After Tiger Woods' miraculous win at Torrey with one leg tied behind his back...his self-inflicted battle wound sending him to the hospital with "new and improved" doctors orders that don't just involve standing up for golf, but also kneeling down for Sam...he is but a spectator for the rest of the year.
Pundits from both sides of the pond have pontificated the need for someone on Tour to take this opportunity of Tigers' absence to assert themselves into the captains chair.
So, I guess we have one...
Kenny Perry.
(we pause while Finchem picks up his jaw and grabs a tissue)
That's right...bless them Hilltoppers! The 48 year old Kentucky boy is running the tables on these tracks with more precision than the younger thoroughbreds who seemingly have the best opportunity to rise in this Tiger-void.
It's all about experience, and Kenny could have a very good case for "been there, done that i-tis", but it all comes down to who wants it more. While the young guns are busy primping and preening themselves for the limelight...the old man who has putters in his garage older than some of his competition is mopping it up.
Let's hear it for old guys who can prove they want it more, and can answer the bell when called upon!
Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,
JFB
Showing posts with label Tiger Woods. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tiger Woods. Show all posts
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Why we watch
I've written it before, and I'm sure it's been talked about many times around the world's water coolers, of how fortunate we are to be living in the era where we can witness the truly remarkable Tiger Woods.
I equate it on the same level as the lucky populace that witnessed the Babe Ruth era.
Already penned and pronounced as the greatest win in Tigers' short career, the fact that it was a West Coast tournament...the media-crazed East Coast was able to view it in prime-time...thus, this victory will be viewed as the greatest ever...simply because it was the most viewer-friendly tournament, that is...it gave the most people the opportunity to watch Tiger romp around in his childhood backyard.
I sat down, clicked-on the TV, and surfed-over to watch the Sun set during the 3rd round of the US Open. 1: to kick back and relax after a busy Saturday, and 2: to watch a few golfers pierce the hallowed ground of Torrey Pines. Suffice to watch a few holes and drift off to sleep.
Instead I was riveted to the screen, watching incredulously, as Tiger manhandled 13-18 as deftly as hang-glider uses his sails off the cliffs of the Pacific to master wind.
...that's why I watch.
Sunday evening I was able to catch the final few holes after a busy Father's Day with my family...content to watch a winner step onto the 18th green realizing a dream.
Instead I saw Tiger struggling...most physically, but also mentally, to cobble a score that took one last putt to force a historic Monday 18 hole playoff...also I might add the greatest celebratory pump/roar/exultation...of any magnitude I've ever seen!
...that's why I watch.
Monday night, after a day of work, I watched the tape I made of the back-nine finish of the tournament. After a day of avoiding any eye/ear contact with anything that could be turned into, or seen as, a US Open conversation...I was able to sit down and watch the grainy VHS tape that recorded the greatest Tiger Woods victory ever.
That's why I watch.
Congratulations Tiger, but also to the very fortunate populace that are in tune with what we are watching.
Thanks for reading, Keep it in the short-grass,
JFB
I equate it on the same level as the lucky populace that witnessed the Babe Ruth era.
Already penned and pronounced as the greatest win in Tigers' short career, the fact that it was a West Coast tournament...the media-crazed East Coast was able to view it in prime-time...thus, this victory will be viewed as the greatest ever...simply because it was the most viewer-friendly tournament, that is...it gave the most people the opportunity to watch Tiger romp around in his childhood backyard.
I sat down, clicked-on the TV, and surfed-over to watch the Sun set during the 3rd round of the US Open. 1: to kick back and relax after a busy Saturday, and 2: to watch a few golfers pierce the hallowed ground of Torrey Pines. Suffice to watch a few holes and drift off to sleep.
Instead I was riveted to the screen, watching incredulously, as Tiger manhandled 13-18 as deftly as hang-glider uses his sails off the cliffs of the Pacific to master wind.
...that's why I watch.
Sunday evening I was able to catch the final few holes after a busy Father's Day with my family...content to watch a winner step onto the 18th green realizing a dream.
Instead I saw Tiger struggling...most physically, but also mentally, to cobble a score that took one last putt to force a historic Monday 18 hole playoff...also I might add the greatest celebratory pump/roar/exultation...of any magnitude I've ever seen!
...that's why I watch.
Monday night, after a day of work, I watched the tape I made of the back-nine finish of the tournament. After a day of avoiding any eye/ear contact with anything that could be turned into, or seen as, a US Open conversation...I was able to sit down and watch the grainy VHS tape that recorded the greatest Tiger Woods victory ever.
That's why I watch.
Congratulations Tiger, but also to the very fortunate populace that are in tune with what we are watching.
Thanks for reading, Keep it in the short-grass,
JFB
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Tiger's space-race ends flat
No sooner did Tiger blast off to the moon, did he have to return.
According to the WSJ, Element 79, the ad firm that developed Tiger Woods hitting a golf ball off the moon (aka Alan Shepard) to promote his 'Tiger'-branded Gatorade, has been dropped by PepsiCo.
What will the next Tiger-sports-drink ads look like when the new agency Arnell Group starts its work?
Well, I have an idea, last year the Arnell Group developed an ad with drink-client SoBe involving dancing with lizards...
So instead of the moon...I'm thinking something Jurassic:
...Tiger Woods fending off a Tyrannosaurus Rex with a 2-iron after taking a swig from his drink.
Are you listening Madison Ave?
Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,
JFB
According to the WSJ, Element 79, the ad firm that developed Tiger Woods hitting a golf ball off the moon (aka Alan Shepard) to promote his 'Tiger'-branded Gatorade, has been dropped by PepsiCo.
What will the next Tiger-sports-drink ads look like when the new agency Arnell Group starts its work?
Well, I have an idea, last year the Arnell Group developed an ad with drink-client SoBe involving dancing with lizards...
So instead of the moon...I'm thinking something Jurassic:
...Tiger Woods fending off a Tyrannosaurus Rex with a 2-iron after taking a swig from his drink.
Are you listening Madison Ave?
Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,
JFB
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Tiger loses...we lose
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
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
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
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Tiger the conqueror
Tiger going to the moon?
Hey, the man does it all...why not this to? Stay tuned for the latest revelation...
JFB
Monday, February 18, 2008
The fist pump
Tiger has become a verb in our society...a car salesman, making a sale, goes to the bosses office...punches his fist into the air and says: "I Tiger-ed him". Golfers of every walk, live for the moment on the golf course when they can sink that putt and do the 'Tiger fist-pump'.
Now kids have a chance to pump their fists.
The Tiger Woods Foundation has a contest for kids 13-18 to submit a short video, or text essay for the Fist Pump Challenge. The foundation is giving away great kid-rated loot (for those that can put their stories of attaining goals on video or text) by selecting a few of them on the last day of every month all this year, and if you live in Orange County or Washington DC...soon, you may be eligible for an Earl Woods Foundation Scholarship.
The Tiger Woods Foundation has been instrumental in helping millions of kids across the country define and reach their goals through scholarships, grants and other golf related activities...
...now that's worthy of a fist pump!
Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,
JFB
Now kids have a chance to pump their fists.
The Tiger Woods Foundation has a contest for kids 13-18 to submit a short video, or text essay for the Fist Pump Challenge. The foundation is giving away great kid-rated loot (for those that can put their stories of attaining goals on video or text) by selecting a few of them on the last day of every month all this year, and if you live in Orange County or Washington DC...soon, you may be eligible for an Earl Woods Foundation Scholarship.
The Tiger Woods Foundation has been instrumental in helping millions of kids across the country define and reach their goals through scholarships, grants and other golf related activities...
...now that's worthy of a fist pump!
Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,
JFB
Whether you are looking for tennis or lacrosse equipment, make sure you get the top of the line. From the golf carts to the golf clubs, you golf vacations should go perfect. You can also throw in a bit of basketball equipment for some variation.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
If you win...should you be clean-shaven?
It's good to be a golf-fan...that shaves.
Gillette...maker of the Gillette Fusion Razor has the latest entrant of what is a killer sweepstakes!
I'm sure you've seen the Gillette Champion's commercial's on TV featuring Tiger Woods, Roger Federer and Theirry Henry...well, now these well-shaven boys are part of the razors' online push with interviews (scroll to the bottom of my site to see Tigers' interview), downloads, and more.
The sweepstakes ends February 29th 2008. Grand prize is (and this is from the contest rules section): a 3-day/2-night trip for 2 to a sponsor-specified location (within the contiguous 48 United States) for a golf lesson with legendary golf coach, Hank Haney. Prize includes round-trip coach air transportation for winner and guest from major airport nearest winner’s home, hotel accommodations (one room, double occupancy), airport and hotel room taxes, a $300 stipend towards ground transportation, and 1 golf lesson with Hank Haney (subject to his availability).
If you don't win the big one...there are 2,357 instant win prizes so you might get lucky.
While you're on the site, you might check out the how-to's on shaving. Tiger says the #1 rule is to soak...
...but is he talking about shaving or Woody Austin?
Good luck!
JFB
Gillette...maker of the Gillette Fusion Razor has the latest entrant of what is a killer sweepstakes!
I'm sure you've seen the Gillette Champion's commercial's on TV featuring Tiger Woods, Roger Federer and Theirry Henry...well, now these well-shaven boys are part of the razors' online push with interviews (scroll to the bottom of my site to see Tigers' interview), downloads, and more.
The sweepstakes ends February 29th 2008. Grand prize is (and this is from the contest rules section): a 3-day/2-night trip for 2 to a sponsor-specified location (within the contiguous 48 United States) for a golf lesson with legendary golf coach, Hank Haney. Prize includes round-trip coach air transportation for winner and guest from major airport nearest winner’s home, hotel accommodations (one room, double occupancy), airport and hotel room taxes, a $300 stipend towards ground transportation, and 1 golf lesson with Hank Haney (subject to his availability).
If you don't win the big one...there are 2,357 instant win prizes so you might get lucky.
While you're on the site, you might check out the how-to's on shaving. Tiger says the #1 rule is to soak...
...but is he talking about shaving or Woody Austin?
Good luck!
JFB
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Greg Norman is the man
I think it's safe to say most people's (including me) biggest joy in life is coming home on Friday's after a hard week at work, going straight to the night stand, and turning the alarm feature to the 'off' position.
For Greg Norman, his joy is touching things and turning them to gold (excuse me while I bow from the waist and say "I'm not worthy...Aussie...Aussie...Aussie").
I'm talking about the man that Tiger will some day be...but is not yet. I'm talking about the man...the brand, that is Greg Norman.
He is conquering golf courses with a shovel now, instead of a 3-iron.
He's principal of Greg Norman Interactive. Geeks even think he's golden.
He owns vineyards, and has his name branded on steaks in Australia... "May I pair a prime cut Greg Norman with a Pinot Greg Norman?"
But recently I read in Portfolio Magazine Norman has hit the goldmine with global positioning technology.
As principal investor in G.P.S. Industries, his companies product GolfLogix is a cellphone-sized piece of hardware that can download up to 10 course maps from thousands of golf courses worldwide, measuring front, center, and back of the greens.
Greg Norman has conquered the business world. His ever-expanding presence in this world solidifies him as setting the threshold for future golf mogul-wannabees to reach.
As for his personal life?
For Greg Norman, his joy is touching things and turning them to gold (excuse me while I bow from the waist and say "I'm not worthy...Aussie...Aussie...Aussie").
I'm talking about the man that Tiger will some day be...but is not yet. I'm talking about the man...the brand, that is Greg Norman.
He is conquering golf courses with a shovel now, instead of a 3-iron.
He's principal of Greg Norman Interactive. Geeks even think he's golden.
He owns vineyards, and has his name branded on steaks in Australia... "May I pair a prime cut Greg Norman with a Pinot Greg Norman?"
But recently I read in Portfolio Magazine Norman has hit the goldmine with global positioning technology.
As principal investor in G.P.S. Industries, his companies product GolfLogix is a cellphone-sized piece of hardware that can download up to 10 course maps from thousands of golf courses worldwide, measuring front, center, and back of the greens.
Greg Norman has conquered the business world. His ever-expanding presence in this world solidifies him as setting the threshold for future golf mogul-wannabees to reach.
As for his personal life?
My childhood walls were taped with pictures of Chrissy Evert. Norman added her to his trophy case last month...rumors have it that the exes settlement is north of $300 million...
...but hey...it's Crissy!
The main difference in Greg Norman and everybody else is that while we can't wait to turn the alarm feature to 'off'...Greg can't wait to hear it.
Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,
JFB
Thursday, December 06, 2007
World of...MiniGolf?
Last week's news of Vivendi and ActiVision doing the corporate version of a mash-up, signifies the beginning of a new video game era.
I think it's all because of the Wii platform bringing the social aspect into the game, and thanks to creative uses of plug-ins..here's what I see:
ActiVision...with its strong Guitar Hero franchise, has taken the reins and solidified the Wii platform as the real social platform.
Enter World of Warcraft (WoW)...Vivendi's blockbuster game in a virtual world...they have the subscription model figured out as to how to make money with the social Internet.
Now...let's mash the social platform with Internet 2.0, and add a golf club...
...actually...a putter...
Back in the pages of the Vivendi games website there is an online game called 3D Ultra Mini-Golf
This game is in its infancy...but with the Vivendi/ActiVision mash-up (to be called ActiVision/Blizzard) I see this being developed for the Wii platform, and used as an online social/virtual site the way WoW is currently played. I see the (virtual) putter being the Wii stick, and a multitude of players competing for local-state-national mini-golf championships. The possibilities (as with WoW and Guitar Hero) are endless...but in golf video games I see less of someone trying to be Tiger Woods...and more like trying to be "personified" with their own qualities...or lack there of.
Of course, that's just one 45 year olds point of view....my 4 year old and his/her peers will someday undoubtedly push the video game envelope to area I cannot even dream of.
...not even Lasik-vision will be able to see it.
Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,
JFB
I think it's all because of the Wii platform bringing the social aspect into the game, and thanks to creative uses of plug-ins..here's what I see:
ActiVision...with its strong Guitar Hero franchise, has taken the reins and solidified the Wii platform as the real social platform.
Enter World of Warcraft (WoW)...Vivendi's blockbuster game in a virtual world...they have the subscription model figured out as to how to make money with the social Internet.
Now...let's mash the social platform with Internet 2.0, and add a golf club...
...actually...a putter...
Back in the pages of the Vivendi games website there is an online game called 3D Ultra Mini-Golf
This game is in its infancy...but with the Vivendi/ActiVision mash-up (to be called ActiVision/Blizzard) I see this being developed for the Wii platform, and used as an online social/virtual site the way WoW is currently played. I see the (virtual) putter being the Wii stick, and a multitude of players competing for local-state-national mini-golf championships. The possibilities (as with WoW and Guitar Hero) are endless...but in golf video games I see less of someone trying to be Tiger Woods...and more like trying to be "personified" with their own qualities...or lack there of.
Of course, that's just one 45 year olds point of view....my 4 year old and his/her peers will someday undoubtedly push the video game envelope to area I cannot even dream of.
...not even Lasik-vision will be able to see it.
Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,
JFB
Finding good baseball bats and basketball shoes is almost as hard as looking for the perfect golf shoes or golf clubs. There is no such thing as perfect golf equipment. Your golf vacations can be fun without the perfect equipment too.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
How to win the Ryder cup
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
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
Saturday, September 08, 2007
The cannabalism of the PGA, or: Coke gets rewarded
No doubt, last week's Deutsche Bank event was a thriller, anytime you have the two most popular players on tour duking it out Mano-a-Mano, it's gonna bring drama.
That's the problem.
Thanks in part to the Fed Ex Cup, the PGA is creating a situation where they are conditioning the golf fan to be interested only when there is a lot riding on the line (vis-a-vis Majors), or when Phil or Tiger play each other.
Take this week's BMW event...it was reported that less than 200 fans lined up to see Tiger tee it up Thursday, and with the combination of rain impacting the event...and Phil not playing...the BMW is looking more like The Ramblin' Wreck of Georgia Tech, instead of the show-stopper it was intended to be.
It's not that golf fans don't love golf, it's that the PGA is undermining their own popularity by giving the fans a reason that they have the power to prioritize what they watch (can you say hello football).
It's the reason baseball and football Unions have leverage. Unions know that if the players go on strike, fans will figure out new ways to occupy their time, and lose focus of the implied importance of every game. It makes it that much harder for team owners to recapture the audience.
So the PGA is left with this huge problem, and really no way out of it. It will mean a lot less money to fringe events (50% of next years' tournaments), and a lot more money to whatever event is on Tiger's schedule (with the implied guessing-game that Phil will be there too). The imminent danger is that the PGA is losing it's brand image, and it is becoming a bunch of individual brands (think NFL, and how they go to unbelievable lengths to protect its brand so the name is larger than the players). The PGA needs to look at all the problems the NFL players have had this year, and it won't even touch the NFL brand. It's masterful.
One tournament that is going to reap absolutely gargantuan rewards from this PGA gaffe, is next weeks Tour Championship in Atlanta. That event will be the most watched, most talked about, most exciting tournament this year. Thanks to last week's taste the fans were given of that Tiger/Phil duel, The Tour Championship will be pulling out all the stops to showcase its premier match-up.
The events big sponsor Coca Cola, will get a muche deserved redemption from last years' abrupt pullout of Tiger.
Coke's new ad campaign is all about the consumer getting rewarded from buying coke products.
But next week Coke will get rewarded...and, as the vintage ad goes: in perfect harmony.
Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,
JFB
That's the problem.
Thanks in part to the Fed Ex Cup, the PGA is creating a situation where they are conditioning the golf fan to be interested only when there is a lot riding on the line (vis-a-vis Majors), or when Phil or Tiger play each other.
Take this week's BMW event...it was reported that less than 200 fans lined up to see Tiger tee it up Thursday, and with the combination of rain impacting the event...and Phil not playing...the BMW is looking more like The Ramblin' Wreck of Georgia Tech, instead of the show-stopper it was intended to be.
It's not that golf fans don't love golf, it's that the PGA is undermining their own popularity by giving the fans a reason that they have the power to prioritize what they watch (can you say hello football).
It's the reason baseball and football Unions have leverage. Unions know that if the players go on strike, fans will figure out new ways to occupy their time, and lose focus of the implied importance of every game. It makes it that much harder for team owners to recapture the audience.
So the PGA is left with this huge problem, and really no way out of it. It will mean a lot less money to fringe events (50% of next years' tournaments), and a lot more money to whatever event is on Tiger's schedule (with the implied guessing-game that Phil will be there too). The imminent danger is that the PGA is losing it's brand image, and it is becoming a bunch of individual brands (think NFL, and how they go to unbelievable lengths to protect its brand so the name is larger than the players). The PGA needs to look at all the problems the NFL players have had this year, and it won't even touch the NFL brand. It's masterful.
One tournament that is going to reap absolutely gargantuan rewards from this PGA gaffe, is next weeks Tour Championship in Atlanta. That event will be the most watched, most talked about, most exciting tournament this year. Thanks to last week's taste the fans were given of that Tiger/Phil duel, The Tour Championship will be pulling out all the stops to showcase its premier match-up.
The events big sponsor Coca Cola, will get a muche deserved redemption from last years' abrupt pullout of Tiger.
Coke's new ad campaign is all about the consumer getting rewarded from buying coke products.
But next week Coke will get rewarded...and, as the vintage ad goes: in perfect harmony.
Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,
JFB
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Betting on the come
I love craps. By far, it is the most exhilarating game at a casino...but the game has more superstitions than the great Mark "The Bird" Fidrych.
I for one never bet against the come-out roll...it puts a negative spin on the whole purpose of wanting to have fun at the table. Half the fun of craps is everyone rooting for you when you roll the dice...the other half is winning...with the dice in your hand.
Notah Begay III is betting on the come. He is the official ambassador to The Turning Stone Resort Championship September 20-23rd. The first year tournament is sandwiched between the Tour Championship, and The Presidents Cup.
Notah is charged with wooing PGA Tour players to make the trek to his little oasis...but make no mistake about his real mission: it is Notah's job to bring Tiger Woods to the table.
Notah is placing a bet that he and Tiger (former roommate and teammate during the Stanford years) have enough of a connection to persuade The Chosen One to this little casino town of Verona, north of Syracuse.
Another reason Notah is ambassador for this tournament, is because of his Native American roots. Turning Stone is owned by the Oneida Nation which is supplanted in Oneida county. The clan, once decimated with poverty, has experienced an economic rebirth, thanks in part to the creation of the Turning Stone Casino and its semi-private golf courses which are world class.
The Turning Stone Resort Championship is the PGA Tour's only native American venue and
Tiger has a penchant for seeking out worthwhile causes...Notah believes this to be his wampum.
Right now, Verona is amp'd with the advent of their first big event to come its way since the Celebrity Chef Series. Notah is in the catbird seat...all the players are at the table waiting on his next roll of the dice to see if he hits the Tiger roll of 7's or 11's.
The exhilaration is intense as he fingers the dice in his sweaty little palm. He puts a little good luck blow on the dice right before he cocks his wrist, and flings the dotted cubes into perpetual motion...letting gravity pull them to the green carpet of the craps table.
And my money, with the rest of upstate New York, is on the come.
Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,
JFB
I for one never bet against the come-out roll...it puts a negative spin on the whole purpose of wanting to have fun at the table. Half the fun of craps is everyone rooting for you when you roll the dice...the other half is winning...with the dice in your hand.
Notah Begay III is betting on the come. He is the official ambassador to The Turning Stone Resort Championship September 20-23rd. The first year tournament is sandwiched between the Tour Championship, and The Presidents Cup.
Notah is charged with wooing PGA Tour players to make the trek to his little oasis...but make no mistake about his real mission: it is Notah's job to bring Tiger Woods to the table.
Notah is placing a bet that he and Tiger (former roommate and teammate during the Stanford years) have enough of a connection to persuade The Chosen One to this little casino town of Verona, north of Syracuse.
Another reason Notah is ambassador for this tournament, is because of his Native American roots. Turning Stone is owned by the Oneida Nation which is supplanted in Oneida county. The clan, once decimated with poverty, has experienced an economic rebirth, thanks in part to the creation of the Turning Stone Casino and its semi-private golf courses which are world class.
The Turning Stone Resort Championship is the PGA Tour's only native American venue and
Tiger has a penchant for seeking out worthwhile causes...Notah believes this to be his wampum.
Right now, Verona is amp'd with the advent of their first big event to come its way since the Celebrity Chef Series. Notah is in the catbird seat...all the players are at the table waiting on his next roll of the dice to see if he hits the Tiger roll of 7's or 11's.
The exhilaration is intense as he fingers the dice in his sweaty little palm. He puts a little good luck blow on the dice right before he cocks his wrist, and flings the dotted cubes into perpetual motion...letting gravity pull them to the green carpet of the craps table.
And my money, with the rest of upstate New York, is on the come.
Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,
JFB
Saturday, August 18, 2007
The diss
Prom night was the night for seniors. When my rite-of-passage came oh-so-many-years-ago...I was primed, and ready for action...heh-heh.
Yep, I was gonna woo the little lady right off her feet. Starting with the corsage, leading into a romantic dinner at Bern's Steak House, sweeping her off her feet at The Dance, then capping the night off in my car doing the tongue cha-cha.
Oh...my heart aches at how it really turned out. Everything went as planned...except for the car part. We got out of the car and (I remember this vividly) she nearly knocked me down getting to the door. She opened her screen door...turned around and said..."thanks for a great evening"...gave me a peck on the cheek, and...no sooner did her lips peel off my cheek...wham...the screen door grazed past me with a resounding clanggg.
I was dissed.
But, being a high testosteron-ed teenager...I eventually got over it.
Tiger Woods...aka...golf's Golden Child is being used as the newly-born Fed Ex Cup's fodder. all the media has been talking about since the start of this soon-to-fail marketing folly, is how The Golden Child is going to "grace us with his presence for each-and-every-one of these grand events"...capped-off with its $10 million dollar prize.
BTW: How ironic is it that Barclay's and Deutsche Bank are financing the first two events? I'm sure the suits at these firms are wondering how they are going to pay for these "shows" after the sub-prime blow-up. "Uh, Larry...got any change? we're pulling it in for the Fed ex cause...Geez, no Frank...I just had to re-up with my no-interest loan to an 8% jumbo fixed...I just don't know what I'm going to do...hey, that ledge looks awfully tempting..."
...but I digress.
So, here's Woods, all primed..winning the Firestone, then the major..the PGA Championship...all in 100 degree heat, creating an orgasm with the Fed Ex marketing guys and the media. Do you think they blink? "Hey Tiger...are ya too hot? can we get you some Kool-Aide?" No, Tiger's their date, and they're riding him to the Fed Ex prom. Hey Tiger...here's your corsage...here's your super-fine dinner.
Friday, Tiger decided to skip the dance...The Barclay's event. The first in the PGA's grand plan of resurrecting a TV-tired sport. Saying his body was "spent".
...hear that sound?...it's the marketing geniuses Mont Blanc's falling on the floor.
Tiger isn't spent..he's Superman. Tiger is providing us with two bits of information here that transcend him. One, he is telling us that a major is still more important than this homogenized gimmicky Cup deal...and two, that he is the reason that golf is surviving. No Cup is going to change that perception.
Tiger just shut dissed-'em.
Clangg!
Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,
JFB
Yep, I was gonna woo the little lady right off her feet. Starting with the corsage, leading into a romantic dinner at Bern's Steak House, sweeping her off her feet at The Dance, then capping the night off in my car doing the tongue cha-cha.
Oh...my heart aches at how it really turned out. Everything went as planned...except for the car part. We got out of the car and (I remember this vividly) she nearly knocked me down getting to the door. She opened her screen door...turned around and said..."thanks for a great evening"...gave me a peck on the cheek, and...no sooner did her lips peel off my cheek...wham...the screen door grazed past me with a resounding clanggg.
I was dissed.
But, being a high testosteron-ed teenager...I eventually got over it.
Tiger Woods...aka...golf's Golden Child is being used as the newly-born Fed Ex Cup's fodder. all the media has been talking about since the start of this soon-to-fail marketing folly, is how The Golden Child is going to "grace us with his presence for each-and-every-one of these grand events"...capped-off with its $10 million dollar prize.
BTW: How ironic is it that Barclay's and Deutsche Bank are financing the first two events? I'm sure the suits at these firms are wondering how they are going to pay for these "shows" after the sub-prime blow-up. "Uh, Larry...got any change? we're pulling it in for the Fed ex cause...Geez, no Frank...I just had to re-up with my no-interest loan to an 8% jumbo fixed...I just don't know what I'm going to do...hey, that ledge looks awfully tempting..."
...but I digress.
So, here's Woods, all primed..winning the Firestone, then the major..the PGA Championship...all in 100 degree heat, creating an orgasm with the Fed Ex marketing guys and the media. Do you think they blink? "Hey Tiger...are ya too hot? can we get you some Kool-Aide?" No, Tiger's their date, and they're riding him to the Fed Ex prom. Hey Tiger...here's your corsage...here's your super-fine dinner.
Friday, Tiger decided to skip the dance...The Barclay's event. The first in the PGA's grand plan of resurrecting a TV-tired sport. Saying his body was "spent".
...hear that sound?...it's the marketing geniuses Mont Blanc's falling on the floor.
Tiger isn't spent..he's Superman. Tiger is providing us with two bits of information here that transcend him. One, he is telling us that a major is still more important than this homogenized gimmicky Cup deal...and two, that he is the reason that golf is surviving. No Cup is going to change that perception.
Tiger just shut dissed-'em.
Clangg!
Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,
JFB
Saturday, August 11, 2007
The couch
I love a good couch. A couch is always there for you when you're ready for a nap. It never leaves...it doesn't wonder where you've been...it's always ready to cushion your body for a nap, remembering the slightest indentations of your shape. My last couch lasted me 15 wonderfully napping years.
We recently upgraded...a traumatically manly event, and it was literally an expedition to find one that I felt deserved the merit to replace it. My wife and I would trundle through furniture shops, darting through the slobbering salespeople to find the rooms labeled "Couches". As I laid down on the ones that met "the paint color scheme", my poor wife would have to feign ignorance to wondering shoppers as I laid down on the selected "part-time beds" she'd tell them: " I think his beta-blockers just kicked-in." As I'd be snoring away.
Suffice to say, we found our new couch, and it matches the paint on the walls. The best part though, is that it has 3 supportive cushions, and is long enough for those mid-nap stretches.
Tiger Woods shot a freakin' 62 1/2 Friday at the PGA Championship...he's holding his own today, and he will win Sunday. This is great news for me...why?
I've had both kid's this weekend while my wife worked...she's off tomorrow and is taking them to our pool. I offered a weak..."oh-I-can-take-them"...as a suck-up move which she bought by saying "oh that's okay honey...you just rest". So it's just me, and the residue of the last 2 days of screaming kids, with an average of 6 hours of sleep. I've got more collateral damage than the Bush Administration.
This PGA Championship win is worth 27,500 FedEx points. I'm going to click on CBS, pronate myself on our new couch...sling my leg over the top cushions, and count to 27,500.
So, thank-you Tiger, for making my Sunday an exceptionally relaxing one...
...and allowing me to bond with my couch.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
JFB
We recently upgraded...a traumatically manly event, and it was literally an expedition to find one that I felt deserved the merit to replace it. My wife and I would trundle through furniture shops, darting through the slobbering salespeople to find the rooms labeled "Couches". As I laid down on the ones that met "the paint color scheme", my poor wife would have to feign ignorance to wondering shoppers as I laid down on the selected "part-time beds" she'd tell them: " I think his beta-blockers just kicked-in." As I'd be snoring away.
Suffice to say, we found our new couch, and it matches the paint on the walls. The best part though, is that it has 3 supportive cushions, and is long enough for those mid-nap stretches.
Tiger Woods shot a freakin' 62 1/2 Friday at the PGA Championship...he's holding his own today, and he will win Sunday. This is great news for me...why?
I've had both kid's this weekend while my wife worked...she's off tomorrow and is taking them to our pool. I offered a weak..."oh-I-can-take-them"...as a suck-up move which she bought by saying "oh that's okay honey...you just rest". So it's just me, and the residue of the last 2 days of screaming kids, with an average of 6 hours of sleep. I've got more collateral damage than the Bush Administration.
This PGA Championship win is worth 27,500 FedEx points. I'm going to click on CBS, pronate myself on our new couch...sling my leg over the top cushions, and count to 27,500.
So, thank-you Tiger, for making my Sunday an exceptionally relaxing one...
...and allowing me to bond with my couch.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
JFB
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
How to get into the Hall of Fame
Last weekend the spotlight was on my hometown, Akron/Canton Ohio. The small town where I grew up has two of the most highlighted events anywhere in the country on one weekend: The Pro Football Hall of Fame ceremonies/game, and the Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone CC.
Getting enshrined into the Football HOF is difficult, there is a 40 member selection committee that combs through biographies and statistics as if they were looking for hanging chads, to arrive at a consensus.
The way a player can get himself into position to be elected is simple...you have to steamroll your competition and be the most dominant player at your position.
This year the Steelers played the Saints in the annual Hall of Fame Game which is played in the old Fawcett Stadium next to the museum. The Steeler's of the 70/80's's were a dominating force where each player excelled at their position. Seventeen Steeler's enjoy residence in the Hall because of it.
The Steelers dominated the Saints and took home the HOF statue this year.
Tiger Woods dominated the field in his final round at Firestone CC, and took home the beautiful trophy (it replaced the former World Series of Golf trophy in the 90's that looked like a Star Trek fan made it.).
Woods' performance was his 6th win at the Firestone CC. Something about that course feeds him the fuel needed to steamroll his competition. This years event was no different, as he once again proved that he is the most dominant player at his position.
Getting into the Golf Hall of Fame is equally difficult, with much of the same qualities needed to be enshrined. The only stat Tiger is missing to get into the hall at this point is he isn't 40 yet.
Like the Steelers in the Hall, Tiger is positioning himself as a future Golf enshrinee.
Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,
JFB
Getting enshrined into the Football HOF is difficult, there is a 40 member selection committee that combs through biographies and statistics as if they were looking for hanging chads, to arrive at a consensus.
The way a player can get himself into position to be elected is simple...you have to steamroll your competition and be the most dominant player at your position.
This year the Steelers played the Saints in the annual Hall of Fame Game which is played in the old Fawcett Stadium next to the museum. The Steeler's of the 70/80's's were a dominating force where each player excelled at their position. Seventeen Steeler's enjoy residence in the Hall because of it.
The Steelers dominated the Saints and took home the HOF statue this year.
Tiger Woods dominated the field in his final round at Firestone CC, and took home the beautiful trophy (it replaced the former World Series of Golf trophy in the 90's that looked like a Star Trek fan made it.).
Woods' performance was his 6th win at the Firestone CC. Something about that course feeds him the fuel needed to steamroll his competition. This years event was no different, as he once again proved that he is the most dominant player at his position.
Getting into the Golf Hall of Fame is equally difficult, with much of the same qualities needed to be enshrined. The only stat Tiger is missing to get into the hall at this point is he isn't 40 yet.
Like the Steelers in the Hall, Tiger is positioning himself as a future Golf enshrinee.
Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,
JFB
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