Tiger Woods is always going to be the story, and he knows that. On Golf.com, there is a tab dedicated to "Tiger Woods News." The problem is he still wants everything on his terms. When he first returned to Augusta in April, he could not emphasize enough how anxious he was to compete again, how good it felt to be out there again, and he was sure to shift all of the attention to golf itself. No outside factors, and as little an acknowledgment of his personal life's relevance to his game as he could muster. It was just about golf. He included the other players in that sentiment as well, saying he hoped, "the players can be left alone to focus on the Masters, not only this week, but going forward as well." But now that he has played to his worst career finish, he is more than willing to make it bigger than the game itself. Which is it?
He interrupts reporters and acts annoyed. He makes excuses, having blamed his equipment (switched putters for the Open Championship), his caddy (after the U.S. Open), and now his personal life. To be fair, he has taken ownership of his off-the-course behavior by saying he let fans and his family down. However, he did not learn the most important lesson from the whole ordeal: he cannot have complete control.
Whether in regards to just his golf game or other issues, Tiger can't change how he's covered or how he's perceived by making demands. He can do it by consistently being accountable and changing his behavior.
Shame on Brandon Phillips
His comments about his hatred for the Cardinals laid the ground work for one of the uglier brawls in recent memory. The visual of the fans leaning back in their seats because the players were smashed up against the backstop netting should make anybody who remembers Ron Artest and the 'Malice at the Palace' squirm. Clearly this was not as serious, but an unruly Reds fan absolutely could have punched a Cardinal player in the head (or worse). We should not pretend that's such a reach.
There is gamesmanship and there is trash talk. Phillips' comments were centered around the "moaning and complaining" of the Cardinals, an allusion to Tony LaRussa accusing the Reds of doctoring slick baseballs and then having the umpires check Bronson Arroyo's cap for a sticky substance. That is gamesmanship, and it happens in baseball. Phillips could have responded with some real trash talk, and any Reds fan would likely have been happy to have somebody call out the Cardinals coaches. But let's be clear: to repeatedly say "I hate them" makes him sound like a 7 year old, and to call them all "b*tches" is "trash talk" more suited for a high school locker room. Read his full comments here.
Many reporters and sports talking heads think that baseball needs this kind of rivalry: one where the teams truly hate each other, because it makes for great drama. There is no denying the excitement and great moments that can come from a true rivalry. Just not like this.
The 'Big Shamrock' comes through again
Who else is excited for Shaquille O'Neal to be a commentator after his career is over? Shaq himself alluded to his future career in talk radio after announcing his new nickname: "The Big Shamrock." Add that to the list of great self-given nicknames for the Diesel. Pair him with a fairly centered personality, like TNT has done with Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith, and it should be great entertainment. In the mean time, who knows how much he's got left in the (large) tank? One thing is for certain. The Celtics have two stand-outs on the 'all cheeseburger team' with him and Glen 'Big Baby' Davis.
Links to good reads around the Web
1. Patting myself on the back for this one: http://www.denverpost.com/rockies/ci_15725606
2. Broncos Training Camp postcard: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/don_banks/08/10/broncos.postcard/index.html?eref=sihp
3. A closer look at the Silva v. Sonnen battle from UFC 117: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/josh_gross/08/10/ufc.117.notes/index.html?eref=sihp
4. Rick Reilly checks in from the World Sauna Championships: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=5451867
5. Thoughts on the Ole' Miss signing of Jeremiah Masoli: http://msn.foxsports.com/collegefootball/story/NCAA-investigations-border-on-hypocrisy
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