Balls, Sticks, & Stuff | Phillies, Eagles, golf and other matters of great importance...

Up the Creek

As the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion approaches, there will be a lot of focus on the history of golf in Philadelphia.  To that end, a group of local men who met on a golf architecture message board are leading an effort to restore Cobbs Creek G.C.

Among the interesting little known facts I learned from the article:  the driving range on City Ave, adjacent to Cobbs Creek, was once an anti-aircraft battery that was meant to protect Philadelphia from Soviet attacks.

A Cathedral of Green

Somewhere, I heard some talking head say that today was designated as a National Day of Prayer.  According to Wikipedia, the National Day of Prayer is "a day designated by the United States Congress as a day when all Americans regardless of faith are asked to come together and pray in their own way."

Getting the gist, I decided that "in their own way" was the most important part.  Below is where I spent my day, meditating, if you will.

With Tiger Woods, The Shirt Matches the Phone

Tom Goodman, who to the best of my knowledge has ever swung a golf club in anger, had perhaps the best opinion of Tiger Woods after his recent victory at Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill tournament, sinking a 24-foot birdie putt on the final hole to do so:

I'll tell you what.... If that famous red phone rings in the White House at 3AM I want Tiger Woods to answer! Has there ever been a cooler head in the public eye? Has there ever been a more dominant athlete especially when on considers he is taking on all comers from all continents, 100 percent of whom are playing three opponents simultaneously: the course, themselves and Tiger? We are witnessing a once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon.

Tiger's reaction to the win [see photo here] has this golfer thinking this could be the year Tiger wins the Grand Slam -- winning the Masters, U.S. Open, British Open, and PGA Championship all in one year.  The feat has not been accomplished since 1930 when Bobby Jones did it and even then, the four tournaments were different than they are now.

For Tiger to get so excited over something he's done 63 times before -- win a PGA Tour event -- it shows his inner drive is at a higher level than any before.

Is that a version of Tiger Woods that any one of us should bet against?

Tigerade and the 33-Year Old Rookie

You have to question the wisdom of people who market products for a living.  Somehow, they think I'm influential and they send me books, videos, product samples, etc. to review.  A lot of it, I have to admit, I don't pay a lot of attention to, but when something comes along I really do think readers will be interested in, I try pass it on.  You know, because I'm influential. [It's hard to type while my tongue is inserted so deeply into my cheek.]

At any rate, two things have recently come to my attention.  First is Chris Coste's new book, The 33-Year Old Rookie.  The folks at Random House were kind enough to send me an advanced copy and if you are a baseball fan, or just a fan of real-life characters who display persistence, then Coste's book is for you.  Incidentally, a BS&S.com interview with Chris Coste is in the works, so stay tuned [update:  Interview can be found here].  In the meantime, you can buy the book here.

The second product that's come to my attention is Gatorade Tiger.  It's a version of Gatorade specifically tuned to Tiger Woods' tastes and rehydration needs.  A lot of people look at golf and roll their eyes and think, "how much goes a golfer need to rehydrate".  Well, first of all, spending 5 hours in the July sun doing next to nothing will require rehydration, but then throw in striking a golf ball with a full swing 50 to 70 times, depending upon your skill level, and you'll realize just how important it is.

In an effort to get the word out about the drink's launch, the folks marketing the new sport drink sent me a video highlighting the testing that Tiger underwent during the development.  Probably the most impressive thing about the footage is Tiger exercising.  He's a beast.

Hope Springs Eternal

Sure, there might be more original headlines, but none capture the essence of today any better.

In case you haven't heard, pitchers and catchers reported today.  Couple that with the fact that some 100% natural sunlight fell across the Delaware Valley bringing mild temperatures, and only the scroogiest of people wouldn't have an extra spring in their step.

So maybe I'm getting a little caught up in the moment, but at this very moment, I believe that this summer...

...The Phillies will successfully defend their National League East title.

...Cole Hamels will pitch an entire season without an injury.

...Chase Utley will be the third Phillie in a row to win the National League MVP.

...My handicap will go down after a rather abrupt spike last year.

...Beer will taste colder and better than ever before.

...Ryan Howard will hit .300.

...Tom Gordon has one more bullet left in the chamber and Jamie Moyer has one more arrow in his quiver.

...My daughter will be entranced with her surroundings while attending her first ballgame.

I really do believe all of the above will happen.  Perhaps my head is in the fluffy white clouds floating in the crisp blue sky outside my window, but right now, I think all of the above are stone cold locks.

As cold as something can be on a warm day like today.

Kelly Tilghman Deserves Better

If you've set your tuner to Comcast's Golf Channel at any point over the past ten or so years, chances are one of the faces looking back at you was Kelly Tilghman's.

Tilghman's hard work up the Golf Channel ladder was likely due in part to the lessons learned from an upbringing in sports.  The Tilghman family owned and operated the Gator Hole Golf Course in Myrtle Beach, S.C. and before playing on the Duke University Women's Golf Team, Kelly was the point guard on her North Myrtle Beach High state champion girl's basketball team and before that she was the starting quarterback on the local pee-wee football team.

After earning her degrees in history and political science at Duke, Tilghman kicked around some of the women's tours in Europe, Australia, and Asia before turning to broadcasting in 1996. Tilghman started at the Golf Channel shortly thereafter, hired to work in the video library after having sent an audition tape to Scott Van Pelt, who was on-air at the network at the time.  Of course, Tilghman was hoping for a better gig than the video library, but she took it, worked hard, and eventually was the face associated with nearly every Golf Channel show of note -- "Grey Goose 19th Hole", "Golf Academy Live", and "Golf Central".

For the 2006 PGA Tour season, the Golf Channel was awarded the rights to broadcast tour events.  Nick Faldo was brought on to do the color analysis, but someone was still needed to do play-by-play.  Naturally, they turned to their star utility player, Tilghman.  In choosing her, she became the first woman to be the lead announcer on a golf broadcast and one of the few to hold such a status in any sport.

Despite her attention to detail, her jovial relationships with players, and her interest in innovative Shotlink statistics, Tilghman's work was met surprisingly mixed reviews.  As usual, she persevered and worked hard.  With two seasons under her belt, Tilghman and the dry-witted Faldo embarked upon a third season in January.

Now, Tilghman wishes those mixed reviews were all she had to worry about.  Last Friday at the Mercendes Championships in Hawaii, when discussing with Faldo the prospects of success that young pros have today given the dominance of Tiger Woods, Tilghman joked that perhaps today's up and coming players should take Tiger and "lynch him in a back alley."

The remark was not the best choice of words for sure and after some brief criticism, the Golf Channel apologized, Tilghman apologized publicly and to Tiger personally -- the two are good friends -- and Tiger's representation labelled the incident a "non-issue".

The incident appeared as if it might fade away until Al Sharpton -- who never saw a camera or microphone he didn't like -- went on CNN and demanded for Tilghman to be fired [video].  Knowing golf's tendency to come down on broadcaster's who choose to make quesitonable comments, Sharpton sensed blood in the water and escalated the dying issue, making it his cause du jour, until something better comes along.  Three hours later, the Golf Channel issued a statement that they were suspending Tilghman for two weeks.  Perhaps they could have issued another statement that their spines were technically made of Jello.

Sharpton is nothing more than a bully and a thug, and the powers-that-be at the Golf Channel shrunk in his presence, making Tilghman another notch in his lengthy belt, emboldening him for when he takes on his next target.  What's worse, he's enabled by the need for cable news networks to entertain rather than inform.

With any luck for Tilghman, while she is on her forced vacation, some other unfortunate soul will make an innocent mistake on the air and Sharpton can focus his sights on that person, leaving Tilghman to get back to doing her job and working harder than anyone else.

If the Golf Channel capitulates one additional inch, this is one avid golfer that will never turn his tuner to the network again.  As it is, I won't be tuning in until Tilghman returns.

[photo credit: Fred Vuich/Sports Illustrated]

Woods vs. Smoltz

Bored with beating the best golfers in the world tournament after tournament, Tiger Woods has decided to take on Hall of Fame caliber pitcher John Smoltz of the Atlanta Braves.

Apparently, the two have a "friendly" wager where Smoltz, an excellent golfer in his own right, gets one point for every win he garners on the pitcher's mound while Woods gets three points for every tournament win.

For those of you scoring at home, Woods' win at the PGA Championship on Sunday was his fifth win of the year (thirteen events played), giving him 15 points on the year, while Smoltz has won 10 games (22 starts).

It's probably safe to say that Woods will win at least once more this year, which means he'll probably get to 18 points.  This means for Smoltz to win the bet, he'll have to reel off 8 wins in his remaining ten or so starts.

No word on what is at stake in the friendly wager, but it looks like Smoltz is likely going to have to pony up.

Link: Tiger Woods Inspires Smoltz (AJC.com)

Linkology, vol. XXXII

For more recommended links for reading/surfing, visit the Linkology page.

On Monday, there was an incredibly interesting article on the benefits Barry Bonds receives from the body armor he wears on his elbow.  It's not just protection.  The entire discussion and debate is here: 1, 2, 3. [hat tip]

Profiled in yesterday's Inquirer, Phillies fan Tim Riley is heading to every minor and major league stadium this season for charity.  That's quite the sacrifice, I think I might try and play golf every day for charity. [In all seriousness, it's a great idea and a great cause, good luck Tim!]

As of today, the Phillies have a 34.4% chance of making the playoffs.  There's a ton of scenarios under which it can happen.

Tiger Woods first golf course design project in America will be near Asheville, North Carolina.

For today's start of the PGA Championship in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the heat index will be 105.  Might want to have some Gatorade.

Jim Tryon takes some great photos at Citizens Bank Park.  Here are two of one of Ryan Howard's home runs on Tuesday night against the Marlins.  First, second.

Finally, the Connie Mack Chapter of the Society of American Baseball Research (SABR) had an announcement in their newsletter that I want to pass on:

A very generous offer has been made by one of our local members Dan [surname withheld for privacy].  Dan has approximately 100 baseball reference publications (guides, TSN record books, Who's Who in Baseball, etc.) that he would like to put in the hands of a young SABR member interested in research. These are not intended for collectors nor are they being offered for someone to sell.  Dan would like to see someone get a good start with his/her research reference collection and would like to give them all to one person.

If anyone has an interest, I'll pass on the contact information.

Finchem Not to be Confused with Selig

Over the course of the last two years, the PGA Tour has been formulating a policy to begin testing players for performance enhancing drugs [see "Tour Readies Policy" in sidebar].

Observers may question the concept, wondering what steroids could possibly do to give a player a leg-up in a sport where eye-hand coordination is everything and brute force means little.  As a matter of fact, the case can be made that the side effects of performance enhancing drugs would be detrimental to success on tour.  To play well, a person's personality must be very evenly-keeled, not getting too excited about a birdie and not getting too depressed about a bogey, and if you've witnessed the mood swings of Barry Bonds -- remember that rambling, depressed, and paranoid interview he gave while out with an injury a few years ago? -- you know that those side effects are real.  An example can even be found on right tour in John Daly.  While Daly certainly isn't taking steroids or HGH, his performance is often hampered by mood swings brought on by other chemical distillations.

In the end, the PGA Tour's testing policy would be all about perception and a little bit about prevention.  Golf has always had a squeaky clean reputation and deservedly so.  The players aren't involved in dog fighting or "stroke-shaving" and except for Gary Player, no one seriously thinks anyone is juicing.  And that's the point, Tim Finchem, the tour's commissioner, wants to keep it that way.  He doesn't want to be the next Bud Selig, viewed as the executive that fiddled while Rome burned.

Decades ago, it was considered foolish for baseball players to lift  weights, it was thought that the added bulk would only limit flexibility and prevent athletic movement.  We've seen that was not the case and the bulked-up batter has done more to change the face of baseball than anything since the Dead Ball Era.  Similarly, golf was thought to be a sport where muscles were not helpful, but have you seen Tiger Woods lately?  Dude's ripped.  While power isn't everything on tour, there's no doubt it's becoming more important.  The idea to test players is nothing more than heading a problem off at the pass.

Make no mistake, there's no drug-problem on the PGA Tour, they're just keeping it that way.

Heck, if anything is juiced, it's the ball.

Utley's Netflix Que and Other Notes...

...Tiger Woods has Steve Williams.  Chase Utley has Kevin Camiscioli.

If it's the first game of a series, he might watch two hours of video beforehand. He will watch about 45 minutes before the remaining games in the series.  [...]  Then as soon as the game is finished, Utley will head back into the video room to review his at-bats.

Link: Utley gets boost from hit movies | Inquirer | 07/24/2007.

...General manager Pat Gillick expects to be a buyer at the trade deadline, but seems to be staying even-keeled about what is presently available.

...Chris Coste hit .328 in 198 at-bats last season.  This season, he's hitting .324, albeit through only 37 at-bats.  He's played in nine games this month, while Rod Barajas has played in just four.

...Sergio Garcia is a sore loser.  Speaking of sore, in a sport where players lose with grace and dignity every week, Garcia stands out like a sore thumb.  It's like he's spitting on centuries of tradition.