El-dre(a)d.......Again

As Tiger closes in on his 15th. Major title, I am reminded that when he is is on his game, no golf god of any time could have beat him. Who, what, when or where, I don't care. Featherie, gutta percha, Hogan, Morris, spoon or brassie, I don't care. I am an old stubborn Jack fan. Tiger Woods started earlier, had better equipment, better teachers, no challengers. What about 1st's and 2nds. combined? It's just blah blah. I became a believer when the guy won a U.S. Open on one leg last year. That's impossible against the best players in the world, right? I call that one of the most unbelievable sports accomplishments (for overcoming injury or illness) in my elder memory. It goes with: #1 Lance Armstrong's first of seven straight Tour de France (the hardest competition in sports) victories in 1999, after overcoming advanced cancer. #3 Crippled Kirk Gibson's one-armed home run in a World Series game against one of the best pitchers in baseball. "I don't believe what I just saw!"..Jack Buck. #4 Michael Jordan's NBA Finals performance in 1997, when he could hardly walk or stand or see. He only got 38 against a decent Utah team.

Here's a couple of other Hall of Famer's besides Tigger who played with no wheels. Jack Youngblood played the 1980 NFL playoffs, Super Bowl, and even the Pro Bowl with a broken leg. Bob Gibson pitched to two batters and into a partial count on the third before his broken leg snapped in July, 1967. The leg had been broken earlier, due to a Roberto Clemente line drive laser.

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XXX Review of "Battlement Mesa"

BATTLEMENT MESA, Battlement Mesa, Colorado: This is another hidden gem. But the course is almost sitting on scenic Interstate 70, about an hour east of Grand Junction, so you'll find it. It was originally commissioned by Exxon when they had too much money in the 1980's, during the last oil shale boom in the area. Come to think of it, the big E is still doing alright. Anyway, the '80s boom went bust but the course survived. Bad for the local economy, good for the public. The layout is a Joe Finger/ Ken Dye design and a top 10 public course in the state (says Golf Digest). RATINGS: 73.4/130 COST: $59 including cart

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XXIX Review of "Bally Bandon Sheep Ranch"

BALLY BANDON SHEEP RANCH, Bandon, Oregon: The only "gawf" course on the review list, it actually used to be manicured by sheep. Bring your gutta percha and use a brassie on the greens (they are fuzzy-not quick). The course is built on the windiest Pacific coastal cliffs in Oregon (fact) and has only 12 greens. Find your way around to 18 scores on this cross-country course by using the same greens several times from different tees. What ambiance! It's a great experience. "Caddy Shack" weather happens here, but not much lightning. For traditionalists, it's a private course available by special arrangement only. No more clues. NO COURSE RATING (very tough). COST: About $100 (daily fee) WALKING ONLY. Closed in summer due to no irrigation. Open as dictated by nature.

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"Old Tom" ADTI

Almost Did The Impossible.
I don't blame Stewart Cink. If golf wasn't such an honest game, I'm sure that he would have taken a dive in the playoff with Tom Watson. Oh well, Watson has another shot at the Senior British Open next.
Congrats to Stew. It's his first major triumph, won under tremendous negative pressure, to beat a living legend.
It was a hollow victory for most of us, though.

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XXVIII Review of "Jackson Hole"

JACKSON HOLE, Jackson Hole, Wyoming: This is the "must play" course if you happen to be visiting Yellowstone and The Grand Tetons. Stay in the area an extra day for this Robert Trent Jones, Jr. track. Featured are good drives at 6200 feet elevation and awesome scenery. R. T. J., Jr. fine tuned the course in 2007. I hadn't noticed that it needed it. RATINGS: 72.5/126 COST: $65 (off-season)-$175, I believe plus cart

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Keeping Up With Other Sports News

On July 1, 2009, Ken Griffey, Jr. and Alex Rodriguez hit homers in the same game. So what? THEY ALWAYS HIT HOMERUNS, DUMBO. Surprisingly, it's only the second time two players with 550 home runs have done that. Hank Aaron and Willie Mays did it, before "juice" without the hops had sullied some records.
In fairness, I believe (hope) Ken has been career-clean.

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My Favorite Bumper Sticker

"I'd Rather Be Driving A Titliest."