PGA Quiz (the last Major is this coming weekend): 1) Who are
the only two to win five PGAs? 2) Name the two who won
multiple Masters and British Opens, but never won the PGA. 3)
What brother duo each won one PGA? 4) Name the 1964
winner, initials B.N. 5) Who was the only golfer to win two PGAs
in the 1980s? Answers below.
**Folks, it was a busy weekend so you’ll have to forgive me for
the light ‘chat’ this time. But your editor, crappy golfer that I
am, won two matches in my club’s crappy golfer tournament!
Boy, I love the game of golf but I’m the world’s worst that has
played as much as I have. But you’d be proud of me, sports fans,
because I’m now in the finals and will dedicate my next
effort to all the lousy golfers in the world who dream of being at
least 10 strokes better.
And on Sunday night I left my garage door open. So I wake up at
3:00 AM after hearing a noise; thought nothing of it, went back to
sleep. Then I found out what the commotion was about. Paw prints
all over my car…but thankfully not a mountain lion. Just a
racoon.
—
PGA: Get ready, golf fans. This week’s event promises to be
special, but for maybe the wrong reasons. Any follower of the
sport has drooled over the pictures of Whistling Straits in Kohler,
Wisconsin ever since the Kohler’s (of faucet fame) built the
place. [The resort includes four courses and the only five-
diamond facility in the Midwest, the American Club.]
But there are many who believe the PGA will be a nightmare,
especially if the wind is up as the course is set up along Lake
Michigan. Some are already comparing it to Carnoustie, which
was a horror show the last time the British Open was held there.
Last year’s PGA champ Shaun Micheel calls Whistling Straits
the “most difficult course I’ve ever seen.”
Seven pros visited in June and even though conditions were tame
then, they were still terrified. As Sports Illustrated’s Chris Lewis
wrote, “Rich Beem called the course ‘bizarre’ and the narrow
landing areas ‘inane.’ A disbelieving Vijay Singh told
confidants that he hit three-iron approaches into four of the par-
4s. The players were especially worked up about the number of
blind tee shots, which, depending on the placement of the tees,
may number five. ‘There are some holes,’ says Chris DiMarco,
‘where you’re standing there thinking, Where the heck is the
fairway?’”
They thought Shinnecock was bad that last Sunday? Hah!
Another reason to watch the PGA is it’s the final tournament for
qualifying for the Ryder Cup team and with his 5th-place finish
this weekend at The International, suddenly 50-year-old Jay Haas
is back in the hunt, #10 in the points standings with the top ten
being automatic selections. That leaves two captain’s picks and I
was talking with my golf partners the other day and suggested
that John Daly, despite playing well this year, is not a good one.
The other three in the foursome vigorously disagreed. I’m sorry,
I just think his psyche is too fragile for the event and he can have
a detrimental effect on the other players on the team which is
vitally important. So we’ll see what Captain Hal Sutton decides.
Stuff
–More than 2,000 cooks will be doing their thing at the
Olympics, serving some 2 million meals to hungry athletes and
coaches. According to Runner’s World, that means:
6.6 million bottles of water; 3 million servings of soft drinks; 2
million cups of coffee; and 1 million glasses of milk. 363,000
poached, scrambled, fried and hard-boiled eggs. 1.3 million
Chicken McNuggets and 230,000 Big Macs. 700,000 apples and
650,000 bananas. 240,000 pounds of meat. 200,000 pounds of
chicken. 177,000 pounds of potatoes. 100,000 bowls of rice.
52,000 pounds of cheese. 25,000 loaves of bread, slathered with
18,300 pounds of butter.
Hey, what about the beer? I mean I know these athletes train a
lifetime for this one opportunity, but you still have to have your
beer, don’t you? Well?
–Runner’s World, a great publication, also listed seven
“indulgent foods that actually improve your health.”
Avocado, caviar, chocolate, lobster, milkshake, shrimp, wine.
Or you can use the Jack LaLanne juicer and throw them all in for
a unique and tasty treat.
And did you know that just one cup of fresh cantaloupe provides
over 100 percent of the Daily Value of vitamin A, 100 percent of
the DV of vitamin C, 50 percent of the DV of potassium and 10
percent of the DV of folate? Don’t say I’m never looking out for
you……….I bet Bill O’Reilly doesn’t give you this.
–Sports Illustrated had a few interesting items of note. The
average shoe size of the U.S. women’s foot has grown by one
(from 7 ½ to 8 ½) since 1986, an increase attributed to Title IX
and the boom in women’s athletics, according to the podiatry
school at Temple University. Playing sports stimulates bone
growth.
–And a South African soccer referee shot and killed a coach
during an argument over a call. Nothing that U.S. parents
haven’t done at little Johnny or Susie’s soccer or baseball game.
–Georgia’s men’s basketball program was placed on four years
probation thanks to the shenanigans at the school when Jim
Harrick was coach, the most egregious being academic fraud, as
chronicled in this space. We await Dick Vitale’s official word
on whether Harrick is still a good guy and if he got a bum deal.
–Hey, was it just my paper or was “Opus” not in the Sunday
comics this week?
–Congratulations to Cubs pitcher Greg Maddux who on
Saturday became the 22nd pitcher to win 300 games. Maddux is
now a spectacular 300-170 for his career and he became the 4th
youngest (at 38 years and 115 days) to attain the magic level.
The only others younger were Christy Mathewson, Walter
Johnson and Grover Alexander. But as Mike Vaccaro of the
New York Post commented on Maddux’s achievement, “can you
remember even one of (his wins)?” Nope, can’t say I do. It
should be noted, however, that if Maddux decides to continue for
another 2 ½ years, he could reach #10 all time, John Clarkson, at
327 wins.
–Wow…they say that soccer matches in Latin America have
started wars before, and they have, but did you see what
happened in Beijing on Saturday? It was the finals of the Asian
Cup and Japan beat China 3-1. The 2nd goal for Japan, though,
was highly controversial and replays showed it was a handball.
The home crowd became extremely hostile, throwing bottles on
the field and burning Japanese flags. About 2,000 of the 60,000
plus in attendance were Japanese supporters and police held them
for three hours after the contest to ensure their safety. [Think
World War II, in case you’re wondering what the problem was.]
–A Hoboken, N.J. landmark is about to be demolished, the
famous Clam Broth House. In its heyday, the 1950s, this was a
big hangout for the Mafia set, as well as a favorite of Marlon
Brando during the filming of “On the Waterfront.” I used to
frequent it in the early 1980s when it was on the slide, big time.
Amazing it lasted this long.
–Two quick NBA notes. New York / New Jersey fans will be
cheering for two Williamses this winter; Eric Williams signed
with the Nets and Jerome Williams was obtained in a trade
involving the Knicks and the Bulls. Both are hard working, blue-
collar types and will be instant favorites. But I’m pleased for
Eric because I’m friends with a good friend of his, which makes
me kind of like a double-secret friend, or something like that.
Anyway, I’m hoping my connection can fill me in on stuff from
time to time. Eric grew up in Newark and is an outstanding
citizen who is super-psyched he is coming home.
–But wait, there’s more. Your editor is also fired up about one
of the better feel-good stories in the NBA. Back in this space on
3/12/01, I wrote a blurb about a great Division III player out of
William Paterson University here in New Jersey, guard Horace
Jenkins. Well after playing in Europe for three years, the Detroit
Pistons just signed him to a guaranteed contract. I mean to tell
you, this kid is exciting. But get this, he’s really not a kid…he
turns 30! in October. Horace graduated from Elizabeth High
School in 1993 and attended Union County College (N.J.) for one
season. Then he dropped out, only to resurface at Wm. Paterson
in 1998.
Who got him there? A friend, coach Jose Rebimbas (who was on
the great Seton Hall squad under P.J. Carlesimo). I’m as fired up
for Jose as anyone. This is a terrific coach, and a better person,
who shepherded Jenkins through some tough times. And now
it’s paying off. Root for Horace this coming season.
–We note the passing of Rick James at age 56. James, unlike
Jenkins, blew the opportunities he had, literally, as he spent
$10,000 to $15,000 a week on cocaine in the years following his
attainment of superstardom thanks to funk hits like “Super
Freak” and “Give It to Me Baby.” [Did you know “Super Freak”
peaked at just #16 on the Billboard Pop Chart?]
–And Lacy Van Zant died. This was one special man, the father
of the Van Zant boys of Lynryd Skynryd fame, Ronnie and
Johnny. Lacy drove the band members all over the place, lent
them money and allowed the group to practice in his home. They
owe a ton of their success to him. [Son Donnie was a member of
.38 Special.]
–Boy, this is sad. A 13-year-old boy attending a summer camp
in New Hampshire was literally scared to death by a bear last
week. He was hiking with his counselor from Camp Hale when
the two came across a bear on Mount Doublehead. They ran, but
had to return to retrieve the boy’s shoe. Seeing the bear a second
time, the boy collapsed and died. The bear never chased them.
[AP]
–And then there is the tale out of St. John’s, Newfoundland that
Harry K. passed along. A 25-year-old actor, Andre Noble, may
have died after coming in contact with a poisonous plant.
According to the wire report, his family believes Noble ingested
monkshood sap when he went exploring on a small island.
“Coming into contact with the plant can cause respiratory failure
and cardiac arrest.”
Noble was a vegetarian so he was probably just giving it a try.
But the history of Monkshood is quite extensive. One report
notes, “During the Middle Ages, Monkshood was associated
with witchcraft…The English name derives from the cowl-like
shape of the flowers.”
A similar plant is Aconite, also rare but highly poisonous.
You’ve been warned.
–Two weeks ago I wrote of watching golfer Peter Jacobsen at
the British Senior Open. He had to drop out because his
surgically repaired hip was troubling him. But I mentioned he
was in the broadcast booth and sounded like he had been out all
night, and he indeed stated he was out until 4:00 AM in the pubs
of Portrush, Northern Ireland. So I saw a quote in this week’s
Sports Illustrated from Jacobsen, commenting on his
disappointment in not being able to play there.
“I had about 19 Guinnesses one night, and that made me feel
better.”
–Mike Vaccaro / New York Post: “After all these years, the
Mets finally got even for Ryan-for-Fregosi. In fact, Ty
Wigginton-for-Anna Benson might get them even for Amos
Otis-for-Joe Foy, too.”
–By the way, Mets fans, after a disastrous weekend it’s back to
“Mets suck.”
–Poor segue, but in case you live in the New York City area, the
memorial service for Mets broadcaster Bob Murphy is at 2:00
PM, Wednesday, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Open to the public.
–Mike Piazza has one home run since July 1st. We’re sick of
him. The team needed him to step up the last six weeks,
particularly in July, and he failed us. As I noted the other day,
now that the Mets have returned from a long road trip, the Shea
faithful will boo him unmercifully.
–Boston knuckleballer Tim Wakefield tied a major league record
when he gave up six home runs on Sunday to Detroit…but he
still won the game!
–Johnny Mac pointed out that through Saturday’s play,
Colorado’s Jeremy Burnitz was hitting .249 on the road and .345
at Coors Field. Need we say more? But here’s one for you.
Colorado’s Shawn Estes is 12-4…with a 5.77 ERA.
–Seattle”s Ichiro is on pace for 255 hits with 174 in 111 games.
The record is 257 by George Sisler, back in 1920, and no one has
hit the 250 mark since 1930.
–Look out…Mark R. reports that the Eagles Donovan McNabb is
in great shape this year.
–Jeff Gordon joined open-wheel drivers A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and
Rick Mears as the only 4-time winners at the Indy Motor Speedway
by winning this weekend”s NASCAR event there. Gordon now has
69 career victories…and he still finds the time to hit the gentlemen”s
clubs in New York. Gotta admire that.
–The great oil well firefighter Red Adair died at the age of 89.
I”ll have to do more on him next time.
–Harry K. related how when he was student at the University of
Toronto in the fall of ’69, the Animals were the absolute #1 party
soundtrack at their residence, Devonshire House.
“We had an Animals LP that we played until it wore out, and
then bought a new one to replace it. For our big parties, we
would hire some garage band for C$75 plus free beer (the
drinking age was 21 then, so that was a big inducement for
garage bands), and the first question was always, ‘Do you cover
any Animals tunes?’”
Harry also divulged some of the brethren’s antics, better than in
“Animal House” he claims, such as…..maybe I should hold off
on some of this, not knowing the statute of limitations in the
Great White North.
Top 3 songs for the week of 8/12/67: #1 “Light My Fire” (The
Doors) #2 “I Was Made To Love Her” (Stevie Wonder) #3 “All
You Need Is Love” (The Beatles)
PGA Quiz Answers: 1) Walter Hagen and Jack Nicklaus are the
only two to win five. [No one has four.] 2) Arnold Palmer and
Tom Watson are the only two who won multiple Masters and
British Opens, but didn’t win the PGA. 3) Brother duo, winners:
Lionel Hebert, 1957; Jay Hebert, 1960. 4) Bobby Nichols won
in 1964. He was actually very good and this wasn’t a fluke, like
some PGA winners are. 5) Larry Nelson won two in the 1980s,
the only one to do so.
Next Bar Chat, Thursday. Lots of Olympics tidbits.
