloom, but that beauty comes with a price to folks like us...an excuse-me-while-I-sneeze price that even Jim Nance couldn't speak well of...let alone allergy sufferer Tiger Woods (overheard in a recent conversation on the green)..."Hey Stevie...this putt doesn't break to the right, it goes left." "No, Tiger...it goes right...here, wipe your watery eyes, and blow your running nose."...."Snughddesffulgh"..."Hey Stevie! Your right!"
...Yeah...I feel your pain Tiger.
So does LPGA superstar Jill McGill. In a recent article in SI, she gives an up close and personal account of her allergies and how they enter her daily life on and off the golf course. She even puts her money where her...um...runny nose is, by working with the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America to the benefit of sufferers like me, who struggle throughout the year with this dis-ease.
So, from one golfer who takes allergy shots, Advair, and Zyrtec, I salute you Ms McGill for helping out a great cause by spreading the gospel about allergies and asthma. If I ever get to meet you, I'm sure to have my autograph book in hand...
...and a box of Puffs.
Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,
JFB
To me...and millions of allergy suffererers, this great golf event has become a right of passage of another sort...
Springtime.
Oh, to be sure, the Azaleas...Dogwoods...and Bradford Pears are all in full bloom, but that beauty comes with a price to folks like us...an excuse-me-while-I-sneeze price that even Jim Nance couldn't speak well of...let alone allergy sufferer Tiger Woods (overheard in a recent conversation on the green)..."Hey Stevie...this putt doesn't break to the right, it goes left." "No, Tiger...it goes right...here, wipe your watery eyes, and blow your running nose."...."Snughddesffulgh"..."Hey Stevie! Your right!"
...Yeah...I feel your pain Tiger.
So does LPGA superstar Jill McGill. In a recent article in SI, she gives an up close and personal account of her allergies and how they enter her daily life on and off the golf course. She even puts her money where her...um...runny nose is, by working with the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America to the benefit of sufferers like me, who struggle throughout the year with this dis-ease.
So, from one golfer who takes allergy shots, Advair, and Zyrtec, I salute you Ms McGill for helping out a great cause by spreading the gospel about allergies and asthma. If I ever get to meet you, I'm sure to have my autograph book in hand...
...and a box of Puffs.
Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,
JFB
Monday, March 31, 2008
ESPN/Masters online putting game
Ever wished you could putt the greens of Amen Corner? ESPN and The Masters have teamed-up to give you an online putting game that puts you in the middle of 11, 12 and 13 giving you a virtual rendering of what it would feel like.
No, this isn't Arnie's Amen Corner...as it was labeled in '58, but now thanks to high tech...Arnie's Army can get an up close look at these greens...
...and putt on these hallowed holes.
Scroll down to the bottom of my website, and see if you are good enough to make it through Amen Corner.
Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,
JFB
Sunday, May 20, 2007
It's a southern thing
I must admit, after the birth of our daughter Wed night, I haven't been able to do much more than walk around in a daze from sleepless nights filled with determining the correct way to dispose of stinky diapers without having to fumigate the house come morning. So when I got to sit down and read today's Sports section in the AJC it was really a treat.
More treats occurred when I read the headlines that were colored in yellow-and-blue, and red-and-black. Yep, looks like the folks up at Sugarloaf Country Club are going to "hunker down for a good old-fashioned Southern brawl." As Larry Munson might have put it.
We have YellowJackets and Bulldogs atop the leaderboard at the South's other golf tournament in Buford GA...the one sandwiched between a season of The Masters in Augusta, and The Players Championship in Atlanta.
Hailing from Georgia Tech: Troy Matteson, and not far behind, just in from his yo-yo-like travails from The Nationwide Tour, and my favorite player: Matty Kuchar.
Then we have, coming from The University of Georgia with the shot of the day: Ryuji Imada.
This will be a fun one to watch as Sugarloaf will be super firm and fast, as we've had no rain in a month. Also, Sugarloaf has one of the best finishing holes in all non-major events.
As for me coming from the great state of Ohio (and a big Buckeye fan), I've learned...
...that Gators will also eat bees and bulldogs...
...so I'd watch out for spidey-man himself Camilo Villegas, who hails from The University of Florida. The greatest sports program in the nation.
Yep, I'm going to sit back and enjoy this Sunday's final round...it's a gorgeous day in The South. The bees are buzzing...the dogs are leashed...and the alligators are sunning themselves in the southern paradise known as Buford Georgia...
And my daughter is asleep. Now Hush Y'all.
Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,
JFB
More treats occurred when I read the headlines that were colored in yellow-and-blue, and red-and-black. Yep, looks like the folks up at Sugarloaf Country Club are going to "hunker down for a good old-fashioned Southern brawl." As Larry Munson might have put it.
We have YellowJackets and Bulldogs atop the leaderboard at the South's other golf tournament in Buford GA...the one sandwiched between a season of The Masters in Augusta, and The Players Championship in Atlanta.
Hailing from Georgia Tech: Troy Matteson, and not far behind, just in from his yo-yo-like travails from The Nationwide Tour, and my favorite player: Matty Kuchar.
Then we have, coming from The University of Georgia with the shot of the day: Ryuji Imada.
This will be a fun one to watch as Sugarloaf will be super firm and fast, as we've had no rain in a month. Also, Sugarloaf has one of the best finishing holes in all non-major events.
As for me coming from the great state of Ohio (and a big Buckeye fan), I've learned...
...that Gators will also eat bees and bulldogs...
...so I'd watch out for spidey-man himself Camilo Villegas, who hails from The University of Florida. The greatest sports program in the nation.
Yep, I'm going to sit back and enjoy this Sunday's final round...it's a gorgeous day in The South. The bees are buzzing...the dogs are leashed...and the alligators are sunning themselves in the southern paradise known as Buford Georgia...
And my daughter is asleep. Now Hush Y'all.
Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,
JFB
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Happy Mother's Day!
To all the Mothers and expectant Mom's.
I will be busy the next few days (read: next few weeks...months) as we are expecting our second...any second!
As always, thanks for reading. Keep it in the short grass.
JFB
Monday, April 09, 2007
The definition of a Classic
Zach Johnson is in a self-described "surreal" moment right now. The 2006 Ryder Cup wunderkind, hailing from a state that is known more for its world class wrestlers than golfers, has probably been in a surreal moment since the birth of his son Will in January.
As a parent...and I speak of experience here...the first 4 months are so ridiculously hard, that everything is just blurred from what is real, to what is not.
Next month, when Zach wakes up from the 4-month newborn blur, will he then realize what he has accomplished on the most hallowed of grounds in golf.
In general, the 2007 Masters will be viewed as a great golf tournament, just because the element of the one thing that the players couldn't control...the weather...determined the outcome of this years' event. It is rare to see such a revered group of professionals be brought to their knees.
I personally think there are a lot of golfers this morning crying Uncle...and Hootie is smiling!
Next month, I will start my own personal 4-month newborn blur, as we are due for our second. Again, it will involve a lot of late-nights, and early mornings.
Thankfully, a tried-and-true Starbucks is right around the corner!
During the next 4 months, I will undoubtedly wonder how hard it must have been for Zach to win this major while caring for his son. I will then be amazed at how truly great his victory was.
On the surface, you may think the weather played a hand in dealing Zach his reward.
But as a parent you know it's more than that.
And that's what makes the 2007 Masters an instant classic.
Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,
JFB
As a parent...and I speak of experience here...the first 4 months are so ridiculously hard, that everything is just blurred from what is real, to what is not.
Next month, when Zach wakes up from the 4-month newborn blur, will he then realize what he has accomplished on the most hallowed of grounds in golf.
In general, the 2007 Masters will be viewed as a great golf tournament, just because the element of the one thing that the players couldn't control...the weather...determined the outcome of this years' event. It is rare to see such a revered group of professionals be brought to their knees.
I personally think there are a lot of golfers this morning crying Uncle...and Hootie is smiling!
Next month, I will start my own personal 4-month newborn blur, as we are due for our second. Again, it will involve a lot of late-nights, and early mornings.
Thankfully, a tried-and-true Starbucks is right around the corner!
During the next 4 months, I will undoubtedly wonder how hard it must have been for Zach to win this major while caring for his son. I will then be amazed at how truly great his victory was.
On the surface, you may think the weather played a hand in dealing Zach his reward.
But as a parent you know it's more than that.
And that's what makes the 2007 Masters an instant classic.
Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,
JFB
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Live Masters coverage presented by AT&T
The Masters programming will offer daily highlights, live tournament coverage, live practice range coverage, player interviews, live updates, and links to real-time scoreboards directly from Augusta National.Enjoy! Happy Easter everyone!
JFB
Sunday, March 18, 2007
I'm revealed!....MAKEUP!!!!
Awhile back I posted a tip that I sent to GOLF magazine for a submission to their My Best Tip review.
Then I posted that it was accepted, and that I would be in their April, The Masters Peview Issue.
I just got my GOLF April edition...and in The Starter section of the magazine...there I am...in the My Best Tip column!
I also was mailed a dozen logoed ProV1's for my being selected.
So it's not American Idol...but to me...I'm as giddy as a student when the bell rings on the last day of school! My family and friends will now get to see the framed page above the fireplace mantle...okay...I'm still working out those details...but I'm sure it'll garner a prominent spot.
...what's that honey?... the closet...in the basement?!
Clearly, some people just don't get it.
Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,
JFB
Then I posted that it was accepted, and that I would be in their April, The Masters Peview Issue.
I just got my GOLF April edition...and in The Starter section of the magazine...there I am...in the My Best Tip column!
I also was mailed a dozen logoed ProV1's for my being selected.
So it's not American Idol...but to me...I'm as giddy as a student when the bell rings on the last day of school! My family and friends will now get to see the framed page above the fireplace mantle...okay...I'm still working out those details...but I'm sure it'll garner a prominent spot.
...what's that honey?... the closet...in the basement?!
Clearly, some people just don't get it.
Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,
JFB
Friday, February 16, 2007
Pre order Masters memorabilia
I recently got an email from a trusted vendor who sells items from the Masters golf tournament. Outside of vendors like this, your only hope to get Masters items is to be at the tournament...as Augusta National does not license or sell there products outside of their pearly gates.
I collect the limited edition lapel pins. Every year, the pins feature a hole on the course, and the tree specimen of that particular hole. When I get my 2007 pin, I will post you my updated collection, as they are VERY cool.
Here is the email I received:
Masters Mail Order is now taking merchandise pre-orders for the 2007 Masters in Augusta, Georgia
Check out our new website! http://www.mmogolf.com
Get your orders in early to take advantage of the discounted pre-order prices! Pre-ordered items will begin shipping on April 2, 2007
Orders will be taken online only from February 14th through February 28th.
In addition to online orders, we will begin taking orders by phone at (888) 660-7910 starting March 1st.
I have no affiliation with them...only that I've used their service for over 4 years, and I give them two thumbs up!
JFB
I collect the limited edition lapel pins. Every year, the pins feature a hole on the course, and the tree specimen of that particular hole. When I get my 2007 pin, I will post you my updated collection, as they are VERY cool.
Here is the email I received:
Masters Mail Order is now taking merchandise pre-orders for the 2007 Masters in Augusta, Georgia
Check out our new website! http://www.mmogolf.com
Get your orders in early to take advantage of the discounted pre-order prices! Pre-ordered items will begin shipping on April 2, 2007
Orders will be taken online only from February 14th through February 28th.
In addition to online orders, we will begin taking orders by phone at (888) 660-7910 starting March 1st.
I have no affiliation with them...only that I've used their service for over 4 years, and I give them two thumbs up!
JFB
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