Catching up on the upcoming weekend in sports on ESPN.com, I just came across a story entitled Book: Williams’ head abused at facility.

This initially may not strike you as odd if you do not know the story. Continue Reading »

For those of you who do not know Plaxico Buress, he was the guy who caught the winning touchdown when the Giants beat the undefeated New England Patriots to win the Superbowl.

Now, as of today, he’s in jail. Continue Reading »

“Tom Watson Wins the British Open at Turnberry!!!” Will this be the headline we read five hours from now? Can Tom Watson, 2 months short of his 60th birthday, win the British Open today?

We found ourselves similarly situated last year at about this time.  Greg Norman led the British Open by 2.  After the first day, people thought, as Tom Watson said about himself the other day, “Give the old man one day in the sun.”  Then, after day 2, people acknowledged that an old man can play two quality days of golf with the big boys.  Then, after day 3, people took his lead seriously.

What happened?  Greg Norman went on to shoot a 77.  Age, and pressure, finally caught up with him.

So, is there a significant difference between Tom Watson this year and Greg Norman last year?

Yes, there are two:  Age and Pressure.

Tom Watson is 59, just two months away from his 60th birthday.  Last year, the pundits spoke of the impossibility of leading a major at age 53 with Greg Norman.  The oldest winner of a major is 49.  Tom Watson exceeds that by 10 years.  If he wins, this would shatter all age records.

The age difference between the Greg Norman of last year and the Tom Watson of this year pales in comparison to the difference in pressure.   All Golf aficionados (and that is what you are if you get up early to watch the British Open) know the pains of Greg Norman’s golfing career.  Beating himself and being beaten by others was commonplace in the career of Greg Norman.   Who can forget the unforgettable Masters decline?

Tom Watson does not have the pressure of unforgettable defeats.  He has memories of success.  Inducted into the golf Hall of Fame many years ago, this is a possible bonus on an already brilliant career.  And the British Open is the site of Tom Watson’s greatest successes.  As he has said, this is a spiritual experience for him.

So, will the heading in a few hours read Tom Watson Wins the British Open at Turnberry?  Even with the success in the first 3 days this week, and the vast success he has had in the British Open, winning a golf major is not simple.  His putting woes of the past may reappear, his age may get to him, or his very close competitors may mount a charge.

I don’t know that he will win…but I sure hope that he does.

Manny Pacquiao, of the Philippines, and Ricky Hatton from Manchester, England, meet tonight in what promises to be the best boxing match of the year.  If you have never been a boxing fan or have left the sport out of frustration, tonight’s Junior welterweight title match is a reason to enjoy the “sweet science” once again.

Boxing has fallen out of favor in recent years for many good reasons:  There are too many shady promoters (can we say Don King?), too many weight classes, too many weight divisions, too many “manufactured” stars, and too little of what boxing fans need:  Great fights between great fighters. Continue Reading »

Last Sunday, I watched the U.S.A. win the Ryder Cup, a victory spearheaded by an unlikely individual named Boo Weekley, a victory that made all who watched proud of our Americans, and our America.  We saw all of the characteristics that made our country great:  tenacity, teamwork, honesty, competitiveness, friendship, and fun, lots of fun.  I felt great.

Later that same night, I watched 60 minutes which featured an interview with John McCain.  This depressed me.  Continue Reading »

In playing the new video game Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08,  a gamer named Levinator25 sent a note to Electronic Arts (maker of the game) stating that the game has a glitch.  He said,  ”Tiger Woods is able to Walk on Water in the game.” Continue Reading »

 While the balance beam derailed the U.S. Olympic gymnastic team after Alicia Sacramone’s fall, it provided the setting for one of the Olympics great moments after Shawn Johnson’s balance beam routine brought home the gold for America. 

Upon first seeing Shawn Johnson when the Olympics began, one could not ignore that her smile-filled with electricity-and her physique bared a striking resemblance to the golden Olympic girl herself, Mary Lou Retton.  However, up until last night, Shawn’s golden smile had only yielded silver results. Continue Reading »

After pondering the fate of Alicia Sacramone in The Balance Beam of Life: Alicia Sacramone’s Olympic Fall, I have become less concerned for two reasons: Continue Reading »

Imagine.  Just Imagine.  You train your whole life for one moment, and when that one moment comes, you fail.

This is what happened to Alicia Sacramone in the “Women’s” Gymnastics last night.

Through a slight miscue on China’s part, the American girls still had a chance to win the gold as they entered the balance beam competition last night.  The evident leader of the team, Alicia Sacramone, was first up.  Continue Reading »

Yesterday, I did not go to church because I was watching the PGA Golf tournament.  One of the ten commandments says: 

I am the LORD your God: you shall not have strange Gods before me!

Was I putting golf before God?  Was golf my strange God?  Continue Reading »