It

And here I am some lowly golf nut nobody ever heard of. Go figure.

thanks to Charlie Riedel of the AP for the great shots of Tiger throughout the tournament

Playing with pain

What great athlete has never played through pain in the quest for victory? This is not your ordinary kind of pain, a headache, a toothache, a muscle ache, no, this is the dibillitating kind of pain as a result of a sports injury. Where most of us would just collapse on the nearest sideline (couch), screaming for the next available appointment with Jack Kavorkian, professional athletes not only have to overcome this agony while performing at their peak but are expected to - all the while risking permanent damage and increasing the pain tenfold by pushing the envelope!

In sports this is referred to as, "playing through pain", and it's something that all pro athletes are expected to do, especially in team sports. Shake it off, walk it off man, BE the pain, suck it up pardner, eat the pain, thank you sir, may I have another! It's an athlete thing folks. Ask any pro athlete if victory is any sweeter than when acheived through pain and you may be surprised at the answer. It certainly doesn't do their legend any harm and their peers respect them for it.

Playing through the pain

The dead givaways that there is major suffering going on while playing in pain are not so much dictated by the actual location of the injury such as in Tiger Woods case, the knee, but are seen more through facial distortions like, winces, grimaces or hissing of air through gritted teeth brought about by nerve grinding pain as a result of an injury (old or new). Most times these reactions are hidden behind football helmets and hockey masks (where serious pain lives). But a guy like Tiger Woods who has the TV cameras focused on him so acutely that you can see the imprint from his wife's last kiss, just can't hide his pain. Believe me, he wants to hide it because he does not want the world to see he is human NOR does he want his fellow competitors to think he would use the pain as an excuse should he (gasp!) actually not win. I have a theory about guys like Tiger that I would like to share with you later in this post.

Say it ain't so Goosie

But first let's talk a bit about what Retief Goosen supposedly said about Tiger at the US Open, as reported by the good folks at Fox Sports - anything for that juicy story, huh guys? First, I find it hard to believe that anyone could get that many words out of Retief Goosen. Second, if I am not mistaken, "Goosie" as he is referred to by his friends on Tour, including Tiger Woods, would ever say anything like that about a fellow competitor. I think Fox Sports is either misquoting him or taking his words out of context. I can just hear Tiger after some well-intended person points out this article saying, "oh, that Goosie, such a kidder!"

Fox Sports, in the article, says that Goosen, a two-time U.S. Open champion himself, "seemed" to accuse Woods of faking the extent of the injury when he winced in pain and limped around Torrey Pines on his way to a third U.S. Open title and 14th major championship. Hey! Fox guys, would you like to explain to me and the rest of the sports world just what "seemed to accuse" is supposed to mean? Let's break this down point by point shall we.

Point # 1 - Tiger won the US Open with a double stress fracture in his tibia and a knee that will require reconstructive ACL surgery. I think it's safe to assume that there was some pain associated with this, don't you? A lesser man would have been doubled over, puking his guts out.

Point # 2 "Nobody really knows if he was just showing off or if he was really injured. I believe if he was really injured, he would not have played." Now anyone that knows Tiger Woods at all would laugh at this statement, (again, I would be very skeptical Goosen said this) because unless a doctor had come out on the course and told Tiger that there was no question he would die if he kept playing would he actually withdraw. Cmon guys, this is Tiger Woods and the US Open we are talking about here, besides would a dying Babe Ruth stop trying to hit home runs in the World Series? Ask Ken Venturi if he ever thought of withdrawing from the 64 Open. How about Larry Smith of the football Cardinals playing with two broken arms in the playoffs? Or Ben Hogan in the 1950 US Open barely able to walk. I could go on and on.

Point # 3 "I think so," Goosen said Tuesday when asked if Woods was exaggerating the severity of the injury, according to a report on the Web site of The London Times. "It just seemed that when he hit a bad shot his knee was in pain and on his good shots he wasn't in pain. You see when he made the putts and he went down on his knees and was shouting, 'Yeah,' his knee wasn't sore. Again, I think this is laughable, I might believe a Phil Mickleson or Vijay Singh would say this but not Goosen.

And this is where I feel it appropriate to inject my own theory about athletes like Tiger Woods playing with pain. As a former athlete (runner, baseball player, golfer) I can tell you that knee pain is a bitch. I gnaws at you day and night and God help you if you put any weight on it. Pain causes a rush of adreniline, which is squirted into the brain in order for the athlete to carry on. When you try to ignore pain or the anticipation of pain to perform an athletic move like a golf swing, you count on adreniline to help you through it. It doesn't always help. My theory contends that Tiger knew how far he could push himself on any particular shot. He set up to hit the shots he needed to with a minimum of effort so that he would not further inflame the injury. Had his leg buckled I think a crawling Tiger could still have won. That is how tough the guy is.

However, when a guy like Tiger sets himself up for a shot, girds his loins for the following jolt of pain and then makes a bad swing, that is where the grimacing comes from. For just one brief moment he has let down, the dissappointment of a missed shot combined with the pain it took to make the swing is now written all over his face for all the world to see. Now he realizes that he has to go deeper, ie, more pain. The effort that allowed lesser pain but that resulted in a bad swing won't win him the US Open and he knows it. Part of that grimace is the thought that he must inflict more pain upon himself to get the job done. And when he does make the crucial shot or putt the happiness at overcoming adversity and getting the job done overrides the pain it took to pull it off. I admire the guy, he has a lot of guts.

In a smarmy statement directed to Retief Goosen Fox turns the tables and asks if the news that Tiger Woods will miss the rest of the 2008 season will finally convince Retief Goosen that his knee injury is genuine. A chastised Goosie lowers his head but stands by his statement. I gotta call Bull****! on that.

I for one am dissappointed to lose Tiger for the rest of the season. It is yet to be determined how this will affect professional golf with two majors left in the season. Personally I think Tiger Woods could take a couple of years off and still break Nicklaus's record in the majors with time to spare. I just want to see him stay healthy and I hope that this time he allows himself enough time to fully recover.

Photos courtesy of SI.com

Boy, ain't that the truth and about time somebody said it (other than me). But unfortunately, If history has taught us anything I doubt if that groveling apology that Bobby Clampett had to make during his Masters broadcast will suffice to keep the Richie Riches at bay. Today when you call a spade a spade everybody gets all twitterpated and offended and when that Augusta National crowd gets down on you - look out!

Masters Staff practices zero tolerance 

It seems as though of few of the green jacket wearers are furious about a remark Mr. Clampett made live on the air at this past Masters about Liang Wen-Chong, obviously an Asian player - not an "Oriental" player, (which is now a term that has become taboo according to my resident Human Resources Manager). However, it could have been worse, he didn't use any of the more blatant idioms of racial slur like: "chink", "gook, "slope" - any one of which would have guaranteed the loss of his job and a spot in the Victims of Political Correctness Hall of Shame? No - it was much worse than that! He called a Chinaman - a Chinaman. Good grief Bobby! Just what were you thinking?

If he's from China and he isn't a Chinaman - what is he? 

Are people from Indiana ashamed to be called Hoosiers? How about people from Texas, are they offended when someone says they are a Texan? How about Oklahoman's, do they mind Okie? Well, now I guess it just depends on the context or tone, doesn't  it? Apparantly calling a man from China a "Chinaman" is an unforgivable racial slur and guess what poor Mr. Clampett had to say on the air in order to save his job? Try not to barf. "It has been a privilege to be here with you the last two days describing action of all of the players," said an embarassed Clampett. "In describing the Asian player Wen-Chong Liang if I offended anybody please accept my sincere apologies." Mr. Liang was unavailable for his reaction to the comment but was overheard by a member of the Chinese press saying that he blamed Clampetts comment for his missing the cut and planned to sue him for racial profiling and damages.

Oh, no. Not Feherty too!? 

Well, I gotta tell you what I find offensive is that he had to apologize at all. There is no word yet on whether Clampett will be disciplined by CBS but did you notice the lack of humor and usual edginess from CBS's David Feherty? Man, with his schtick he's lucky he could contain himself for four days at the Masters. But I didn't see anything of what he says about himself here all week: "I don't like being nice; in fact it makes me feel kind of nasty, or at least disingenuous. I only have one life to live, and I've no patience or time to waste on social posturing. I've always found the quickest way to get to know someone is to poke them where it's uncomfortable, and watch how they react." Didn't see much poking going on there David. Dang, you don't think Feherty would bow to those jerks too would you? Personally I don't care for a muzzled David Feherty. I know how lucky he feels that he has this great job now with CBS but how about somebody someday having the guts to say "hey, if a couple of people were offended, tough, get over it. The fact that Liang didn't have a chinaman's chance in hell to make the cut should have nothing to do with it.

Let the punishment fit the crime

I have defended Gary McCord, Ben Wright, Jack Whitaker and a few others who have dared to cross the sanctimonious jerks at the Masters or other organizations with innocent comments where a retraction and apology would have been more appropriate than a firing where their whole life and career is ruined. These are some of the most beloved people in sports and to censor them for one lapse in judgement is criminal. I say let the punishment fit the crime and I may just decide not to watch the Masters anymore. They run too tight a ship for me as is their right but since it is obviously (more than ever) a conclave of the rich and righteous I just don't belong in the same room as a TV tuned to that broadcast, much less attending their little southern lawn party.

My vote is for the former storage room tenent who made it big, the guy whose license plate used to read "NOWINS" and protege of everyone's favorite anda one anda two guy, Mr. Lawrence Welk himself. Read about McCord and you will know the story of an underdog that turned lemons into lemonade. Besides, who needs a reverent and restrained David Feherety? His commentary so far this week is dull, almost boring, just calling the shots as they are and it's totally out of character for him. If it wasn't for his Irish brogue I might want Wieskopf back (as bad as he was). He needs McCord for a straight man and that Augusta National foot on his neck may cause him to start drinking again in frustration. If you have ever read any of his totally far out articles in Golf Magazine you know what David is thinking even if he can't say it. One false move and he could end up like McCord, Ben Wright or even Jack Whitaker, banned for life for calling Masters "patrons" a "mob." And this was all before political correctness destroyed our society. You can feel the whole CBS team on guard against a fatal faux paux. Even Nick Faldo sounds flat.

A CBS golf tournament is not the same without him 

CBS Golf coverage is just not the same without Gary McCord, even more so at the Masters. I have been missing him there for over 13 years now and I think it's time for Augusta National to forgive and forget. How about it Tom Watson? I can't believe that even the snotty rich boys at Augusta could be that vindictive. All because of an innocent quip about the speedy greens, "the club must have used bikini wax on them." My God McCord what were you thinking!? So what's wrong with a reprimand, suspension or even an on-air apology? If this is a lifetime ban why not have the guts to come out and say it?

Gary McCord got the last laugh

The dismissal, however, backfired in Augusta National's face. The expulsion made McCord an instant celebrity (even The Late Show called), and his signature mustache firmly cemented his image. Since then he's written three books, made a not-so-small fortune appearing at corporate outings, acted in a Hollywood film (Tin Cup), paired up with Peter Kostis in a highly successful golf school and become arguably the CBS golf team's most recognizable face. Who needs Augusta National? Not Gary McCord.

Whatever happened to forgive and forget?

Ok, Gary may have overdone it a bit with a tasteless remark and he may have deserved a slap on the wrist. Why the overreation? Were they just looking for a reason to censor him? Besides, did anyone at Augusta National really care about it until the sanctimonious Tom Watson demanded his removal. McCord has gone just too far. Yeah, right Tom, let he who is without sin cast the first stone. Cmon, where is your sense of humor? Personally I think there may have been some jealousy on Tom's part, Gary was just getting too popular.

Where is our favorite protester

On another Masters note, where is our favorite protester Martha Burke these days. Has Augusta National won their fight against bringing in a black member (made HER a member to shut her up) or has Tiger winning it several times cooled things off. I guess if you can't have a black member a (sorta) black winner of the Masters will do?

Hypocrosy is still alive at the Masters

Again this is off the subject of Gary McCord coming back to Masters telecasts but does anyone besides me want to heave when they see their new sponsor, the ever "green" and environmentally "friendly" Exxon Mobile Corp? If you look at those slickly produced commercials during the Masters telecasts, no amount of money was spared to make them out to be the second coming of environmentalists? Just ask the folks up in Prince William Sound what they think of Exxon's environmental policies. Augusta National's old boy network can dump a guy like McCord who makes an off-color remark, ban Jack Whitiker, one of the most revered broadcasting personalities of all time, for LIFE, just for a measly slip of the tongue yet accept millions in sponsorship money from a company that spewed a gazillion gallons of oil on a pristine Alaskan environment, basically destroying that area for a hundred years or more. Well, I for one have not forgotten, nor do I appreciate their obsene profits, while us little guys cancel their vacations because gas is moving toward the $4. mark. But I guess I shouldn't be surprised, once again, money talks huh?

I still love the Masters

Even after all that, God help me, I still love the Masters. It's a right of spring that I have looked forward to every year for longer than I can remember. It must be nice for those lucky pro's who get in to putt on a surface I could eat off of. I just wish people would stop talking about it like it was the Vatican Open. Jeez, get a grip folks. It's not even the same course we remember because of all the changes due to advances in golf equipment technology. I would like to see the whole thing lighten up a notch but I know that is not likely to happen. The stiff shirts at Augusta National like it just the way it is but for Pete's sake bring back Cadillac or The Travelers as sponsors. At least they were honest about their products.

Jack Nicklaus is the standard all golfers are measured by 

I am not a sportswriter by profession but it seems as though they all seem to be focused on how Tiger is on track to not only break Jack's records in golf but to smash them. The disclaimer; IF he stays healthy. I don't know much about Tiger's health, he sure looks buff on TV but Jack is the leader in the clubhouse and that's fact. So when sportswriters like Mr. O'Connor say that Tiger Woods is the greatest player of all time it kind of strikes me as being premature. Certainly if Tiger continues like he has for the next ten years we will see some great things and he may end up totally eclipsing Mr. Nicklaus - on paper. But in my opinion, as a man/athlete in the spotlight, I think Jack Nicklaus leaves him in the dust. And here's why.

Jack Nicklaus, the approachable Golf God

It's a different world we live in now thanks to 911 and I don't think any of us really realize how deeply that tragic event has impacted our lives, including something we have taken for granted for a lot of years, professional golf. Security on the PGA Tour is a huge issue now, nobody gets near Mr. Woods unless he wants them to and that usually means just Steve Williams, his caddy. I can't really blame him as I was present at the Phoenix Open when they arrested a guy in the gallery with a gun in his knapsack and people were throwing fruit at him. But I do know this; had Angelo ever smashed a fan's camera or cell phone Jack would have fired him on the spot.

Mr. O'Connor points out in his article that Jack and his family gave him five hours on his private jet for his article while Tiger gave him 11 minutes in the locker room at Doral and, "he spent seven of them searching for a way to end the conversation." This is a telling statement in itself about approachability but Mr. O'Connor won't let sentiment stand in the way of cold, hard facts. But why?, isn't personality part of the great golfer's equation? Who would a reporter rather interview, Ben Hogan or Lee Trevino? If you are judging a man by his accomplishments alone you are missing journey and focusing on the destination. There should be more to it than that, some kind of formula that measures a man not only by his record in the majors but by his humanity. I know Tiger despises the media and is bored by being asked the same questions over and over. Any talk or questions about his family are totally off limits and he certainly has a right to his privacy. Tiger's future is secure, he doesn't have to be nice to anyone and I'm sure he is a sweetheart to all his rich friends, Stevie, Markie, Greggie and Mikey. However, when it comes to being just down-right gracious to Joe public whether on or off the course Jack Nicklaus stands alone. (sorry Arnie!) I can't remember a time when Jack was nothing short of gracious to the press, even when he was asked the same stupid questions by the media - over and over. And I have seen him sign autographs until his hand cramped up so badly that holding a golf club was an issue.

Mr. Nicklaus invented focus

I kinda get tired of the perpetual scowl on Tiger's face and you can have all that fist pumping. Jack knew how to concentrate without looking like a storm cloud about to burst and being a jerk about it. You could tell by the expression on his face that he was concentrating on each shot as much as possible but I never, ever, heard any "F" bombs pass his lips. The worst expletive I can remember him saying in disgust of a less than perfect shot was, "Jack, you dummy." And a great shot that got the crowds roaring was met with a smile and self-deprecation. I can remember practice rounds at Augusta when Jack would joke around with the crowd and even single out an individual at times. I know he made me feel very special when he turned to me in the fairway on the 11th hole one day during a practice round and asked me what club he should hit. Are you kidding me! Jack Nicklaus asked ME about club selection. I just about soiled myself. I know he was just being nice, but man, I will carry that memory to the grave.

You talk about Tiger's focus, and yes, he has it - no doubt about it. I just remember a whole bunch of PGA Pro's saying over a span of many years, "If you had to pick someone to make a ten-footer in the clutch, no question, it was Jack Nicklaus." You want to talk about how Tiger intimidates his competitors, I would agree with that statement but no more so than  Jack in his prime, a shot or two behind the leaders and making a charge. Those gallery roars struck fear into the hearts of many and more often than not Jack came out on top. People talk about Tiger's imagination, hitting incredible recovery shots. Jack may suffer in that category because it's tougher to be imaginative from the middle of the fairway.

Best player of all time 

My vote goes with Jack. Tiger is a great player but Jack had it all, focus, modesty, character and a super-devotion to his family. Tiger may end up skipping some events to focus on his wife and daughter and his record may suffer, just like Jack's. Let's just hope for Tiger's sake it becomes as gratifying as it was for Jack, instead of regret at not posting another victory. Forget about the equipment issues for a moment, I don't care how good your clubs are technically, you still have to have talent. I have seen country club guys with thousands in state-of-the-art equipment that couldn't hit it out of their shadow. How would Jack fare against Tiger if he was in his prime? I don't know, I kind of agree with Jack's modest assessment, "I'd get my share of wins and Tiger would get his." However, I would have to agree with Gary Player, "if you gave Jack modern equipment, I think Jack would have been better."

A game of which we are not familiar 

One of the greatest golfers of all time and a gentleman of the finest order, Mr. Robert Tyre (Bobby) Jones Jr., once said of Jack's game, "he plays a game of which I am not familiar." He was referring of course to Jack's prodigious drives and his mastery of the flat stick. Well, I think Jack has said the same about Tiger once or twice. He has an enormous amount of respect and appreciation for Woods. He loves Tiger's game, his focus and his desire to win. He has said that he wants to be there when Tiger notches major # 19 so that he can shake his hand. He should be the first to do so.

Fuzzy golf math 

Mr. O'Connor is big on math. He talks about how if Tiger were to quit now he already has done enough to claim the title of golf's greatest. I don't agree, even if you count the "Tiger Slam" as the modern day Grand Slam. (which I do) He might possess the records but who would remember him? He has pulled into a tie with Hogan at 64 victories but that still leaves Jack ahead with 73. Mr. O'Connor points out that Nicklaus never won more than seven events in a single season, Woods best is nine in 2000, eight in 1999 and 2006 and seven last year, which is remarkable but Jack came in 2nd hundreds of times. He never gave up while I have seen Tiger play like a muny golfer when he knew he couldn't win. He says Tiger's field is deeper than Jack's was and I agree that Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, Greg Norman, Lee Trevino, Curtis Strange and Fuzzy Zoeller were tougher competitors than what Tiger faces today. I know the players he is referring to and I agree that Phil Mickleson, Vijay Singh and Earnie Els are not in the same category.

Other reasons to consider why Jack Nicklaus will forever remain the greatest player of all time

Despite Tiger's record now and what it might be in ten years, heck, give him 25 majors before he hangs up his spikes, I have to give Jack the edge. He was a more complete player and the greatest putter I have ever seen, especially the long ones under pressure. Tiger is a great putter in his own right but he is unpredictable with the short ones. I rarely saw Jack miss inside of ten feet. And when it was all on the line, he always made the putts he had to. Here are some other things I remember that make Jack's name immortal to me:

Persimmon vs steel, if you compare his distance with Tiger's considering the advances in equipment, Jack would still be longer off the tee.

Imagine tossing a rubber snake at Tiger during a play-off in a major. The course would be locked down and somebody would turn it into a race issue.

I have an autographed picture of Jack that was given to me when he was recovering from hip surgery. Can you imagine Tiger doing that?

Jack made his gallery love him by making eye contact, winking, chatting occasionally, even during the heat of competition. Tiger resembles an automation, eyes straight ahead, mind on the next shot. If Steve Williams was allowed to he would shoot anyone that even spoke to Tiger. 

Jack was gracious when the whole world hated him for beating Arnie. Fat Jack, Nicklouse, etc. Those things had to hurt. I know that there are still those out there that hate black people, especially when they marry white women and beat out white men in sports but come on guys, this is 2008, racism is no longer a fad. But I just hate what Tiger did to Fuzzy even if it was a stupid thing to say. Look what they did to Ben Wright when all he did was tell the truth about lesbians on the LPGA Tour and the hypocrites that persecuted him.

Jack's appeal was universal just like Tiger's is today. It's just that Jack seemed so much more in control of his emotions. I hate to say this Jack and you may not agree but you and Trevino were a lot alike. Lee's chatty personality while playing was a tension reliever for him but once he took his stance he was all business. You were like that too but the difference was; a person could talk back to you.

And Jack Nicklaus knew that his father would roll over in his grave had Jack uttered any of the profanities we have heard from Tiger Woods. 

Jack would stick around to congratulate the winner of a tournament even if he didn't play particularly well. I never saw him storm off the course, get in his car and drive away without answering all the media questions even when I knew he was burning up inside.

Jack wins the Masters at age 46! Tiger won't have a spine left by the time he is 40 the way he swings!

Jack Nicklaus has my vote for greatest player of all time - right now. 

This

Normally, nine holes with his wife Pat is all he plays in a week. This time he was playing in a Thursday foursome with a group of golfers ranging in age from 70 to 90-plus and on the Par 3, 5th hole at Cove Cay Country Club in Clearwater, Florida, he scored his very first ace in his 60 years of playing golf. Swinging a five-iron from 110 yards away he had to rely on his golfing buddies to tell him his shot had gone in the hole. “I could tell it went on the green, (but) when we got up there I didn’t see it. I looked in the hole and there it was,” said Jean Gehring, one of his playing partners. For the past 10 years, Leo has had macular degeneration, no vision in his left eye and only peripheral vision in his right. 

Leo brushes the whole thing off as no big deal, even refusing to appear on the Jay Leno show, "I didn't want to fly," he said. On January 10th, the day he made his ace, he said it didn't excite him much, attributing his lack of emotion to old age. (I don't know about him, but personally, at age 92 I would be excited just to be swinging a club!) So he still can't understand why the rest of the world is making a big deal out of it.  A humble Leo comments, "When I get up to the green, I can barely see the ball, I'm just trying to hit the damn ball. I'm lucky to hit it." 

The story ran in the London Times, the New York Post, the Daily News, Sports Illustrated. Golf Digest and the Associated Press. He even turned down an appearance on Good Morning America, saying, "if they want to talk to me they can come here." His wife Pat says he settled down quickly enough, not wanting to take long trips because of his age. Fiyalko’s friends at Cove Cay CC presented him with a plaque to commemorate the feat.

 What does the Super Bowl and Tom Brady's foot have to do with Low Carb dieting or golf, you ask? Not a darn thing! This is just an opportunity for me as a resident of Scottsdale, Arizona (and as the owner of this site) to brag about what a great sports town Phoenix and her neighboring cities are. In less than one week from today the greatest football game of the year will be held in Glendale, Arizona at University of Phoenix Stadium, home of the (snake-bit) Arizona Cardinals. This year Arizona is providing new meaning to the term "Super Sunday", not only is that the day of the big game but just prior to kick-off and just a few miles to the east in Scottsdale, the PGA Pro's are putting the finishing touches on the final round of the FBR Open, a PGA TOUR event.  After a week of partying at the TPC Scottsdale, golf fans will be anxious to crown a new champion and get in front of the most gi-normous big screen TV they can find! I feel sorry for the fans if it turns out to be a sqeaker or, God-forbid, a playoff - because only the true, die-hard golf fan would remain - everyone else storming the exits to get home in time for coin toss.

 And just for the record, The FBR Open at the TPC Scottsdale always sets PGA TOUR attendance records (mostly by breaking their own) each year. (The secret if you want to know is; unlimited parking). It is the home of the infamous 16th hole, a delicate little Par 3 that Tiger Woods aced in his first FBR Open appearance. What a year that was (1997), the fans were salaming Tiger and tossing their beers into the fairway in tribute. And that was before the stands resembled those of the Roman Colliseum, lining the length of the hole and around the tee box, sort of a stadium within a stadium. Deane Beaman, you are a genius!

As if a Super Bowl and the final round of a wildly popular PGA TOUR event on the same weekend werent enough, Scottsdale is also host city to the first Super Skins Celebrity Golf Classic on February 2 hosted by Nick Lachey and NASCAR'S Jimmy Johnson. All the stories I read by press time quoted Jenna Fryers article in the AP which was a nice fluffy little piece but declined to disclose a location (golf course) for the event or which of our fine golfing celebs would be playing. I know a couple of choices I would make; Sean Connery, Joe Peschi, Clint Eastwood for sure. Bill Murray will be finished clowning around at the TPC Scottsdale Silver Pro-Am by then so he will probably be there.  Nick Lachey, the former Mr. Jessica Simpson, and Jimmy Johnson of NASCAR fame are hosting the first of three contracted events held in Super Bowl locations. The AP story details how NASCAR star Johnson had broken his wrist last December clowning around on top of a golf cart and how embrarassing it was but that the event is a great way to get friends together to raise some money for charity. Each hole will be worth $20,000.00 but both Nick and Jimmy declined to be interviewed for this article nor would they disclose the route the celebs will take for the short trip from Scottsdale to Glendale for the Super Bowl on Sunday. As of this writing flight plans had not been filed.

So, with all this cool stuff going on, culminating on the Sunday of Super Bowl XLII, which I am predicting will be one of the greatest Super Bowls' ever played - I hereby - by the power invested in me as Scottsdale's #1 Golf Fan, former ABC Sports Golf Spotter, charter member of the Scottsdale Golf Packager's Hall of Fame, Scottsdale Golf Industry Insider and a player of some notoriety himself - proclaim that Sunday February 2, 2008 will be forever known as SUPER DUPER SUNDAY. Remember, NFL Films and Steve Sabol, I said it first!

Pat's by 3.