This weekend the British Open is being played at Carnoustie in England. The third of four Major Championships in golf is always interesting and unique in many ways, having been played longer than any other tournament. I guess so far the story this year has been that Eldrick has NOT won the first two Majors. It has gotten to where all golf fans believe he will win a tournament, and are disappointed when he doesn’t. Meanwhile, theguys who have won, Zach Johnson (Masters) and Angel Cabrera (U.S. Open) seem to be also-rans who fade off with almost no popularity whatsoever.
For those who market and promote the sport, namely the PGA Tour, this presents a huge dilemma in my opinion, even though Tiger himself is a great personality. Any tournament that Tiger does not play in seems to be of minor significance. We all know that Tiger won the British Open last year, on the heels of his father’s death, and it certainly was an emotional time for Mr. Woods. A lot has happened in the last twelve months for the guy, including marriage and the birth of his daughter. In the first twoMajors, he was in contention, but wasn’t able to finish things off. This shows that, while Tiger is indeed a fantastic player, there are many, many others who are good enough to beat him on any given day, yet they are unappreciated by the golfing public.
And so we shall see what happens at Carnoustie this weekend, with a strong international field of competitors. The course will be in good condition from the rain that has soaked the area, and the rough will be high, as we have always seen on the British courses.
The boys have a week off before they head towards Indianapolis, after Tony Stewart FINALLY won a race this year, in Chicago. Meanwhile, the HUGE story is what number will be on the car Dale Earnhardt, Jr. will drive in 2008, and what sponsor will be seen on that vehicle. It was announced this past week that Hendrick Motorsports has sponsors tied up for ’08, and that will prohibit Budweiser from keeping their ties to Dale, Jr.
Meanwhile, it also seems that DEI will be keeping the #8 for their own, unless a deal can be cut between Hendrick, DEI, and NASCAR for that digit. And so we might be seeing a totally different car for Dale Earnhardt, Jr next season, and that will mean a big, big change for his fans, which is something NASCAR is NOT used to, at all.
This weekend we will witness the American debut of David Beckham playing for his new club, the L.A. Galaxy of Major League Soccer. Beckham has been a huge star in Europe, playing for Manchester United, Real Madrid, and of course his home country of England in the World Cup. With his strong soccer skills, good looks and his trophy wife, Spice Girl, Victoria Beckham, he certainly brings a huge spark of interest into a sport that continues to strive for attention and acceptance in the United States.
While soccer certainly has increased its fans base in the USA, it is not nearly appreciated and idolized like it is around the world, as it is the most popular around the globe. It continues to feebly compete with MLB, the NBA, and the NFL. But David Beckham will certainly draw a spike of interest, without question, in the next few months, even from a curiosity standpoint. He will enhance the play of the Galaxy club in MLS, and bring more fans into stadiums wherever they play. The fact he is in Los Angeles, a city with no NFL franchise and plenty of paparazzi, helps quite a bit. And so we shall see what happens in the coming weeks, as Beckham and his mates showcase their talents.
Like most sports fans, I watch ESPN, which is a massive network operation I have tremendous respect for. But no one is perfect, and that includes the boys in Bristol, Connecticut. And so I will tell you that their awards show, known as the ESPY’s, are absolutely AWFUL! It is by far, and without question, the WORST awards program I have ever witnessed on television. Now, mind you, there have been heartfelt moments every year, where they do a good job in honoring someone who has overcome some sort of adversity to persevere and succeed. They are tearing-jerking moments. But in the overall scheme of what awards programs are nowadays, the ESPY’s are a total joke. The presenters are horrible in reading the telestrators. The writers are hideous in giving the athletes ridiculous lines to come out with.
It seems to be nothing more than an overblown chance for ESPN to bring together star athletes from all sports and give them a strange piece of cheap metal to tell them they did a good job, as if they cared. The whole thing is a complete mess, and the program needs to stop.
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EU Critic’s Choice Awards
