YouTube had nothing on him.

This week, the media world lost its favorite son Frank Chirkinian.

Not only was he christened the father of televised golf, he was so far ahead of his time, that YouTube legions continue to be inspired by his imagination of camera-use.
From his efforts to show sports at angles that hadn't even been dreamt of, he created a show within the show.
He was the first to put a camera on a blimp to show the game (experimenting with college football at first, then rolling his idea to other events)...which today, still remains, to me at least, one of the best angles in golf...the overhead view of a golf ball as it travels down the fairway, or onto a green.
His showcase for all his talents is on obvious display at The Masters, where he honed and refined his amazing skills...the biggest being his attention to detail. His ability to position cameras that did not take away from the beauty of the event while showing the nuances of what makes Augusta special.

From cameras to microphones in the Lob Lolly pines on the grounds, Bluebirds and Eastern Towhees never sounded so good...

Nature was on display when Frank was in charge.

Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,

JFB

Like the NFL...check this out

Apocalypse

Sports Illustrated is my favorite magazine. The magazine has had a great effect on my interest in sports by exposing me to events that I could only imagine whilst growing up in my small town.

SI has changed throughout the years, but one thing has stayed constant...the writing and pictures...both are the gold standard when it comes to sports coverage.

Every week, they have an excerpt of an uncommon happening in the world of sports that is both head-shaking, and funny...it is called 'Sign of the Apocalypse'...and this week's is a topper. Leno and Stewart I'm sure will have some good comebacks for this one!

Leave it to the Japanese to come up with a new kink in the word kinky...no word yet on how the women will putt...but I'm guessing a man's putter will be involved. I can't wait to see this on YouTube!

Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,

JFB

Hearts all...a...twitter

Taking a page right out of Babe Ruth's called home-run shot in the '32 World Series to make good on a promise to a hospital-bed-ridden young boy, Amy Mickelson has drawn a line in the sandtrap to all US Open contestants this year at Bethpage...

She texted Phil.

This wasn't just a Tweet to the world, no, she has been texting Phil with numerous hints that she wants this years' US Open trophy in her hospital room while she recovers from her July 1st surgery from her cancer diagnosis.
Obviously, he said he'd "try to accommodate that."

As a married man, I can tell you, that was a great response by Phil!

Just as Tiger was motivated by his father Earl, Phil will use his family's bump-in-the-road as motivation to carry him to victory this week.

There is a lot of drama already built-in to this year's Open, but the Mickelson's Ruthian story just fans the flames. Great for golf, great for fans.

This technology one-upmanship is getting out of hand though:

Word is that Tiger's family has accepted the "twittered" challenge thrown-down by Amy with a heart-tugging response of there own...

...I heard they posted it on YouTube...via Sam's Blackberry.

...Stewart Cink or John Daly can Tweet you the feed.


Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,

JFB

Good stuff!

JFB

The annual rite of passage

Ah, what better time of year than March, spring training starts, golf gets geared-up....

And a new website is here to mix them, mash them, and serve it all up for you on a slick multimedia platter.

The site is FanDome

FanDome.com is the equivalent of the Britannica for the sports video hound. Here you can pull up any sport, and see videos of the latest happenings, such as Pat Perez, here in Clearwater, Florida hitting BP with the Phillies.

There are over 40,000 sport-related videos to browse, with easy controls to find what you're looking for.

March madness doesn't only apply to basketball baby!

Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,

JFB

Better, stronger, faster

When I was a kid, I loved to watch The Six Million Dollar Man. I remember pretending to be 'the man' Steve Austin, as I would "save the world" with my bionic appendages.

Alas, no bionics for me. The closest I get to a "blowout in damper 3' is when my daughter has a blowout in Pamper 1. And bionics? Well, my son is into Bionicals...but it's not the same...and they certainly aren't as macho as Lee Majors.

But the second-coming of The Six Million Dollar Man is coming next week to Tuscon AZ.

Yes, Tiger is coming...better...stronger...faster.

...and he will save the world which is the Tour.

Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,

JFB

Less than 5 minutes of fame

Try and put that on your resume.

JFB

Walk on water...nothing to solving Rubik's Cube

Okay, if you haven't seen Tiger Woods walk on water yet...don't worry, when your friends try and tell you it was his best trick ever...um, clue them in to this EA-spot...enjoy:





JFB

Golf comedy...YouTube-style

"Hey JFB, I’m hoping you can help me. I’m trying to promote my new golf based series of buddy-comedy shorts. They’re not sponsored by anybody or anything like that, they’re just trying to be funny."

-Mike McCafferty-

Got this email last week...I checked out the webisodes, I think it's a great start for what looks like a promising career in writing and filming comedy. Check-out his video series.

Good luck Mike!

Tiger the conqueror...continued

Got sweat?....

JFB

...Tiger the Conqueror...continued

...and the buzz builds!

JFB

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

Last good drive of the year

One of my favorite courses: The Frog at the Georgian, a Tom Fazio designed golf course is part of a residential master-plan that is now side-tracked from the tight credit fallout that is being felt in every master-planned neighborhood in the country. This facility (set in Villa Rica) is in between Birmingham, AL and Atlanta, GA...a long way away from civilization. It's gonna be a tough-sell to continue it's growth-oriented plan for the next couple of years. A great place to golf though.

JFB

One idea can make a difference

I don't think my idea of making the golf hole bigger qualifies as a world-changing idea...but the minds meeting at Davos might have an opportunity to hear your voice...if you try.

What you do today is important because you pay a say of your life for it. What you accomplish must be worthwhile because the price is high.

Happy Holidays to all the MyDailySlice readers, may all your golf shots be right on the sweet-spot.

JFB

A card trick for your golf foursome during a rain delay

Happy Thanksgiving!

The teacher asked my 4-year old son what he was thankful for this year...he replied "The Easter Bunny"

...next time he wakes me up in the morning to get him his Lego-brand waffles, I'm telling him to get the Easter Bunny to do it.

Here's to all of us out there who deserve a nice little "thanks" for all the stuff we put up with throughout the year...

I'm thankful for YouTube, as it lets me dream this impossible dream/video.

Oh, hi honey...didn't see you looking over my shoulder "researching" golf videos...ah heh heh...aaahyeahh...

...yeah, good idea...I'll just snuggle up on the couch tonight.

Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,

JFB

It is not as if not having the right golf clubs or the correct size of baseball will ruin your golf vacations. You can have fun playing baseball as well as basketball. Playing golf is not mandatory at all specially by having to have booked the venue in advance at golf galaxy.

He's the daring young man in the....

...helicopter.

That's right, for my Fathers' day gift, my wife (being of sound mind and body), gave me a certificate for a 1/2 hour helicopter ride with Air Atlanta Helicopters at the local PDK airport.

Now, I've never been in a helicopter before, so I had trepidation at first...

...but then I thought of all the MyDailySlice readers who would love to see an aerial view of a famous golf course here in Atlanta! So I donned my headphones and strapped into the copter provided by Air Atlanta Helicopters , and I was off to...

East Lake Country Club

Yep, home of The Tour Championship. This year being of extra importance for the golf tournament as it is the culmination of the FedExCup. It will be held here Sept 10-16th.

Some interesting notes about this course. In 1925 Bobby Jones beat Watts Gunn at the US Amateur Championship at Oakmont. Both Jones and Gunn were members of East Lake during their historic meeting. Marking the only time in history that 2 members from the same club played in the finals of The Amateur.

Okay...I know what you're saying..."that's cool, but...a fly-over video would put this post over the top!"

How's this:

If you're coming to Atlanta and want to do something very cool, rent a helicopter...buzz over the course as well as downtown, and then schedule a tour of East Lake...they have tours on the 3rd Sunday of every month at 3pm.

Tell 'em MyDailySlice sent ya.

Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,

JFB

Hey Dad...umm...ever hear of Michelle Wie?

This video, on the surface, is awesome. A little kid that's got all the mechanics and interest for golf...and he's good to boot!

I'd love to have a video of his Dad taking the video of his son...I'm sure he's super-proud, chest puffed-out, ready to tell anyone that his son is the next big thing in golf.

Hey, it's his party...I don't want to rain on it....

But there is a danger lurking...not just for this Dad, but for all Dad's. It's called great expectations. And it has the ability to destroy relationships. It's what happened to Michelle Wie...Ty Tryon...Josh Hamilton, and every young person overachieving in sport for the sake of Dad's vanity. Sports Illustrated has dossiers on kids like these...file cabinets full.

We're all guilty of it...hey, I'm psyched coaching T-ball...and my kid's four! Heck...I didn't know a baseball from popcorn until I was 7. Yet here I am...oiling my sons made-in-China glove...telling him to "keep your elbow up to hit down on the ball."....Good grief. Is what I'm teaching him now going to stick? It's doubtful...is it worthy of trying? Absolutely.

Let's not get our own vanity get in the way of our kids. God has a humorous way of humbling us. For instance, let's take this kid in the video...and let's flash-forward 12 years. What if he has a bolt in his tongue, matching studs in his ears, and a tattoo on his back that would make Paris Hilton blush, and likes playing in the virtual Second Life rather than in the real present one? Will his Dad love him just as much? Sure he would. But does he love him as much as if he were a PGA pro playing in his first Masters with Dad on the bag? Doubt it.

Not every kid is going to be Tiger...not every kid will have tattoos over their body. Our job as Dads, is to expose them to as many positive experiences as possible...then step-back, cross the fingers, and hope we've succeeded.

And let's keep our great expectations at a distance.

Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,

JFB

The definition of "inspiration"

I played with Dave this afternoon at Bentwater in Georgia. Forget Webster's...watch this video. Oh yeah...he also played 18 in the morning.

JFB