British Open Quiz: What are the 8 courses commonly defined as
the “rota”? Answer below.
Stuff
–Last weekend, Dan Dillon caught a record bluefin tuna off the
coast of Delaware that weighed in at 873 pounds and was 9 feet 7
inches long. It took a power saw “and monster knives” to slice it
up, more than 500 pounds worth that was then placed in dozens
of plastic bags, cut into steaks the size of dinner plates.
Normally, Dillon would have received $6 to $20 a pound for his
catch since bluefins’ bellies are prized for “buttery toro sushi,”
but the charter boat captain who took Dillon and his friends out
doesn’t have a federal permit to sell bluefin, so Dillon was forced
to eat it.
Ann Gerhart of the Washington Post wrote a great piece on this
story and she explains that Dan’s wife, Claire, wasn’t exactly
ecstatic over the prospect of so much tuna in her house. She had
been at their vacation place a few days and when she returned the
entire place smelled of the stuff. It’s been a struggle giving it all
away and this past Saturday night there was to be a giant tuna
grill at their home in Herndon, Virginia.
–Mei Xiang gave birth to a panda cub at the National Zoo on
Saturday, Mei Xiang being a Giant Panda herself. [Just thought I
better make this clear.] But the last five pandas born at the zoo
died so hopefully we have better luck with this one. You can
attempt to get a look through the zoo’s web cam…
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/GiantPandas. Actually, I just
checked it out and spent some time staring at the elephants
instead.
–Uh oh, in Destin, FL, as part of the preparation for Hurricane
Dennis, 100 alligators, long an attraction at Fudpucker’s
restaurant, were taken from their retention pond and placed in a
spare room inside the restaurant. This could spell trouble,
especially if they have access to conference room amenities such
as the ability to display power point presentations. You give
these guys the tools and there’s no telling what kind of damage
they can cause later.
–Mark R. alerted me to the story of the 450 sheep that killed
themselves by jumping off a cliff in Turkey for no apparent
reason. [Over 1,000 others survived because they landed on their
compatriots.] I’m guessing the sheep had just watched “Ishtar,”
movies taking a while to be released in these parts.
–Well, the following is no laughing matter if you’re a harbor
seal, that’s for sure. Six killer whales, two females and four
calves, have been hanging out longer than normal in Puget Sound
(Seattle) before heading up to Southeast Alaska to hit the bars
and discos. It seems that the orcas are feasting on the seals, like
try 600 of them! Yes, according to the AP and local officials,
what was once a population of 1,200 seals appears to have been
halved and it’s not like the local residents are harboring them, if
you’ll pardon the pun, because no one would ever let one of
these incredibly smelly mammals into their home. The seals,
though, are clinging to the waters edge, knowing of the danger
that awaits them. But since White Castle won’t serve them, they
are forced at some point to head back in to eat.
–On Saturday, I took LT’s 10-year-old son, Chris, to Monmouth
Park here in New Jersey for some racing action. Yes, as Johnny
Mac always says, it’s never too soon to teach our youth how to
play the ponies. We stayed for the first five races and here is a
re-cap of the action.
“It’s a beautiful day for racing, folks. Friday’s heavy rain is but
a memory, but it does mean there will be no turf action today.
[Boooo Booooo] Oh, shut up.
“Chris and I were sitting on the benches out front, with
simulcasting of other venues behind us. It was a good hour
before post-time for the first race and I heard an announcement
to stand for the national anthem…so we did, along with like
three other folks. Then about twenty minutes later we stood for
the anthem again because, as it turns out, the first time we were
standing for the anthem at Belmont Park.
“OK, now for your race action. [The quotation marks are for
extra added effect. Makes me feel like a real reporter, know
what I’m sayin’?] Understand that I set the rules here. Chris and
I only bet on one horse each to win…none of this place or show
crap. We were going all the way, looking to meet mortgage
payments, in my case, and a DVD or two in Chris’s.
“In the first, I went with Go Dancing Go and Chris selected
Reckless Miss. But mine went off at 33-1 and Reckless Miss
was 31-1. Ya know, race fans, when the odds are going in the
direction of 12-1 to 33-1 in the last few minutes before post-time,
it’s normally not a good thing and we duly finished in the last
two slots.
“In the second, I reversed course, having listened to the track’s
handicapper over the public address system. Yes, I put my
money on Greg’s Syrah, while Chris selected Fleet Feet Pete.
Ahem…I won, a whopping $3.40 on $2.
“In the third, Chris selected War Paint, a quality name, while I
went with Country Joe (I would have extended the name to
Country Joe and the Fish, of course). Alas, in this five-horse
field we took 2nd and 3rd. Chris, discouraged, opted for a second
slice of pizza.
“In the fourth, Chris went with Nobucksfortuck as I picked Buc
Fan, in honor of my Pittsburgh friends and the Pirates. I have to
admit, I kind of wanted to go with Bachelor’s Gulch and
wouldn’t you know it, the freakin’ Bachelor won the damn thing.
Chris, meanwhile, realized too late that ”Nobucks…” meant ”No
bucks.”
“In the fifth and final race for us, I had a surefire pick,
Saturnalia. It was the daughter of a Derby winner, after all,
Charismatic (’99). Chris went with the favorite,
Faithwillbrewarded. [He likes these one word horses. I can’t
stand them because it takes me a while to read them, since I’m
not as sharp as I once was.] Faithb was the odds-on favorite…
and it finished dead last. Saturnalia didn’t win, that’s all I
remember.”
So in the end, we were 1 for 10 and had to scrounge coins from
our fellow railbirds just to make it home. I mean have you seen
the cost of gas?
In all seriousness, it’s a great thing to do with kids and I have to
commend Monmouth Park. All the workers there were super
friendly, no attitude issues. Frankly, that’s refreshing in these
parts. And Preakness / Belmont winner Afleet Alex is slated to
race here in August (the Haskell on the 7th) so if you’re in the
area, check it out. [The Travers on the 27th of August, up in
Saratoga, is also on the calendar for this great one.]
–Here’s some stuff I didn’t know….courtesy of the Daily Racing
Form. I always wondered how they divided up the pie, say for a
$100,000 race.
The owner gets 60%…$60,000. 10% of that then goes to the
trainer and 10% to the jockey.
The jockey then pays the agent 25% (so $1,500) and the valet
gets 5-10%.
2nd place gets 20%, 3rd place gets 12%, 4th place 5%, and 5th
place 3%.
Of course most of the races at your average track are $15,000
claiming races. In other words, it isn’t easy being successful.
[Like the valet would receive $3.75 from the jockey of a horse
that finished 4th in this example. Then again, that’s more than we
made!]
–There are 6,000 entrants at $10,000 a pop at the World Series
of Poker, currently being played out at the Rio hotel and casino
in Vegas. When it wraps up on July 16, the winner will walk
away with $7.5 million. Unreal. Each of the nine finalists will
be guaranteed at least $1 million, which was the first prize as
recently as 1999.
–From wire reports and USA Today:
“The body of rabid Pittsburgh Steelers fan James Henry Smith
was laid out this week in what his family said was his favorite
spot – a recliner with the Steelers on the television.
“Smith, 55, of Pittsburgh died Thursday of prostate cancer.
Because his death wasn’t unexpected, his family was able to plan
ahead for the unusual viewing Tuesday night.
“Mourners stood before a small stage erected in the viewing
room, where funeral director Roland Criswell had placed
furniture much as it was arranged in Smith’s home on game day.
“Smith’s feet were crossed; a pack of cigarettes and a six-pack of
beer were at his side. A continuous loop of Steelers highlights
was playing on a TV nearby, as Smith was reclined with a
television remote in his hand and a Steelers blanket across his
legs.”
Geezuz. Imagine if the channel suddenly changed.
–Texas Rangers pitcher Kenny Rogers apologized for being a
jerk when he hit and shoved two cameramen, thus making him a
candidate for Bar Chat “Dirtball of the Year.”
“I’ve been around this game for over 20 years. I prepare myself
every day to control my emotions and act accordingly. In this
instance, I failed miserably.”
Yikes, what a miserable life he’s led, wouldn’t you agree?
Imagine getting up each morning of your life and thinking, OK, I
will control my emotions…I will control my emotions…I will
control my emotions…Police should notify neighbors as he
moves around the country the next few decades.
–The IOC dropped softball and baseball as Olympic sports as of
the 2012 London Games, the first events to be cut in 69 years.
Baseball was nixed because the best athletes didn’t participate
(whereas in badminton and curling they do, I guess is the logic).
Softball was said not to have a broad enough appeal. Personally,
the Olympics should be limited to track and field, swimming,
hockey, basketball, soccer and skiing. The rest is all contrived
………and here come the e-mails!!!!
–Final vote on the 2012 Summer Games
Round 1
London 22
Paris 21
Madrid 20
New York 19
Moscow 15….see ya
Round 2
Madrid 32…surprised?
London 27
Paris 25
New York 16…see ya
Round 3
London 39
Paris 33
Madrid 31…see ya
Round 4
London 54
Paris 50…see ya
–Former New York Yankee / Baltimore Oriole and two-time
All-Star Paul Blair on Barry Bonds and the thought of him
breaking Hank Aaron’s home run record.
“It’s just not fair. Hank did his (record) on all natural ability.
Now you can’t say that anymore. It’s just a shame (players) had
to resort (to steroids) to try and better themselves instead of
doing it nature’s way….
“It’s not fair for somebody to be on steroids that are going to
enable you to be strong from Day 1, Opening Day, to the end of
the season. From 1961 to ’94, you had a few guys hit 50 home
runs. Then after the strike (’94), everybody hits 50. Now they
make steroids illegal and nobody hits 50.”
Asked if baseball’s stricter drug-testing policy adopted earlier
this year was satisfactory, Blair replied emphatically, “No.”
[Christian Red / New York Daily News]
–Sam Walker of the Wall Street Journal had a story in Friday’s
paper titled “The Curse Inversed” about Bonds and the Babe.
“On July 14, 2003, almost exactly two years ago, Mr. Bonds
spoke to reporters in Chicago before the All-Star game. The
following day, this remark about the Babe appeared in
newspapers around the country: ‘…as a left-handed hitter, I
wiped him out. That’s it. And in the baseball world, Babe
Ruth’s everything, right? I got his slugging percentage, and I’ll
take his home runs, and that’s it. Don’t’ talk about him no
more.’”
Bonds had come into the All-Star game having homered in five
consecutive games. He was up to 643 total.
“But almost immediately after making his crack about Ruth, bad
things started happening to Barry Bonds.
“One month later, in August, his father, Bobby, lost a battle with
cancer. In September, as part of a steroids probe, federal agents
raided the home of his personal trainer, and the offices of
BALCO…By October, Mr. Bonds had hit only 15 more home
runs, and when the Florida Marlins eliminated the Giants from
the postseason in four games, he only managed to contribute two
hits. Two weeks later, Mr. Bonds was subpoenaed by a federal
grand jury.”
Of course 2004 involved all the allegations over his use of
steroids. He was walked a record 232 times. There were
published accusations from his mistress. And then three separate
knee surgeries. Yes, the Curse of the Bambino lives. Light a
candle.
–Mid-season for baseball and we make note of the surging
Houston Astros, now 44-43 after taking 15 of their last 17. I also
have to hand it to Cleveland, suddenly 47-41, and Oakland,
hanging in there for the wild card at 44-43. But assuming Johan
Santana regains his 2004 form, my pick for the Series this year,
Minnesota, will still be there come end of October. As for my
Metsies, anyone want Braden Looper? Please?
–I took the weekend off from watching golf, except for the last
few holes of the Seniors’ event. Can’t get too fired up over the
John Deere Classic, you understand. But it turns out the PGA
event was kind of special as Sean O’Hair won his first tourney.
Great story, if you know the details of his miserable childhood
thanks to a crazy golf dad.
And Jason Gore, of U.S. Open fame, took the Nationwide event.
I have to tell you, I really thought Gore was a one-week wonder.
Good for him. It would be great to have him back on the big
tour.
For the archives, and back to the John Deere, Michelle Wie
failed to make the cut as she teed it up in her third men’s event.
Wie choked big time, losing three shots on the last four holes to
miss the cut by two.
–Boy, did Hurricane Dennis jerk us around or what? Yoh,
Dennis, nice identity crisis. First you’re a Category 4, then you
cross Cuba, suck in the commie air, and emerge on the other side
as a Cat 1. Then you hit the warm waters of the Gulf and get
back up to a Cat 4. The folks at the Weather Channel were
pumped at this point. Dr. Greg Forbes whipped out a shocking
pink shirt. [Kind of made me wonder about the good doctor,
know what I’m sayin’?] Dr. Steve Lyons pulled out his best,
drab outfit. Sarah Libby made love to the camera, just like they
teach you in broadcasting school. [The fact that she talks way
too fast and gets ahead of the teleprompter is beside the point.]
So now you know what I did Saturday night. And bottom line,
Dennis fizzled out. But at least for about 48 hours it was a good
break from London and Iraq.
–Actor Fred Savage turned 29. No word on the whereabouts of
Winnie Cooper.
–We note the passing of Ray “Stingray” Davis, bass vocalist for
the Parliaments of Parliament-Funkadelic fame. Davis was a
rock on hits such as “Tear the Roof Off the Sucker (Give Up the
Funk),” “One Nation Under A Groove” and “Flash Light.” Born
in Sumter, S.C., Davis moved to Plainfield, N.J. in 1958. [Hey,
your editor was born in Plainfield that very same year!] Raised
on the sounds of 50s groups such as the Spaniels (who had the
best version of “Stormy Weather” by the way), Davis sang in
church choirs in Plainfield where he ran into George Clinton,
who would later front the Parliaments. The first hit for the group
was actually “( I Wanna) Testify,” before they morphed into
Parliament and Funkadelic. Davis later sang for the Temptations
in the mid-90s.
–Alert: HBO has another original sports production, “Mantle,”
that will be shown on Wednesday, July 13, at 9 PM ET / 8 C.
Catch it.
Top 3 songs for the week of 7/12/75: #1 “Love Will Keep Us
Together” (The Captain & Tennille) #2 “The Hustler” (Van
McCoy & The Soul City Symphony) #3 “Listen To What The
Man Said” (Wings)…#10 “I’m Not In Love” (10cc…. ‘Be quiet
…requesting quiet….requesting quiet……ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh’)
British Open Quiz Answer: OK, you could debate this, I
suppose, but the 8 courses commonly thought to be in the ‘rota’
are:
Royal Troon, Scotland
Royal St. George’s, England
Muirfield, Scotland
Royal Lytham, England
St. Andrews, Scotland
Royal Birkdale, England
Turnberry, Scotland
Carnoustie, Scotland
Now Carnoustie has only seen the Open three times since 1967
(last being in 1999) and Turnberry is no longer an automatic.
Yet some would say there is a ninth as Royal Liverpool makes a
return in 2006 after decades out of the picture (1967 being the
last time here).
And now for your exclusive British Open pick….Adam Scott!!!
[I’m going to keep going with this guy until he wins one.]
Next Bar Chat, Thursday.
