Dr. Thomas Hess pleaded guilty to Obstruction of justice in the death of LPGA Golfer Erica Blasberg yesterday in Las Vegas. For the details, see here: http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/doctor-erica-blasberg-suicide-pleads-guilty-obstruction/story?id=12287240
While I will not rehash the details of her death, there were some interesting developments that I took notice of.
1) The Blasberg family has made an appeal to the local county Board of Medicine to have Dr. Hess banned, removed, or sanctioned due to his alleged involvement in Erica’s death.
I was surprised that the family had to make this request and that the local board didn’t take it upon themselves to sanction Dr. Hess since it is undetermined that Erica was a patient (he was a family medicine doctor) but she had prescriptions from him in her home.
2) The Blasberg family will be seeking a civil suit against Dr. Hess for Erica’s Death.
This really got my attention. Not guilty verdicts have been overturned or been altered in civil trials as the actual physical act isn’t necessarily on trial (see: Simpson, O.J.). However, in doing so, all the evidence that the police seized from Dr. Hess’s home and office would have to be brought out in the open. The items reported like:
Computers: What do they expect to find there? Logs of prescriptions? Patient records? E-mails back and forth from Dr. Hess to Erica. If they had an “inappropriate” relationship, do you think her family really wants to read (and have the public read) their late daughters’ love letters? (If any) Do you think they even want to see Dr. Hess’s responses?
Cell Phone: Obviously they are looking for his sim card or other phone records, or text messages. I hope there aren’t any pictures or messages on there of the Greg Oden/Brett Farve variety. Potential to rub more salt in an already unrepairable wound.
Video Camera: Ok, this is the red flag for me. Hopefully this is just the police doing their due diligence. With all the “inappropriate” relationship mentions, I shutter to think would could be captured in video form, and what would be admitted as evidence. Does anyone want to see the graphic proof of that “relationship” if any exists? Could you imagine being in the courtroom with her parents when any or all of those images/videos are shown? That is not good. Hopefully there is nothing of consequence on the video….
White Plastic Trash Bags: She was found by authorities with a bag over her head. The coroner’s report agrees that she died of asphyxia, along with toxic levels of drugs in her system. Did Dr. Hess arrive on the scene with her trying to kill herself and help her finish the job? Were these the same kind of bag that they determined that she used to take her life? Did Dr. Hess use a bag himself to asphyxiate her in order to speed up the process (seeing that she was OD'ing)? I have not heard any report that he tried to revive her… wouldn’t that be your 1st instinct? At least check her pulse? Something? He called 911 from a phone and then left? How long was he there before he called 911? Was there something in the note that she left that named him? Ok, probably not as if there were, he would have been arrested…maybe.
I think you get my point though. With a pending civil suit, there might be a bunch of answers to our questions. The problem is, do we really need to have our questions answered? Could they possibly take away some of the good memories that her family and other have of her? If some lurid details come out of the trial, is that really what the family originally wanted? Obviously they want Dr. Hess to pay for his alleged involvement in Erica’s death. They have that right. The obvious thing is that none of this is going to bring Erica back. I just hope in the months moving forward that people continue to remember her and honor her memory as they knew her, not potentially as she may be portrayed by a defense attorney.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Sunday, November 28, 2010
How a definitive social media presence may have hurt a candidate’s chances for a Big Break.
Blogger and Social Media presence John Raser recently tried to become a member of the Golf Channel’s Big Break, a golf “reality” show which gives $$, prizes, equipment endorsement contracts, and most importantly entry fees and a sponsor’s exemption into a professional golf tournament (PGA, LPGA, Nationwide, Champion’s Tour, etc, etc) for the show’s winner. The thought behind the show is to give a “journeyman” rank and file golfer a chance to make it on the big stage, hence to give them their “big break”. The recruiting process is pretty straight forward- have a certified handicap of 0, or be a professional golfer trying to make it onto one of the major league tours. After an application and video submittal (showing that you can actually hit the shots and aren’t too ugly) the masses get shortlisted and whittled down and finally under Dept of Defense like secrecy, these candidates are whisked away to a exotic resort where they spend two weeks or so trying not to choke.
The majority of the series, pretty much involve no-bodies. I can’t actually say that I have heard of any of the candidates before the show- which is the point. Not having any friends (to this point) who are pro golfers, and not being exposed to the junior or college golf circuits I will go out on a limb here and say that I am like the majority of the people who watch this show.
(Full Disclosure: I don’t really watch the show religiously. I watched the 1st women’s show because it was held at a place I’ve played, and I tried to watch the season at PEI since I used to go there on vacation as a kid. Watched all of the Sandals Resort season since I’m getting into the golf industry- more on that below).
It is that lack of brand, and celebrity that the Golf Channel is looking for. When I saw on twitter that the Golf Channel asked him to apply, and that he had a facebook site established with the sole purpose of getting him selected- I took notice. With some of the recent shows, I saw that the Golf Channel is starting to move away from the early formula and get more…..ahem….tabloid? (for lack of a better term) This was an interesting development. Instead of selecting the cast based on golf and other need/performance factors, it seemed that the Golf Channel was starting to get all Real World on us. (Whereas every RW cast had certain “characters” which would stir the pot so to speak just because they put dissimilar personality types into situations where they cannot coexist.)
With the GC asking Mr. Raser to apply for the show, I was wondering what was going on. Usually, shows don’t “ask” people to apply unless they had a motive. Perhaps they are moving away from the formula of a “Big Break” since pretty much no alums have every seized on the opportunity. The most successful Big Break alum is Kristy McPhearson, who is a member of the LPGA. I doubt she owes any of her success to the show, but it is interesting to note that she did not win. Didn’t even come close to winning. The 2nd most successful alum (and most successful male) I think is Tommy “Two Gloves” Gainey. He has had some moderate success on the Nationwide Tour, but nothing yet on the PGA tour. Tommy didn’t win either. How can it be a true “big break” if the opportunity given is never seized or realized? That may be a reason for the shift in focus by the execs in Orlando (home of the Golf Channel).
Now, getting back to the case of John Raser. He is trying to get make it as a pro golfer, and has really taken hold of the social media environment to build himself a social media presence. Basically everything that everyone has been telling you to do- build your brand, find your voice, etc, etc. Or in other words, do everything that the Golf Channel is not looking for. With the BB probably the highest rated show they produce, why would the Golf Channel want to anger their sponsors? What? Really. If someone like a John Raser- social media savvy, has friends in the industry, etc, etc. wouldn’t you as a equipment/apparel/accessory manufacturer want to partner with him to have your wares shown off on the show? What is that putter he/she is using? Wow, I like that shirt/pant/hat/skort thingy… etc, etc. Again, everything that the GC has been trying to keep off the show. They closely control it so that is doesn’t morf into a running 60min commercial for other brands…. That don’t contribute to the show.
Another problem is security. With some many “friends” would it really be feasible to expect his selection to be kept a secret? How about the intervening months between the conclusion of the filming and the actual airing? If he won, could you actually expect all his also highly social media leveraged friends to keep quiet? Once “drunk” tweet or facebook post and there are some drastic penalties to be invoked. Again, too many loose ends. It almost makes me wonder why the Golf Channel asked him to apply in the 1st place.
Was all this a test? Was John Raser their lab experiment to see if what the response would be as more and more potential candidates in the future are going to be social media savvy? Were they expecting that when he got his notice of not being selected that he would post it on-line? Were they secretly hoping that he would so they could gauge the blowback (if any)? Other than a few also highly leveraged social media types showing their support for John (and distain for the Golf Channel) I don’t see any real repercussions for the Golf Channel. What would have happened if he did get selected? Would any of his friends blow his cover by wishing him luck on the show either via twitter or facebook? Would he announce it to the world? Would you “hear” rumors that he got selected- the typical “you didn’t hear this from me….but…”? Interesting questions that the Golf Channel didn’t have to answer when they first conceived the show’s concept. Will be curious to see what they do moving forward.
Basically, it seems the formula for being selected for the Big Break are:
Play Golf
Look better than you play (especially for the ladies) unless you have heaps of…personality or other intangibles.
Be someone most casual golf fans have never heard of.
Don’t be too viral.
Don’t know too many people already in the industry.
Be a free agent (no endorsements of any kind whatsoever).
Of course, this is just my ramblings as an observer. I am “consulting” for a start-up golf equipment company (again, more on this later). In this capacity, I needed to attend a Duramed (now LPGA) Futures Tour event in New Hampshire. This tournament coincided with the season of Big Break Sandals resort. Based on what I heard (so and so doesn’t like her) and saw (the icy stares on the range/putting green, patronizing or impersonal greetings, who hangs out with who) I could have told you who had won-several months in advance. It wasn’t tough to see. I told the CEO of the company that night that I have a strong hunch who one. Turns out I was right. One of these days, the secret is going to get let out of the bag before the Golf Channel is ready- which again, is going to be interesting as to how they handle it.
Of course all this could be one huge rope-a-dope. A little misdirection. If so, John, good luck on the show- you heard it here 1st.
The majority of the series, pretty much involve no-bodies. I can’t actually say that I have heard of any of the candidates before the show- which is the point. Not having any friends (to this point) who are pro golfers, and not being exposed to the junior or college golf circuits I will go out on a limb here and say that I am like the majority of the people who watch this show.
(Full Disclosure: I don’t really watch the show religiously. I watched the 1st women’s show because it was held at a place I’ve played, and I tried to watch the season at PEI since I used to go there on vacation as a kid. Watched all of the Sandals Resort season since I’m getting into the golf industry- more on that below).
It is that lack of brand, and celebrity that the Golf Channel is looking for. When I saw on twitter that the Golf Channel asked him to apply, and that he had a facebook site established with the sole purpose of getting him selected- I took notice. With some of the recent shows, I saw that the Golf Channel is starting to move away from the early formula and get more…..ahem….tabloid? (for lack of a better term) This was an interesting development. Instead of selecting the cast based on golf and other need/performance factors, it seemed that the Golf Channel was starting to get all Real World on us. (Whereas every RW cast had certain “characters” which would stir the pot so to speak just because they put dissimilar personality types into situations where they cannot coexist.)
With the GC asking Mr. Raser to apply for the show, I was wondering what was going on. Usually, shows don’t “ask” people to apply unless they had a motive. Perhaps they are moving away from the formula of a “Big Break” since pretty much no alums have every seized on the opportunity. The most successful Big Break alum is Kristy McPhearson, who is a member of the LPGA. I doubt she owes any of her success to the show, but it is interesting to note that she did not win. Didn’t even come close to winning. The 2nd most successful alum (and most successful male) I think is Tommy “Two Gloves” Gainey. He has had some moderate success on the Nationwide Tour, but nothing yet on the PGA tour. Tommy didn’t win either. How can it be a true “big break” if the opportunity given is never seized or realized? That may be a reason for the shift in focus by the execs in Orlando (home of the Golf Channel).
Now, getting back to the case of John Raser. He is trying to get make it as a pro golfer, and has really taken hold of the social media environment to build himself a social media presence. Basically everything that everyone has been telling you to do- build your brand, find your voice, etc, etc. Or in other words, do everything that the Golf Channel is not looking for. With the BB probably the highest rated show they produce, why would the Golf Channel want to anger their sponsors? What? Really. If someone like a John Raser- social media savvy, has friends in the industry, etc, etc. wouldn’t you as a equipment/apparel/accessory manufacturer want to partner with him to have your wares shown off on the show? What is that putter he/she is using? Wow, I like that shirt/pant/hat/skort thingy… etc, etc. Again, everything that the GC has been trying to keep off the show. They closely control it so that is doesn’t morf into a running 60min commercial for other brands…. That don’t contribute to the show.
Another problem is security. With some many “friends” would it really be feasible to expect his selection to be kept a secret? How about the intervening months between the conclusion of the filming and the actual airing? If he won, could you actually expect all his also highly social media leveraged friends to keep quiet? Once “drunk” tweet or facebook post and there are some drastic penalties to be invoked. Again, too many loose ends. It almost makes me wonder why the Golf Channel asked him to apply in the 1st place.
Was all this a test? Was John Raser their lab experiment to see if what the response would be as more and more potential candidates in the future are going to be social media savvy? Were they expecting that when he got his notice of not being selected that he would post it on-line? Were they secretly hoping that he would so they could gauge the blowback (if any)? Other than a few also highly leveraged social media types showing their support for John (and distain for the Golf Channel) I don’t see any real repercussions for the Golf Channel. What would have happened if he did get selected? Would any of his friends blow his cover by wishing him luck on the show either via twitter or facebook? Would he announce it to the world? Would you “hear” rumors that he got selected- the typical “you didn’t hear this from me….but…”? Interesting questions that the Golf Channel didn’t have to answer when they first conceived the show’s concept. Will be curious to see what they do moving forward.
Basically, it seems the formula for being selected for the Big Break are:
Play Golf
Look better than you play (especially for the ladies) unless you have heaps of…personality or other intangibles.
Be someone most casual golf fans have never heard of.
Don’t be too viral.
Don’t know too many people already in the industry.
Be a free agent (no endorsements of any kind whatsoever).
Of course, this is just my ramblings as an observer. I am “consulting” for a start-up golf equipment company (again, more on this later). In this capacity, I needed to attend a Duramed (now LPGA) Futures Tour event in New Hampshire. This tournament coincided with the season of Big Break Sandals resort. Based on what I heard (so and so doesn’t like her) and saw (the icy stares on the range/putting green, patronizing or impersonal greetings, who hangs out with who) I could have told you who had won-several months in advance. It wasn’t tough to see. I told the CEO of the company that night that I have a strong hunch who one. Turns out I was right. One of these days, the secret is going to get let out of the bag before the Golf Channel is ready- which again, is going to be interesting as to how they handle it.
Of course all this could be one huge rope-a-dope. A little misdirection. If so, John, good luck on the show- you heard it here 1st.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Why It Might Be Hard to Recruit Players for the Ryder Cup
With this ESPN tidbit about how the new British tax laws might be hampering both Ryder Cup Teams, some of this intrigue (Tiger Woods) about will certain golfers participate in this upcoming October’s cup is starting to come clearer. Sergio Garcia has already told the press that he has boycotted European Tour events in the UK (other than The Open Championship) this year due to these laws. While I don’t think they will have too much impact on the journeyman golfer (most of the PGA/Euro Tour) it will have a substantial effect on the stars.
Taxation on Direct Earnings
Ok, this isn’t a new problem. If you win money at an event in a foreign country you are generally subject to paying taxes in that country on those earnings. Unless of course your home country already has a tax treaty in place with the country that you won money in. For example. You are a US golfer who wins an event in Spain. Do you pay Spanish taxes on those winnings (in Euros), then have to pay income tax (Federal only if you live in FL, NV, NH, or AZ) on them in the US since they are part of your yearly earnings? Well, the short answer is……No…..but only after you apply (and get approved) for the Foreign Tax Credit through the IRS. Why? Because the US has not ratified a tax treaty with Spain addressing this issue. (Investments? Yes. Personal taxes…no) Like I said, this isn’t a new issue, but it will be more and more of a problem especially as golf (read: LPGA) is more globalized and more US players play overseas.
Taxation on “Other” Earnings
This is the problem. Before this new British Tax law passed, other earnings (endorsements, licenses, Scratch Golf esque performance based incentives, etc) were taxed, but only for the duration of the event. For example, if Titleist pays you $365,000 a year ($1000/day) to play Titleist/FJ equipment, you would have paid 50% of $7000 ($365,000/365 x 7days) or $3500 tax to the “crown” as a surcharge to be able to win money at the Open Championship or any other event. Not a big deal. Now, the multiplier is not based on the length of the event, but the number of events you participate in yearly. So, using the same example, if you play 25 events per year, you are now paying $5,300 ($365,000/25 x 50%). Doesn’t sound like a lot of difference does it? Ok. You are now Tiger Woods. You earned almost $100 million in endorsements last year. Now redo the math. That’s a lot of lettuce. So, playing in the Ryder Cup (which doesn’t give out prize money) will cost these players money. (Obviously some more than others) When it come to attracting stars, Tiger, Phil, Sergio, Ricky Flower, et al, who make more off the course than on, this can be an obstacle.
Implications moving forward:
England has already lost the 2010 Champions’ Cup due to this new law. FIFA awarded them the 2011 Cup final only after they negotiated a special tax exemption. The 2012 London Olympics has a similar arrangement in place. There has already been a backlash by the British sports leagues and authorities saying that the new law deters the best of the best from competing (like Usain Bolt) in British events. While this law does not really prohibit the lesser know professional (who probably isn’t earning that much in monetary endorsements), I don’t think the fields for future Open Championships will morph into something like the field for the Turning Stone Championship. Time will tell. Just another thing to pontificate on before October, and perhaps beyond.
For those of you who want some extra credit, here you go:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/index.htm
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/dtmanual/DT1745.htm
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/bimmanual/BIM50606.htm
Enjoy.
Taxation on Direct Earnings
Ok, this isn’t a new problem. If you win money at an event in a foreign country you are generally subject to paying taxes in that country on those earnings. Unless of course your home country already has a tax treaty in place with the country that you won money in. For example. You are a US golfer who wins an event in Spain. Do you pay Spanish taxes on those winnings (in Euros), then have to pay income tax (Federal only if you live in FL, NV, NH, or AZ) on them in the US since they are part of your yearly earnings? Well, the short answer is……No…..but only after you apply (and get approved) for the Foreign Tax Credit through the IRS. Why? Because the US has not ratified a tax treaty with Spain addressing this issue. (Investments? Yes. Personal taxes…no) Like I said, this isn’t a new issue, but it will be more and more of a problem especially as golf (read: LPGA) is more globalized and more US players play overseas.
Taxation on “Other” Earnings
This is the problem. Before this new British Tax law passed, other earnings (endorsements, licenses, Scratch Golf esque performance based incentives, etc) were taxed, but only for the duration of the event. For example, if Titleist pays you $365,000 a year ($1000/day) to play Titleist/FJ equipment, you would have paid 50% of $7000 ($365,000/365 x 7days) or $3500 tax to the “crown” as a surcharge to be able to win money at the Open Championship or any other event. Not a big deal. Now, the multiplier is not based on the length of the event, but the number of events you participate in yearly. So, using the same example, if you play 25 events per year, you are now paying $5,300 ($365,000/25 x 50%). Doesn’t sound like a lot of difference does it? Ok. You are now Tiger Woods. You earned almost $100 million in endorsements last year. Now redo the math. That’s a lot of lettuce. So, playing in the Ryder Cup (which doesn’t give out prize money) will cost these players money. (Obviously some more than others) When it come to attracting stars, Tiger, Phil, Sergio, Ricky Flower, et al, who make more off the course than on, this can be an obstacle.
Implications moving forward:
England has already lost the 2010 Champions’ Cup due to this new law. FIFA awarded them the 2011 Cup final only after they negotiated a special tax exemption. The 2012 London Olympics has a similar arrangement in place. There has already been a backlash by the British sports leagues and authorities saying that the new law deters the best of the best from competing (like Usain Bolt) in British events. While this law does not really prohibit the lesser know professional (who probably isn’t earning that much in monetary endorsements), I don’t think the fields for future Open Championships will morph into something like the field for the Turning Stone Championship. Time will tell. Just another thing to pontificate on before October, and perhaps beyond.
For those of you who want some extra credit, here you go:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/index.htm
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/dtmanual/DT1745.htm
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/bimmanual/BIM50606.htm
Enjoy.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
To all the courses I've played before...
With some of the ramblings about how many golf courses people have played, I decided to make a list. It is mostly complete with a few exceptions of courses I have long forgotten. Hopefully it will be out of date this coming weekend while I get out before US Open coverage starts. Looking for a new
victim… (And yes, I before you wonder what got into me with a 2nd blog posting in the same week, I'm making an effort to get some of the blog topics I have rattling around in this head of mine out to the world...as if you care. Now back to your regularly scheduled blog)
As for my favorites, I like the Links at Lighthouse Sound in Ocean City MD which is an interesting mix of a coastal links esque front 9 and a parkland back 9. A Donald Ross course circa 1898, Shennecossett near my home town in Connecticut Mediterranean Sea on the other, the Monte Carlo Golf Club above Monaco France
Maybe I’d add some more indepth course reviews later of certain courses- with a “homeless spin” of course.
Without further ado, here is the homeless golf list:
USA
California:
Penmar
Rancho Park (9 and 18 hole courses)
Trump National LA
Los Verdes Golf Course
The Links @ Terrannea
Griffth Park (Wilson Course)
Malibu Country Club
Balboa Park
Chester L Washington Golf Course
Rancho San Joaquin Golf Club
Mission Bay Golf Club
Coranado Golf Course
Carlton Oaks Country Club
Connecticut:
Shennecossett Golf Course
Birch Plain Golf Course
Goose Creek Golf Club
Oak Hill Park Golf Course
E. Brennan Gaynor Golf Course
Pequot Golf Club
Norwich Golf Course
Fox Hopyard Golf Club
Fenwick Golf Course
Elmridge Golf Course
Delaware:
Ed "Porky" Oliver Golf Club
Delcastle Golf Course
Delaware National Country Club
Old Landing Golf Club
Midway Speedway
The Rookery
DC:
Haines Point (White and Blue)
Rock Creek Golf Course
Florida:
University of Florida Golf Course
St. John's County Golf Course
The King & Bear (World Golf Village)
Ponce de Leon Golf Course (RIP)
Ironwood Golf Course
West End Golf Club
DubsDread Golf Course
Maryland:
Bethesda Country Club
Timbers at Troy
Renditions Golf Club
Indian Spring Country Club (RIP)
Falls Road Golf Course
University of Maryland Golf Course
Queenstown Harbor (River Course)
Mountain Branch Golf Club
The Links at Lighthouse Sound
Andrews AFB (South & East Courses)
Country Club @ Woodmore
Massachusetts:
Granite Links Golf Club
Waverly Oaks
New York:
Kutshers Golf Course
North Carolina:
River Run Country Club
Pennsylvania:
Penn State University (Blue & White Courses)
Rhode Island:
Newport National
Winnapaug Country Club
Richmond Country Club
Virginia:
Reston National
Herndon Centennal Golf Course
Lansdowne Resort (Norman Course)
Beacon Hill Golf Club (RIP)
Pleasant Valley Golf Club
Penderbrook Golf Club
Westfields Golf Club
Fairfax National
Bull Run Golf Club
Prince William Golf Club
Bristow Manor Golf Course
The Ospreys @ Belmont Bay
Pinecrest Golf Course
Hilltop Golf Club
Fort Belvoir Golf Course
Greendale Golf Course
Fair Oaks Golf Course (RIP)
Broad Run Golf
International
California:
Penmar
Rancho Park (9 and 18 hole courses)
Trump National LA
Los Verdes Golf Course
The Links @ Terrannea
Griffth Park (Wilson Course)
Malibu Country Club
Balboa Park
Chester L Washington Golf Course
Rancho San Joaquin Golf Club
Mission Bay Golf Club
Coranado Golf Course
Carlton Oaks Country Club
Connecticut:
Shennecossett Golf Course
Birch Plain Golf Course
Goose Creek Golf Club
Oak Hill Park Golf Course
E. Brennan Gaynor Golf Course
Pequot Golf Club
Norwich Golf Course
Fox Hopyard Golf Club
Fenwick Golf Course
Elmridge Golf Course
Delaware:
Ed "Porky" Oliver Golf Club
Delcastle Golf Course
Delaware National Country Club
Old Landing Golf Club
Midway Speedway
The Rookery
DC:
Haines Point (White and Blue)
Rock Creek Golf Course
Florida:
University of Florida Golf Course
St. John's County Golf Course
The King & Bear (World Golf Village)
Ponce de Leon Golf Course (RIP)
Ironwood Golf Course
West End Golf Club
DubsDread Golf Course
Maryland:
Bethesda Country Club
Timbers at Troy
Renditions Golf Club
Indian Spring Country Club (RIP)
Falls Road Golf Course
University of Maryland Golf Course
Queenstown Harbor (River Course)
Mountain Branch Golf Club
The Links at Lighthouse Sound
Andrews AFB (South & East Courses)
Country Club @ Woodmore
Massachusetts:
Granite Links Golf Club
Waverly Oaks
New York:
Kutshers Golf Course
North Carolina:
River Run Country Club
Pennsylvania:
Penn State University (Blue & White Courses)
Rhode Island:
Newport National
Winnapaug Country Club
Richmond Country Club
Virginia:
Reston National
Herndon Centennal Golf Course
Lansdowne Resort (Norman Course)
Beacon Hill Golf Club (RIP)
Pleasant Valley Golf Club
Penderbrook Golf Club
Westfields Golf Club
Fairfax National
Bull Run Golf Club
Prince William Golf Club
Bristow Manor Golf Course
The Ospreys @ Belmont Bay
Pinecrest Golf Course
Hilltop Golf Club
Fort Belvoir Golf Course
Greendale Golf Course
Fair Oaks Golf Course (RIP)
Broad Run Golf
International
Austria:
Golf Platz Montfort Rankweil
Germany:
Golf Club Konstanz
France:
Monte Carlo Golf Club (Monaco)
Netherlands:
Spaarnwoud Golfbaan
Spain:
Golf Club Sant Cugat
Switzerland:
Golfpark Waldkirsch
Golf Club Bad Ragaz
Golf Club Appenzell
Erlen Golf & Country Club
Golf Club Heidiland
Lugano Golf Club
Montreux Golf Club
Golf Platz Montfort Rankweil
Germany:
Golf Club Konstanz
France:
Monte Carlo Golf Club (Monaco)
Netherlands:
Spaarnwoud Golfbaan
Spain:
Golf Club Sant Cugat
Switzerland:
Golfpark Waldkirsch
Golf Club Bad Ragaz
Golf Club Appenzell
Erlen Golf & Country Club
Golf Club Heidiland
Lugano Golf Club
Montreux Golf Club
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Apropos of Nothing.... LPGA Style.
Ok. Just because I’m the Homeless Golfer doesn’t mean I don’t have stuff going on. Or perhaps I’m just lazy. Maybe a combination of the two.
Since the LPGA is back in New Jersey
1. Angela Stanford had a “tin cup” moment on the 18th hole in her match against Amanda Blumenhurst. Hitting what looked like a 3-wood on her 2nd shot (par 5), a gust of wind blew in once her ball was in flight. It hit the front of the green, by the pin, then rolled back off the green. If there was water there, well, splash. Don’t think she would have dropped from the spot and made a 14 though. Immortality or not.
2. It is interesting to see who planned on staying around for the weekend after they were eliminated. Either they can’t change their flight, or they thought they were going deeper in the tourney…
3. Anytime you see a women with a laminated badge turned around so you can’t see the name/picture… that usually means you are a PRO. Just like at the PGA Show, turning it around draws more attention to you than telling people who you are. Most of them wouldn’t know who you were anyway…
4. Stephanie Sparks = cougar. If cougars liked their own kind…so I hear. Not that there is anything wrong with that…
5. Middle aged men getting autographs = weird. Seriously. If I’m getting an autograph from a woman my age (or socially acceptably younger) that doesn’t include a phone number, what’s really the point? Really.
6. Many residents from the island of lesbos
7. You could bring in anything here. Cell Phones, food, water, beer, thermonuclear weapons, etc….
8. One woman on Saturday was seen walking around with a set of clubs… WTF? It’s not like bringing a glove to a baseball game lady.
9. Sandra Gal really likes really short shorts. If you got it, flaunt it eh?
10. I forgot how ridiculous “Jersey Sporty” is. Wow. Like a Soprano’s extra’s holding area..
11. Bo Wie sporting a CVS shopping bag. They a tour sponsor?
12. An established “golf media” member (I think I recognized him) pulled a “Don’t you KNOW who I am” routine with a volunteer displaying his credential in the poor volunteer’s face. Seriously. No one reads your crappy articles anyway. So, no. They don’t know who you are. Jackass.
13. It looked like Angela Stanford was carrying a dip can in her back pocket on Saturday. She is from Texas
14. TONS of white on the course. Where the PGA prefers black slacks, the LPGA prefers white…everything. Pants, skirts, those “skort” things, etc.
15. Michelle Wie out drives her competitors by almost 50 yards every hole. Yet isn’t dominating… perhaps that’s why she is seeking out Dave Pelz’s help?
16. I saw a bunch of middle aged dudes giving “commentary” on every shot. I’m talking about golf commentary, not the other kind. After listening for about 20 seconds, no wonder they are still living at home.
17. Kudos to those who got the Derek Flint reference in #6.
18. Lots of stereotypical “Jersey ” types here. (Other than “sporty”) Make sure you stay to windward of them.
19. This course (Hamilton Farms) isn’t very spectator friendly. Not many good viewing points.
20. Speaking of, one of the best points is behind the 16th green, which has a panorama of the 18th. They actually let people stand on the fringe up against the collar. Good thing the ladies aren’t missing the green…
21. Dude. Seriously. I saw a credentialed “media” member with more hair coming out of his nostrils and ears than I have on my head. No, I’m not bald.
22. One of the weirdest sights of the tournament for me (and there were a few) was some overweight white guy in is 50’s parading around with a Korean flag. He didn’t have a stick so he held it up to make it fly. WTF?
23. I would not like to come across a pissed off Catriona Matthew in a dark alley.
24. Nor Karrie Webb for that matter.
25. Christina Kim standing on her golf cart and acting as a marshal for Michelle Wie for her 2nd shot on #10 during her match vs the aforementioned Ms. Matthew. Lucky I didn’t get run over by her. Besides, I was at the spot first.
26. Speaking of marshals, 90% of them didn’t really know their jobs. One lady was frantically waving some someone 30 yards away to stop and wait until a player putted. The marshal was standing on the fringe of the green right in front of the player. Um yeah. Not distracting. Not one bit.
27. I though it was weird when I saw matching couples. You know when the bf and gf wear matching outfits. When they are both gf’s… much weirder.
28. Sandra Gal is the Vijay Singh of the LPGA. She hit balls for HOURS on Saturday. I’m thinking at least 5 hours. I’m struggling to get through a large bucket… damn.
29. Speaking of practicing, Azahara Munoz was on the putting green for at least two hours before hitting balls for another couple of hours. Good to see the work ethic.
30. Heard there was a potential stalker situation with Bea Recardi on Friday. Might explain the state trooper walking along with the group. Plenty of candidates to choose from…
Monday, May 24, 2010
A Single Man's Adventure with the LPGA...
OK. Let me just tell you this up front. I am still spinning from my experience at the Sybase Match Play Championships. I’ve been to PGA Tour events, and even a US Open playoff. But. This was something I really didn’t expect. Granted I was willing to wager that 99% of the Pro-Am participants were guys, and most of the fans out there were men, but still… Wow. It was weird. Perhaps it was my expectations (or lack thereof), but there was some interesting stuff I observed. There are probably going to be like half a dozen posts to rid my brain of everything, but we’ll see. Ok. Here it goes…
Overall Observations:
It definitely didn’t have the “feel” of a major league event. The tickets were distributed in a small folding tent in the parking lot. School buses took you to the course where the driver of the bus gave you the “banned items” speech. Except that instead of saying that cell phones and cameras were banned, he just asked you to put your phones on vibrate. Two small concession stands. The gave you the roll for your hotdog in one line, then you had to stand in another to actually get the hot dog…. If they were actually cooked.
The course didn’t look really difficult. Ok, the greens were undulating and pretty fast… not extremely but still fast, and you had to put your approach in the right part of the green. The fairways were so huge, I could have hit them. I saw only one missed fairway in two days- Catrona Matthew on #10 on Saturday (more on that in a later post). I know the women hit it straighter than the men, but jeez.
If you like 230-240 yard drives, the LPGA is for you. Definitely no WOW factor. Makes Michelle Wie look all the more impressive.
At a PGA Tour event, there is definitely some eye candy outside the ropes. At Sybase? Non existent. Don’t get me wrong, there is plenty inside the ropes… the Ricardi/Munoz match was something to behold, but…
…. It is weird watching post-middle aged men (and some middle aged men) ogling women easily more than a half to a third of their age. I mean really weird. To the point that I was uncomfortable being there…
… not to mention that most of these dudes still looked like they still live in their parents’ basement… or my late grandfather. Wow.
I was expecting some bigger crowds, but then again I remembered… women’s sports don’t draw outside of Knoxville, TN and Storrs, CT. And only for basketball.
My friend Matt (who is living in Beijing) has a theory that Asian women are vampires due to their aversion to the sun. I guess they use umbrellas on sunny days and not on rainy ones. Based upon what I saw… that theory is still valid.
Pretty much anyone can get a “Media” credential. I doubt half of the people carrying media credentials have ever had anything written, published, or posted. Hell, with this blog, I am more “media” then they….
….speaking of the other half of the credentialed media, the “stereotypical” sports writer: doughy, aging male, not athletically inclined, wearing wrinkled, rumpled clothes, was on full display. Needless to say, they fit right in.
The trend of wearing golf shoes while watching a tournament is still mystifying. What is the point? You don’t wear spikes to a baseball game. You don’t bring your skates to a hockey game. Why the hell do you wear golf shoes to a golf tournament? What was interesting here is that 90% of the violators at the Sybase were women. Seriously. No. Joke.
I have heard that LPGA golfer were more “accessible” to the fans (are they sure they want to be?) than their PGA brethren. While this is true, I can’t help to wonder, is this by design or by simple logistics? I smell a future blog exploring this… maybe.
I watched the players warm up on Saturday before their matches. Not many putts on the putting green dropped. I mean everything from 3 footers to lag putts. I bet the success rate was maybe 60%. Perhaps I’m missing something, but it was astounding none the less.
Well, I think this is enough for now, I’ll be back… much, much more to come.
Overall Observations:
It definitely didn’t have the “feel” of a major league event. The tickets were distributed in a small folding tent in the parking lot. School buses took you to the course where the driver of the bus gave you the “banned items” speech. Except that instead of saying that cell phones and cameras were banned, he just asked you to put your phones on vibrate. Two small concession stands. The gave you the roll for your hotdog in one line, then you had to stand in another to actually get the hot dog…. If they were actually cooked.
The course didn’t look really difficult. Ok, the greens were undulating and pretty fast… not extremely but still fast, and you had to put your approach in the right part of the green. The fairways were so huge, I could have hit them. I saw only one missed fairway in two days- Catrona Matthew on #10 on Saturday (more on that in a later post). I know the women hit it straighter than the men, but jeez.
If you like 230-240 yard drives, the LPGA is for you. Definitely no WOW factor. Makes Michelle Wie look all the more impressive.
At a PGA Tour event, there is definitely some eye candy outside the ropes. At Sybase? Non existent. Don’t get me wrong, there is plenty inside the ropes… the Ricardi/Munoz match was something to behold, but…
…. It is weird watching post-middle aged men (and some middle aged men) ogling women easily more than a half to a third of their age. I mean really weird. To the point that I was uncomfortable being there…
… not to mention that most of these dudes still looked like they still live in their parents’ basement… or my late grandfather. Wow.
I was expecting some bigger crowds, but then again I remembered… women’s sports don’t draw outside of Knoxville, TN and Storrs, CT. And only for basketball.
My friend Matt (who is living in Beijing) has a theory that Asian women are vampires due to their aversion to the sun. I guess they use umbrellas on sunny days and not on rainy ones. Based upon what I saw… that theory is still valid.
Pretty much anyone can get a “Media” credential. I doubt half of the people carrying media credentials have ever had anything written, published, or posted. Hell, with this blog, I am more “media” then they….
….speaking of the other half of the credentialed media, the “stereotypical” sports writer: doughy, aging male, not athletically inclined, wearing wrinkled, rumpled clothes, was on full display. Needless to say, they fit right in.
The trend of wearing golf shoes while watching a tournament is still mystifying. What is the point? You don’t wear spikes to a baseball game. You don’t bring your skates to a hockey game. Why the hell do you wear golf shoes to a golf tournament? What was interesting here is that 90% of the violators at the Sybase were women. Seriously. No. Joke.
I have heard that LPGA golfer were more “accessible” to the fans (are they sure they want to be?) than their PGA brethren. While this is true, I can’t help to wonder, is this by design or by simple logistics? I smell a future blog exploring this… maybe.
I watched the players warm up on Saturday before their matches. Not many putts on the putting green dropped. I mean everything from 3 footers to lag putts. I bet the success rate was maybe 60%. Perhaps I’m missing something, but it was astounding none the less.
Well, I think this is enough for now, I’ll be back… much, much more to come.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Golf's Big Problem? Not Really
Sunday’s Wall Street Journal published and article titled: Golf’s Big Problem: No Kids are Joining the Game. In it, author Matthew Futterman decries the lack of youth participation in golf based on a National Golf Foundation report showing a 24% drop in the number of golfers aged 6-17 from 2005 to 2008. Ok. What is the big deal? Fine, there was a 24% drop from 2005 to 2008. What was it from 2000-2004? Did it go up? If the number of youth golfers is resting at 2.9 million (down from 2005’s 3.8million), what was it in 2000? 1995? 1956? Is there data? I’m sure there is, but I can’t get to it since you would have to pay for it. (being “homeless” and all…you know…) It would have been nice if Mr. Futterman had included some numbers because it adds something: perspective and context. Without either of those things, his conclusion is meaningless. Is it just a bump in the road? If the 2000-2004 numbers shown growth from like 500,000 to 1.8 million, then 2008 is still ahead of the game, perhaps the 2005 numbers were artificially inflated? The unfortunate dilemma is YOU DON’T KNOW. He could have had the numbers, but decided not to add them, because, well, who would ever let data get in the way of their conclusion.
It would be nice to see how these numbers were taken. Did the NGF take surveys of local course starters? Are they counting the numbers of golfers signed up for official youth tournaments? Is it some kind of extrapolated number like an exit poll on election night? Without a basic understanding of how the numbers were developed, they are just what they are… numbers.
MF goes on to give some reasons as to why he thinks this large drop occurred. Of course I don’t agree with many of those either, so attacking one-by-one:
MF reason 1: Golf courses are too long.
Ok. Seriously? His example was of a 450 yard hole. Only an idiot would have an 8 year old tee off from the tee box. A hole like that makes most beginners (or hackers) cry no matter what their age is. Most “family oriented” courses I’ve seen had a set of “junior” tees (pair of monuments imbedded in the fairway) about 150 yards from the hole which allows Mommy and Daddy to tee off from their tees and allows Junior to tee up when they hit their approaches. If there is a dogleg hole? But the tees in the middle of the dogleg. Your course doesn’t set junior tees? Have your kids tee it up from the 150 yard marker. Simple. As they get older they can go from playing the holes as par-4’s (@ 150), to par-3’s, then slowly move back from there. There is no reason a 12 year old boy can’t play from the senior or ladies tees. Heck in Europe, there are no men’s or ladies’ tees. The tees that you are allowed to play from are based upon your handicap.
Back tees: 0-10
Middle tees: 11-15
Front tees: 16-25
If you have an index higher than 25? Hit the range. They don’t want you tearing up the course. Imagine if something similar was enforced here in the US at a local muni on a Saturday in July. Loads of pissed off duffers who think they can hit 300 yard drives consistently.
BTW- His solution is short sighted. Make a shorter course? No. Make the existing course shorter. Big difference. Besides, there are plenty of executive courses if a regulation course is too much.
MF reason 2: You need to make the game easier
Stop. The game is easier. With perimeter weighted cavity backed irons, hitting the ball is easier than ever. My 1st set of clubs (at age 16) was a mismatched set of muscle-backed Northwestern Irons with Permission woods. Yeah. And that was not that long ago. He suggests that golf should follow tennis in creating smaller courts, partner with colleges to make more intramural teams (more opportunities), etc, etc.
As a former member of the USTA (hey their Mid-Atlantic office was in the lobby of my apartment building), the quick start program is great- don’t get me wrong. But I don’t think that golf needs to copy it. Unfortunately, golf programs in High Schools aren’t as prevalent as tennis programs. I think it is due to a) costs of competition (greens fees, etc) and b) lack of participation due to team sports. Do you really think that a school system or High School athletic director is going to put money into a golf program for 8 students and take it away from a revenue producing sport such as football, basketball, or wrestling? No. Let’s be honest. As a nation, we would prefer our youth to be playing team sports rather than individual ones. I know it is called a golf “team” but c’mon. Really. My High School had a golf team. There were 10 golfers on it. Most of them didn’t actually compete because they couldn’t get through nine holes in under 60 strokes. At least they got to practice….
I don’t think making partnerships with colleges making IM programs or a “no-cut” rule for High Schools (which most golf programs have anyway just to get numbers up) is the way to go. You first need better understand the market (getting to it…wait for it….).
MF reason 3: Golf takes too long- more short-course facilities need to be built.
Jeez. Really? Parents don’t have 6 hours to spend with their kids? Obiously MF never had a daughter who played softball at a high level (travel ball), or a son who played AAU basketball because spending entire weekends traveling to and watching tournaments is soooooo much shorter than a 6 hour round at a muni. Again, the great thing about a golf course is that you can adjust it to fit your needs. If you want to make it a family outing, let mom or dad (if they are learning too) use tees from the fairway (tee up the driver, then tee up the 5-iron from the fairway) in order to move things along and enhance the experience. We don’t need short course facilities for golf to move forward- we need golfers to forward think.
An overlying theme of the article is that golf needs more kids aged 8-18 to be come involved in the sport in order for it to survive. With that premise, he seems to forget something. Most kids age 8 and up start their sports careers in team sports. Baseball. Basketball. Football. Soccer. Hockey. There is a reason for this. Team sports build character. Not to say that a solo sport can’t (USGA’s great 1st Tee commercial), or doesn’t, but 8 year olds need to make friends, learn to play nice with others, learn how to lead others, etc, etc. Golf can do this too, but team sports are able to reach more kids at the same time. Golf is something that most athletic people take up after their team sports days are over (High School, College, or Professional). I played a grand total of 3 round of golf before my 22nd birthday. 1st round at age 16, 2nd at age 18, 3rd at age 21. Why? I was a baseball player. High School, American Legion, College (Div 1), and Semi-pro after college. Most of my friends followed a similar path. Whether they ran track, played hoops, football or whatever. Golf (and tennis) were sports we didn’t really pick up until after we were pretty much done competing in other sports. That is why golf is a “game for a lifetime”. The demographic I want to see is the participation of the 18-35 year old golfer (male and female). That demographic will determine whether golf grows or dies.
It would be nice to see how these numbers were taken. Did the NGF take surveys of local course starters? Are they counting the numbers of golfers signed up for official youth tournaments? Is it some kind of extrapolated number like an exit poll on election night? Without a basic understanding of how the numbers were developed, they are just what they are… numbers.
MF goes on to give some reasons as to why he thinks this large drop occurred. Of course I don’t agree with many of those either, so attacking one-by-one:
MF reason 1: Golf courses are too long.
Ok. Seriously? His example was of a 450 yard hole. Only an idiot would have an 8 year old tee off from the tee box. A hole like that makes most beginners (or hackers) cry no matter what their age is. Most “family oriented” courses I’ve seen had a set of “junior” tees (pair of monuments imbedded in the fairway) about 150 yards from the hole which allows Mommy and Daddy to tee off from their tees and allows Junior to tee up when they hit their approaches. If there is a dogleg hole? But the tees in the middle of the dogleg. Your course doesn’t set junior tees? Have your kids tee it up from the 150 yard marker. Simple. As they get older they can go from playing the holes as par-4’s (@ 150), to par-3’s, then slowly move back from there. There is no reason a 12 year old boy can’t play from the senior or ladies tees. Heck in Europe, there are no men’s or ladies’ tees. The tees that you are allowed to play from are based upon your handicap.
Back tees: 0-10
Middle tees: 11-15
Front tees: 16-25
If you have an index higher than 25? Hit the range. They don’t want you tearing up the course. Imagine if something similar was enforced here in the US at a local muni on a Saturday in July. Loads of pissed off duffers who think they can hit 300 yard drives consistently.
BTW- His solution is short sighted. Make a shorter course? No. Make the existing course shorter. Big difference. Besides, there are plenty of executive courses if a regulation course is too much.
MF reason 2: You need to make the game easier
Stop. The game is easier. With perimeter weighted cavity backed irons, hitting the ball is easier than ever. My 1st set of clubs (at age 16) was a mismatched set of muscle-backed Northwestern Irons with Permission woods. Yeah. And that was not that long ago. He suggests that golf should follow tennis in creating smaller courts, partner with colleges to make more intramural teams (more opportunities), etc, etc.
As a former member of the USTA (hey their Mid-Atlantic office was in the lobby of my apartment building), the quick start program is great- don’t get me wrong. But I don’t think that golf needs to copy it. Unfortunately, golf programs in High Schools aren’t as prevalent as tennis programs. I think it is due to a) costs of competition (greens fees, etc) and b) lack of participation due to team sports. Do you really think that a school system or High School athletic director is going to put money into a golf program for 8 students and take it away from a revenue producing sport such as football, basketball, or wrestling? No. Let’s be honest. As a nation, we would prefer our youth to be playing team sports rather than individual ones. I know it is called a golf “team” but c’mon. Really. My High School had a golf team. There were 10 golfers on it. Most of them didn’t actually compete because they couldn’t get through nine holes in under 60 strokes. At least they got to practice….
I don’t think making partnerships with colleges making IM programs or a “no-cut” rule for High Schools (which most golf programs have anyway just to get numbers up) is the way to go. You first need better understand the market (getting to it…wait for it….).
MF reason 3: Golf takes too long- more short-course facilities need to be built.
Jeez. Really? Parents don’t have 6 hours to spend with their kids? Obiously MF never had a daughter who played softball at a high level (travel ball), or a son who played AAU basketball because spending entire weekends traveling to and watching tournaments is soooooo much shorter than a 6 hour round at a muni. Again, the great thing about a golf course is that you can adjust it to fit your needs. If you want to make it a family outing, let mom or dad (if they are learning too) use tees from the fairway (tee up the driver, then tee up the 5-iron from the fairway) in order to move things along and enhance the experience. We don’t need short course facilities for golf to move forward- we need golfers to forward think.
An overlying theme of the article is that golf needs more kids aged 8-18 to be come involved in the sport in order for it to survive. With that premise, he seems to forget something. Most kids age 8 and up start their sports careers in team sports. Baseball. Basketball. Football. Soccer. Hockey. There is a reason for this. Team sports build character. Not to say that a solo sport can’t (USGA’s great 1st Tee commercial), or doesn’t, but 8 year olds need to make friends, learn to play nice with others, learn how to lead others, etc, etc. Golf can do this too, but team sports are able to reach more kids at the same time. Golf is something that most athletic people take up after their team sports days are over (High School, College, or Professional). I played a grand total of 3 round of golf before my 22nd birthday. 1st round at age 16, 2nd at age 18, 3rd at age 21. Why? I was a baseball player. High School, American Legion, College (Div 1), and Semi-pro after college. Most of my friends followed a similar path. Whether they ran track, played hoops, football or whatever. Golf (and tennis) were sports we didn’t really pick up until after we were pretty much done competing in other sports. That is why golf is a “game for a lifetime”. The demographic I want to see is the participation of the 18-35 year old golfer (male and female). That demographic will determine whether golf grows or dies.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Not the Headlines out of Mexico the LPGA was hoping for...
The scene, described as something out of a Tom Clancy novel (Clear & Present Danger anyone?) with grenade launchers, automatic weapons (duh), and a .50cal sniper rifle (which can penetrate hardened surfaces) causes one to pause. Hopefully things will be cleared up before the pre-tournament events start on Monday. What Moreila has going for it, is that it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site which is nice. Having lived in a similar place (albeit in Europe ) Moreila most likely doesn’t have the Western style gated resorts the coastal resort towns have which might be a bit safer. Hopefully the tournament organizers and the LPGA were smart enough to plan for a contingency similar to this (as dark and alarmist as it may sound) and help the players plan their flights in and out of the area so they can collect them in bulk at the airport and transport them to wherever they are staying. If they are lucky, they are all staying in the compound/community where the tourney is being competed.
While I don’t think there will be any problems this week, a news report like this does make you take notice. I don’t think this is how Mike Whan envisioned Lorena Ochoa's swan song…
Here’s hoping everything goes off without a hitch. Just in case, the LPGA higher-ups can stay at a Holiday Inn Express and get smarter. You know. Just to cover the bases.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
That's right sports fans. For those golfers who reside North of the Mason/Dixon line, the 2nd week of March ushers in the opening of Golf Courses all throughout the Northeast. You never thought that 52 degrees could ever feel so warm.. Time to break the sticks out and get ready.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Hello Again....World
Well, I'm back. Sort of. First, I'd like to thank Blogger for somehow deleting about 2.5 years of posts.... and resetting my account back to the stone age....er 2007. But hey. At least I'm still here in this small sliver of the web. Since I'm going back to the future, a lot has changed in the world of blogging especially golf blogging since my reset date. Before we were just a bunch of hacks pontificating on everything from who is wearing what on the course, to when will Phil Mickelson win a major (remember that discussion)? Facebook was a site strictly for college kids and needed a .edu e-mail account to join. Remember that? Twitter? Isn't that what you called someone from the South who wasn't too bright? Guess not. Now the blogging world has blown up and is probably more mainstream than Sports Illustrated, The Sporting News, and most print media. As I catch up with what has been going on, and try to recreate some old posts (with a new spin) hopefully you will revisit some of the things that are now missing from this blog, and for those new to THG, welcome. Pour yourself a beverage and stay awhile.
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